All Chapters of The Lycan Queen's Ruthless Beta: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

AustinThe gates opened before I even reached them.I rode through the familiar streets of my kingdom, barely acknowledging the guards who bowed as I passed. I had been gone long enough for things to pile up, and I already knew I would have a stack of reports waiting for me.But there was one person I expected to see before any of that.Swayer.He was standing outside the palace when I arrived, dressed in his usual black uniform, his expression as unreadable as ever.I climbed down from my horse."Welcome back, Your Majesty.""Tell me everything."Swayer fell into step beside me as we entered the palace."Nothing major happened while you were gone. The northern packs settled their territory dispute. The western pack requested more guards along their border, and the council has been asking when you're returning.""Of course they have.""There was also a minor disagreement between two elders regarding the trade routes.""Handle it.""I already did."I glanced at him."You always make my

LucaI read the scroll twice. Then a third time. The handwriting was unmistakably Austin's, and there wasn't much written on it — which somehow made it worse.*You wanted to know what happens when people stop believing the crown has the right to decide everything. Now you have your answer. Do not rush. People who speak when they are drunk are easy to notice. People who speak when they are sober are the ones you should remember. Find out who believes in you. Do not ask them to choose you. Let them tell you why they already have.*I lowered the scroll. Angelina was watching me from across the room."What did he say?""Nothing important."Her eyebrows lifted. "That was a very long scroll for something unimportant."I folded it away. "He wants me to be careful.""About?""People."She smiled faintly. "That sounds like Austin." She hadn't meant anything by it, but I couldn't stop thinking about how easily he'd understood exactly what was happening here. He hadn't asked me to rebel. He hadn

EvelynThe first thing I heard that morning was arguing — not the kind that came from the council chamber, but something louder, sharper, entirely unfamiliar. I walked into the palace courtyard with Garret beside me and found a woman standing in front of one of the guards, pointing furiously at a suitcase."That is *not* how you handle someone's clothes."The guard looked thoroughly lost. "I didn't touch your clothes, Doctor.""You moved my suitcase.""It was blocking the entrance.""It was blocking the entrance because I was trying to *enter* it."Garret stopped dead beside me. "Do you know her?" I asked.He closed his eyes like he was praying for patience. "Unfortunately."The woman turned at the sound of his voice, and her whole expression lit up. "Garret!" She abandoned the guard mid-argument and marched straight for us, and Garret barely had time to brace before she smacked his arm."You got married without me?""Good morning to you too," he said, rubbing the spot."I missed your

EvelynThree weeks after the wedding, Garret's family had finally settled into the palace. His mother had already claimed a favorite garden. His father had somehow talked his way into long-running conversations with two of the council members. Garret, meanwhile, had discovered the single worst part of palace life."Another meeting?" I asked, watching him fight with the cuff of his formal coat.He sighed. "Apparently being married to the future Queen comes with paperwork.""You're only discovering that now?""I was distracted.""By what?"He looked at me. "You."I tried not to smile. "That sounds like a terrible excuse.""It is. Unfortunately, it's also true."I stepped closer and straightened the crooked silver clasp at his collar. "You know, you don't have to look nervous.""I don't.""You do.""I look thoughtful.""You've been staring at the same button for thirty seconds."He glanced down at it like he was noticing it for the first time. "I was thinking.""About the button?""About

AustinI found Amber outside the ballroom, standing beneath one of the tall windows, looking down at the gardens with her back straight and her hands clasped in front of her. Anyone glancing her way would have assumed she was perfectly composed.I knew better."Amber."Her shoulders went stiff before she even turned around. Neither of us spoke for a moment."You came," she finally said."I said I would speak to you.""You said nothing.""I didn't think there was much to say."A small, bitter smile touched her mouth. "There isn't?""No."Her eyes searched mine. "You felt it.""I did.""So did I." She swallowed hard. "Then why did you walk past me?" Her voice dropped lower. "Why did you ask another woman to dance?""Because I wanted to."The words landed harder than I'd meant them to. She looked away, and when she looked back there was no anger in her eyes — that would have been easier to face. There was only hurt."Do you reject me?""Yes."She stared at me like she'd been waiting for