Last time on Blind Hope

"The King," Blake cleared his throat and focused on anything other than the closeness of Vivian to his nether regions. "He always goes around once a year and checks up on the packs personally. It's that time of year, and we expect him tomorrow, actually." Vivian rubbed her fingers through his hair. "And, um. I was just thinking that, um. ooh."

"What is it, Blakey?"

"I was thinking," he continued, clearing his throat and ignoring his Beta rolling on the floor. "I was thinking we could use this time to make your and Hope's situation known. There would be no better time." Vivian nodded.

"Yeah. That would be best," she responded softly.

~~~~~~~~~

The pack-house was in an uproar. All the wolves were rushing around, cleaning, cooking, making sure the lawn was spotless, making sure the pack-land was in order, guard rotations were doubled until further notice. Everyone was cleaning their own houses like one big spring cleaning.

Just in case.

Vivian pitched in where she could, quickly making it known around the pack that they did, in fact, have a Luna. It wasn't just a rumor. Hope did her best to help to, and stayed out of the way. At first, she tried extremely hard to help, but everyone was running around, using enhanced speed to do things faster, and it was obvious she wasn't able to keep up. So she retired to her room and was content to straighten it. Vivian popped in to check on her every once in a while, and Hope always asked if she could do anything, but Vivian always said she missed a spot in her room. So Hope got to it.

The day passed quickly, and the King never showed up. Blake and his pack were growing increasingly anxious. The King ALWAYS showed up by dinner on the tenth of July EVERY YEAR. He had done this since he took the Kingship eight years prior. Blake sat nervously on the couch, with Vivian beside him, gently stroking his palm in circles to soothe him. Rachel was doing something very similar for Charles.

"He'll be here when he'll be here." Vivian said, resting her head against Blake.

"I wish that was two hours ago." He glanced down at his clock - 7 p.m. "He is always here by now. Always." He rubbed his hand down his face, removing it from Vivian's hold. She frowned and looked over at Rachel. She was successfully calming down Charles. They were making out.

"How old are you?" She asking, turning back towards Blake. He didn't respond, still agitated and mumbling. She tapped his arm relentlessly until he turned towards her with a huff.

"What?"

"How old are you?" Vivian ignored his attitude. "Tell me about you." He was stressed. It was understandable. Blake looked at her incredulously.

"Twenty-one. I've been Alpha for a year. My parent's retired early and went to live in the Maldives They're currently on their way home to meet you." Blake focused back on the table in front of him and picked up his hot chocolate Vivian had gotten for him not long ago to help calm him down. It hadn't worked.

"Aw," Vivian said sweetly. "That's nice of them. I'm eighteen as of two months ago." Blake nearly spit out his drink.

"What!? I thought you were twenty!" He coughed, getting the cold hot chocolate out of his lungs. "That is not good now."

"Well, if you had drunken it when I originally brought it to you, it wouldn't be a problem." Vivian sighed and crossed her arms, leaning back on the couch. "You're frustrating when you're frustrated." Charles laughed at some joke, and Rachel leaned into him in the brief moment he opened himself up. Vivian wanted to throw up. They were such a lovely-dovey couple.

"It's just..." Blake ducked his head and took a deep breath. "This will be the first time the King inspects the pack with me as Alpha." He clasped his hands together and leaned toward with his arms resting on his legs. Vivian rubbed his back and he sighed.

"It'll be fine. I've only known you for two days, and I think you're perfect." He laughed lightly. "Although, you probably should let the staff go home. It's getting late." Blake nodded and mind-linked the workers who had been preparing to assist the King in any way to go home. The kitchen workers left the food to be warmed up, and everyone left.

Hours passed with Vivian managing to distract Blake and keep him engaged answering questions. Charles and Rachel had retired with a "Do-Not-Disturb" warning. The clock struck midnight, and Vivian quietly yawned, trying to hide it from Blake.

"I'm sorry, angel. I'm going to wait a bit longer. Why don't you do to bed? We can do this later." Vivian shook her head.

"It's your first Alpha-King visit. I want to be here." She refocused on the Uno card Blake had played. "Oh, come on! Draw two!?" She suddenly grinned evilly and slapped another draw two down. "Draw four, sucker."

"Alpha!" A guard yelped, bursting through the door in wolf form. "He's here." The guard panted hard. Blake paled and looked around.

"Now!?" He quickly mind-linked Charles, and grabbed Vivian's hand. "Come on!" He lead her to the porch and watched as two black sedans pulled up. "My gosh, he's here."

"Calm down," Vivian said, glancing over at the guard. He had shifted and was standing at attention, trying not to look like he had ran all the way from the border to the pack-house. Charles and Rachel, disheveled but present, appeared. "Are those duck pjs, Charles?" Vivian snickered and he glared.

"Rachel wouldn't let me change," he hissed back. The King stepped out of his vehicle and looked up at the Alpha and Betas waiting him on the porch in surprise.

"He takes forever." Rachel whispered. Vivian kept a neutral face, trying hard to not laugh or draw attention to them.

"You're wearing a robe." Charles shot back.

"Shut up." Blake whispered harshly. He cleared his throat. "Welcome, Majesty, to the Moonshire Pack." Several guards walked behind the King as he approached the porch where they waited. His eyes were nearly pitch black and horrible scars covered his face, some appearing as if they were created by fire. Vivian tried her best not to stare.

"I'll admit I didn't expect a reception." His voice was hard, flat, cold. "This is pleasing." He looked anything other than pleased. "However, I am tired. We will talk in the morning."

"Of course. I'll show you to your rooms." The King looked over at Charles and Rachel, and Vivian wanted to swear he smirked just a little. But she couldn't be sure. He walked past them, and Vivian followed behind. Blake began to lead them up the stairs, but the King stopped and looked down the first floor hallway.

"Someone else is here." He strode down the hall, and Vivian panicked, quickly following. Hope was this way.

"Majesty, you can meet them in the morning. I can personally apologize for them not greet-"

"Shut up." Vivian snapped her mouth closed and watched nervously as he stopped at Hope's door. He didn't do anything. He just stared. Vivian really wanted to say something, but his words came back to her just as harshly as he had said it, "Shut up."

Blake waited at the end of the hallway. He glanced at the guards, but they stood with their feet apart and hands behind them. They made no eye contact. Charles scratched the back of his head and yawned. He nodded at Blake and left with a simple mind-link.

Have fun dealing with His Royal Highness Mr. Crazy.

Blake bit the inside of his lip to keep from laughing. He watched as the King slowly opened the door and stared inside. Vivian shifted from foot to foot nervously, not sure how and if she should step in, and certainly not daring to talk. The King let out a little breath and stared at Hope. Her red hair framed her face and the covers hugged her body tightly as she curled into a small ball. She always slept as small as she possibly could and wrapped in covers like a mummy.

"I'll sleep here." The King said and entered the room, shutting the door with eerie quietness behind him. Everyone's mouths dropped - including his guards. Vivian squeaked.