He Crowned Her Luna. The Moon Crowned Me. novel · Chapter 2 of 24

Chapter 2: The Release Words

Heath and Verity offer Margo a cottage and money if she will speak the release at dawn. She won't be hurried, and Maisy sees the mark on her wrist and goes white, then a stranger knocks.

By the time I reached the packhouse, my clothes were already in boxes.

Six of them stood in the front hall, taped shut, with MARGO written on each in Imogen's round handwriting.

She had labeled them that afternoon, before the speeches.

I stood there with my wrist still glowing faintly in the dark and read my own name six times.

"Mags." Heath's voice came from the study. "In here, please."

The study smelled of cedar and coffee.

Heath sat behind his desk with his jacket off and his watch chain hanging loose.

Verity sat in the leather chair by the window with her cane across her knees.

Imogen was not there, and I was glad.

"That was dramatic," Heath said. "Walking out in front of everyone."

"You told them I was done," I said. "I took it from there."

Verity sighed and patted the arm of the other chair.

"Sit, dear. Nobody wants a scene. We want this settled kindly."

I stayed on my feet.

Heath folded his hands on the blotter.

"Here's what we're offering. You say the release words at the Stone at dawn. Ten minutes, a few witnesses. In return you get the east cottage for life, and a monthly check from the pack."

"How much?" I asked.

"Four thousand," Heath said. "Every month."

"I ran this pack's kitchens and linens for five years," I said. "I know what four thousand covers."

He didn't smile.

"The pack can't have two Lunas, Margo. Until you speak the words, Imogen's crown is only a hat."

"And if I don't speak them at dawn?"

Verity answered, gently.

"Then the Alpha's announcement stands unfinished, and the pack gets restless, and nobody gets the cottage."

I looked at Heath.

He had been my husband for five years, and he had never once raised his voice to me.

He was not raising it now.

"Did the Moon really show you Imogen?" I asked.

"Yes."

He said it right away, with no pause at all.

"Then you won't mind telling me which elder stood witness at the Stone."

Something moved behind his eyes and was gone.

"We'll go through all of it at dawn," he said.

I turned to Verity.

"Why did the cuff have to stay locked for five years?"

"It's the Luna's seal, dear," Verity said. "It has to be kept safe."

"On my wrist."

"Where else?"

Her eyes went to my left arm.

They stayed there one moment too long, and then she looked at the window.

"I'm not going to say anything tonight," I said. "I'll hear what you have to say at dawn, and then I'll decide."

Heath stood up.

"You'll say it, Margo. You've never made a fuss in your life."

He was right about that, and it was the worst thing he'd said all night.

I walked out.

Maisy was waiting at the foot of the stairs in her green cardigan, with her car keys already in her hand.

She had pulled her short red hair up into a clip, which she only did when she was furious.

"I told the guard at the door that a healer can take any wolf in shock," she said. "So you're in shock. Come on."

"I'm not in shock."

"Then you're doing a great impression. Get in the car."

Her cottage sat behind the clinic, at the edge of the east lawn.

She sat me at her kitchen table under the lamp and put the kettle on.

Then she looked at my wrist and the kettle was forgotten.

"Margo," she said slowly. "Hold your arm under the light."

I held it out.

The crescent had faded a little in the lamplight, but it was still there, thin and silver on the pale skin.

Maisy went white.

She took my hand in both of hers and turned it over, and her fingers were shaking.

"What?" I said.

"My gran had a book," Maisy said. "Old healers' notes. There was a drawing of this in it."

"Of what?"

"A Moon mark." She swallowed. "It's not something a wolf gets by being born. The Moon puts it there, and it only shows when your mate is close enough to see it."

I laughed, because it was that or cry.

"I'm not anyone's mate. My husband just handed my crown to someone else in front of everyone I know."

"Heath isn't your mate," Maisy said.

"Then who is?"

"I don't know." She was still looking at my wrist. "But he was close enough tonight to make it light up, and so was someone at the back of that hall."

I thought of the growl.

I thought of the man in the worn wool coat, and his sound filling the room.

Somebody knocked on the front door, three slow knocks.

Maisy and I looked at each other.

She went to the door, and I heard it open.

"I'm sorry for the hour," a man's voice said, low and steady. "My name is Torben Roake. I'm the Alpha of Blackfern."

He didn't wait for her to answer.

"I crossed the pass to ask the Luna of Ridgemoor one question," he said. "I was told she's here."

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