Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Sera
Kael leaves me in my beautiful new office to explore while he goes to his office to meet with Saint. I'm still exploring when there's a knock on the door and Petra sticks her head in.
"Kael told me you'd be in here. Are you ready to start learning the ropes?"
Anxiety rips through me. Everyone has such faith in my ability to be the queen, but what if I mess everything up? What do I know about running a pack, let alone an entire kingdom's worth of packs?
Are you okay, love? Kael asks through our bond.
I kick myself for projecting my anxiety onto him. I need to learn to control that part of our bond. I don't need him freaking out every time I get overwhelmed by something.
Yes, Daddy. Petra offered to show me some of my queenly duties.
I can feel his amusement through our bond. There's no rush. Take your time. Petra isn't going anywhere. She's been handling things for years.
I take a deep breath and let it out. Everyone has faith in me. Maybe it's time I have some faith in myself.
"Okay, Petra. Let's do this."
She smiles and claps her hands. "You're going to do great."
We spend several hours going over my duties as queen. It's a lot, but nothing that I can't learn with time. Petra cleared her schedule so that she could help me acclimate. She showed me her appointment book, and I nearly choked on my tongue at how jam-packed it is.
"Don't get too overwhelmed by this. Anne received numerous calls this morning from other packs wanting to welcome the new queen. I'm sure the gifts will start arriving soon," she says with an eye roll. "Alphas want to suck up as fast as possible. Always a bit of a pissing contest, to be honest."
I laugh at that. "I can imagine there's a lot of one-upping happening between packs. Alphas are a competitive bunch.”
Petra laughs too. "No joke. Kael or Saint will want to contact the Alphas on your behalf and give them the ego strokes they want.
He won't want you speaking with Alphas, especially unmated Alphas, without him by your side.
Though I think it would be good for you to return the calls of the Omega mates.
Knowing the Omegas in the kingdom will be a great start. "
I nod, but I'm not exactly sure I agree. I feel a bit like I'm being thrown to the—well, wolves. Talking to strange Omegas is definitely more appealing than speaking with the Alphas. I know for a fact I'm not ready for that. Probably never will be after my past experiences with Alphas.
Petra prints off a list of Omegas, their pack names, and any other pertinent information before sending me off to my office to do my first duty as queen. Thank the Goddess I have a private bathroom because I might puke.
The first call is nerve-racking, but the Omega I speak with is so friendly I'm immediately at ease.
I lose time on how long I spend chatting with various Omegas, taking notes on our discussions for future reference.
Everyone is so welcoming and overjoyed that the king finally found his mate, and that I'm his Goddess-given mate pleases them even more.
Maybe this queen thing won't be so bad. I'm sure it won't all be as pleasant because one of my jobs is to handle disputes and concerns from the females of not only the royal pack, but also other packs if they are unable to resolve issues within their own hierarchy.
That doesn't sound like much fun, but I'll figure it out with Petra's help.
For the first time, I'm feeling like maybe I have a handle on everything. Only time will tell.
I jump when Kael brushes my hair off my face. "Goddess, you scared me!" I scold.
"Sorry, love. I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's fine. Don't sneak up on me, though. I nearly turned you into a toad."
He gives me a shocked look. "You can do that?"
I giggle at his expression. "No, but I could knock you out for hours or stop your heart with little more than a thought. Maybe boil you from the inside."
"Definitely want to avoid all of those things. I think being turned into a toad would be preferable."
I point my finger and make a little circle. "Ribbit, ribbit."
"Haha, not funny. Time for dinner. It's been hours since lunch."
I hop up and kiss his cheek. "Let's go. I'm starving."
Just like every other meal we've eaten, Kael feeds me while I'm perched on his lap. Everyone seems very enamored with how he acts with me. I'm guessing he's not always been a cute and cuddly wolf. Being king can't be easy. I can see him as a tough but fair ruler.
"What are you thinking about so hard?" Kael asks.
"Just what you're like as king. Are you grumpy?"
Saint laughs at my question. "He's an asshole. One hundred percent asshole."
"You don't become king by being nice," Kael says with a shrug.
"You've been nothing but nice around me."
"That's because your mere presence soothes my wolf and calms me."
"You should've seen him in our meeting. He wasn't nice one bit," Saint says.
Kael shrugs. "Making plans to deal with abusive packs brings that out in me. Especially when I know that pack hurt my mate. I want to raze the whole thing and salt the earth as a warning to the rest of the world that no one can defy the king's rule."
"There are some good people in the pack. Innocent people," I say quietly.
Kael kisses my forehead. "I know, love. We're going to make sure they are safe."
"When are we going?" I ask.
I already know he's going to try to leave me behind, but that won't work.
They'll need my magic. Even though Kael can tap into it, he's not been trained and doesn't know where the packlands are.
I know not only where the safest place to cross the wall is, but also where and when the patrols run.
I won't stay here safe behind the palace walls while my mate and new friends go to war.
"You're not going anywhere. We are leaving in the morning. You'll stay here under guard," Kael snarls.
"No. You don't know where the pack is. It's too dangerous for you to go without my help. I can show you where to cross and when the patrols are. You need me," I argue.
Saint winces. "Sera, I agree that it's safer if you stay behind. You're an Omega. This is going to be dangerous and violent."
I stand from Kael's lap and stomp my foot. "I will not be left behind. I'm not some weak Omega. Not now that I don't have to hide from them. They will feel the full force of my power," I say before storming out of the room.
Little wolf, you'd better stop right there, Kael practically snarls through our link.
I give him a mental middle finger and keep going.
I don't stop my retreat until I find the door that leads to the garden.
I wander through the flowers and to the edge of the forest. My wolf pushes at me to shift and run.
She's as pissed as I am and wants to run off the angry energy.
Deciding that's for the best, I quickly shift and let my wolf have the reins.
It doesn't take long before I not only sense Kael behind us but can hear him crashing through the forest after us.
Wolves are usually quiet, but he's not even trying.
He has one goal, and that's to catch me.
I know that with a tiny push of magic, I could easily outrun him.
He's heavier than me, making me quicker even without magic, but I don't try.
In fact, my wolf slows, allowing him to catch up. Kael runs straight for me, barely stopping before running into me. I turn and growl out my anger, the hair on my back standing on end. Kael's wolf matches my growl, letting me know his displeasure.
You can't run from me, Seraphina. I will always find you, he says through our link.
You can't tell me to stay behind while you go off to fight against my old pack. I won't allow it. Not only do you need me to fight by your side, but there will be scared and hurt Omegas who will need a gentle touch.
No, he says, leaving no room for argument. His words are just this side of an actual Alpha bark. Or maybe it is a true bark, and it's ineffectual on me due to my fae side.
I let out a huff and turn to walk away from my stubborn mate.
Before I make it two steps away, he tackles me to the ground, growling in my face, trying to force me to submit.
My wolf rages against him. We submit by choice and not by force.
She lashes out, snapping her teeth and scratching him with her paws.
Shocked, he backs off.
Do not mistake me for some weak-willed wolf, I growl. If I'm destined to be your mate—your queen—you will not dismiss me.
He visibly deflates. You're right, but I won't allow my mate to be put in danger.
That's where you're mistaken. You aren't allowing anything. I allow you to be my Daddy Dom. I allow you to be in charge of many things. I will not allow you to push me aside when there's potential danger. Saint will be there to protect me. Or have you forgotten he's bound to me now?
He paces away from me, growling lowly. He knows I'm right, he just doesn't like it. I also know that he's still going to try to leave without me in the morning, so I'll have to make my own plans. I won't be stupid, but I won't be left behind either.
Fine, but you'll stay behind the wall with Saint while we take down the Alpha leadership and whoever attempts to protect them.
I can hear the lie in his words, but I let him think I agree. When he says I'll stay behind the wall with Saint, he means to leave me here with Saint. Technically, I will be both with Saint and behind the wall. Tricky wolf, but he forgets our bond and how attuned we are.
I put up a curtain around my own plans and think about how happy I am that he's decided to be reasonable.
Even if I know he's not being truthful. I simply won't let on that I know.
He slowly approaches me as if he's worried my wolf might attack again.
She doesn't. Instead, she rubs against him, scent-marking him.
His wolf does the same. I let my wolf take over and melt into the back of her mind, giving her time with her mate.
They run and play for a long time before they complete their own mate bond.
I feel the moment the bond strengthens. Now we are tied in every way possible.
I follow Kael's wolf to the edge of the forest and shift back to human.
He takes my hand and threads our fingers together, kissing my knuckles.
Without a word, he leads me to our rooms. We shower and crawl into bed without speaking.
I'm nearly asleep when I hear him murmur, "I love you."
I don't say it back, but sleepily open our bond so he can feel how much I love him, too. He kisses the top of my head, and I fall into a deep sleep.
Kael is asleep when I wake up. It's still dark outside, and the perfect time to sneak away.
I know that he's going to be mad, and I'm sure it'll earn me a big punishment later, but I don't care.
I know with everything inside me that I'm meant to be there.
I also know Kael would rather tie me to the bed than let me go.
I make it about a mile from the palace when I sense someone following me. I mask my scent and quietly hide. I wait for them to pass, but they never do. Instead, someone nips my tail, making me spin around on a growl. I tackle the wolf and have their throat in my mouth in seconds.
Nice job, Sera, Saint says through our link.
I release him and back up. I could have killed you, dummy!
Then who would protect you while you run off into danger by yourself? You do know Kael is going to be pissed, right?
I turn and walk away without answering. Saint falls in step beside me.
What's the plan? he asks.
I'm going to my old pack.
So, you're just going to go in halfcocked by yourself? That's your plan?
I roll my eyes. No, I'm not an idiot. I'm going there and waiting for the warriors to come. I'm just ensuring that I'm not left behind. I'm meant to be there. Period.
Saint huffs but doesn't argue. Let's go then.