Kingsley's POV
I drove on, glancing in the rearview mirror at Freya seated in the car, wearing a displeased expression, while sunlight bathed her resolute face.
I pursed my lips slightly and said patiently, "There's a Chamber of Commerce event being held on a cruise ship tonight, and you're accompanying me."
"What?" Freya asked, turning her head, looking somewhat surprised.
I calmly responded, "Yes, I thought a cruise ship experience might appeal to you, especially since you've never been on one."
Freya raised an eyebrow, displaying mild disinterest. "Well, it doesn't seem necessary for me to go. Don't you have several beautiful secretaries in your company? Couldn't you just pick one of them to accompany you?" Freya hesitated, her reluctance apparent.
Observing her hesitation, I grew somewhat irritated. "You're my Luna, and of course, I want you there."
Freya opened her mouth as if to reply but ended up saying nothing. Without waiting for me to speak, she inserted her earbuds and said, "I'll doze off for a while. Wake me when we arrive."
She closed her eyes, leaving me feeling somewhat powerless.
Before long, we reached the ferry terminal, and the cruise ship we were boarding loomed ahead.
By this time, the sun had nearly set, casting an orange-red hue over the water, creating a captivating sparkle. Occasionally, a few fish leaped from the sea, looking delectable.
I guided Freya, who was still somewhat drowsy, to obtain her room key and then returned to the cabin, allowing her to rest.
Only when darkness had fallen and the chamber event was about to commence did Freya change into the dress I had prepared for her. Finally, we stepped out of the cabin.
As we emerged, most of the passengers had gathered on the deck, creating a bustling atmosphere. The deck was illuminated with dancing and board games.
I turned to Freya and said, "Let's grab something to eat."
Freya nodded, and we walked hand in hand toward the buffet table, where the atmosphere had noticeably lightened.
"Good evening, Kingsley."
That was when an incredibly irritating voice caught my attention. I turned my head, and to my dismay, I saw my cousin, Robert Wright, approaching with a phony smile on his face.
"Looks like those rumors about you and Luna Freya not getting along lately were false," Robert remarked, a sly glint in his eyes, as he pulled a chair over and sat down at the table.
I shot him a cold look. "Only a fool would believe such rumors."
His gaze shifted to Luna Freya, lingering a tad too long, making me uneasy.
"You look absolutely stunning tonight, Freya," Robert said, smiling, his words complimentary but causing Freya to visibly tense for a moment.
I reached out to grasp Freya's hand, moving it slightly to intentionally block Robert's uncomfortably covetous gaze, which had settled on her. My wolf growled with anger at the realization that his mate was being ogled.
"Mind your manners, Robert," I warned him coldly.
There was a flash of indignation in his eyes, and it seemed he had no intention of curbing his impolite behavior.
Immediately, he changed the subject. "By the way, Kingsley, isn't Tracy with you tonight? I thought I saw her on deck."
For an instant, I felt Freya's eyes on me. I turned to Robert. "If the food here isn't enough to make you shut your mouth, I don't mind assisting."
However, trouble seemed to be sticking to me tonight. No sooner had the words left my mouth than I heard Tracy's voice, "Kingsley, there you are."
The next moment, Tracy skillfully took the seat beside me.
I suddenly felt very uncomfortable, and Freya let out a disdainful snort, making a move to get up and leave.
Swiftly and discreetly, I grabbed Freya's hand under the table before she left, ignoring her attempts to pull away.
At that moment, one woman approached us with a touch of bluntness and caution. "Luna Freya, you were fantastic in that drama you did a while back. You looked absolutely stunning in it."
"The one, The Luna of the Lycan King, wasn't it? I must say, Luna Freya, you were truly impressive," another woman replied.
Freya, however, simply smiled modestly and said, "Thank you."
The Luna of the Lycan King was being filmed as it aired, and I had watched a few episodes when it first premiered.
Tracy suddenly chuckled, her eyes scanning Freya from head to toe before she spoke, "Freya's fight scenes might not be so bad after all. Freya hails from a small, fierce, and rugged pack, so it's only natural that she's a skilled fighter."
I frowned in displeasure.
Tracy paused and then continued thoughtfully, "But... Werewolves and lycans are still different. Apparently, to become our future Lycan Queen, it takes more than just fighting skills... How about we ask our Luna to play a beautiful piano piece for today's special event?"
I looked up at Tracy coldly, my tone carrying a warning, "It's up to me to decide if she's good enough to be the future Lycan Queen. Besides, as my Luna, Freya doesn't need to know anything other than what pleases me."
However, as soon as those words left my lips, Freya withdrew her hand from mine and stood up with a displeased expression. "I'm not an inept woman who can only hide behind a man and live her life according to his preferences."
The deck's piano was already prepared, and there was a decent band ready to accompany her.
Freya gracefully walked to the piano and sat down, placing her hands gently on the keys.
She gave me a meaningful look, and the next moment, she started playing the keys with both hands in a frenzied manner.
A cacophony of sound filled the room, and everyone around me instinctively covered their ears in unison.
"Is she crazy?" Tracy exclaimed.
But a moment later, Freya suddenly came to a halt.
She took a deep breath, and then, as her fingertips danced across the keys, a beautiful melody instantly filled the entire ballroom.
Freya was dressed in a simple outfit today, with a white coat draped over her skirt.
Her hair was neatly tied in a low ponytail as she lowered her head to play the piano. A few strands of hair fell delicately over the side of her face, her red lips slightly pursed, exuding a sense of elegance amidst the dust, radiantly beautiful.
I found myself captivated, unable to resist the enchanting melody, and my wolf howled to join the melody joyfully.
Soon, the song came to an end, and all around us fell into silence, clearly still immersed in the enchanting melody.
At that moment, Freya stood up and gazed quietly at the people on the stage.
"As a philosopher once said," she began, "Oh, women, the allure of splendid gold, diamonds, and glittering jewels may have earned you the empty fantasies of a queen. Yet, you are surrounded by the poison of snobbery, the aroma of arrogance, a fragrance that both beguiles and destroys. Oh, women, as you once again bow to wealth, hail fame, and raise your arms in pursuit of power, do not inquire about the once-singing spirit, for it has flown away, its voice grown dry and hoarse. For the ruin of true, dignified, and pure souls."
"Is a person's soul noble or base determined merely by their ability to play the piano or their birth? What's the significance of knowing how to play the piano? Let me tell you, in fact, that's all I know how to play, but so what?"
After saying this, Freya flashed a confident yet mischievous smile.
I watched Freya silently, unconsciously gripping my wine glass tightly.
At this moment, there were no words to convey the astonishment Luna had brought upon me.
It was a shock that emanated from the depths of my soul. The corners of my lips curled unconsciously, and my inner wolf howled with immense joy and pride.