Yolanda's Resolve.

The days that followed after Alejandro sent the message to Lucian were tense. The palace was on edge, the air thick with unease as everyone waited for the next move. I stood in the gardens, the golden glow of the sun casting over it. The beauty was lost on me, though. My mind was too busy replaying the events of the past few weeks, the attack on the servant, the brutal interrogation of Lucian’s assassin, and the constant tension with Clarice. It was all too much.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered to myself, my voice trembling. “I’m not strong enough.”

The thought of leaving had been creeping into my mind more and more lately. Alejandro deserved a queen who could stand by his side, someone who wasn’t constantly second-guessing herself. Someone who wasn’t an omega. Maybe if I left, he could find someone better, someone who could truly lead.

But even as the thought crossed my mind, a part of me rebelled against it. I loved Alejandro, and the bond between us was something I couldn’t ignore. I could feel the weight of it all pressing down on me, but amidst the fear and uncertainty, something unexpected happened, I began to find allies.

It started with Marcus, Alejandro’s most trusted guard. He had been assigned to train me, and at first, I thought it was just another duty for him. But as the days went on, I realized he genuinely believed in me. He pushed me harder than anyone ever had, but he also encouraged me, his gruff voice filled with a surprising amount of patience.

“You’re stronger than you think,” he said one morning as we sparred in the training grounds. His words caught me off guard, and I hesitated, giving him the opening he needed to disarm me. I stumbled back, my breath coming in short gasps as I glared at him.

“I’m not strong,” I said, my voice trembling with frustration. “I’m just an omega. I don’t belong here.”

Marcus stepped closer, his expression serious. “You’re not just an omega,” he said, his voice firm. “You’re the queen. And whether you believe it or not, you have the strength to lead. You just need to find it.”

His words stayed with me long after our training session ended. I wanted to believe him, but the doubt in my heart was hard to shake. I had spent my entire life being told I was weak, that I didn’t belong. It was hard to imagine that anything had changed.

Later that day, I found myself in the palace library, seeking solace among the books. The quiet was a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the palace, and I lost myself in the pages of an old Lycan history book. But my peace was short-lived.

“Yolanda,” a soft voice called, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up to see a young woman standing in the doorway. She was petite, with dark hair and kind eyes, and she wore the simple dress of a servant. But there was something about her, a quiet strength that made me pause.

“Yes?” I asked, my voice hesitant.

She stepped into the room, her hands clasped in front of her. “My name is Lila,” she said, her voice steady. “I… I just wanted to say thank you.”

I blinked, surprised. “Thank me? For what?”

She smiled, a small, genuine smile that reached her eyes. “For standing up to Clarice,” she said. “She’s always been… difficult. But you didn’t back down. It gave the rest of us hope.”

I felt a flicker of warmth at her words, but I shook my head. “I didn’t do anything,” I said, my voice quiet. “I’m not strong like Alejandro. I’m just… me.”

Lila stepped closer, her expression earnest. “That’s exactly why you’re strong,” she said. “You’re not like them. You’re kind, and you care about people. That’s why we believe in you.”

Her words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. But before I could say anything, she reached out and placed a small, folded piece of paper in my hand.

“There are others like me,” she said, her voice low. “People who believe in you. If you ever need help, just ask.”

With that, she turned and left the room, leaving me standing there, the piece of paper clutched in my hand. I unfolded it carefully, my heart racing as I read the names written inside. There were five in total, all servants or lower-ranking Lycans. People I had barely spoken to, but who had apparently been watching me, believing in me.

That evening, I found myself on the balcony, the cool night air doing little to calm the storm inside me. The piece of paper was still in my hand, the names a constant reminder that I wasn’t as alone as I had thought. But the weight of everything, the threats from Lucian, Clarice’s obsession with Alejandro, my own insecurities felt overwhelming.

Alejandro stepped out onto the balcony, his presence a comforting anchor in the chaos. “You’ve been quiet today,” he said, his voice low. “Is everything alright?”

I nodded, but the words caught in my throat. How could I explain everything I was feeling? The fear, the doubt, the flicker of hope that I was starting to feel?

“I’m just… tired,” I said finally, my voice quiet. “It’s a lot to take in.”

He stepped closer, his hand resting on my shoulder. “I know,” he said, his voice filled with understanding. “But you’re not alone in this. We’ll face it together.”

I wanted to believe him, but the fear in my chest didn’t go away. Instead, it fueled a growing determination within me. I couldn’t rely on Alejandro to protect me forever. I needed to be strong for him, for our kingdom, and for myself.

The next morning, I found myself back in the training grounds, my hands clenched into fists as I faced Marcus. He raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“You’re back,” he said, his voice gruff but approving. “Ready to work?”

I nodded, my heart racing as I lunged at him, my movements quick and precise. This time, I didn’t hold back. I pushed myself harder than ever before, my determination growing with every blow.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, I felt a flicker of something I hadn’t felt in a long time, hope. I wasn’t just an omega. I was the queen. And I had allies who believed in me.

The road ahead would be difficult, but I was ready to face it, with Alejandro by my side, and with the support of those who believed in me.