#9 The Lonely Rogue

Junie

I threw my head back and laughed as I danced down the boardwalk in a white, lacey romper; it had long sleeves and sheer shorts that fell over a white slip in delicate lace detailings. My hair swirled around me as the breeze kicked off the ocean and sprayed us on the beach. Caspian was chasing me down the short, sandy boardwalk in a pair of cream colored cotton slacks and a button down shirt that had the first few buttons undone. We were both barefoot, our feet covered in sand with the sound of seagulls and crashing waves surrounding us.

“Junie!” Caspian laughed, complaining as I ran away from him. I giggled and whipped my head around to look at him, “Be careful!”

He finally caught up to me and wrapped his arms around my swollen belly from behind, nuzzling his face into my neck. He nipped at my mark and I shivered, pushing him away before I stripped him right here in the middle of the beach. He grabbed my left hand and laced our fingers together, watching as our rings glistened and sparkled from the sunlight.

The gorgeous diamond ring was set in the shape of a teardrop on top of a silver band, the diamond encrusted wedding band curved around the top of the diamond to fit together perfectly. Caspian’s wedding ring was silver and wide, but otherwise plain. We had just come from our private wedding ceremony on a beach near Charleston. It was just us and our twins still growing inside my belly, married by a human officiant. Last week I completed the Luna ceremony and had my coronation, officially being sworn in as the Queen Luna and accepted by the Royal Legacy pack.

A wedding wasn’t needed, but it was something both Caspian and I wanted before the babies were born. Twin boys were waiting patiently to grace our world, in fact, they were due in only a few weeks time. Sebastian and Alexander Storm would be the future princes of the werewolf realm, named after two women who lost their lives so Caspian and I could have ours: Sabrina and Alice.

Sebastian and Alexander would be born into a world without Cohen, Lord of the rogues, and without Corbin Cooper, their vial but confused grandfather. It is also Caspian and I’s hope that they grow up in a world without rogues, without bitter werewolves; a world where all the realms and species could join together and find peace.

Only a week after Cohen and Corbin were captured, they were executed after a royal trial. The Archer’s found all the rogues we sent to them guilty of conspiring against the realm and, with no interest in switching sides or pledging their loyalty, the rogues were executed as well. Reid was nowhere to be found.

My first act as the Luna Queen has already been set in motion. A refugee pack would be created inside the realm, welcoming every single rogue or packless wolf into its ranks with no questions asked. Anyone could join the Redemption pack and start over, creating a new identity for themselves if they saw fit.

We would offer them a home and a new beginning; one last chance. Should they waste their chance, should they choose violence or move against the royal family, they would be handed over to the Archer’s for questioning, imprisonment, or execution. With this, we hoped to bridge the gap within our own species.

Then there was Vivian, whose parents completely freaked out once inside the realm and bailed almost immediately. They had nothing against the werewolves and offered all the support in the world for Viv and myself, but they couldn’t handle living inside a completely new realm. They did, however, agree to franchise their bar. Thus the Wolf’s Den, under the management of Vivian Ryan and myself, was born.

Toonly, Clyde, and Sophia denounced their loyalty to Alpha Avery in order to join the Redemption pack. They wanted to continue working at the bar and stay close to us. With that, came a new wave of business to the realm. Slowly, Caspian was getting his wish to create an independent werewolf realm. We now had several restaurants, two grocery stores, an ice cream parlor, even an arcade. A mall was in the works as we speak.

“I love you so much, dearest.” Caspian purred as he wrapped his arms around me, keeping me close to his body.

“I love you, too, Alpha.” I said, running my hand through his loose hair.

“And I love you, two.” He mumbled to my belly, giving it a kiss before rising up to claim my lips with his.

“To think I ever thought I could live without you.” He whispered against my lips.

“What were you thinking?” I teased and he laughed, shaking his head.

“I wasn’t, clearly.”

“It’s okay, Alpha, I’m here to think for you now.” I said and Caspian threw back his head, laughing to the clear blue sky.

“Forever and always, my dear Luna.”

“Forever and always.” I echoed, pulling his face back to mine and consuming him.

Long live Alpha King Caspian and his starry eyed, curly haired Luna Queen, Junie; forever and always.

****Continue the royal family’s legacy in “The Royal Twins of La Lune”