“So much will be happening in the next year. I just hope there isn’t much trouble since our men are still searching for the pups sold by the hunters,” Claira sighs, looking at Savannah.
“Well, even if there are problems, I am sure we can all handle them,” Hannah reassures her friend, her smirk spreading into a blinding smile.
“After all, I am the king’s luna, and I will make sure our people have a bright future ahead,” she adds, turning to look at me.
That’s right. Hannah—my smart, beautiful Hannah—is my luna. I know that with her by my side, our future will be bright, and our people will enjoy prosperity.
80
Hannah
Nine Years Later
Looking at Saben as he packs his suitcase, I feel a pang in my chest while Savannah and Maria whimper on his bed. Tomorrow, my son will be going to Moon Academy to train and become a strong alpha king one day. I knew that when we proposed the idea of an academy where wolves would train, it would inevitably lead to my pups going there themselves; I just never thought it would be so soon.
“I’m all packed,” Saben sighs, running a hand through his messy white hair.
“Do you have to go, Sabe?” Savannah asks, her blue eyes filled with unshed tears.
“Unfortunately, I do. As the next alpha king, I also need to attend Moon Academy to show good faith that our parents were right inbuilding the school,” Saben answers, climbing into bed between his two sisters and pulling them to his side.
“But we won’t get to see you every day,” Maria chimes in, her blue eyes—so much like mine—already spilling tears, making me sigh.
Pushing off from the door frame, I slowly walk to the end of the bed and sit down in front of my three pups. “Saben will be back for winter break and summer break. Then, next September, Savannah will join him at the academy,” I say, giving my girls a reassuring smile. “It won’t be long until you all are at school together, annoying all the teachers there,” I continue.
“Like Auntie Aileen?” Savannah asks, making me chuckle.
“Yes, like Auntie Aileen, who teaches history,” I answer, reaching out and poking her nose.
“Not only that, but Grandpa Aidan will be there teaching combat training and woodshop this year for the first semester,” Julian calls from behind me.
Turning to look at the door, I watch as my mate walks in, plopping down onto the bed on the other side and looking at our pups in turn.
“Now, I know it’s going to be difficult for us not to have Saben around,” he adds. “But in two years, when Maria turns fourteen, your mother and I will be left alone while the three of you enjoy school. So, let’s enjoy tonight and send Saben off with a smile tomorrow.”
The girls look hesitant, their blue eyes wide and filled with reluctance to see Saben go, but they nod nonetheless and ask if we could have a movie night down the hall. Julian agrees before I can say anything, telling our daughters to head to our family room and pick a movie for us to watch while we talk with Saben.
“Are you sure you have everything you need?” I ask my son, reaching for his hand. He nods, his happy smile crumbling as he scoots closer to me, throwing himself into my arms. I hug him tight, breathing in his mango custard scent as I fight back tears.
“I just wish I could stay here with everyone,” he whimpers, his voice cracking. My heart breaks at this, but I know that I need to be strong.
“I know, baby. But you knew this day would come,” I whisper, my voice cracking as well.
For five years, it was just Saben and me, with Haven Trail supporting us. Watching my firstborn pup leave and slowly become a man hurts. I am not ready to let him go, but I know it has to be done for him to become a good alpha king one day.
“You know you can always call us every night,” Julian says calmly. I reach into the mate bond, feeling his own wavering emotions at the thought of our son leaving tomorrow.
“I know, Papa,” Saben sighs, slowly pulling out of my embrace to hug his father.
“I just… I hate the thought of being away from Savannah,” he whispers.
Julian and I look at each other in shock but say nothing.
Four years ago, it was Aileen who first noticed how close Saben and Savannah had become. She mentioned she’d seen this kind of bond before in young witches—often a sign that the other person was the witch’s mate. At the time, we chalked it up to paranoia.
But as the years passed, we began to notice the difference ourselves. While Saben treated Maria like a bratty little sister at times, he always doted on Savannah. That’s when we started to suspect they might be mates, though we hoped we were wrong.
“Savannah will be fine,” I reassure my son, taking his hand in mine and patting it.
