Eero's perspective
"I'm sorry, Aelice. I'm sorry that I thought of something like that, but your father hates me to the core, and I really thought that." I stopped myself from speaking midway and popped a smile, "I'm sorry."
Aelice nodded her head. My friend pulled me into a hug and whispered how sorry she was.
"It's all in the past now. We should forget about this, but promise me no secrets from now on, will you?" Aelice asked, lightly squeezing my arm.
"I don't want something like this to happen again. I'm scared that another secret and lies might end up completely ruining our friendship." I showed her my pinky finger. Aelice hooked her pinky finger with mine.
"No more secrets and lies," I said, she repeated. We laughed at each other and hugged once more.
When I pulled away from her, I finally saw a glimmer of life in her eyes that I thought I wouldn't be able to see again.
"Is it true that you have a pup with Claudius?" She asked.
"Yes. He'll soon turn one year old after me and I get married. We will adopt Perseus so he can live with us."
"Perseus will be your heir?" Aelice asked, wearing a reluctant and nervous smile.
"He's my first-born son, and with the blessing of the Alpha King, who plans to claim Perseus as his grandson. You're not wrong, Aelice. Perseus will be my heir."
"B-But since the Alpha King didn't honor the marriage that you once had with Claudius. Everyone in the realm will see Perseus as a mere bastard." Aelice held my hand tighter, and she stepped closer to me.
"I didn't mean to say that as an insult to your son, Eero. I'm just merely stating the truth."
"The Alpha King's words are the law of the realm and the pack, and once he claims Perseus as his grandson. No one else would see him as a bastard, plus Miguel is going to claim Perseus as his son, too."
Aelice loosened her hold of me.
"We've been out of the celebration for a long time, Luna Aelice. We should join them again now," I said and gave her my hand so we could go back together. The corner of her lips lifts, and we go back to the party together.
"Where have you been?" The Alpha King asked in a whispering manner.
"We just needed to get some fresh air, Father. Calm yourself, will you? If you think that I plan to escape from this. I won't."
"Oh, of course you won't. How can you when I have Perseus in my custody."
"What do you mean?" I spat with a loud voice, earning everyone's eyes. Aelice holds my father's hand.
"Will the two of you please tone your arguments? Eyes are watching us," she said.
I sat back next to the Alpha King. I closed my eyes, and when I felt a lot calmer, I turned to the Alpha King again.
"What do you mean you have my son?" Codrus sips his wine. I saw him smile at someone, but my eyes remained on him.
"Perseus is safe, Eero. I'll never do anything to harm my grandson, but I know how unpredictable you can be. I need to hold onto someone who will make sure you won't just run away in case you suddenly change your mind about this union."
I moved my face closer to him.
"Where is he then? I want to see my son," I said.
"You will see your son, Eero. After your wedding with Miguel, you'll see your son." The Alpha King drew an amused smirk on his lips, and I instantly knew who he saw.
I placed my hand on the table with a loud thud.
"What is he doing here?" I asked my adoptive father.
"I would love to know too, but if there's someone here that knows how Claudius' mind works. It should be you," he said to me.
Miguel suddenly stands up from his seat.
"Do you want to dance with me?"
"What? No. I need to talk to Claudius. I need to know what's running on his head when he gives our son to the Alpha King." Miguel tried to control the situation with a smile.
"Please dance with me, Eero. You have to. This will be our first dance, and everyone anticipates this. It would be best if you calmed yourself, too, and this might help you," Miguel said before he forced me to accept his hand.
"What is he even doing here?" I asked Miguel.
"Why are you asking me that? How would I know, Eero?" Miguel gently spins me, and then his hand rests on my waist again.
"I don't know. You and Claudius had deals. Who knows? The two of you might have become best friends after that?" I spat at Miguel. Our pace slows down a bit.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Miguel said, eyeing someone from behind me.
"Would you mind if I steal your bride for a moment?" Claudius said to Miguel. I narrowed my eyes to Miguel to send him a message that I didn't wish to be left alone with Claudius, but Miguel ignored it and handed me over to Claudius.
Claudius hid the pain that he felt after I stepped on his feet with a gritted smile.
"That hurts!"
"If these shifters do not surround us. Trust me, I'd do more to hurt you. How can you give our pup to Codrus!"
"The old man won't do anything to our pup. I made sure of that, and I had to hand Perseus over because tomorrow is my flight to Greece." Claudius held me tighter while I remained nonchalant to his news.
"And you are telling me this because?"
"I just want you to know that I won't be able to come back here for years, but I will be, Eero."
"Do you wish for me to wait for your return?" Claudius remained silent.
"Well, I won't, Claudius. After you leave, you're good as a dead mate to me."