8

King Leo growled at my outburst but refrained when we heard Leonidas growl, “Leave her. Can’t you see the Queen is unconscious in her lap? Where is the doctor!”

He shouted, making clear the attention was wrongly placed.

Father ran at the speed of light towards Mother, picking her up.

He left for the doctor's office, crying.

Someone put their hands on my shoulders, “I am here, young Queen, please don’t feel frightened. We are allies,” I hear Leonidas speak.

Irvan had been taken away, and there was no one but those of the other clans surrounding me.

Feeling distressed, I couldn't stop crying.

The fear of losing mother over Irvan’s preposterous obsession over the crown, my anger must have pushed my aura as Queen, for I had heard whimpers in my surroundings.

Leonidas held my shoulders and I moved to hug him, I was alone, afraid, and vulnerable, “let us finish here while the Queen is being seen, your warriors will remain protecting you, as will I,” said King Leo, my tears kept running down, sniffling my nose I went to look my hankershift when Leonidas took his out, it was a beautiful red colored with black roses imbedded, “thank you” I replied as I took it to dry my eyes and then the nose, there he stood and replied kindly, “think nothing of it Lady Louise, here let us finish this hunt, bring it to them in honor of her good health to come,” he took me to the hunting grounds still grieving, fearful mother could have died, when I stepped into the small forest the animals belonging to Irvan and I have been caught, and killed, wrapped up nicely Leonidas went to get something while I let a small howl indicating I had done my job, my warriors arrived not too long after, waiting for Leonidas, the warriors had left with the victory towards our home.

Leonidas appeared with a small flower in his hand.

He gulped harshly and walked towards me, “I found a red rose for Ina, but judging by the actions of your chosen mate, I saw this flower,” he showed me a white gold Lily in his hand and gave it to me, “since tomorrow the rehearsals start, I believed this would help you when you would take your turn that it.”

I kept looking at the flower and then at a blushing Leonidas.

I must have felt the same as my cheeks felt warm on this fantastic evening, “I don’t know what to say, Sir Leonidas, but I’m grateful for your kind heart and hope the best for you too. I’m sorry I am not as invested. It is quite difficult for me to handle all of this. I’m most worried about Mother.”

I expressed my concerns, and to my surprise, Leonidas had another hand still behind him, which I overlooked, but then took a small bouquet of white with gold lilies and handed them to me.

Taking them, he said, “Let’s go meet your mother in good health, bring her something to help her kind heart heal faster, do not worry in stating to whom they are from, think of this as a friendly assistance of my ruling, a symbol of care from one clan alliance to another,” he stated a bit prideful, these are my clan's flower, as red roses are of his clan, but that is not what have I have been feeling a bit uneasy, it is the message it could bring if I am to consider what these indeed mean, giving a flower to any lady first is an act of declaring one’s feelings, but that can’t be true for Leonidas knows of our current fate.

His wolf has not been woken.

He cannot know who his mate truly is, but his consideration of my feelings.

If only the goddess could have blessed me with such a mate instead, I would suffer no heartbreak.

I could take the crown and tule, my people, with an iron fist instead of still contemplating my moves, how my behavior in the court should be directed, and what more would be given to me if not another heartbreak.

A small howl was heard from Father, and my heart started to run, my feet following the same rhythm.

Leonidas wasn’t too far behind me.

The cry indicated that Mother was okay.

Arriving at my home, I ran up the stairs, ignoring the pushing and questions from the maids.

I pushed the door open of the doctor's office to see my Mother in the main bed.

I ran in just as I had seen Father take a stand from his chair beside Mother.

Stopping, I asked, “father?”

He started to cry, his crying waking mother's eyes that moved to meet father.

Their love for one another could stand time itself, “My dearest, please don’t waste your tears.

I am fine, my love.

Who were we to know of such misfortune,” Father shook his head as I stood there only to hear a remarkable announcement from Mother, “We are to be a family once more. The gods have heard our pleading. I am to remain on bed rest till our pup is born. Fear not. I shall do as I’m told,” I gasped in amazement.

A mother with a pup?

Mother looked my way as I gasped with a soft smile.

Her eyes went to the bouquet of white with gold lilies in my hands, “are those for me, my little one?”

Mother asked me in a tired voice.

I was in such amazement I had forgotten the flowers.

“Oh! Im sorry, Mother, I meant to place them in water. Do you love them?”

She smiled kindly when we heard a maid shout, “Young King Leonidas, this is a private matter,” a maid had said.

I turned to ask for him to enter when Father spoke above me.

“Allow him entry. He has been good to us still,” in no moment of fathers words did I see a timid Leonidas walk in, giving the general respects of a bow to my family.

He speaks, “Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty and Queen Mother. I had accompanied the Young Queen Louise in her state. I did not wish to impose any further, but it worried her state of mind and heart. If I have acted out of line, please allow me to correct it. I wish no harm to the family.”

He speaks with concern and adequate respect towards my father.

My heart was running fast, and Irvan had never talked this way to my parents or myself.

My heart felt warm to his words and attracted to his actions, but why?

He was not mine or of my clan.

This was but his modest way of keeping the peaceful alliance.

Those words felt like a knife had been plunged into me.

He did not have feelings for me.

This was all just an act, as I had done before saving my chosen mate.

I’m just a fool of wanting to be loved as my parents love one another.

Their mother spoke, “Thank you for being our daughter's friend when needed. Your kind nature humbles us, Young King, if my husband wishes to express the good news?”

She asked a now bashful father as he kissed her temples.

Father speaks lowly, “I love you, Lizabeth, and I’m proud of you. Thank you, my love, for another wonderful blessing.”

He kissed her on her lips as he left her to rest.

Father walked to be on the same side as me, and Leonidas, a maid, walked behind him with a water-filled vase.

I walked and then placed all but one.

The one Leonidas gave me.

He may not love me, but the gesture was a lovely one that I wished to keep.

We all walked away, but first, I left a kiss on Mother's cheek and a slight whisper to Mother's abdomen, “Welcome, baby!”

I hushed, then hurried towards Father, who was speaking to Leonidas.

I had just overheard his words to Father, “I meant no harm to her, nor would I ever want to harm Lady Louise.

She is of kind heart, a remarkable young lady.

I simply wish for her to become the best, please forgive my intrusion,” he told my father to which father replied, “I fear what I believe to be true might cause us more harm, but only can the goddess show us the truth Sir Leonidas, just please be mindful that she is to be Queen of my clan, and your chosen mate is to be your clans, Queen.”

He stated firmly.

Leonidas nodded but then moved his sights to mine, and as how his eyes changed into those tender ones, he had said I was remarkable, kind-hearted, and wanted me to become the best Queen.

My heart was running from his words; he was such a kind man, “Now please,” Father, take three letters,” my father then moved them to Leonidas, who took them in his hands, “Give this to your parents and the rest of the clans, a celebration is in order, for I am to be a father again.”

Leonidas smiled brightly at Father as he took the letters.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty, I shall do as I am told. I will meet your family tomorrow at the chapel. Please excuse me.”

He said out loud, I stayed in the doorway till he moved to the side, gave a small bow to me then left.