Chapter 20
With eight weeks left in Dove’s pregnancy, May was stretched thin. It wasn’t until Caleb confronted her with the offer to help with troop placement that she realized what she needed to do.
After the confrontation in Reverwallow, the man she had come to known as Kike, met with the Queen twice.
The second time he had brought a few men, with one from Sutherland and another from Trilla.
Both were highly respected in their village and had gotten their people to listen.
The disruption in their country had calmed.
Taylor had finally proposed a new system for taxation which would be set into effect at the end of the year.
May didn’t understand most of the logistics, but she was impressed by her best friend’s ability to soothe her kingdom.
Taylor’s council also helped with the conflict, but May still had her army scattered around the country to make sure the peace stayed.
She knew that none of the smaller armies and militias wanted another war, so she banked on the fact that her soldiers would be safe.
Just the night before more of the rebels against the taxation turned themselves in.
There would be no death sentence for any except those who killed civilians.
The leader of the uprisings had claimed they only wanted proper taxes that were equal for civilians and to gather the Queen’s attention.
May knew that even though their rebellion was wrong, they all wanted the same thing for their country.
She even had multiple communication letters with Kike who continued talking to the surrounding villages.
Taylor had planned an official council meeting where officials from small villages and towns came to see Taylor sign the new proposal, which the majority agreed with. A few upset voices were expected, but they found it to be fairer than the previous law.
Last night May and Dove had discussed at length about what her position would be now that everything had calmed down.
Dove hadn’t necessarily pushed May towards stepping down from her position but bringing it up had been what prompted the chain of events. They laid in bed last night with May gently rubbing Dove’s belly while Dove intricately braided her hair.
With just weeks to go, she was enjoying the feeling of her very pregnant mate and their pup.
May also enjoyed that Dove finally started nesting and letting herself be doted on.
Their souls flowed through each other’s veins.
May was terrified for their pup to be born and held onto every moment she could.
May stood in front of the door to Taylor’s office with the letter in her hand. Raising her fist, she feathered three short knocks on the door. While May trusted Taylor with her life, she felt this moment could also destroy their relationship.
“Enter.” Taylor sat with her legs crossed at her desk.
May could see why she was Queen. She held so much power in her energy.
May had always admired her best friend but now she was viewing her in a different light, which made her nervous.
Dove assured her that Taylor would never hate her, but she was in a fragile state lately.
May gripped the paper like a lifeline and entered the royal office. Taylor would understand, right? The Queen’s brown eyes gazed at her as she entered the room, a thick silence filling the air. May strode towards the desk, and before she lost the nerve, thrust the parchment in Taylor’s direction.
“What’s this?” Taylor slowly reached out to grip the parchment that was almost shoved in her face.
“My formal resignation.” May stuttered out the words, drawing her hands behind her back.
In front of her sat the Queen to her kingdom, the kingdom and country she swore her life to protect.
May couldn’t do it anymore. Being with Dove, feeling her mate in her helped May realize how amazing she was.
Being with Dove was everything May wanted.
“May, what?” The disbelief lined Taylor’s voice as she opened the resignation. Dove had helped her the last few days to properly and professionally pen the letter in case Taylor had to present it to her formal council.
“With the pup on the way, I realized I cannot be your Captain anymore. I have asked Caleb, and he would be glad to step up. I know you have the right to say no. I would like to stay on with training, but I cannot keep up with the paperwork and responsibilities anymore, Taylor. My priority is my…” She had yet to say the word to Taylor but now felt like as good a time as ever. “My family.” She gulped down the words.
May felt Taylor’s gaze burning holes in her skin.
Maybe she wouldn’t accept the resignation and kick her out of the castle.
She had every right. But if May were to leave Dove’s side, she would die piece by piece.
To be away from her mate would be the cruelest form of torture. She bowed her head, waiting.
“I’m proud of you, May.” May gulped down her nerves, unable to meet Taylor’s gaze. The younger Alpha’s pheromones created a soothing barrier between the two of them, prompting her to continue.
“With the previous unrest, the best way to use me is to recruit and train. I cannot handle the political side, and I have not been able to for a while, but when it comes to training, I can do that. Caleb and I were in discussion, and he said he would be willing to step up if you endorse him. He has been in your army for as long as I have and he is great with the numbers. Me? I have and always will only be a fighter.” She kept her gaze on the floor.
Her and Dove had discussed this part, about transferring leadership during such a crucial part in their army’s history.
She wished Dove was here with her, but she felt the support from Dove through their bond.
She was in their quarters, preparing things for the pup, and had promised to not think too much into her mate’s worries, but May was glad to feel Dove as her lifeline.
“You’re wrong, May. You brought forth the solution by forming a bond in Reverwallow.
You are a leader, which is why I accept.
What we need right now is for people to want to protect our country.
There is no better person I trust to fully train recruits and build a solid army for our country, because one day the others may want to invade us in a time of vulnerability.
” Over the last few months, she had been unable to recognize her best friend, yet as she now sat across from her, she did.
Taylor was her sister and the person she could always count on.
She may have been the Queen with her duty to the country, but May would always be one of the most important people in Taylor’s life. May just needed to remember that.
“Thank you, Taylor.” She bowed her head forward, “Maybe you can come over for an evening meal next week, to catch up?” Taylor nodded hesitantly before May promptly left Taylor’s office without another word.
Because it was one of her off days, she returned to her quarters to find Dove peacefully sleeping on their bed.
Per usual she was cradling the pup bump.
May walked towards her, kissing the red hairs then making her way to the balcony.
She was dressed in a soft robe, as clothes made her feel uncomfortable most days.
They had gotten two velvet chairs and a small wooden table on the balcony recently.
Dove had wanted a second bassinet that would protect the pup from the weather as they sat on the balcony.
One that would be an outdoor area for the small family.
The stone balcony’s columns had a few inches between each other and there were about twenty, but May was still worried that the pup would fall through.
Dove called her overly cautious, but she was just being protective.
She stared down at the green grass below with the mountains in the distance. On the opposite side of the castle was the land that overlooked the villages. They wouldn’t be able to see them, but they could view the plains just before they came into focus. May liked this view better.
On the other side of the mountain was the ocean.
May had never seen the ocean. The biggest body of water she saw was a river near her old village.
How would she teach her pup to swim? She never had to swim herself, but irrational thoughts hit her.
Some of her guards had talked about swimming in the ocean.
She continued gazing at the landscape when a pair of arms curled her waist.
“What’s bothering you, my mate?” Dove’s swollen belly pressed slightly into her back as she placed a few kisses on May’s shoulder. The concern laced their bond prompted May to turn around and hold her Omega. She hated when Dove was upset by her own emotions.
“Do you know how to swim?”
Dove’s soft laugh filled the atmosphere. She shifted to let May’s arms encompass her. Dove’s forehead laid freely on May’s collarbones. They stood together in a gentle embrace.
“I haven’t been by a body of water in a long time, but yes, my parents and Taylor’s took us to learn. Why is this coming up?” Dove’s body pressed into May. This feeling wouldn’t last much longer, but the day she got to hold her pup would change her forever. What if she failed them?
“I do not know how to swim. I was looking out that way and thinking about the things I do not know how to do and everything I want our child to learn.” May’s hand slid across Dove’s stomach. Their child had been moving so often. It was almost like she was ready to be born.
Dove placed both her hands on top of May, stilling her movement.
The pup was kicking, making May smile wider than she ever thought was possible.
Her cheeks hurt from the crinkling which had been happening very frequently.
She was unable to resist when Dove’s own glowing skin formed its own smile.
Her eyes crinkled in the corners, framing her freckled face magnificently in the early dawn.
“When she is old enough, I’ll teach you, my Alpha, and our pup how to swim.
What else do you want her to learn?” Before Dove continued the hand movements, she parted her robe, revealing her naked form.
Every time May saw it, her Alpha dominated all her senses, lighting up with possessiveness.
She did that and her Dovely was an angel.
Her belly and swollen breasts set May ablaze, and she always let it flow through their bond.
Right now, though, she forced her aroused Alpha down just to admire her. Dove let their hands continue moving.
“I was reviewing the list of potential baby names.” Dove spoke as May let herself be guided by her mate, dipping their foreheads together. She remained fully dressed as their bodies pressed slightly together.
“I thought you wanted to wait until she was born?” May whispered as their noses brushed. Once again, they both believed the pup was a girl but had picked a whole range of names.
“I saw the one you wrote this morning after you left, and I think it’s perfect.
” The flowing emotions in their connection were driven purely by love.
From May’s side, she was experiencing every ounce of warmth Dove was feeling.
May could feel that Dove almost wanted to purr from joy but was ignoring it.
“Which name?” Every moment with Dove made her heart swell and she never thought it would get better but with their hands still moving in sync along with their hearts, and their foreheads pressed together, she found a new moment that topped all her others.
“Hadley.”