I can’t take the mental strain
My thoughts a rickety train
Why do we have expectations?
Reality has its own limitations

It doesn’t have to be this way
I am meant to always be gay
But I know without a doubt
That I’ll figure this out.
-PenaciousShewa

Wanda wakes up to a gentle touch on her leg. The touch is soft, yet insistent. She opens her eyes slowly to see a blurry but definitely feminine figure sitting at the foot of the bed. She rubs her eyes gently with her right hand and sees Anastasia, the mate of the Beta of the Conscientious Pack. She is a petite woman with dark, flowing hair, reaching her waist. She has soft blue eyes, and her facial expression speaks of concern and care, and tenderness, all at the same time. She gazes at Wanda and the latter sits up straight.

“Errrr….hello…top of the morning to you” Wanda stutters.

“Good morning, Luna. Sleep well?” the older woman replies with a smile.

“Yes, I did. I don’t wanna jump the gun or anything like that, but why are you here?” Wanda questions.

“Of course, Luna, I understand that the help is usually the one to wake you up and prepare you for the day, but I decided to relieve her of her duties this morning, as we have something important to discuss. I am sorry to barge in on you this way.” Anastasia apologizes.

“It’s alright, Ma’am. I’m all ears” Wanda responds, scanning the other woman from under her lashes.

“Please call me Ana”

“Okay, Ana. What do you want to talk about?

“The Alpha’s strength is beginning to wane, Wanda. This morning, he did not get up at the usual time for his usual exercise routine, and this has been going on for about three days. Although he fails to accept it, age is telling on him, and from all indications, the Great Alpha will soon go home.” She pauses and sniffs a little.

Wanda moves closer to Ana and rubs her shoulder, saying nothing, as she has no idea what to say.

“I am sorry to dump all these on you, but we have to face the reality, and I need to explain to you the situation of things” Ana pauses and looks straight into Wanda’s eyes. “You need to be with child soon, Luna, because, without a child, Milos will not be able to take over from his father. Do you know the implication of that, Luna?”

Wanda nods slowly and answers, “The pack will be at a huge risk of being invaded by the enemies.”

“Exactly, Luna. I am not trying to put you under any pressure, but you and Milos need to do the needful for the peace and stability of our pack.” She says with a note of finality.

“I understand, Ana. I do”

The other woman nods and gets up from the bed. In a few seconds, Wanda is left alone in her room. She starts to ruminate on the conversation she just had, and anger begins to well up in her.
Why can’t they leave me alone? Why do I have to conceive right now? Why can’t I just enjoy my life with Milos?

She is still fuming when Petra knocks on the door. “Excuse me, Luna. May I come in please?”

“Not now, Petra. I want to be left alone” Wanda says, as a teardrop falls from her eyes unto her silk nightdress.

“No, Luna. I am coming in,” Petra insists. She comes in and hurries to sit beside a teary-eyed Wanda.

“Awwwww….Luna, what is going on?” Petra asks, her forehead creased with worry.

“I…..I love Milos, but I am being pressured into having his child. What if I cannot conceive, Petra? It will only mean that I have failed him, and not only him, all of you” Wanda bursts into tears, and Petra is heartbroken. Soon, Petra begins to cry.

“Listen to me, Luna, Look at me” she puts two fingers under Wanda’s chin and raises the latter’s eyes to meet hers. “You are master Milos’ Luna, my Luna, our Luna. No one can take that away from you okay? And for what it is worth, he is madly in love with you, and that is all that matters. Do you understand me?

“Yes, I do. Thank you, Petra” Wanda replies and laughs shakily, “Yes, mom” she adds, and they both laugh.

“Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let me tell you why I came to see you” Petra smiles and raises her eyebrows in excitement.

“Errr… you came to drag me to the breakfast table……or not?” Wanda eyes her suspiciously.

“Well, Master Milos asked me to inform you that he’ll be taking you out. He didn’t say where, though.” Petra announces proudly.

Wanda jumps from her bed in excitement and asks, “When did he say he’ll be coming to pick me?”

“Well, he said you should be ready at 8 pm.”

“Woah, that’s pretty late, but I don’t care,” Wanda says as she sweeps across the room in excitement. She turns to face Petra, “You’ll help me with my outfit, right?”

“You got it, Luna. Master Milos is going to drool when he sees you” Petra states.

“Well,” Wanda pauses, posing seductively in front of her giant-sized mirror, “He’s going to do more than drool when he sees me tonight”

Petra claps in utter delight and says, “Damn, Luna, you’re badass”. They both laugh hysterically and later on, they leave the room for breakfast.
*********************************************
It is 8 pm on the dot when Wanda, who has been sitting and waiting patiently in her room for Milos’ arrival, is startled by a knock on her door. It is Milos. Last night was when she last saw him and she immediately stands up to kiss him. He cups her face in his big hands and kisses her passionately.

“I have missed you, baby” He confesses.

“I missed you too, darling.”

“Well, I am here now, and we’re going out, baby!” With this statement, he lifts her in his arm out of the room, the building, and to the creek. It is a ten-minute walk from the mansion, and on getting there, he sets Wanda down gently on the blanket he had previously laid. Wanda is awed by the captivating beauty of the ambience. It is aesthetically pleasing, and the water reflects the moon’s light. Although it is cold, Wanda is adequately heated up by her fur coat, thanks to Petra’s foresight. She looks around her and realizes that aside from the blanket, there is a bottle of wine and her favorite, gingerbread cookies.

They lay on the blanket and gaze at the twinkling stars and the blushing moon. Milos wraps his hand around her and at this moment, Wanda feels so safe that her worries drown in the water ahead of them. At this moment, nothing matters except Milos and his love for her.

In silence and tranquility, they both drift to sleep, the creek guards, of course, shielding them.