Chapter 27
Elena’s POV
+25 BORUS
We all turned around to meet Prince Deacon’s humorous eyes despite the sternness we had heard in his voice seconds earlier.
Seeing as he was merely teasing, I smiled and raised the bottle. “Come on, Prince Deacon, it’s only a little drink.”
“A little?” He raised his brows as he approached our table and grabbed the drink from my hand. He lifted it to his nose and took a quick sniff. “A little drink but of a whisky… Really?”
I shrugged my shoulders and kept silent.
“It’s only for a celebration, Prince Deacon. Don’t be a party pooper!” Maise uttered, once again, with a mouth out of control.
Saige and I looked at her with wide eyes before we cautiously looked back at Prince Deacon, expecting him to be angry.
Unexpectedly, he only shook his head and grinned. “Enough with the excuses, ladies. We can’t have you all tipsy or drunk while in a war, could we?”
“But…”
“No more words. Rules are rules, This…” He gestured to the bottle he was holding and put it on his back. “I’ll be keeping this. You guys rest up first. It’s been a long night.”
I stared at his back as he turned around. Though disappointed as I was an inch away from having a drink, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized with him.
Though he appeared aloof and dominant before, he was surprisingly down–to–earth and easy to go with once he warmed up to people. For a prince, he was very approachable. No… he didn’t even seem like a prince with how humble he was.
He had authority and leadership, but I saw no ego of royalty, which was a fresh attitude from the royals. “Wait… Didn’t he say he was here about something?” Maisy tapped my arm.
Saige nodded and pointed at Prince Deacon in the same confusion. “Was he just here to stop us from drinking?” “Oh, right!” Prince Deacon halted just a step away from leaving the tent door and looked back at us as if he heard us. “You’re all invited to join all the warriors tomorrow night for a proper celebration after we clear the battleground.”
Then, his smile widened into a teasing grin. “You guys can have your fill then.”
With that, he gave me a quick wink that sucked my soul before he completely left, leaving my heart hanging with unknown emotions.
“Is that really the prince?”
“I can’t believe it!”
“He’s so humble. He’s actually joking with us!
“Right? As the god of war, I thought he’d be more scary.”
I heard Maise and Saige talking and praising Prince Deacon, but all I could hear now was the deafening sound of my heart pounding in my chest.
1/2
Chapter 27
+25 BONUS
The next evening, I wore a simple black fitted crop top paired with brown and green camouflage khakis and combat boots. As I approached the gathering in the back area of the camp, the place that was once filled with screams of pain was now filled with lively chatters.
Long logs were placed everywhere, and a bonfire was in the middle of each group. The entire place was filled with warriors. Though some had injuries, they all cheered together in celebration.
“Yes, she is good. Better than I expected!”
“I couldn’t believe a woman like Luna Elena could be so fierce in battle.”
“I didn’t expect it as well!”
When I heard my name distinctively from various groups, a smile instantly formed on my lips. They had already accepted me. Far different from when I first came here.
I was about to step forward and grab drinks and snacks when I met eyes with an older warrior who was still buffed and looked strong for his age.
He suddenly stood up and tapped those beside him to shut up as he raised his glass. “To Luna Elena, who is fiercer than men in battle!”
Everyone cheered, and for the first time, I felt my face heat up from all the praise. I tapped my cheeks to calm down and waved my hand in humble disagreement.
Suddenly, after they quieted down, the elder warrior’s eyes stared at me deeper before a proud smile crept into his lips. “You remind me so much of your father, Elena. I’m Harold Dwayne, you can call me Uncle Dwayne if you want. Your father was one of the greatest men I’ve fought alongside him.”
Warmth filled my soul, and a smile formed on my lips as my eyes softened at the mention of my father. “T–thank you… I hope I can live up to his name, though I still have a long way to go.”
Someone handed me a drink, and they scooted over to give me a space. I halted for a second when I realized that the space was beside Prince Deacon.
“What, afraid to sit with me?” he teased.
Exaggeratedly, I slammed myself beside him. “Who’s afraid?”
We stared at each other for a while, almost lost in each other’s eyes, when Uncle Dwayne suddenly spoke again. His words were like cold water drenching my body.
“Alpha Bryson and his pack were very blessed to be married to you.”
My chest instantly tightened as a bitter smile threatened to escape my lips, but I tried to hide it and only gave him an empty glance.
“He’s right! Let me tell you this, Luna Elena. If Alpha Bryson ever mistreats you, he’ll have all of us teach him a lesson, isn’t that right?” Tyson, Prince Deacon’s Beta, added, which caused the others to shout and raise their glasses in agreement.
I swallowed the pain filling my heart as I watched all of them being protective and supportive They were filled with smiles, totally clueless about the recent happenings in the kingdom.
‘he same time.
Opening my lips, I planned to come clean but then remembered my friend’s advice. Hence, I closed it again.
“Did Bryson bully you?”
My heart skipped a beat as I almost had a whiplash when I turned to look at Prince Deacon,
2/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 28
