Chapter 76

Alpha Teejan

I swear this child gives me just as much heartache as my own children does sometimes. How could she look me in the face and say she doesn't want a mate, I couldn't imagine life without my Bea, I'm sure once she meets him she will change her mind, no matter how hard she tries to fight the bond the yearning will be there, although it may be harder for her mate than her considering her dormant wolf, well good luck to him whoever he is.

Astrid

I've been back for Three days now and I have yet to speak to anyone, not even the Elders or my own father will tell me what’s going on, though he did express how much he wishes I hadn't come back at least not because of the Elders.

*knock knock* " Ms. Astrid, the Elders have summoned you to their council quarters" finally! I get dressed and follow our maid to them, when the guard sees us coming he opens the door for me as my maid waits outside. 

"Good morning Ms. Astrid and thank you for making the trip on such short notice"

"It is no problem Elders, as it is a duty to serve my pack and people which mean adhering to the councils wishes"

" Good, good very good, couldn't have said it better myself Ms. Astrid, now you may have been wondering the reason for us asking you back and I also apologize for not meeting with you sooner, we had a few kinks we needed to iron out before speaking with you"

"It's fine, so how may I be of assistance"

" Please take a seat for we have quite a few things to discuss with you, the most important being the King having said out loud that he believes the Reapers Nation are once again on the rise, ridiculous I know" I kind of zone out after he said that and the vision I had before comes back to mind, perhaps that is what it means, it is the only and best explanation for that vision because it is said that the sky was covered in darkness when the last war happened with them.

"That is exactly what it means! it was a warning of what is to come" I hadn't realized I spoke out loud "Ms. Astrid? what are you talking about?" " oh, sorry Elder Tom, I got lost in thought after you mentioned about the Reapers Nation" "so you heard nothing that was said after that?" "I'm afraid not"

"I said Ms. Astrid, we called you back to place you next to him in the guise of assisting him with his so called plans in getting ready for a possible war with the nation, use the time spent with him to earn his favour, get on his good side, his birthday soon approaches which as you know happens to be his deadline, I will be frank with you Astrid, he has openly told me that he does not have to honour the agreement to wed you and even if he does he will never touch you which means he will not mark you and should he find his mate after you he will dethrone you for his true mate"

"He really said all that?" " yes indeed he has child " then have I been going through all this for nothing? to be crowned Queen only to live in fear that one day his mate will come along and get everything I deserve just because she's his mate and not because she's earned it? then I think of Noah.

" I will do as you say Elder but if by his birthday I do not manage to win him over, I think it's time for me to give up, because if the things you just told me are truly what he said then I do not think I can lead a life like that and it would also mean I would never be able to produce Royal heirs for the throne "

I see my father lean forward and a smile plays on his lips, I guess now I know why he's been the way he has and why he said he wish I hadn't come when they called me, for Tyler to say those things out loud is absolutely dreadful which means he is very serious, I'll be the laughingstock of the court, the unloved and untouched Queen, I would not even be able to call myself Queen if I don't bare his mark, his mark is what solidifies his claim and gives me my place beside him.

"Do you mean to say that after all these years you will just walk away Astrid, why the change of heart?"

" It's not really a change of heart, I suppose I spent a long time in denial that I could overcome things with the King, but to hear you say it out loud, it really drives the point home, if he doesn't mark me then I will not truly be considered the Queen, I will be the laughingstock of the courts and shame my father more than I probably have already, then theirs him saying I will be dethroned should he meet his destined mate after, and if that does happen I know he will have me removed alive or dead and I quite like living"