Last time on Blind Hope

"Yay! I'll go pack!" She ran up the stairs, taking two at time. Blake watched her go and frowned.

"But I thought we weren't done." He remained on the couch, pouting.

A while later, Charles walked into the room and flicked the light on. Blake sat on the couch eating a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream and muttering strange comments to himself. Charles flicked the lights back off. He silently backed out of the room and pretended he saw nothing.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hope sat on the bed and waited for Dorian to come. How long had she been waiting? Hours, it felt like. Dorian had been busy, constantly hopping around. Every time he tried to approach Hope who was busy planning the ball with his mother, sister, and female Beta, someone else needed him. It was frustrating for the both of them.

Their wolves were becoming increasingly impatient for the mating and marking, neither of which they had done. Every time Hope brought it up, Dorian stopped her. He wanted to make her Queen and Luna first. It scared Hope.

Was he being influenced by his father?

Dorian was the nicest person, but not terribly perceptive. That was one of the reasons Hope wanted to mate with him, so he could pick up on her needs. Even William was doing a better job than her own mate.

A knock interrupted Hope's thoughts, and she pulled her robe tightly around her, sniffing the air. It wasn't Dorian. "Yes?" The door burst open, and whisper screams greeted her,

"Hope! Oh my gosh, it's really you!" Hope leaped off of the bed and darted straight towards the voice, knocking Vivian down to the ground as the two hugged each other's heads off. "Oh, you're still strong!"

"I've been training." Hope remained lying on top of Vivian, and Vivian started to giggle after an awkward pause.

"You're making everyone uncomfortable." Hope snuggled her head under Vivian's and purred.

"Let them be." Hope muttered. Vivian managed to stand up, with Hope's legs and arms wrapped around her like a determined octopus. "I missed you, Viv." Vivian waddled into the bedroom and set Hope down.

"I missed you too." Hope started sniffing, her bows furrowing in confusion. She sniffed, extending her body and letting her nose rest in the crook of Vivian's neck. Her nose brushed against a rise in the skin.

"You marked? And mated?" Hope looked up at Vivian with a grin on her face. "You dawg."

"Hope!" Vivian chided, managing to pull away and sit down beside her. "I was made the official Luna."

"With a ceremony and everything!?" Hope's eyes shinned with excitement. "How was it? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I tried. I couldn't get a hold of you." Hope's expression dimmed, and her eyes filled with tears.

"You mean Dorian knew, and didn't-"

"No! No, Do- His Majesty didn't know either. His stupid secretary or whoever wouldn't give you the phone because you were busy or weren't queen." Vivian crossed her arms and huffed. "I want to punch him."

"I want to punch him first." Hope's hands curled into fists. "That idiot Jerry." Vivian laughed and bumped Hope's shoulder. Hope laughed and bumped her back. "It is good to hear your voice. May I?"

"Always." Hope curled her body around Vivian's and gently let her hands brush across her face, memorizing it.

"I bet your beautiful." Hope sighed and rested her forehead to Vivian's. "I wish I could see you." Vivian smiled up at the face that rested against her own. "The trial will happen after I'm Queen." Vivian blinked a few times before realization dawned on her, and she smiled dropped. "Dory wanted me to be able to weigh in more heavily."

"I see. I've been wondering about that..." Hope wiggling her way off of Vivian and lay back on the bed.

"Where's your mate?"

"Sleeping. He was all tuckered out from traveling all evening. You do know it's midnight, right? Why are you still up?"

"I'm waiting for Dory. He hasn't come back yet from his office, and William won't take me to him because he says I need to sleep so I'm prepared for my role tomorrow." Hope shook her head. "I won't sleep until I make sure he's okay."

Vivian jumped up from the bed and grabbed Hope's hand. "For old time's sake, eh?" Hope grinned and let Vivian lead her out of the room.

"Highness," William started, but Vivian took off running. Hope laughed and followed, ignoring William's shouts.

"Take a left and go down stairs!" Hope said, remembering the route she had taken on previous days when Dorian hadn't come to find her. Hope felt herself being lifted into the air and squealed in happiness. She hadn't done this in ages.

"HIGHNESS!" William was aging.

Hope slide down the banister while Vivian ran down the steps ahead of her. Hope flew off the stairs and landed in Vivian's arms. She kept laughing, as Vivian set her down, grabbed her hand, and took off running again. "You'll go through a parlor on the right!" They kept running. "Through the kitchens!" Vivian wove through the kitchens like an expert. William was losing ground. "Up stairs!" Vivian picked Hope up without a second thought and charged up the stairs. Hope had the biggest grin on her face. "To the right! I can smell him now!" Vivian slid to a stop in front of the door where the biggest concentration of His Majesty's smell came from. She set down a giggle Hope who knocked on the door. Vivian panted and grinned, looking proudly over at William.

He was glaring.

"Dory?" Hope knocked again. "Mi amore!" No answer. Hope opened the door and followed the scent to Dorian. He was asleep. She could hear his even breathing and gentle snores. She tapped her shoulder, "Wake up, Dory."

"Sweet?" Dorian yawned and sat up, ruffling his unruly bed hair. "What is it?"

"Come to bed."

Dorian looked around and yawned again. "My back hurts." He stretched and his eyes landed on Vivian. "What the heck!?"

"I came early." She bowed and he nodded absently. Dorian focused on Hope who's face was flushed with excitement. Then he saw William. His was flushed with anger.

"Do you ever sleep, William?" William didn't respond (he was too busy glaring at the world), and so Dorian stood up, taking Hope's hand. "I suppose I should go to bed." He looked at Vivian and raised an eyebrow. "You should too."

Vivian bowed again. "Yes, Majesty." She gave a little wave to Hope, forgetting in her nervousness that Hope was blind. "Oh, night!" She squeaked, rushing off. Hope held back a laugh, and let Dorian lead her back to their room. Once William was dismissed and the two were alone, Dorian pulled his shirt off. He had discovered that skin contact helped Hope sleep without nightmares.

Dorian crawled into the bed and pulled Hope to him. "Sorry for making you wait." He kissed her forehead and relaxed, feeling her melting into him. She trusted him completely, and he felt that responsibility. But it was a good responsibility; one he wanted to see through to end and come out of the other side better for it. He sighed, hearing her gentle snore. He closed his eyes to sleep, but then sat up slightly, remembering. "What did you do to make William mad? He's literally trained to go with what whatever hap-"

Snore.