Chapter 104: My Husband
Nina sat frozen, her eyes fixed blankly on the wall, her mouth parted slightly.
The distant, heavy thud of the closing doors finally shattered the haze.
She blinked, the balcony rushing back into focus as she drew in a long, shaky breath.
Closing her eyes, she leaned back, unable to stop the small, breathless smile that tugged at the corners of her lips.
What would she call him?
His name?
She rolled the thought over in her mind.
"Rodrigo..."
She said the name out loud, tasting it on her tongue.
It sounded nice. Strong. But somehow too distant. Too formal.
She wanted something that belonged only to her. Something softer. Something only she could call him.
Her cheeks warmed.
What would she call him?
A knock sounded at the door.
Nina blinked, immediately pulled back to reality. "Come in."
The door opened, and Moreen stepped inside.
"Luna?" she called, glancing around the sitting room. "Where are you?"
"I’m on the balcony."
A moment later Moreen pushed aside the curtains and stepped into the morning sunlight. Relief immediately washed across her face. "Luna."
She hurried forward. "How are you? I was so worried. The Alpha came to the games and took you away. I kept thinking..." She lowered her voice. "I hoped he didn’t hurt you."
The memories of last night flashed across Nina’s mind in painful clarity. Heat flooded her face. She cleared her throat, avoiding Moreen’s curious eyes. "No. Not at all."
Moreen released a long breath, a smile spreading across her face. It lasted only a second. "But... there’s bad news."
The smile disappeared from Nina’s face just as quickly. "What happened?"
"The Matriarch." Moreen grimaced. "She’s angry with you."
Nina’s stomach dropped. "What?" She frowned, the warmth in her chest vanishing. "Why?"
"She sent for you two days ago." Moreen rubbed the back of her neck guiltily. "But we went to the auction house that day... and yesterday..." Her expression became even more apologetic. "I completely forgot to remind you."
Nina shut her eyes. "Oh no..."
She pinched the bridge of her nose, then glanced at Moreen. "How angry is she?"
Moreen narrowed her eyes as though measuring it, her expression dead serious. "Really mad."
Nina’s eyes flew open.
Without another word she sprang to her feet, pushing back her chair so quickly it scraped hard against the stone floor of the balcony. "Where is she?"
"In her living quarters," Moreen replied.
"Let’s go."
Moreen hurried after her as they left the balcony and stepped into the palace corridors.
The butterflies that had been fluttering in Nina’s stomach moments ago were gone, replaced by a tight knot of dread. The Matriarch rarely summoned anyone without reason. Forgetting that summons—and making her wait for two whole days—was another matter entirely.
"Why did you not tell me when she called for me?" Nina asked, glancing at Moreen.
Moreen’s mouth fell open. "Luna, I told you, but you weren’t listening."
Nina shut her eyes, cursing under her breath as she walked faster.
The pack’s house was quieter in this wing. Servants lowered their heads as they passed, their voices dropping to whispers. Even the air felt heavier, as though the walls themselves knew whose quarters lay ahead.
They rounded one final corner.
"There," Moreen said.
Nina slowed to a stop.
The Matriarch’s quarters stood before her, marked by a pair of imposing double doors carved from dark oak. Intricate wolves and crescent moons were etched into the wood, their silver inlays catching the morning light. Two guards stood on either side. Neither moved. Neither spoke. Only when Nina approached did they bow their heads in greeting.
She swallowed, her throat dry.
For a brief moment, she considered turning around. Maybe if she came back later...
No. That would only make things worse.
Drawing in a steady breath, she squared her shoulders and gave one of the guards a small nod. "I’ve come to see the Matriarch."
The guard stepped forward without a word and knocked three times. The sound echoed beyond the heavy wood. "Your Grace, the Luna is here."
Silence followed.
One heartbeat. Then another.
She was beginning to wonder if the Matriarch intended to leave her waiting outside when a composed voice finally drifted through the doors.
"Let her in."
One of the guards reached for the handle. The heavy doors swung inward with a low groan.
Nina stepped inside, her eyes sweeping over the grandiose, gold-plated furniture and the expensive artwork lining the walls. Unlike the Alpha, his grandmother had a taste for furniture.
Nina’s feet came to a stop when her eyes landed on the Matriarch standing in front of the window at the far end of the room.
"Your Grace," Nina greeted, dipping her head. "You sent for me."
The Matriarch did not respond for a long second. Then, she turned.
"You took your ample time, Luna."
Eloise’s voice sounded through the room, her eyes fixing heavily on Nina.
Nina forced a small, polite smile. "I did not know you—"
"I heard you left the pack’s house without guards a few days ago."
The words Nina was about to speak stuck in her throat. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
"What did you leave for?" Eloise asked, walking toward the couch.
A kettle sat on the small stool. Without looking at Nina, the older woman began pouring tea into the cups.
Nina’s mind raced for an answer. She couldn’t lie to the Matriarch; if she was asking, she probably already knew she had followed the Alpha.
Was the Matriarch suspecting her too?
Nina cursed internally, her fingers digging hard into her palms. She needed a way out of this immediately.
"I went with my husband to the auction house. I had been cooped up inside the pack house, and I didn’t know when he would be back home."
The hands holding the kettle stopped.
The Matriarch looked up, her brows pulling together, curiosity dancing in her eyes.
A small smile tugged at Nina’s mouth before she quickly smoothed it away.
She knew it would work.
Eloise cleared her throat and pointed to the couch across from her.
"Come sit," she said. "We have a lot to discuss."