THE CLOSER THE WEDDING DAY CAME, the more intense things became around the castle. People were no longer smiling as much. You could feel the excitement, but everyone was focused on the job at hand.I had one more dress fitting to attend before we got married and the only events remaining after everything were the rehearsal in the church and the rehearsal dinner. In two days, I was getting married to the king of the werewolves. I was going to become the queen. I had three ladies-in-waiting, and one girl who helped me the same way Lesley used to in the beginning.I had spoken to Lesley about being the first in line to find a husband and she was over the moon, but she felt a lot like I did when I first heard about this so-called program of the queen. Nervous. Finding a husband was a nerve-wracking experience. It wasn’t like finding a mate, and Lesley also didn’t know how that felt, since she hadn’t seen her mate yet.Her main concern was how she would feel if she saw her mate after she g
LESLEY AND THE GIRLS woke me up with a huge breakfast in bed in the early hours of the morning. The excitement in the air was so thick you could choke on it as everyone around me rushed around to get things ready while I was supposed to stay calm and just enjoy every moment. I took a long hot bath filled with rose oils which helped my aching muscles that had been tensed up for the past week and had just gotten out when an army of ladies joined us to make me look the part.The queen joined us a little later and I tried to listen to the conversations around me, but I was so damn nervous, all I could think about was what it was going to feel like when Lorenzo finally marked me. After my talk with the queen, I felt more confident that I was making the right choice to marry Lorenzo, but … I shook the fears out of my mind and breathed in deeply, forcing myself to focus on the conversations.My hair was being pulled in every direction while I was told to first close this eye and then that, b
All those agonizing nights I spent imagining what his touch would feel like was finally over. Lorenzo’s hands softly stroked the very thin material of my night dress. He walked around me, staying close as his hand slipped over my body. It felt as if the air was so thin that I could hardly take a breath.“You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my entire life.” His voice was filled with a hunger I hadn’t heard before. It sent shivers down the back of my spine. I gasped as he stood beside me and pulled me so close that I could feel his arousal. I was still wondering how that would fit inside me when he slowly started to pull my night dress over my shoulders and let it drop to the floor.He kissed my shoulder and I shivered as his hot kisses burned my neck, but I was lost. I was completely lost in him. His hands slipped down my arms and up my sides. It was torture. It was utter torture to let him touch me without doing much, but I was lost in him. I didn’t want to stop hi
WAKING UP with Lorenzo’s arms around me was so incredible. I didn’t have the words to describe it. I breathed in his scent and our scent hit me right between the eyes. A huge smile broke out all over my face before I realized that our staff would be walking into this very room any second!“Where are you going?” Lorenzo’s voice was soaked in amusement.“Our staff are going to walk through that door at any moment!” I tried to wriggle out of his grip but he held on far too tight. “Lorenzo! Let go! I need to take a bath! You need to take a bath! We need to …”“Hide our scent?” His lips touched the crook of my neck and goosebumps burst out all over my skin. “We are mated, sweetness, and they will all know exactly what we did because we got married yesterday.” He kissed me some more and I felt as if I could just melt right back into him. We might have only spent one night together, but he knew exactly where to touch me to make me wet all over again. An hour later, we were in the shower when
WE SPENT THE NIGHT in my little house in the forest and in the early hours of the morning shifted and returned to the castle. Words can’t describe how happy I was. We had two days to finalize a couple of things and then our bags were packed and it was time to go on our tour of the kingdom.I saw a lot of the world while I was a slave, but it didn’t mean I saw a lot of our kingdom. Travelling as the queen was the complete opposite of travelling as a slave, that much was sure. For starters, I wasn’t chained to the bottom of a boat! Lorenzo made sure to take me to all the sights. I was amazed by the beautiful architecture and how much different it could be from one place to the next.Some packs lived in very rural homes deep in forests while others lived right in the middle of human towns. The packs that still lived close to the forests were down to earth and although the packs that lived in human towns were also fairly down to earth, they were far more into modern technology. I loved se
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER OUR HONEYMOON, I could feel the tension in the castle again. I thought we were supposed to have peace, and when I asked Lesley about it, she hesitated, which meant it had something to do with me.The nobles that were against freeing the slaves were gaining support. The whispers in the passages grew to a point where Lorenzo appointed two extra guards to protect me. Slavery was a lucrative business and when you had people working for free, why would you want to pay them now? It was frustrating! After all the work they had done to free people who deserved to be happy just as much as the nobles did!I retreated to the library as much as I could to get away from all the whispers. Reading soothed me. Reading about how slavery started infuriated me. It gave me more insight into why the nobles were feeling the way they were. My mind flooded with memories of the day Lorenzo rejected me. The anger in his eyes when he saw me at first and the confusion after he said the wo
“Okay, and exactly how are we going to draw this killer out when it’s an entire group of people who don’t agree with our new regulations?” I could smack the smug right off his damn face! I loved him dearly but sometimes he could really push my damn buttons!“I don’t know.” I shrugged and walked closer. “You are a big, strong male.” I traced my finger along the collar of his shirt and sighed. “You figure it out.” I smiled, but before I could make my escape, his hand slipped through my hair and his lips crashed down on mine. I loved kissing him. I loved doing all sorts of things with him, but I had a meeting with his mother about finding Lesley a husband and I couldn’t be late. As soon as we broke apart to catch our breath, I straightened up my clothes that my darling mate ruffled and left his office with my guards and ladies-in-waiting all following me.My meeting with the queen didn’t go entirely as planned when Lesley looked a little apprehensive about finding a mate. I got the disti
WE WERE SITTING DOWN FOR BREAKFAST when all hell broke loose. An omega collapsed and started frothing at the mouth. People ran around and we all got up. It took a moment for someone to check the omega, but it didn’t take much for us to guess what happened.An hour later, the doctor confirmed it. My food tester was poisoned, and I was in actual shock. I knew there were threats. I had been threatened every day of my life as a slave, but to actually see someone die because someone tried to kill me! I paced back and forth in Lorenzo’s office. My knuckles turned white while my hands clenched together.“If the killers have the kind of information, we suspect they do … They would have known that you have people tasting my food.” I looked at Lorenzo and he nodded.“I think this was their warning shot. Their way of trying to tell us that they could get to you no matter how much protection I put in place.” Lorenzo sighed, pulling his fingers through his hair.“What the hell do they want?” I was
IT FELT AS IF I BLINKED AGAIN and we were standing in the front of the chapel waiting for Liam’s beautiful mate to come down the aisle. We planned their wedding in record time because there was no way those two would be able to hold out for much longer! The only reason we probably did was because Lorenzo rejected me, and I had a chaperone. I suggested it to Liam, and he nearly bit my head off!Besides, Lorenzo was already the king for a couple of years when we met, so the circumstances were different. Lorenzo slightly nudged me and I smiled at him. I found myself constantly trapped in memories over the past couple of weeks, but I just couldn’t help myself. The castle was filled with love and happiness, and I couldn’t help myself. My children’s lives have turned out so much better than I could ever have hoped for.They actually turned out far better than I ever prayed for. The bride walked down the aisle and she looked even prettier than she did at the last fitting. She curtsied in fro
ON THE NIGHT LIAM TURNED EIGHTEEN, I was standing in our room looking at myself in the mirror. I had the seamstress make me a dress similar to the red one since Lorenzo actually physically tore the old one from my body! Only this dress was a little more appropriate for the queen … For the last night, I would be walking into the ballroom as the queen.Our darling son didn’t just look like his father. He was a true carbon copy. He was kind and loving with a fire in his belly. He wanted to change the world and make things better for our kind and he loved visiting the pixies who simply loved him. Tradition dictated that Lorenzo hand over the title to Liam tonight in a small alpha-type ceremony.The big coronation was going to happen in a couple of weeks. At least the damn protocol allowed for a little time to just celebrate the fact that he was coming of age. I was sending up silent prayers all day that he would find his destined mate tonight. So, it could possibly complicate things, but
THE NEXT YEAR I STILL FELT STRESSED when the other kids had to go through their ceremonies, but it was a lot easier since they weren’t the future of our territory. Well, they were, but it wasn’t a make-or-break moment like it was with Liam.All our children found their wolves and it was part of the memories I would never forget. It was almost as beautiful as the days they were born. The children were growing and our pack was growing, and while I was sitting in the morning room with my ladies, Lorenzo showed up out of the blue.“I thought we could go for a walk.” He grinned and I knew my husband well enough. I was right because he had a basket waiting just outside the morning room. I laughed as we rushed down the hallway and breathed in the fresh morning air. Lorenzo pulled me into the maze in the garden and finally came to a halt right where we had one of our first dates. I loved that spot. He pulled out a blanket and nearly made me fall into his lap when he pulled me down with him.H
WE GOT THROUGH THE MEAL, and I mean literally just survived it with all the children. I breathed a sigh of relief as we stepped out onto the grass and I could feel the cool grass under my bare feet. Everyone was dressed casually so we could shift after Liam shifted.The moon was full and beautiful in the sky as Lorenzo made his speech. The bonfires were lit, and we started a countdown. The moon shone down on my beautiful boy as I sent up one last silent prayer. I know I’ve asked a lot of her during my life, but if she could just help me this once …“Three … Two … ONE!” We all shouted and everyone looked at Liam. When the first bone breaking echoed through the clearing, I realized that everyone had probably been holding their breaths! It was horrifying watching my son go through his first time, but it was an incredible relief as well. His wolf was gorgeous once he completely shifted.His pelt was a purist silk black colour just like his father's and he had a beautiful white spot on the
AS I EXPECTED, Lesley and her mate returned from their getaway with the news that they wanted a normal werewolf ceremony. I was a little sad to hear that they wanted to have it at his pack house, but I could understand why. He wanted to show off his Luna and it was going to be her new home.They invited us to their ceremony, which was a plus at least. After most of our guests left and the excitement of the entire thing was over, I had some news for Lorenzo and, this time, it was huge! I couldn’t believe it myself when the doctor told me, but it happened! Lorenzo was sitting on the couch in the library and I curled up next to him while the kids played on the floor with the nanny.“Since there is no reason to give you a gift this time, I thought I would just tell you.” I felt so damn nervous! Why was I so nervous?!“Okay …” I could hear the frown in his voice and I laughed nervously.“Well, I don’t know how it happened so fast, but I’m pregnant!” Our baby girl was barely a couple of wee
ON THE NIGHT OF LESLEY’S COMING OUT BALL, the two of us got ready together and when Lesley walked out from behind the dressing divider, I gasped. I had seen her dress at every fitting, but seeing it on her with her hair done and her make-up, she looked stunning.Lorenzo arrived and we went downstairs. When Lesley walked into the ballroom to be presented in front of us, the old queen looked so proud. It was a great moment for all of us. As if a circle had just been completed. I could feel the excitement in the room and all the single male eyes looked at Lesley as if she was the best dessert they could ever have!In the corner of the room, I couldn’t help but notice the guard she had been seeing before all of this, and I swore at myself for not thinking of making sure that he wouldn’t be there. But as I looked at Lesley laughing at something one of the males said to her, I knew it didn’t matter. The champagne was flowing and people were dancing and having fun.At the end of the night, i
THE WAR DIDN’T LAST LONG if you could even call it that. The rogues attacked our borders a couple of times, but they never broke through. It was sad to think that it happened on the day of Rebecca’s birth, but thankfully, it all worked out.Peace reigned … Or so I thought. Things had just turned back to normal around the castle when Lesley walked into our room with red tear-stained eyes. I had to drag it out of her, but she finally told me that the guard had found his destined mate. My heart ached for the pain she so clearly felt. He might not have been her destined mate, but she clearly cared for him.“Lesley, why don’t you let us have a proper coming-out party for you?” Okay, so I sounded like the old queen, but I didn’t care. I wanted to see her happy. She had given so much and cared so much for me over the past couple of years that I felt she deserved to be happy. Lesley sighed and wiped the tears from her eyes. I couldn’t believe it when she actually agreed!Jumping for joy as so
LIAM’S FIRST BIRTHDAY was the best day of my life. Okay, well, one of the best. We had gotten him this far. We survived the first year, and more importantly, he survived the first year with us. If it wasn’t for the entire village of people helping, I would probably have done something to make it all go wrong.Two more ladies-in-waiting had been married by this time and it was incredible to see them with their destined mates. Leila was pregnant, but since they were lower-ranked wolves, her pregnancy would last a little longer than mine did.People came from all over the kingdom to celebrate with us. There were balloons and streamers and flowers everywhere. The food ranged from snacks for the children to all sorts of finger foods for the grown-ups and people were laughing. The entire lawn was covered with people who were all there to celebrate.Liam looked like a carbon copy of his father, but he had my eyes. He was a good little boy and I loved him more than life itself. My boys … But
I was a shifter dammit! Of course, my body would accommodate the birth of my son, but I was in so much pain that my brain seemed to short out and I couldn’t think straight. I understood why some women only had one child because this was just the worst pain I had ever gone through. Pushing and screaming and sweating like a pig! It wasn’t beautiful! It was the most horrifying moment of my entire life!“Okay, Your Majesty, one last big push.” The doctor sounded as though he was smiling, but I didn’t give a damn! I was tired, and every muscle in my body ached, not to mention what was going on down there! I begged Lorenzo to stop this madness. I couldn’t push anymore. Lorenzo climbed onto the bed behind me and I felt some relief as he whispered in my ear.“Just one more push baby and I promise it will all be over.” He sounded just as frustrated as I felt.“YOU’RE NOT THE ONE PUSHING!” I growled as another contraction hit and I had no alternative but to do as they asked. Falling back onto L