Chapter Ninety-four

“Do you need me to come along with you to your lunch date with Lady Vaschell?” Rosie offered when it was time for Claire to leave.
They were currently in the Luna Queen’s bedroom, the maids that had helped her get dressed made their way out with soft laughter and murmured conversations amongst themselves.
Claire thought it over, it was supposed to be an informal affair so there was no reason for her to take Rosie along with her although the werewolf was very nice company. “I don’t think so…”
“I could wait for you in the car,” Rosie cut in, an earnest look in her eyes. It was evident that she had no intention of letting Claire leave the mansion without her.
“Alright,” Claire caved in, rising to her feet. “Let’s get going, we don’t want to be late.”
They both stepped out of the bedroom to find Alec walking towards them, “I thought I might find you ladies here,” He said politely, “I’ll be escorting you to your lunch date.”
Claire wasn’t surprised about this reveal, getting together with Lukas had overshadowed it but it couldn’t completely get rid of the fact that she had gotten kidnapped, it was only right that the security around her would tighten.
“You’re welcome to,” She gave him a warm smile, leading the way out of the mansion while they both walked behind her. “You both don’t have to sit in the car waiting for my return though,” She added, tucking a stray wisp of blond hair behind her ear. “How about you both have lunch together at the restaurant, that way you can keep watch over me and also get to eat?”
Claire looked behind her to gauge their reaction to her suggestion, only to falter when she saw her assistant looking straight at the ground with a dusting of red on her face. “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to-” She panicked slightly, not wanting to put Rosie in an uncomfortable situation.
“We’re fine with that, your Highness,” Alec replied calmly.
Claire was still hesitant, she needed to hear Rosie’s confirmation. “Rosie?”
Rosie nearly jumped at the sound of her name, “I’m also fine with it, we’ll sit a little distance from you, just text me if you need anything.” She said in a steady voice.
That was enough for Claire, she nodded and continued across the foyer. She had an entirely new driver because Tyler and the rest of the bodyguards who were on duty the night she was kidnapped were given a two-week break off to properly recover.
Lady Vaschell had chosen an under-the-radar restaurant for lunch which was quite nice of her because it meant that they could have a conversation and peacefully eat their meal without interference from the media.
Claire got out of the car and made her way to the entrance of the restaurant all alone where a butler was already waiting to guide her to her table. Rosie and Alec would make their entrance a few minutes after she was seated.
The butler bowed and offered to take her purse, and Claire let him because it was what she was supposed to do. He didn’t seem entirely surprised to see her which meant that Lady Vaschell must have arrived already.
She wasn’t wrong because the wealthy socialite was already seated at the table that the butler took her purse to. Claire smiled politely, sitting down when the butler drew out her chair for her. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting, Lady Vaschell?”
The lady seated on the other side of her table smiled brightly, “Not at all, I just got here myself and please call me Sabrina.”
Claire thought that she was very different from the ice-cold lady she saw in paparazzi photos and news feeds, she rather liked the person in front of her. “Fine, call me Claire as well.”
Sabrina was dressed in a white pantsuit which highlighted the darkness of her black hair, she also looked far younger than Claire expected her to be. “I really appreciate you taking the time to see me on such short notice.”
“It’s only right I did, I apologize for being unable to make it to your dinner party,” Claire replied in turn.
Sabrina just waved it off, “I’ll admit it was less fun without you there but I truly don’t mind that you weren’t able to make it.” She said bluntly, “If anything, it was just a ruse to get the chance to meet you.”
Claire was pleasantly surprised by this, “To meet me?”
“May I speak plainly, Luna Claire?”
Claire blinked in surprise, Sabrina was just full of surprises because she had only just gotten here but not once had she been able to predict the next step of their conversation. “Yes?” She said hesitantly, not quite sure what she was going to get from the eccentric werewolf.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, ever since it was said that Alpha King Lukas would be getting a human mate,” Sabrina said earnestly, her dark eyes bright.
Claire was caught off guard by this, she wasn’t exactly sure how to receive this. Although Sabrina didn’t look to hold any hostility towards her, it could change at any time. “Why?”
Sabrina took some time to compose herself, “Well, because my mom is human and my dad is a werewolf, and it’s such an uncommon occurrence that I’m yet to find anyone who would understand me. Even those who are mixed just like I am, tend to hide their pasts, just like I did, but your existence gives me hope. Hope for a world where others like me won’t have to keep their origins a secret and will be treated like everyone else, instead of falling through the gap in a society that wasn’t built to accommodate them.”
Claire listened intently, she understood Sabrina and it would explain why there were so few cases of children born to werewolf and human parents when they had been living amongst each other for centuries. It was flattering however that Sabrina would put her on such an important pedestal.
“I’ve made the atmosphere too serious, haven’t I?” Sabrina backed off when the Luna Queen went silent.
“No, no, you haven’t” Claire was quick to refute, “I was just thinking of a perfect response but I keep coming up short because I don’t think I could ever truly understand what you had to go through but I’m glad that I could be of some help in any way.”
Sabrina laughed softly, her eyes tearing up, “I knew I was right to approach you about this, I’ve spent all this time talking when I invited you to lunch though so why don’t we order something?”
Claire nodded, “Although talking to you is nice, we should also get something to eat.”

-+-

A few tables away Rosie and Alec were seated at a table where they could get a clear view of Claire while having their meal. Rosie had her face hidden behind the menu and although she was staring at the list of food printed in a fancy font, she wasn’t processing any of it.
After a few minutes of perusing the menu, she peeked over it to find that Alec had been staring at her the entire time. “Are-Aren’t you going to make your order?”
Alec gave her a smile that she would never get tired of looking at, “I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
Rosie ducked her head behind the menu again, she had to put herself together, she couldn’t keep acting like a lovesick teenager. She signaled the waiter after deciding on what to eat and made an order for both of them.
She glanced at Luna Claire to find her engrossed in her conversation with Lady Vaschell, the restaurant had only a few customers which meant that there was little to be worried about regarding the Luna Queen’s safety.
She turned her attention to Alec afterward, looking him in the eye. They had decided to take things slow which was just fine for her because she felt like her heart wouldn’t be able to take it if they went too fast too soon.
He took her hand as they waited for the waiter to bring their order, his dark eyes soft. It was good that Alec was doing such a great job of keeping his attention on the Luna Queen because Rosie was too distracted for that.
It was nice to be able to spend time like this while they were working but they couldn’t let it get in the way of their jobs which was why it was best that they kept their relationship unlabeled for now.
To the people around them though, the waiters inclusive, they both looked like a couple on a lunch date, and it made Rosie happier than it should.