The Crown's Entrapment

As the moon rose, it was decided that Clara and Gilas should stay at Cordon Castle for the night. It was already too late for them to begin their journey back to Keen Manor, and it was also because the Queen Mother had invited the couple to have dinner with her.

As such, they both went to the dining hall. As soon as they entered, there was a brief silence as they shared a few greetings and pleasantries. From there, dinner finally commenced.

[The atmosphere feels weird,] Clara couldn't help but telepathically talk to Gilas who was currently sitting beside her.

[It's been a tiring day for everyone,] Gilas replied. [There's still no good news about Osman, which is understandably bringing the mood down.]

Clara could only agree in silence. Still, it would be nice if someone broke this awkward silence. Thankfully, the Queen broke it with a casual question.

"How's the renovation for Pinra's future accommodations?" Xenia asked.

"It started this morning, Your Grace," Gilas promptly answered. "It'll be finished in a week's time at the earliest. We want to make sure that it has a strong foundation so that Pinra won't be able to escape so easily."

"That's good," the Queen nodded. "Still, it really looks like she's truly unstable according to the physician who looks after her. I will also have Lady Jayra check on her as soon as she returns here…"

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Grace," Gilas politely answered.

"I heard your Mother visited her again?" Queen Mother Savannah casually commented.

"What?! You let Mother see her again!?"

Clara couldn't help herself as she burst out her disbelief. She was honestly against the first visit from even happening, and now her mother-in-law went down that horrendous dungeon again. She was getting way too uncomfortable in letting her mother-in-law go down such dangerous places.

There was a brief silence before Gilas telepathically said, [Let's talk about this later, please.]

Clara simply pursed her lips while Gilas gave the Queen Mother a smile. "Mother feels pity for her. Not that she didn't want Pinra to pay for her crimes, but somehow, she thinks that Pinra still deserves her werewolf rights as a part of our family," he explained. "She feels that Pinra only became who she is now because of how Nasser groomed her. She thinks that she's also one of his numerous victims…"

"Hah! How many times do I have to reiterate that Pinra always had a choice on what she wanted in her life?" Clara scoffed. "It's not like Nasser threatened her as he did to you! She did all those things because of her desperation to please that beast of a father of hers!"

"Dear, let's stray from this topic for now," the Queen Mother quickly interrupted. "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. We can't do anything about it now, especially if Lady Shila truly feels that way. I mean, I'm not saying you're wrong, Clara, but we also have to admit that at one point or another… Lady Shila also has her point. But enough with that, how about you, dear?"

Clara blinked at her mother figure. "What about me, your Highness?"

Seeing that playful smirk form on the Queen Mother's lips gave her an awkward expression of her own. She had a feeling that the next few words she was about to hear were going to be rather embarrassing.

[Get ready…] Sheba teased.

"Please call me Mother like you used to, Clara," the Queen Mother insisted. She then continued, "Well, how are you and Gilas? Hmm… You two now share the same scent, which only means one thing…"

Those words were all she needed to hear to start trying to hide the blush threatening to form on her cheeks. And if that wasn't enough for her, Xenia suddenly burst out, "You finally did it! You two completed the Bond!"

Clara almost choked on her own saliva upon hearing the Queen's words.

"We did, yes," Gilas proudly declared.

She turned at her mate in disbelief.

[Look at those smiles!] her wolf amusingly remarked. [I bet he just wants to declare the fact to the whole world at this rate.]

"Oh, then can I also start expecting future pups soon with you, my dear?" The Queen Mother added, as if still not satisfied with how red Clara was getting right now in her embarrassment.

Good grief… She just wanted to dig a hole right now and bury herself there for a few years.

Xenia chuckled clearly enjoying how her friend had turned as red as the ripest tomato on the table. "Our dear Clara is blushing so hard, Mother," she smiled. "We shouldn't tease her anymore. She might explode."

Clara let out a small sigh of relief. Well, she was at least glad that her embarrassment had lightened the mood in the hall. She at least made Xenia and the Queen Mother smile.

"I'm fine. It's just that this is a bit new to me," Clara timidly explained herself. "Still, I would be glad if I can bear Gilas a child and give your mother and my mother-in-law another grandchild."

She then gulped when she suddenly felt Gilas's hand grab hers from under the table, holding onto her warmly and gently squeezing it as a form of reassurance. She could also feel his emotions, and a beautiful smile carved itself onto her face knowing how her mate was feeling like he was on cloud nine like that. She wanted that feeling of fulfillment that Gilas was having… and she was feeling blissful enough that she put down her wall and let her mate feel her emotions. There were no words between them at that moment. Their emotions were more than enough to let each other know of their genuine feelings at that exact moment.

From there, the dinner went as well as possibly could. It was a pleasant experience, and as soon as it was finished, Clarahe and Gilas walked hand in hand to their bedchamber within the castle. On their way back, Gilas decided to lead them into the inner courtyard to look at the night sky. Clara followed suit, not caring about the fact that they were holding each other's hands out in public. She didn't know why it was making her smile, but she welcomed it regardless.

"Did you really miss me?" Gilas suddenly asked, making her turn to him.

She had planned on staring at him intently, but it would seem that he was already doing that to her. Her face became flushed upon catching him in the act. Since when did he start staring at her? Did he see her smiling on her own?

"Yes," she confidently answered.

That was truly what she felt. She was with Bella during their search, but Gilas nevertheless occupied her thoughts despite everything that she was doing.

Gilas's lips stretched wide at her answer, and she felt his hand pinching her chin as he replied. "I missed you too so badly," he whispered. "Let's head inside and not disappoint our elders. After all, you too are anticipating getting pregnant…" he open-handedly teased.

She frowned. "You! Ho-"

But before she could start complaining, Gilas had already shut her up by sealing her lips with his hungry kiss.