The Crown's Entrapment

At Keen Manor, Silver Crescent Moon

Gilas decided that it was finally time to introduce Clara to the rest of the Silver Crescent Pack. It had been a long time coming. And with his mate already more than willing to be his Luna, it was only a matter of time until she had to participate in the running of their Pack and territory.

[She still hasn't marked you back though and you two didn't mate yet,] Ham reminded. [Some might question if she truly wants to be your mate.]

[It'll happen when it happens,] Gilas casually replied to his wolf. [I won't rush her. No matter how much we both want it to happen, I want her to be willing when we eventually mate.]

It wasn't even an if anymore. If anything, it was all but guaranteed that they would complete the Mate Bond some time in the future. Maybe it wasn't now or tomorrow, but it will happen, and he would be waiting for her with open arms.

In the meantime, he would just have to make sure that she was going to be comfortable in doing so. And if that meant easing her along into getting her to love him, then he was more than eager to do his job.

[And here you were just saying that you'd wait for her,] Ham scoffed. [You're only justifying yourself for your own morals. In truth, you can't wait for her to jump on us.]

[Can you blame me?] Gilas scoffed. [She's just that beautiful. And I know that she likes me back. I just have to make her comfortable enough to really show it without questioning herself.]

While it was cute to see Clara trying her best to deny her own feelings, it was equally frustrating to see her do it even after she had already admitted to some of them herself. She was just that proud, even moreso than an actual King or Queen at times.

[But that only makes her all the more alluring to you, isn't it.]

Gilas couldn't help but nod. That indeed was one of Clara's best traits. She had confidence in her that just lured him in. Combined with her beauty and personality, it was a recipe that even the Mate Pull would sometimes pale in comparison.

'But enough about Clara... We still have breakfast to attend to...'

Shaking his head out of his musings, Gilas prepared himself to go to do dining room. With Clara still asleep, he wanted to cook for her himself as a surprise gift for helping them with cleaning up the manor.

"I'll be right back," he whispered into her ear, her faint breaths almost making him groan with how innocent and peaceful she looked in her sleep. "I just need to cook you breakfast."

Almost regrettably, Gilas peeled himself off of her and made for the door. If anything, she might not even wake up on time for breakfast with how tired she was. Maybe he could just bring breakfast to her instead?

"Depends on her," he chuckled as he closed the door behind him. "Either way, I won't stop pampering you until you're truly mine...."

***

Clara woke up with a light groan. Stretching her limbs, she could only assume that it was already well into the morning with how high the sun already was out from the window. Not that it changed the fact that she woke with Gilas's side of the bed feeling colder than she would've liked. Why in the world did he not wake him up?

...

...

She blinked in resignation at her wolf's lack of an answer. Then again, she couldn't really blame her. She understood Sheba's insistence to do exactly what was wanted from them, but...

"No... Not yet..."

Shaking her head, Clara stood up and prepared herself for the day. She couldn't really recall if there was something she had to do that day, but it was better for her to be ready just in case she was needed somewhere.

After making sure that she was presentable, Clara went ahead and went downstairs. She was just by the dining room when she took in the most delectable scent, a dish that reminded her of a time when Gilas cooked for her.

And sure enough, the moment she entered, Gilas and Lady Shila were seated at the table, both of them looking at her with a smile as they greeted her.

"Good morning, Clara," Shila warmly smiled. "You're just in time. Gilas cooked us breakfast, and he was just about to bring you breakfast when you arrived."

"O-Oh," she stuttered with a blush, her heart being caught off-guard by the mention of her mate's efforts. "I-Thank you."

"Have a seat," Gilas smiled at her, his delight at her reaction apparent with how warmly he looked at her. "We still have a lot to do today."

Clara blinked as she took her seat beside Gilas. "We do?"

"I've decided to introduce you to the rest of the pack today," he explained. "It's going to happen anyway, so we might as well do so while we still have the time."

"I see..." she pensively replied, her chest tightening at the prospect.

Clara couldn't help but ponder on what Gilas just said to her. To think that she was going to be introduced to his pack... As his Luna, no less... It was one thing to admit to him that he was fine with being his Luna, but to admit it to others? Was she even ready for it?

"Clara?" Shila worriedly asked, interrupting her from her thoughts. "Is there something wrong?"

Her eyes widened as she quickly replied, "Oh, nothing! It just took me by surprise, is all."

"You did say that you're going to be my Luna," Gilas chuckled, giving some levity to the atmosphere by lightening the mood. "You were an Alpha once, so you know that letting people know who's in charge is important for leading."

"Of course, I do," Clara scoffed, having regained her composure as she replied. "I just didn't expect it to happen this soon."

"Well, now you know," Gilas cheekily replied.

Clara was about to reply with a cutting reply when she saw just how happy Lady Shila looked as she watched them talk. Like last night, she was delighted to see them talking like a married couple. Granted, last night was something that almost spiraled out of control, she couldn't help but keep the woman in mind with each conversation.

If it meant that Lady Shila would be happy, then perhaps she should cut down on the constant back and forth between her and Gilas...