I woke early in the morning. It had of only been  3 or 4 hours since I'd actually fallen asleep. The moon still shone through the windows. Staring up at it, I was still amazed at how different it felt under its light rather than the sun.

"You awake?" Edmond asked groggily next to me.

"Yeah."

"Can't sleep?"

"No."

"Me either." He pushed himself up and fluffed his pillows before pulling me up and into his arms. "It's going to be okay."

"How do you know? We have no idea if it's going to be okay," I said, snuggling against his chest.

"It has to be. There is no other choice than for it to be okay."

"I don't think that's how that works, Edmond."

"I dunno. I mean, everything has always been okay before."

"Yeah. I suppose."

He kissed the top of my head and we just lay there listening to the pops of the embers in the fireplace and watching the moon slowly drift beyond the horizon.

I sat up, pulling on my nightshirt when I heard the door to our suite opening. Stretching, I looked my dear mate who had finally drifted off to sleep. I was tempted to wake him, but he looked peaceful slumbering. 

"I wish I could sleep like that," I muttered, dragging myself toward the door leading to our living space.

"Madame," a young servant said, dipping into a curtsy.

"Hi. Good morning." I looked at the silver tray and noticed that the usual mocha something or others that Reuben made was replaced with a pot of brewed coffee.

My heart hurt a bit as I thought of the boy running through strange territory.

"Ma'am? Is everything okay?" the girl asked.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah. Fine. I was just thinking..."

"Reuben?" she asked.

"How did you know?" I questioned.

"Your usual coffees are not there and I know he's gone."

"Right."

"I miss him to, ma'am."

"You do?"

She nodded her head, sending her soft, blonde curls bouncing about her shoulders. "Very much."

"Uh huh. How much is much?"

I could see tears well up in her eyes.

"So, how long have you been here?"

"A few months."

"What's your name?"

"Mine?" she asked.

"Indeed. Yours."

"Oh. Um, my name is Abigail."

"Abigail. How old are you?"

"I'm 18."

"How old is Reuben? Um, he just turned 18 a few weeks ago."

I smiled coyly. "Oh, did he now?"

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all. I'm glad he has someone who cares for him so much here."

"He has you, ma'am."

"I do care for him, but we don't get to talk much, so I'm glad he has you."

I could see her cheeks flush.

"I must get back. Miss Morgan will be looking for me."

I nodded and waved her off. "Do tell her I said hello."

"Yes, ma'am."

I sat in a chair and nibbled on a pastry while sipping my coffee. The early mornings were always the most peaceful. Nobody was awake in the suite just yet and things were silent. 

But it never last long. As I poured my second cup I heard the familiar grunt and yawn of the grumpy wolf I mated. 

"I told you to wake me when you get up," he grumbled, pulling on his t-shirt.

"You needed sleep. You're so grumpy in the morning."

"Meh." He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat beside me. "No news of anything yet?"

I shook my head. "No, but I'm not expecting to hear anything for some time."

We sat in our chairs for some time. Waiting. Not for anything in particular. Just waiting. The moments ticked by so slowly, I wished they would stop. I knew what was coming and did not want to face it.

"Momma! Poppa!" Vicky shouted, coming from her and Freddy's room.

"My sweet pup. ood morning." I handed her a plate of biscuits and pastry with her juice. 

She happily took it and walked as carefully as a 5-year-old pup could to her tiny chair that matched mine next to a tiny table that matched mine and Edmond's.

"Where is Freddy?" he asked.

"Sleeping."

"He's still sleeping?"

"Like father like son," I mumbled before taking another sip of coffee.

Edmond pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. 

I got up and went to their bedroom door. The large room was split in half with Vicky's side covered in murals of mermaids, unicorns, and fairy's. She loved the stories I'd told her on my adventures visiting other realms. Freddy's side had dragons, griffins, and sphinxs flying around. He just could not believe such crazy creatures existed. Their matching bed were side by side with a small night stand between the two.

King Orsand and Queen Amelia weren't keen on them sharing, but they insisted. Despite starting off in their own bedrooms, they would always wake up together so we let them have it their way. 

It was comforting for us to see them so close. It almost reminded me of when Harmony and I were children. Before everything.

Freddy was curled up with a stuffed wolf in one arm and a dragon in his other. He snored just like his father. I tiptoed in and pulled his blankets up around him and kissed his forehead.

What will happen when the battle happens?

'He's going to be fine?'

Startled I stood and jumped back, Diana stood beside me. Her soft gold glow brightening the room. She smiled down at Freddy and sighed.

'Where did you come from? You can't just sneak up on a wolf like that. You almost gave me a heart attack!'

She chuckled lightly. 'Sorry. He reminds me so much of my sons when they were that age. It seems so long ago now. They are long dead.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Don't be. They were good kings and lords. They formed our kingdom to the great realm that it is. And my descendent still sits upon the throne.'

'Isn't that weird?' I asked.

'Weird?'

'I mean, I'm  you. Edmond is your however many greats grandson.'

Diana shook her head. 'We are the same. You and I. But we are different.'

'How so?'

'We are born of different lines. We are the daughters of Artemis, but we are born to different mothers and fathers.'

'Oh, that makes sense.'

She nodded her head  while leaning down to brush Freddy's hair out of his face. 'Sweet boy.'

'Why are you here, Diana?'

'Have you heard word of what is going on?'

I shook my head. 'Not yet. But we do have a critically injured fairy in the hospital right now.'

'A fairy? In the wolf realm? Is she here on business?'

'No. We're not due to meet with the fairy's for some time and she's not their ambassador. At least not yet. She's still very young.'

'Are the king and queen on their way?'

'We sent one of our wolves to fetch them. They should be here by weeks end.'

'I'm sorry that you are going through this. I don't evny you for all of the troubles you are enduring.'

'Thanks, Diana.'

'I must go. I just wanted to see how you were. I felt the pain that you feel.'

I nodded my head and watched as she vanished.

Leaving the room, I watched as Edmond sat in Freddy's tiny chair coloring with Vicky. It always amused me seeing my tall, large mate squeezing himself into a small child's chair and color fairys and mermaids.