Luna Rising

FOURTEEN

I feel like hours, days, weeks, even months. Sometimes I feel like it can be a decade just to walk down the hallway to reach a room.

Each on my side, the two Queens, talked and told stories about their lives, their childhood. Luckily, Satu didn't join but instead went to find King Ragnar.

I mostly know Queen Bisera's story. Queen Ingrid was a bit intriguing.

Before Queen Ingrid became the woman, she is now. She's the oldest daughter of an aristocrat. As a human, she was shy and kept things to herself, but her father did not favor her because of her timid behavior. Her half-younger sister, Vanessa, was spoiled by her parents and would often make Ingrid get caught in her schemes. Everything that Vanessa does, as her older sister, she takes the blame. Over 500 years ago, the discovery of man turning into a beast was highly dangerous to humans because of their supernatural abilities. The human things going to war with them doesn't have a chance. So, to bring peace between the humans and werewolves, they will offer one human bride to the Werewolf King.

None of the high and wealthy families doesn't wants their daughters to be married to a beast. Ingrid, however, to save her family, volunteered. As soon as she wed Ephraim Eldings, her life changed. At first, she was scared of him but the more she got to know the man who turned into a beast, the more she fell in love.

And just like Queen Bisera's roller coaster love story, Ingrid had her obstacles as well. Her sister tried to kill her and fell in love with Ephraim by pretending to be her. Her father raised a rebellion against the werewolves. A love rival who was in love with Ingrid wanted to save her from the beast. It was all chaotic, but till the end, she and Ephraim lived happily. Although Ingrid was human and her husband was immortal, to live long with her love, they did a Mating Ritual and became werewolves. Her story sounds like Beauty and the Beast, and I wonder if that's how they got the story from.

I may be annoyed that both Queens talk a lot, but in the process of listening to their love story, I felt pretty jealous.

They kept a smile on their faces as they mentioned their husbands and how much hardship they had been through.

My love story is nothing to be compared with theirs. I thought the life I would spend with Dominic would last. I thought I could be the best partner for him, but all I did was pretend he cared about me. No matter how mad he was towards me, I always smiled to hide the pain.

"Oh, dear, why are you crying, Lippy?"

I froze and touched my cheek as a tear fell from my eyes. I didn't realize the thought of my past life with Dominic could trigger my sad memories.

"Oh, sorry," wiping away tears from my irritating eyes. "I just thought of something."

I pinch my lips hard, fighting the urge not to cry in front of these amazing women. If only I were half as brave when it comes to love, then I wouldn't have died the first time.

My body flinches once Ingrid takes my hand into hers, they are warm and full of gentleness.

"Is this about you and Dom?" Asking out of the blue. I look away, my face flush."There is nothing to worry about," she tells me, giving a small smile. "I know you and Dom had your differences. You two are no longer together. I'm not going to hate you because you are not with him. You made a choice. But I like you, and I want us to be friends. Those rumors," she shakes her head. "I don't believe them."

"Same here," Queen Bisera blurt out and crosses her arms. "I want to find the bastard who spread such ridiculous stories and beat him up."

"No, Bisera, we shouldn't go on a rampage because we both adore Lippy. We should think about her opinion." Stopping her friend in a calmingly way. "How about we throw him in the volcano and let him burn."