“She-wolves are very territorial…”Starinformed, getting a kick out of the way Hannes’s mother was looking at me.“Good luck with that.”
Seriously?
When my attention shifted to the king, my panties almost dropped. Holy hell, was that Hannes’s father? He was freaking hot.
“Yes.”Star sighed dreamily. “The Iron King…”
I remembered the title from prior conversations, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he was anEisen Ritterjust like Zelin, which meant he wasn’t born but sent here by the Moon Goddess to protect his charge. That also meant that Hannes had inherited his invincibility and his Beast from him.
When the guards finally reached us, they divided, spreading at either side of their charges so the queen and king could step forward.
“Bow to them Bitch! Do it. Do it now!”
Before I could protest the overwhelming need overcame me and I bent my knee, lowering my head to them.
“What the fuck, Star? Was that you?”Ire rumbled in my chest.
“Of course it was me. I’m not going to let you embarrass us in front of the in-laws!”
Straightening once more, I offered a polite smile to Hannes’s parents, seeing the queen smile brightly at her son as she embraced him tightly.
When she grinned at him, so sweetly, and wholeheartedly, it confessed to me who Hannes had gotten his smile from, only, on him it was dangerously sexy too.
The king hugged him next, and I had to admit seeing him kiss his son’s forehead with so much devotion took me aback. The respect they both offered him in that simple greeting was only surpassed by the affection that emanated from their eyes.
“Is that what a family is supposed to be like?”
I had no answer for Star, but the ache in my chest said it was. Natasha had barely been able to begin experiencing that when it was all taken away.
Their hug was filled with appreciation, nostalgia, and overwhelming devotion. It left me speechless.
“Mom, I’d like to introduce you to my mate, Natalia.”
I stepped forward, feeling intimidated by them for some reason. “It’s a pleasure?—”
“I thought her name was Natasha.” She glanced up and down at me from the corner of her eye, leaving me stunned.
“It is. It’s Natalia, Natasha,andStarlight,” Hannes expressed, seeming amused. “She’s currently a triple shifter like me. Woman, Wolf, and Vampiress. You know that, Mom.”
“Right? The fractured soul incident. I remember now. I guess…” Bitchiness spread over her voice.
Oh hell no.
My mouth opened to reply.
“Don’t be a bitch! She’s just being a she-wolf.”
“I’d be careful if I were you, Queen Luna,” Dante interceded. “Natalia’s tongue can slice iron. She loves telling people off, and she’s rather good at it.”
Chuckles fluttered around us from the guards, and I smirked proudly. Oddly, King Will smirked too, blue eyes sparkling with amusement, seeming to appreciate me for that reason alone.
“Please excuse my wife,” he began, silently asking for my hand. “She’s just overprotective of our children, especially my son—she has a thing for boys.”
I surrendered my hand, and he brought it to his lips for a polite kiss.
“I’m Will, and it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Natalia. My son has told us so much about you.”
“Hopefully, he didn’t tell hereverythingabout you.”
