Nova’s pov
I sighed for the nth time as we drove passed the last pack to get to my pack. I stretched my neck and my gaze drifted to the rear-view mirror, seeing Rezso staring back at me.
After the royal Beta insisted I should take the guards with me, I declined to move around with such amount of guards and decided to wait until his Majesty returned. But Rezso stepped out and vowed to escort me to the pack in one piece.
I cleared my throat and moved my gaze away from the guard who wouldn’t keep his eyes off me. I moved my gaze to the window, staring at the wall of the pack we were passing by. Shayna bumped her elbow against my shoulder, leaning toward me.
“What’s the problem, Princess?” she asked, resting her chin on my shoulder.
I turned on the seat, making her move away from me.
“I’m fine,” I gulped, finding no words to describe how I was feeling.
“Are you nervous?” she teased, staring at me with a smile on her face.
“What could I possibly be nervous about?” I asked, arching an eyebrow as I returned her gaze.
Inside, my heart was racing, but I refused to let my uneasiness show. I was determined to appear calm before his Majesty.
Shayna moved away, slamming her head on the headrest. “I thought you were nervous about meeting Alpha and Luna.”
“Hell no!” I chuckled, resting my head on the headrest while staring right into her eyes. “I’m not nervous to meet my parents.”
“Then, what are you nervous about?” she crossed her arms around her chest, tapping her head on the headrest.
“I’m worried about the pack,” I mumbled, moving my gaze away from her to the window.
“What about the pack?” Shayna asked, her voice tinged with worry. “And why is His Majesty at the pack? Is something wrong?” she pressed, clearly concerned.
I could sense the worry in her tone, the fear that something might be amiss. I didn’t want to worry her, but I knew I couldn’t keep her in the dark either. I had to be honest with her, even if it meant revealing the truth about the pack’s precarious situation.
“I think the pack will be invading soon, by a pack of rogues,” I whispered, Shayna gasped, pressing her palm on his mouth.
“How did…”
“You Highness,? We are here.” the driver announced, interrupting Shayna’s speech
My eyes drifted from Shayna to the window, where the darkness of night loomed outside. The darkness seemed to swallow up the light of the moon, casting everything in shadow. It was as if the night was a living, breathing thing, ominous and foreboding.
“Welcome home, Princess!” Shayna grinned, she rushed out of the car and walked over to the other side of the car to open the door for me.
“Thank you!” I stepped down from the car as soon as the door opened from the outside.
I grabbed the files from the seat and walked away from the car, with Rezso and Shayna trailing behind me.
“Princess!” the guards at the gate beamed as soon as we got to them, even in the dark, I could still see the smile on their faces.
“How are you guys doing?” I asked, staring at them with my cheeks heating up with a smile.
“Except for the constant fear of being eaten, we’re doing fine,” they said with a nervous laugh.
It was clear that the threat of being devoured by the rogues was never far from their minds, that they lived each day with the fear that it could be their last.
I felt my heart ache for them, for the constant state of anxiety they must live in the past few days.
I felt the weight of everything that was happening pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. I had to find his Majesty quickly and have him fulfil his promise.
“Light up the light!” the guard howled, his voice booming through the wall. “Princess Novalie is here!” I heard the sound of feet rushing to obey his command, and soon the palace was ablaze with amber light.
The amber light of the vintage-style lightbulbs cast a warm glow over the buildings. The light was soft and inviting, taking in the eerie darkness that once covered the buildings.
I held tightly onto the files as I walked over to our building, I need to see my family first before looking for his Majesty.
The door to our building opened and a maid rushed out from the inside, she gasped upon seeing me and let out a loud cry.
“It’s Princess Novalie!” she howled, rushing over to me, with other maids scrambling out of the other buildings.
“Guess some people have forgotten that she’s now a Queen?” a deep, resonant voice rumbled from the other side of the building. Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway, the sound of leather boots striking the stone floor.
“It’s His Majesty!” the maids whispered, their voices trembling with fear as they had their gaze dropped to the floor.
Their bodies were rigid with anxiety as if they were expecting to be struck down at any moment. I watched as the figures drew closer, my own heart racing as I waited for them to reveal themselves.
The air was thick with tension, the anticipation of seeing his Majesty was weighing heavily on everyone on the Terrace. I held my breath, waiting for the moment when the figure would step into the light.
The footsteps stopped and I turned around to see his Majesty, staring at me with a huge smile on his face. Two men were standing behind him with their cold gazes directed at me.
“Your Highness!” the men rumbled with a slight bow.
“Your Majesty?” I called, my voice was so low that the words came out in a whisper.
I took a step closer to him and moved the file to his face.
“The elders,” I paused, my heart racing as I watched the smile on his face deepen. “I made the elders sign the files. It’s now your turn to protect my pack.” I whispered tears shimmered in my eyes as I stretched out my hand to the Lycan King.
He took the files from me and passed them to a guy behind him.
“Is this why you came?” he smiled, moving his hand to my head, brushing my neatly brushed hair to the back.
I nodded my head, unable to speak at that moment, I was over joyous that I finally got to announce the news to him that I was suddenly short of words.
“You shouldn’t have come this far to tell me, I already know,” he smirked, letting his hand slide down from my head.
He made to turn away when I tugged at his arms, pulling him back to face me.
“What about my people?” I asked, my voice breaking with emotion. “Will you help us, your Majesty?” My heart was racing, and I felt like I was barely holding it together.
I needed to know that we would have the support of the Lycan King and that we would not be left to fight this battle alone. I held my breath, waiting for the King’s answer. Would he stand with us, or would he turn a blind eye to our plight? Even after I did what he asked me to do.
Prescott smiled and stuck his hands into his pocket, he leaned forward so his face was staring into mine.
“Of course, I will help your pack,” the King said, his voice resolute and confident. He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
The tears I had been holding back finally spilt over, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the King’s empathy and support.
“You have my word, I will do everything in my power to keep your pack safe.” His words were like a balm to my soul, soothing my frayed nerves and giving me hope for the future.
I threw my arms around his waist, hugging him tightly as I buried my face in his chest. I was overwhelmed with gratitude, and I felt an immense sense of comfort in his embrace.
The tears kept flowing ruining his shirt, but they were no longer ones of sadness or fear. Instead, they were tears of joy and relief, knowing that we would not be facing this battle alone and there was hope my people would survive.
At that moment, I felt truly cared for and protected, like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders when he wrapped his large arms around me.