A Package, A Symbol

Josie pov

Ronan didn't sleep in this room. I was relieved about that. I rubbed my neck without thinking. I could still feel the pressure of his hand around my throat. Such a dick, really. Are all lycans males like that?

There was a knock on my door, and a maid entered. 

"Good morning, my lady," she said, eyes cast to the floor. I got out of bed and stood.

"Lady Gigi requests a meeting with you and his majesty in her office at 10. 30 A.M," she said, for once glancing around the room, maybe to check for his 'majesty.' I scoffed involuntarily, and her eyes widened. 

I only nodded, and she left the room. I went to take a shower, put on a pleated skirt, a vest top, and flats, and fixed my hair before leaving the bedroom. I stood outside the door for a long time. I was suddenly scared again. 

"I don't have all day, let's go," I heard a gruff voice say, and I gasped, turning my head. My husband stood a few feet from me. In his tailored suit, he looked every bit of the perfect king. Shame appearances lied. 

He glanced at me, and without saying a word, he started walking to his grandmother's office. He didn't slow down, I practically had to hurry after him to keep pace. 

Lady Genevive was beautiful with black and silver hair swept into an elegant bun. She was wearing a white tailored suit that made her look more like a CEO than a dowager queen.

"Good morning, children." 

Ronan seemed too pissed to respond.

"I left a meeting for this," Ronan said, sitting in a chair in front of a large mahogany table, and I did the same. The door opened, and Princess Flora walked in, looking effortlessly cute in a white loose blouse with ruffled edges, a marching mini skirt, knee-high socks, and brown lace-up boots. She beamed when she saw me. 

"Hi, Josie!" 

We exchanged pleasantries. 

"Have you told them?" she asked her grandmother excitedly and kissed the back of Ronan's head. To my shock, his entire face changed, and the hard lines disappeared, replaced by a smile so natural I almost wondered if I'd imagined the man who had choked me the night before.

Oh...

"Told us what?" he gritted his teeth. There he is! The indifferent expression was back. 

"The welcome party for Josie. I think the pack should meet her, don't you think?" 

"Hell, no," he growled, and my heart skipped in fright. "I've done enough. I'm not doing more." 

"It's not your party, big brother. It's Josie's. All you have to do is stand by her side," Flora shrugged her shoulders, sipping a matcha. 

"Elders are speaking, little wolf, shh," Her brother scolded gently. Her face was set in an unhappy frown, but she didn't speak again. 

His grandmother was not taking no for an answer, and Ronan was glaring at me, as if it was my idea! He left the office brooding. 

"Dear, you should get ready for the party tonight. Everything will be arranged for you." 

"Yes, my lady." 

"Call me Gigi," she said, and I nodded, even though calling her by her nickname would feel strange to me.

Ronan POV

Every problem in my place suddenly had a face. Josie. She was the reason my life and everyone else's were being disrupted. Since she got here, Lycans can't move in their forms to avoid scaring her, because, according to her father, she didn't even know of our existence until recently. 

Now, there would be a fucking party in her honor, and we couldn't be ourselves because of her. 

"I've gathered the pack members," Jalen, my beta, said. He was also my best friend since childhood.

I faced everyone. "As you all may know, I got married to a human. She's at the castle, but obviously, as time goes by, she will want to explore the pack and learn more about you. Be cautious, and avoid shifting around her." 

A wave of groans and a few curses spread through

"We are changing our lives for a human?" A voice in the crowd sneered. 

"Why would we accommodate her needs?" a warrior said. 

"Don't think of her as a person, but as something we have to protect because she's important to the treaty," I explained. 

"We are so much stronger than the humans. We don't need this treaty, my king!" an old man shouted, and others agreed. 

Jalen stepped forward. "No matter how wealthy or strong we are, we need the humans too, and it is time for peace in this kingdom," he told them calmly. 

" Treat her as a valuable package- a symbol," I said, and they nodded, dispersing. 

Jalen looked at me and then laughed.

"A package, a symbol, really?" 

"Just that," I clapped his shoulder, and we walked back to the castle 

"A pretty package and symbol indeed. My two cousins wouldn't stop talking about her beauty and innocence," he said, and suddenly, I became furious to hear that, and my lycan was restless. He didn't want any male having thoughts of her. My mind went to the damned emerald ring around her finger. Who gave it to her? Her father? Brother?

 Or ... a man?

"I think I need a ring," I murmured. When I married Josie, I didn't put a ring on her finger. I should, it's only right. She belongs to me, even though I don't want her to. 

A guard at the mansion suddenly ran to us.

"What is it?" I asked urgently. 

"Your Highness, Miss Sadie is about to attack your wife," he reported. My whole body tensed. Without a word, I dashed to them.