The Luna Queen - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

_Leah's POV_
The next morning, I woke to the gentle sound of birds chirping outside the mansion’s tall windows. I blinked slowly, my eyes adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the heavy curtains. Beside me, Tariq was already awake, his gaze fixed on me with a warm, contented smile. He kissed my forehead softly.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” he murmured.
I gave him a small smile in return, though my mind was still clouded with doubts from the night before. I had agreed to marry him, but part of me still felt unsettled. The nagging feeling that something wasn’t right refused to leave me.
We dressed in silence, and soon Tariq led me down to the dining hall for breakfast. The room was grand, with a long wooden table that could easily seat over a dozen people. I noticed that the table was already set with a variety of dishes, all looking far more extravagant than what I was used to.
As we sat, Tariq began eating with enthusiasm, filling his plate with food and savoring every bite. I, however, just stared at my plate, absent-mindedly pushing my food around. I wasn’t hungry. My mind was still racing with thoughts about the proposal, about my future, and about Kayden.
Tariq looked up, noticing my untouched plate. “Leah, are you not eating?” His brow furrowed with concern. “Is the food not to your liking?”
I quickly shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I’m just not that hungry.”
Tariq frowned slightly, then turned toward one of the maids who was standing by the door. “Bring more food. Something different, more variety for the queen,” he ordered, his voice firm.
The maid nodded and left swiftly. “Yes, my king.”
My stomach tightened at the title. King. Queen. It felt strange, almost surreal. I wasn’t used to being referred to as royalty. The words felt heavy, like they carried expectations I wasn’t sure I could live up to.
Tariq turned back to me, taking my hand in his. He brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. “I want you to be happy, Leah,” he said softly, his dark eyes filled with affection. “You deserve the best.”
I nodded, feeling my heart tug in two different directions. He was so kind, so caring. He had done everything for me. But even as I sat beside him, my wolf, Athena, stirred restlessly within me.
Soon, the maid returned with a large tray filled with different types of food. She set it on the table, bowing slightly before stepping back. There were fluffy pancakes topped with fresh berries and cream, crispy bacon, an array of sweet pastries, and rich, golden omelets filled with cheese and herbs. Tariq smiled and placed a bit of everything on my plate.
“Try this, sweetheart,” he said. “You’ll like it. I promise.”
I hesitated for a moment but then picked up my fork and took a bite of the omelet. The flavor burst in my mouth, and I couldn’t help but smile a little. It was delicious, rich and savory, with just the right amount of seasoning.
“It’s really good,” I admitted, glancing up at the maid. “Please compliment the cook for me.”
The maid smiled, nodding before retreating from the room. I continued eating, finding that the food eased some of my nerves, at least for a moment.
As we ate, Susan entered the room, her eyes immediately landing on the ring that sparkled on my finger. A bright smile spread across her face.
“I see that my son has already proposed to you,” she said, her tone light and teasing.
I felt my cheeks flush, and I nodded, lowering my gaze shyly. “Yes,” I said softly. “He did.”
Susan beamed with approval. “That’s wonderful news! We’ll have to start planning the wedding immediately.”
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the wedding. I wasn’t ready. Everything was happening so fast. I had only just accepted Tariq’s proposal, and now they were talking about the wedding already?
“Isn’t it a bit too soon?” I asked quietly, glancing at Tariq. My voice was hesitant, as if I were afraid to disappoint him.
Tariq shook his head, a determined look in his eyes. “Why would you think that, sweetheart? There’s no reason to wait. We love each other, and there’s no point in delaying a good thing.”
Susan nodded in agreement. “He’s right, Leah. The sooner, the better. There’s so much to prepare. The decorations, the invitations, the clothes… Oh, I have so many ideas!”
I felt a knot form in my stomach as I listened to them talk. They were already discussing the details, planning everything as if it was a done deal. But my mind was spinning. I hadn’t even had time to process everything. I had been through so much recently; the ritual, the discovery of my powers, the confusion over my feelings for Kayden and Tariq. It was all too much, too soon.
As Tariq and Susan continued talking about the wedding, I sat quietly, my thoughts drifting away from the conversation. I wasn’t ready to get married, not like this. I needed more time, time to think, time to heal from everything that had happened. But Tariq seemed so happy, so excited. He was talking about the flowers, the colors, the ceremony, and all I could do was nod along, even though my heart wasn’t in it.
Athena stirred within me again, her presence strong and insistent. "This isn’t right, Leah," my wolf whispered. "We need more time."
I clenched my hands in my lap, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. I didn’t want to hurt Tariq. He had been nothing but good to me. He had saved me, stood by me when Kayden had rejected me. But despite all of that, I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling in my chest.
Tariq reached for my hand again, squeezing it gently. “Leah, are you excited? We’re going to have the most beautiful wedding.”
I forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Yes, of course,” I lied. I wasn’t excited. I was terrified.
Tariq and Susan continued discussing the arrangements, their voices full of energy and excitement. I tried to listen, tried to force myself to engage in the conversation, but all I could think about was how much I wasn’t ready for this. I needed more time to figure things out, to understand what I truly wanted.
But as I sat there, watching the people around me make plans for my future, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my choice had already been made, and now I was trapped, heading down a path I wasn’t sure I wanted to take.