Chapter 62
Alpha's Rejected Mate Returns as Queen
62 Fireworks
Selma Payneâs POV:
As usual, a grand fireworks show would be held on the night of the Moonlight Festival.
The girls went to look for their family, while Aldrich and I found a quiet and uninhabited hillside to wait for the fireworks.
âAre you happy tonight?â He draped his coat over my shoulders.â If thereâs anything bad about the Moonlight Festival, itâs everyoneâs wearing too little in the snow. Every year, the number of patients having hypothermia in the hospital increases on the second day of the Moonlight Festival.â
I stroked the soft fine fur of the wool coat and smiled. âIs this the reason why you chose the Shepherd? This thick and warm coat?â
We laughed out loud.
When I was with Aldrich, I always seemed to smile unconsciously. It was silly, yes. But somehow, I had willingly fallen into this sweetness.
We cuddled.
Suddenly, a dazzling bullet of light shot into the sky. A few seconds later, it exploded with a loud bang and bloomed into a massive firework of broken gold.
âItâs starting!â I sat up in excitement.
The Shadow Packâs customs differed slightly from the Lycan Packâs. This was the first time Iâd seen such a grand fireworks show, and I almost drowned in the dazzling colors that covered the sky.
âItâs so beautiful, Aldrich!â I tugged at my boyfriendâs sleeve excitedly.
âYeah... Itâs too beautiful,â he said in a low voice.
It was only then that I realized that he wasnât paying attention to the fireworks. Instead, he had been looking at me.
âIs there something on my face? Or do I look funny with makeup?â I lowered my head in embarrassment and wanted to take out a mirror from my bag.
Aldrich took my hand and gave it a light kiss.
âNo, thereâs nothing.
âItâs just that the moonlight is too gentle. Iâm immersed in it and canât control my emotions.â
The atmosphere was too flirtatious, and the distance between us gradually shortened.
Finally, we kissed gently.
Unlike the passionate and wordless kisses from before, our lips were like two light feathers that gently met in the breeze. They separated after a touch, but they were also at a distance.
The intertwined breaths blended like milk and water. We were like two wolves snuggling up to each other for warmth on a winter night. We closed our eyes and enjoyed this quiet moment.
âSelma.â Aldrich sighed. âI love you.â
âI love you too, my shepherd and my knight.â
We embraced each other under the fireworks.
The happy day ended, and it was late at night. Aldrich had to go back to the camp. The camp still strictly enforced the curfew on this grand festival. He sent me back to the palace, and we parted ways.
The palace also held a banquet for the servants and attendants on duty. Kara invited me to drink a few non-alcoholic fizzy wheat drinks before returning to my room to rest.
It was three minutes to twelve.
âWhat are you doing?â I texted Aldrich.
âIâm thinking of you,â he replied.
My face turned red again.
âBe serious!â
âDonât be angry. Iâm preparing a gift for you.â
âA gift? What gift?â
âOn the day after the Moonlight Festival, a man must prepare a gift for his sweetheart. This is a small custom among the young people.â
I couldnât wait to see what the gift was, but I still asked reservedly, âIf you tell me now, I wonât be surprised anymore. Hmph.â
âPlease calm your anger, Your Highness the goddess. Iâve missed you so much that I canât keep any secrets from you.â
âAlright! Please donât do this. Iâm dying of laughter!â
We agreed to meet at the training ground tomorrow afternoon, and I fell asleep with full anticipation.
The following day, I woke up almost at the break of dawn. I didnât look dispirited at all after staying up all night. The unknown gift made me so excited that my mother noticed my excitement.
âMy little princess, why are you so happy today?â She asked, âCould it be that you had a fortuitous encounter at the party yesterday?â
âWhat?â I drank the milk absentmindedly. âNo, Mother. Yesterday was a wonderful day. Iâm still reminiscing about it.â
âStill reminiscing.â My mother smiled teasingly. âWho left such a deep impression on you?â
âOh, unknowingly, my baby has reached the age to meet her mate,â my father said.
Only then did I understand what they meant. I blushed and quickly retorted, âItâs not that, Father, Mother. Iâm happy because of the Moonlight Festival.â
In fact, the real âculpritâ was Aldrich, but I couldnât say it out loud, which made me a little disappointed.
My mother looked regretful. âOkay, but it doesnât matter. Youâre still young. You have plenty of time to find your mate.â
In fact, my mate had long appeared and disappeared. It was none other than Benson Walton, the werewolf who now rarely appeared in my mind.
I felt as if it had been a lifetime ago though it had only been a short year, wasnât it? The memories of the past were as distant as my past life.