Elizabeth POV Seeing the wolves around us start to shift, Eric and I also shifted. I heard gasps from those who had not yet shifted. Seeing a silver wolf was apparently rare. There were some clapping excitedly. I felt uncomfortable with the attention. “Enjoy it, we deserve it,” Ashley says in my mind. I smile at her cheeky reply. We take off following close behind the lead warriors. There is a sense of panic among them, and I wonder why. Eric looks over to me, wanting to chat but knowing we could not as we could not mind link. I was not a part of this Kingdom. I did not know what the future held for me. We are racing through the forest when I get a sense that I am being surrounded by wolves. I look over to Eric and see he also is being surrounded by wolves. I realize they are doing this to offer protection for both of us. I feel a sense of anger but understand that this is what they are trained for. I cannot help pushing the

Elizabeth POV Everyone turned to look at me. I had startled myself. I had just agreed to take over the Kingdom. Without first talking it over with Carter. What had I done? What was I doing? I am sure I looked nauseous as everyone continued to simply look at me. I could not say anything else. I felt an overwhelming sadness at what would happen when Carter found out what I had committed to. “Why don’t you talk to your mate first, Elizabeth, before saying anything else?” my father suggested quietly. My mother looked at him in surprsie, “She has said she willd o it. It is her responsibility to take over,” she says. I know she wants to protect him. She wants to protect him from others learning about him having lost his wolf. “They already know, mother,” Eric says to our parents. “They know what?” she asks angrily. “The rogues knew father had lost his wolf. The witch apparently told them, or we have a traitor among us,” he shares with them

Elizabeth POV I see the scene in front of me and all I feel is rage. How dare that skanky bitch have her paws on my mate. “What the hell is going on here?” I demand as I move into the room. The skank is smirking at me, “You left the alpha and I am filling the gap,” she says as she tries to remain seated on Carter’s lap. I can see him pushing her away from him, but she has latched onto his neck. I move closer to the she-wolf as she starts to realize I am not going to run out of the room in tears. She sits up straighter but refuses to let Carter go. I can see the upset in Carter’s eyes. I do not know what was happening, but I would damn well find out before I decided what I was going to do. I reach my hand over and wrapped it around the woman’s arm, pinching it as I yank her away from Carter and toss her into the wall. She slides down to the ground, whimpering as she does. She has tears in her eyes, looking to Carter. Carter is looking at th

Elizabeth POV The palace was bubbling with excitement. Today was the day of my crowning. Since returning home I had been miserable. Conflicted about my decisions. Devastated at the loss of Carter. I felt that every day. I knew we were still bonded, but once I accepted my position within the Kingdom, my ties to the Crescent Moon Pack would be broken. It would only be a matter of time before the bond between Carter and I would be broken. One of us would inevitably move on. I suspected it would be Carter before me. I could not see myself loving anyone else but him. My father had been furious when I returned without Carter. He could not understand how Carter could not understand the important role he would fill. He wanted to call Carter himself, but I refused. I did not want any interference from my parents. My mother immediately went into matchmaker mode wanting to introduce me to eligible bachelors within the Kingdom. Men would be able to step up an

Alpha Carter POV It had been a busy couple of weeks. Working with the King in secret to discuss options we had for our Pack to merge with the Kingdom, while retaining our individuality. We have come up with a way to make it happen. Identifying activities which I would be able to do as King, to support Elizabeth as well as things that were important to me. The last time I saw Elizabeth I knew I could not live without her. I had met with my Elders and chief advisors, including Stan and Kinsley and finally the Pack members. The Elders were reluctant at first but after much discussion they could see the potential benefits for the Crescent Moon Pack. The opportunity for growth and security. Stan and Kinsley had been on board from the beginning. And finally, we met with the Pack. We had some older members who felt the move would be too much for them. Even with our support, they wanted to stay behind. We secured space for them within Alpha Kyle’s