Chapter 34

After the rehearsal I was exhausted and in desperate need of food and rest. The queen’s reassurance had been a good boost, but in truth I was still feeling defeated, especially when I got back to my room only to find Lorenzo gone. It made me feel foolish for being excited about telling him about my day.

But, I couldn’t let my focus drift towards relationship (if you could even call what we had a relationship) drama. I had a welcome dinner to attend. Grateful that the Black Moon betas had packed for me, I threw on the simplest dress in my suitcase, retouched my makeup and hair and went to dinner.

There was cheerful music and conversation emanating from the dining hall when I arrived, the pleasant sounds drawing me in. I was greeted by one of the palace betas.

“Good evening madam, let me show you to your seat,” he said and I followed him, trying to take in how grand the room was. The table could have easily seated fifty people, with gold and crystal dishes and purple place settings, each placed in front of an ornate gold cushioned chair. It looked more like we would be sitting on thrones than dining chairs.

The beta led me to my seat and pulled my chair out for me, adjusting it as I sat so I would be comfortable. I removed my name card from my plate so it wouldn’t be in the way, but only then did I notice that the name cards next to mine weren’t who I expected.

My head snapped up and I glanced hurriedly around, my eyes finally landing on the opposite side of the table where Lorenzo sat… next to Cate. He was busy in conversation with a man on his other side, but he didn’t seem to notice the fact that I wasn’t with him.

What was going on? Was this some kind of strange tradition? Did they not know I was his luna and that I should be sat by his side? I began to panic internally wondering what Lorenzo would be thinking when a cough pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Excuse me, I believe I’m supposed to be sitting next to you,” a deep sultry voice came from just above me. I looked up only to find myself staring at none other than the Grand Prince. His amber eyes bore into mine with what appeared to be shyness, but there was also something deeper, something more hungry.

“Um.. Um..” I stammered, feeling like a fish gasping for water as I awkwardly tried to shuffle and make room for the man as he sat next to me. I saw him smile at me as he sat, then his expression changed as he looked at my name card.

“You’re Eleanor Wright? Well that certainly makes sense, I am quite pleased to have you at my right hand this evening,” the Grand Prince said in a tone that sounded almost coy.

“It makes sense?” I asked, desperately confused and wishing I could hide as I could suddenly feel multiple pairs of eyes focusing in my direction.

“Oh you’re too funny. You know, I’ve always been fascinated by my mother’s Luna Dancers, so much grace and poise… and I can only imagine impossibly flexible,” the Grand Prince said, his eyes gliding over my body, tilting his head so he could see where my legs disappeared under the table. I swallowed nervously.

Was he… flirting with me?

I almost rolled my eyes at my own stupidity. Of course he was flirting, I’d heard rumors about how sleazy the Grand Prince could be and I mentally prepared for his onslaught of attempts to woo me that would undoubtedly be the main subject of this meal. What had I done to deserve this?

After what seemed like hours of enduring horrendous pickup lines and mansplaining, the food finally arrived. I sat back as the waiter delivered the first course: a delicious looking soup that I thought might finally cure some of my unease. But as the waiter set my plate down, he almost spilled it all over me.

“Oh, I’m so sorry about that, please, uh, do enjoy,” he said apologetically, and if I didn’t know any better he had seemed nervous beforehand. He seemed exceedingly sweaty and anxious, and I watched him curiously as he almost sprinted back to the kitchen, nearly tripping on the other waiters as he glanced back at me.

I decided to ignore it, figuring it was just my luck and chose to dig into my meal — anything to avoid more conversation with the Grand Prince. The soup was the most delicious thing I’d ever tasted, melting in my mouth and filling my stomach with impossible warmth.

Then the heat began to pool lower than my stomach, expanding all the way from my core down my legs. My head began to swim and I blinked as the world started to swirl with a pink tinge and my vision blurred. I tried to steady myself against the table but nothing helped as I felt my wolf start to react deep within me.

Something was wrong, I needed to leave. Without another word I pushed myself away from the table and ran to the nearest exit. What had gotten into me?

Lorenzo’s POV

Lorenzo had been among the first to arrive at dinner that evening, hoping he would catch a glimpse of the Lycan King and exchange a few words. Of course he found out that the king would not be attending after he sat down, and before he could get up to speak with one of the waiters, Cate plopped down in the seat next to him.

That’s how Lorenzo got trapped next to his ex. That’s how Lorenzo got a front row seat watching the Grand Prince flirt with Eleanor for the entire meal. It had taken everything, all of his willpower not to lunge across the table and tear out the Grand Prince’s throat. Lorenzo’s wolf was going crazy and there was nothing he could do.

That was until the food arrived and moments later Eleanor was running out of the dining hall. Lorenzo’s attention was drawn to her immediately, his wolf agitated at the possibility of her distress.

“How embarrassing, disgracing the royal family’s staff by running away from the table,” Cate said next to him but Lorenzo couldn’t even think about anything but Eleanor. The moment he saw her disappear he excused himself without even looking at anyone and then ran off, his wolf pulling him towards Eleanor.

On his way out of the dining hall Lorenzo nearly crashes into a waiter. He’s sweaty and has a strange smell on him, and when he makes eye contact with Lorenzo he nearly faints.

“You, did you see where my luna went?” Lorenzo asks, grabbing the waiter by the collar.

“Eleanor Wright? No um, I haven’t seen her since I laced, I mean placed her food,” the waiter mumbled out, his eyes wrought with panic.

“What did you do to her? Tell me NOW!” Lorenzo’s voice echoed throughout the hallway, his eyes glowing

red as his wolf began to emerge.

“I only did what I was told! Cate paid me to put something in her food, I couldn’t refuse I’m so sorry please don’t kill me,” the waiter spilled immediately before Lorenzo threw him down and stormed down the hall. His wolf led him to a small parlor in a quiet corner of the palace, inside he could hear panting.

Eleanor.

Lorenzo burst into the room and couldn’t believe what he saw in front of him. How was he supposed to resist?