Chapter 817

Judy’s POV

I watched Gavin walk away with Zachary, and even though I told him I was going to be okay and that it was fine for him to leave for a few minutes, a part of me wanted to pull him back. My wolf didn’t like being away from our mate in this strange place, even though I still felt a strange pull to this manor, like there were secrets here waiting for me to uncover them.

The problem was, I wanted to uncover them with Gavin, not away from him.

I told myself it would only be a little while, and I needed to keep breathing. I couldn’t be afraid of what was to come if I was expecting to be a brave Luna.

“Judy?” Selene said, drawing my attention to her. “Are you coming?”

I nodded, swallowing the lump I had in my throat.

Selene led me into a smaller parlor off the main hall, sunlight spilling through tall windows and catching the dust like glitter.

“This is where we will start,” she said. “We are going to focus on posture and stance for right now. Later, we will practice dining and proper conversation starters. We’ll even learn questions and answers because trust me, as a Luna, your packmates will be asking you a ton of questions, and they expect proper answers.” “Should I change clothes?” I asked, staring down at my oversized t-shirt and jeans, the only things that truly fit me comfortably now that I have a baby bump. I brought a dress with some heels, though they were comfortable and made me feel even fatter than I was.

“That’s not necessary,” she told me with a small smile. “You’re pregnant and your body is constantly changing. It’s a delicate time, and your packmates will understand why you aren’t dressing up 24/7. There’s much more to being a Luna than what you’re wearing.”

My cheeks flushed.

“That’s what Gavin said too,” I told her.

She smiled.

“He’s a very wise Alpha,” she said. “You’re lucky to have him as a mate. Now let’s get started. You’ll find posture and tone are just as powerful as command.”

She made it sound easy, like being Luna was learning to stand straight and not trip over your own feet.

I mirrored her stance, trying not to think about it. I relaxed my hands, kept my shoulders back, and my chin up. She reached over and adjusted my stance slightly, lowering my chin slightly because, apparently, it was too high.

“Good,” Selene said softly, circling me. “Grace isn’t about control, it’s about awareness. You don’t dominate the space, you move with it.”

Her voice was smooth, but I couldn’t focus. The air in this manor buzzed,

ele

faint and low, like a whisper I couldn’t catch. Every few seconds grew stronger, like a soft hum

beneath my skin, pulsing in sync

with my heartbeat.

I shook it off and straightened again.

“Like this?”

Selene’s eyes lingered on me for a moment too long before she nodded.

“You seem distracted,” she commented.

“I’m fine,” I said a bit too quickly.

“Are you sure?”

Her gaze was sharp and assessing. She could tell something was off; I must have been way too transparent. “Yes,” I told her. I think I’m just a bit tired. I don’t think I slept as well as I thought.”

She nodded and then clapped her hands; much to my surprise, a couple of maids ran into the room on command.

“Can one of you grab Miss Judy a glass of water?” Selene asked without even looking at them; her eyes remained on me.

“Right away, Ma’am,” they both said in unison before trotting off.

I blinked after them and looked back up at Selene, who only gave me a narrowed-eyed look. She commanded

so much attention and power that it almost brought me to my knees.

It didn’t take long for one of the maids to return with a glass of water for me. I politely thanked her before taking a sip. Selene watched me curiously, her mouth pressed together and I felt like I was onder her scrutiny The pulse of the manor seemed to knock me off my feet because suddenly, Selene was by my side, ushering me into a nearby chair.

“Sit down,” she told me. “Do I need to get the doctor?” She asked.

I shook my head quickly.

“No, it’s okay told her, my eyes shifting from her to the doorway. I felt a strange sensation when my eyes locked onto the door, and suddenly, my wolf was itching to leave this room. She didn’t want to leave the manor, just the room. The tug was so strong and took me by so much surprise that I nearly shifted on the spot. I had to bite back a low growl to keep my wolf from taking control.