The Queen’s Calculations

Queen Larissa's POV

The doors to my private chambers closed with a soft thud, and I allowed myself a moment to breathe, the air thick with the weight of my plans. Lucas still didn’t fully understand the necessity of my actions, but he would, in time. He had no choice.

I glanced at the documents spread across my desk, the foundation of everything I had worked for. The alliance between the council, the royal family, and the packs was fragile, and I would not allow a girl like Amelia, someone with no true standing, to jeopardize it. She was a temporary obstacle, nothing more.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. “Enter,” I called, knowing it would be Lucas.

He stepped inside, his expression guarded, the tension in his posture evident. He was always like this around me—watchful, cautious. He understood the stakes better than most, even if he was reluctant to accept them.

“Mother,” he greeted, his tone formal, but the cold distance was unmistakable.

I motioned for him to sit, but he remai