Alpha King’s Wolfless Mate by Scarlett Higgins

Chapter 65

**Nora POV

The next morning, my thoughts were just as hard to reel in. I had seen the crimson wolf in my dreams again and it wouldn’t leave my mind. It felt like it meant something , but I had no idea what.

I needed to get out of the house and try to clear my head. I decided to let Blake know before I left. He had been very good about not hovering or being controlling since I had returned, but I knew that it made him uneasy not knowing where I was. Especially since his uncle had reappeared.

I found him in his office. He was glaring down at a stack of papers on his desk. He looked up when he heard me enter the room and his expression softened instantly.

“Good morning,” he greeted.

“Good morning,”I replied.“I just wanted to let youknow that I’m going for a walk around the city.”

Blake looked surprised, but he smiled happily at my words.“That’s a good idea,”he said.“Do you want me to send someone with you?”

I shook my head.“You don’t have to do that. I don’t plan to go very far. I just want to explore a bit.”

He smiled.“Have fun,”he answered earnestly.

I k*ssed him before I left. If going out to explore the city was all it took to make Blake smile like that, then I needed to do it more often. I hadn’t explored the territory much since becoming the queen. Things had been so hectic that I really hadn’t gotten a chance to.Truthfully, I was too nervous about doing something that might embarrass Blake. At this point, I was a little more confident in my royal etiquette, so it shouldn’t be an issue.

My desire to do more to support Blake and the pack was weighing on me. I needed to step up and find my place within the pack. I just didn’t know where to start. Learning the layou t of the city seemed like a good place to start.

I walked down the sidewalk and put on my best friendly smile for everyone that I passed. People smiled back, but it felt awkward. I could tell that no one was quite sure how to address me, so they didn’t. People grinned and nodded in greeting, some muttering a formal‘good morning;, then they looked away and quickened their pace.

It was disheartening, but I tried to keep the smile on my face. I reached a busy street that was lined with small shops. For some reason, the sight of the crowd made me nervous. I was about to turn back and go home, when I spotted bright red hair in the distance. It was Maisie.

The relief of seeing a familiar face gave me the push I needed to keep moving forward. As I was approaching Maisi e she spotted me.

“Good morning, Luna,”she said in greeting.

My smile fell at her use of the title. I felt like I didn’t deserve to be called the Luna and it was hard to hear it from her.“Good morning, Maisie,”I replied.

“What are you doing out here alone?” she asked.

I shrugged a little uncertainly.“I just wanted to explore the city,”I admitted.“I don’t know the territory very well yet.”“Oh,”she said in surprise.“I’d be happy to show youaround.”

“Really?”I asked in excitement.“That would begreat!I really have no idea where anything is.”

I was a little embarrassed by my response, but I was so relieved to have someone to keep me company.

“It’s my pleasure,” she replied.

We started to walk together. Maisi e point ed out different businesses and landmarks to me as we went. It was obvious that she knew the city like her own backyard. She was able to tell me who owned each building we passed and how long the businesses had been open for.

I was truly impressed by her thorough knowledge of the pack. It was clear that she cared a lot about everyone.

We were walking towards the local cafe when a little girl with brunette pigtails ran up to us. Her mother followed close at her heels with an apologetic smile on her face.

“Maisie!”the little girl squealed in excitement.

“Hello, Sophie,” Maisi e said with a kind smile.

The little girl threw her arms around Maisie’s legs and hugged her tightly.“I’m so happy you’re home! I bet you fought off all the mean guys all by yourself. I want to be just like you when I’m big enough!”

The girl’s mother laughed lightly.“I’m sorry,” she apologized.“She was just so excited to see you.”

“It’s fine,”Maisi e assured her.The woman turned to me and I saw her smile fall slightly.“Good morning, Luna,”she noted stiffly.

My heart sank, but I smiled and returned her greeting. Her reaction to Maisi e was so warm and affectionate, while she looked at me as a stranger.

I looked at the little girl as Maisi e spoke gently to her and ruffled her hair. This is what I was missing. I wanted to be as welcomed in by the pack as she was. There had to be a way that I could step up and become the Luna the pack needed.

The girl’s mother took her hand and they waved goodbye before continuing on their way down the sidewalk. We started to walk again, too, but our friendly conversation had vanished. I looked down at my feet thoughtfully as we went.

“Are you alright?”Maisi e asked after severalawkward minutes.

I shrugged uncertainly.

“I’m just thinking,”I muttered. The silence resumedfor another couple of blocks before I sighed in frustration.“It’s just that I want to find a way to contribute to the pack like a Luna should, but I don’t know how. Everyone is kind to me and I’m recognized as the Luna, but I don’t feel like I deserve it. Does that make sense?”

“I know exactly what you mean,”she stated.“I’vebeen with the pack for years, but it took time for me to find my place. I got lucky that Blake found me when I was alone in the Rogue Zone and found it in his heart to give me a chance. I was so young, barely 14. I think he just took pity on me. I wanted to show him that it wasn’t a mistake and I worked hard every day to do that.”Her voice was steady as she spoke, but I could see in her eyes that the subject meant a lot to her.

“Me too,”I replied softly.“I was banished to theRogue Zone when I met Blake. He saved my life.”

I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my face. Blake really made it a habit of going out of his way to help people. As gruff as he could appear at first, he had a soft streak a mile wide.

If it was possible, I think I would fall even more in love with him.

“Getting to know people is the best place to start,”Maisi e advised.“A big part of being Luna is helping people with their problems. People won’t feel comfortable coming to you if they don’t know you.”

I nodded in agreement. She made a good point. “How do I do that?”I asked.

“I have an idea, if you’re up for it,” she offered.

“I’ll try anything,”I answered honestly. If it meantthat I could become useful to the pack and become a better partner for Blake, then I was willing to try whatever she suggested.

Maisi e smiled and looked down the sidewalk thoughtfully.“Follow me.”

She picked up her pace and I trailed after her. As we walked, people continued to call out greetings to Maisi e and welcome her home. It made my heart swell to hear the way the people loved and respected her.

The fact that she came from a similar background to me and was so loved by the pack gave me hope. If I worked hard and stayed patient, I might just be able to become the Luna that the kingdomI wanted to make Bla ke proud and show that he had made the right choice when he made me his wife, even if it was out of desperation at the time.

The circumstances of our initial marriage didn’t matter when compared to the life we were working hard to make together.

And I wanted to contribute to that in any possible way I could.