Second Chance Luna (Phoebe and Jason) novel Chapter 107

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Alphas and Lunas from all over the world had gathered in the wide courtyard of the old royal mansion. It stood empty for months but in the last few weeks cleaning crews had prepared it for their visitors. Rather than disrupt every pack’s Winter Solstice celebrations the king and queen opted to move the Royal Solstice Ball to the New Year.

And that wasn’t the only change.

In the past the Ball had been one night and only the most prestigious alphas invited. This year, the festivities were stretched out for a week and all alphas and lunas regardless of status encouraged to attend. The king and queen would remain in attendance and make themselves available for the duration but all others were welcome to come and go at their convenience.

The royal mansion was being treated as a hotel with rooms available for attendees as well as a full kitchen and maid staff to provide proper amenities. Some paragraphs are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free. Many packs maintained estates nearby where they would stay for the duration of their visit so the mansion was mostly for alphas of smaller packs. Even the king and queen were staying in their own estate though they would spend most of their time at the mansion for the various scheduled events.

While a few muttered about tradition, the changes were definitely welcomed. The king had not limited the attendees’ escorts, allowing them to bring what they were comfortable with for support and security of themselves and their lunas. They were also encouraged to bring their pups making it a real family-friendly event.

Expanding the Ball to a full week meant alphas could stagger their visits, though as expected, the first night was the most crowded and highly anticipated. This would be the first official public appearance of the king and queen and none wanted to miss it. In years to come, they would brag that they were there to witness this momentous event. This was truly the beginning of a new age for werewolves the world over.

Icicle lights and lanterns hung along the eaves, creating a bright and magical atmosphere. Pups darted from one buffet line to another, filling plate after plate with delicious offerings. There was even an ice cream bar for them to indulge in as they saw fit as they sat the numerous tables to enjoy. As there was no assigned seating there was no need to stand on ceremony and the pups had no difficulty relating to each other regardless of status.

For the adults, there was an open bar as well as servers who carried platters of drinks and hors d’oeuvres. All drinks and food was free of wolfsbane and some of the finest to be found. In past years, royal guards had stood along the edge of the courtyard as a subtle reminder they were under the jurisdiction of the king. However, tonight those guards were missing. In fact, they didn’t see any security personnel for the king or queen not realizing the servers themselves were the guards. Their disguise allowed them to mingle with the crowd, keeping an eye out for any dangers to their king and queen. The atmosphere was pleasant and low-key. Everything had been painstakingly arranged to create a welcoming and relaxed experience, quite different from the tense one they were used to at such gatherings.

As the night progressed, a call turned their attention to the royal entrance, “Now entering King Jason Aiman, Queen Phoebe Aiman, Prince Blake and Princess Emma Aiman.”

With a smattering of applause they now understood why pups had been allowed as their gazes looked at the young prince and princess rumored to be adopted. They stood mirror images of their parents with the young prince sporting a tailored suit and his sister in a pretty blue dress.

The king wore a black suit with a tie that matched the color of his queen’s ice-blue gown. But it was the queen who was the real star. She stood regal in her gown sparkling with rhinestones. It hugged her gentle curves and accentuated her ever-growing belly, confirming the announcement made a few weeks ago. Very soon the royal family would be expanding, though the attendees weren’t sure if they believed she was really caring twins.

The queen’s rich, dark hair was carefully tamed in a bun and she was crowned with a dazzling diamond tiara with topaz accents. Though Jason preferred simple attire for himself, he had no qualms in making his Luna shine. She seemed a little embarrassed with the attention but not to Jason’s gentle caresses. A server brought them a tray with drinks for them and the prince and princess.