The four of us strode through the grand double doors, prompting the council members to rise from their seats arranged along a long wooden table, adorned with a dozen chairs. At one end sat a conspicuously larger chair, set against the backdrop of a crackling fireplace casting a warm glow in the room. The floor boasted dark wood, accentuated by a regal red and gold rug. Above, chandeliers crafted from antlers lent a distinctive touch, deviating from the crystal fixtures I had seen elsewhere in the estate."Thank you for your patience," I addressed them, endeavoring to convey a sense of composure and authority."Of course, your highness," one of the men responded.I made my way to the larger seat and settled into it. The men gathered around the table, one side occupied by my family and the other by the four males constituting my predecessor’s council. It was an unconventional arrangement, but if Harold deemed it necessary to hear their counsel, I was willing to entertain their perspect
Ace’s punishment warranted a unique approach. Death seemed too lenient, risking his transformation into a martyr. I wasn’t oblivious to the entrenched mindset of males accustomed to unchecked authority; they wouldn't simply yield to a female monarch. Rectifying the injustices demanded extensive effort.For every tale akin to mine, numerous others remained untold. Danielle and Clara had been unjustly divested of their positions bestowed by the Moon Goddess herself. How many others suffered at the hands of feeble men intent on preserving power?Ace would serve as an exemplar. Stripped of strength, divested of authority. I required his survival to serve as a cautionary symbol, illustrating what lay ahead, rather than providing grounds for shifters to rebel against me.His punishment wasn’t solely for his sexism but for exploiting all members of his pack. I needed clarity on that point.My guards halted, creating space between our contingent and the leaders of my former pack. Ace and his
Ace’s gasps punctuated the silence, his wide eyes reflecting sheer terror. The punishment I had delivered was the ultimate blow. He thrived on adoration and the capacity to instill fear in others. Stripped of his position of power, he was left with nothing. Executing him would only grant him martyrdom.Murmurs rippled among the gathered shifters as the sentence resonated among the crowd. Gradually, those murmurs evolved into applause.Billy, taking a step forward, approached Ace. I wasn’t privy to their exchange, but Billy sought closure here too. Whispering something to Ace, he withdrew, a smile gracing his lips. Though Ace appeared enraged, he didn’t retaliate.It wasn’t my place to know; Billy, like me, suffered under Wolf Bay's rule. He may have made mistakes but always sought to balance the good amidst adversity. What potential might he have realized without the constant struggle to please Ace for his sister’s sake while trying to do the right thing?"Well, this wasn’t what I exp
The shifters surged forward, enveloping us in cheers and exuberant shouts. Billy was hoisted onto shoulders and paraded around the field. Amidst this whirlwind of jubilation, I felt a wave of relief, joy, and peace emanating from the gathered shifters.Billy was about to face a challenging task, but if anyone could lead Wolf Bay to its rightful place, it was him.The entire household buzzed with activity as preparations for the Solstice celebration reached their climax. The longest night coinciding with a full moon promised an epic party.As I readied myself to greet the guests, a surge of nerves accompanied my anticipation. Tony grasped my hand reassuringly. "You’re going to be great. Nothing bad is going to happen. This is what you’ve been working so hard for the last year."He was right, and his unwavering support had been invaluable. Together, we had strived to mend pack relations and lay the groundwork for positive change among the shifters.Tonight was pivotal. Our efforts to re
I rose to my tiptoes, enveloping Billy in an embrace. "You’re going to be an amazing alpha."Returning the hug, he urged, "Be careful, okay?""You too," I replied before stepping back. "I’ll be in touch soon.""I’ll be okay," he assured me."I know you will," I said with certainty."You will too, you know. You were born for this," he smiled warmly. Our bond, forged through trials, felt unbreakable, a connection that would last a lifetime.Billy rejoined his pack, and I walked over to my waiting entourage. "Malcom, would you stay with Billy for a few days? Just so he has someone loyal here.""Of course," Malcom agreed. "Now, go. See your mom. Billy’s got this, but just in case, he’s got me."The drive back to the house felt endless. Conversation attempts failed, leaving us engulfed in a heavy silence. Most of us were too drained or overwhelmed to speak."She’s going to be fine," Tony reassured me, squeezing my hand from the backseat.I glanced at him, grateful that it was just us in th
As I stood by the window, the paper calendar on my wall rustled in the wind and I looked over at the marked-off days. Only six more days to go until I could finally be free. I tightened my jacket around me and gazed outside, where the sky was a gloomy shade of gray, and the clouds looked ominous, as if a tornado might be on its way. Late spring weather was notoriously unpredictable.Part of me hoped that the storm would hit my mother's dilapidated trailer and allow me to escape permanently. However, I knew that it wouldn't be that easy. The pack's magic kept the worst weather at bay and also prevented us from causing ourselves harm. Unfortunately, it didn't stop other pack members from hurting me.I could have tried to provoke Ray and his cronies to take more drastic action, but that would have meant risking my life. Killing another pack member was punishable by death, but I doubted anyone would shed a tear for me. And the next alpha would likely dispose of the "broken wolf" without a
Despite the pain and fear caused by Ray's attack, Elisa tried to focus on her work at the store. She couldn't shake off the feeling of dread, though. Ray had never been that violent towards her before, and she didn't know what could have triggered his behavior. The possibility that he had developed some kind of aggressive streak after shifting into his wolf form sent shivers down her spine. If he became alpha of the pack, they would all be in serious trouble.Elisa's thoughts were interrupted by her manager's voice. She snapped back to reality and started unpacking boxes of canned goods. She was grateful for the distraction, but her head was still throbbing from the assault. She had to hide her symptoms to avoid attracting attention from her colleagues or customers.As she worked her way through the boxes of beans, corn, and beets, Elisa couldn't help but wonder why they sold so many beets. Did wolf shifters have a secret craving for them? It was an odd thing, but she had to restock t
Ray seemed to be everywhere, whether it was in the halls, at the store, or even on the street. As instructed, I attempted to blend in with the crowd, cowering behind other people or even hiding behind a tree. It was hardly a stealthy approach since Ray had already spotted me, but to his credit, he averted his gaze. He even went as far as distracting his friends to ensure that they didn't catch sight of me, unless I was just imagining it.It didn't make sense. Years of being bullied and physically assaulted had left their mark on me. The memories of broken bones and bruises were too vivid for me to ignore Ray's warning. Every time I hid, I felt like a failure, even though I had survived so far on nothing more than sheer determination. Fleeing from a literal "big bad wolf" was wreaking havoc on my self-esteem.But the end was in sight. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that no one knew of my plans to attend a human college. I was determined to make something of myself, even