Nova’s pov
My heart was pounding hard against my chest as I trailed quietly behind the Lycan King. My steps were quick and light as I tried to keep up with his long strides.
His long legs kept taking a long stride that I knew I would be darned if I should slower my pace.
I had a lot of questions, but whom shall I ask? I wanted to know why he came to fetch me by himself. I wanted to know why he didn’t react instantly to why I left the building without his permission. A part of me yelled out his name and demanded where he was taking me.
But I was afraid to speak, afraid to draw the attention of the people in the infirmary to myself, but my fear was palpable, my every breath quick and shallow.
Without saying a word, or glancing back to look at me, Prescott led me down a narrow alleyway, down to a building that I had never been to since I got to the royal villa.
I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears, and my palms were sweating. I had no idea what he wanted from me, but I knew that I was powerless to resist whatever he wanted from me.
We strolled inside the tall building, no guards could be seen anywhere around the building and I felt that was new.
Almost every building in the villa has selected guards who guard them. I wondered why he would take me to a place like that. A place where no one else was there aside from the two of us.
He would not bring me here to kill me, right? I am the Queen and my absence would be known, no?
I kept on assuring myself that nothing would happen to me, even though I was on the verge of collapsing to the floor.
Suddenly, Prescott stopped in front of a huge double door, making me abruptly stop on my track.
The door reminded me of that day, in the empty room with my family, begging for our lives.
A tear rolled down my cheeks, recalling that horrible moment. I sniffed and hastily wiped the tear off my cheek with my thumb.
“Listen,” the Lycan King turned around, he moved his hands up and placed them on my shoulders.
My eyes rolled back in shock, I moved my gaze on his hand and traced it to his palm on my shoulder. He caressed my shoulders with his thumbs and I felt my stomach churned with disgust.
“You are my wife, my Queen and the most powerful woman in the whole nation,” Prescott whispered to my face, his hot breath on the skin of my face made my wolf stir.
“Whatever things that would be said to you in there, think of yourself as the only person who could change the world. Think of yourself as a wife and as the powerful woman that you are. Be a wise woman who would judge accordingly, but don’t forget to put your husband first, because in his arms you’re going to be when darkness took over the night sky.” Prescott sneaked his palms to my cheeks, caressing them as his smoky eyes stared deep into mine.
He looked desperate and I didn’t understand the information he was trying to pass. I felt so little before him, and I felt like he was about to use me again, probably to get what he want yet again.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, staring at the man who has been mean to me all this time, who decided to be a loving husband for his selfish reason.
When will he start seeing me as a person and stopped using me as an object?
“Okay?” I nodded my head, I watched his lips curve into a charming smile and I moved my gaze away from him.
“Just be natural, okay?” he took his hand to my head and moved a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Okay.” I cleared my throat before wiping my tears with the back of my palm.
I may not know what the situation inside was and how I was going to be of help. But one thing is certain, he needed me and he wanted me to act to his advantage.
Whatever the issue was, It will be known to me once the huge door opened. It is only then will I know why he was acting out of character.
He took my hand in his and intertwined our fingers. He pushed the door open and I shut my eyes, I wasn’t mentally ready for whatever awaited me in that room.
“Greetings, your Majesty! Greetings, your Highness!”
I opened my eyes to the sound of energetic greetings, coming from the inner part of the room. My gaze landed on four men who stood on their feet with their heads bowed in respect.
Who are they? Why are we here? What do they all want from me? Why did he bring me to a place like this?
My chest rose and fell as different questions flashed through my mind, Prescott tighten his grip on my hand and pulled me closer to where the men stood.
He walked me to an empty seat across from the men and he sat down first before pulling me to take the space beside him.
I plunged into the seat due to how he pulled me without prior notice, I fell into his chest and he smiled while wrapping his arms around me.
“Even as a Queen, you’ll forever be my clumsy girl.” he chuckled and pinched my nose.
I felt a little uncomfortable with his cringe act and I moved away from his chest.
“You may sit, my wise elders!” Prescott flashed a toothy smile at the men and they all sat down, staring at us with eagerness.
“Just before we begin, let me quickly fetch the documents I had prepared for this day.” The man who I refused to believe that he was Prescott blurted out, he stood up and walked up to a table that I assumed to be his study desk.
Moving my gaze around the room, it was then that I realized where we were.
The room looked so much like an office, with a huge shelf that was filled with documents at the upper part of the room. A huge painting of a black wolf was hung on the wall and I assumed the wolf to be Prescotts’ but I doubt that.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting.” Prescott returned with some files in his hands, he took his seat beside me and dropped the files on the table.
I moved my gaze to the files, since I didn’t understand anything that was going on, I moved my gaze to the men who seemed to be reluctant to take the files.
“Let’s get this over with.” Prescott moved into the seat, crossing his legs while he had his head on the headrest.
“My Queen,” one of the men called and I hastily moved my gaze at him, wondering why he had to call me when I wasn’t the only one in the room, why would he call me of all people?
“Let us formally introduce ourselves. But before then, we would love to congratulate you on your marriage and Coronation.” the man smiled, showing me his sparkling set of teeth.
I smiled back at him, making sure to hide my nervousness with my wide smile.
“We are the elders of this clan. We may not be popular among werewolves, but we play an important role in moving the nation forward.” the man’s calm voice made me relax in the seat, listening carefully to what he had to say.
“I am Elder Bighana. With me here are my fellow elders. Elder Canyon, elder Felan and elder Mingan. We, elders, are the advisors to his Majesty, the ruler of the nation. We provide guidance and expertise on matters of state.
Alternatively, we also serve as judges, hearing disputes and rendering verdicts based on the laws and customs of the clan and the nation. We are also the guardians of the clan’s history and traditions, ensuring that the culture is preserved and passed down to future generations.” he explained, staring at the rest of the elders, they nodded their heads, agreeing with what he has been saying so far.
I didn’t know where the conversation was heading, but based on what the elder has been saying, I could tell the elders were like the backbone of his Majesty and a part of me support their judgment.
“His Majesty here has been wanting to rule the nation on his own for quite some time, but it couldn’t be possible since a man who has no family of his own won’t know how to rule over a lot of people. A family man is the only one who would understand the act of a reckless man.” the man paused, and I tilted my head to one side, processing what the elder has been saying.
“He got married to you a month after he was told that it won’t be possible for him to rule without having a family of his own. But it didn’t end there.”
A wild smirk formed at the corner of my lips, finally realising why he had to force me to marry him even when he has his sweetheart. He didn’t want to use his woman to achieve his selfish goal, so he decided to find someone else while he keep his woman.
“But Your Highness, without your approval his Majesty can’t rule the nation alone, since you will be his companion while we stepped down from our position.”
Now, I understand why he was acting out of character a while ago, he need me to approve the removal of the elders, why?
From what I have heard so far, the elders were old enough and know more than his Majesty. They seemed to understand the nation more than him and I wondered why he chose to discard them.
“The purpose of your presence here today, is to hear your view on the matter and know if you are ready to take part in the matters of the nation. Will you, your Highness agree with his Majesty to rule the nation on his own? Do you, your Highness agree with the removal of the elders? Are you ready to have an office of your own and oversee the matters of the nation?”
All eyes shot at me as the big questions have been shot at me. I felt Prescott grip on my palm and I let out dry chuckles.
“I vote to disagree!” I blurted out.
Prescott sprang up from his seat and pulled me up by the collar of my shirt. His eyes were burning with rage and I could hear his pulse pounding in my ears.
“What did you just say?” he howled, his grip on my shirt tightened and I watched his hands shake terribly.
“I disagree with you ruling the nation on your own!” I emphasise the last word before slapping his hands off my shirt.
“They want my opinion on this matter, and I have given them my opinion, you are not to rule alone.”