AVA
Theo and Noah were insatiable to the point that I ended up having to rush to get ready for the dinner
in less than half an hour. But… It was still an event I would rather not attend.
The butt-hurt looks on some of the faces of the ministers when my Kings and I entered the dining
room reinforced those reasons through and through, and those faces only got worse when they all had
to stand to bow for us and couldn’t sit until I did. Just out of spite, I made a point of insisting on each
of my Kings sitting down first, before I really took my time about the matter.
The smirks my Kings were trying (and failing) to hide said they had worked out exactly what I was
doing.
As soon as I sat, the ministers and ranked pack members followed suit, and staff immediately started
moving through the room filling wine glasses.
Michael looked in my direction, a question showing on his face. I nodded to him, knowing fully well
what he was about to announce.
“My Queen, My Kings, Lords, Ladies and esteemed members, I’m delighted to have you all with us
this evening. Tonight, we are formally welcoming Her Highness Avelina Wroblewski back to Eclipse
Mountain, and introducing her four Kings to the Kingdom’s dignitaries.” He gave a small smile as he
looked around the room. “You all know our Queen, but I’m delighted to introduce their Royal
Highnesses King Consorts Theodore and Noah Hughes, and Oscar and Callum Lewis, Alphas of the
Blood Moon pack.”
They all gave a small nod as their names were mentioned, and the unease rolling off them was insane.
“I am delighted to announce that we will be hosting a formal dinner and ball announcing the Queen
and Kings intention to ascend to the throne this Saturday evening with pack leadership from around
the Kingdom in attendance.”
One of the ministers had an awful scowl on his face as Michael spoke. I met Michael’s eyes,
motioning to the minister in question. Michael put two and two together and linked me with the
minister’s name and position.
“Minister Byron, do you have a concern that you wish to raise?” I asked, trying to keep my voice
calm, polite.
“No, Avelina.”
“That’s either my Queen or Your Highness to you, Byron,” Michael growled.
“She hasn’t been crowned so she isn’t the Queen, Michael.”
“That’s Alpha Michael to you, Minister Byron,” I snapped. “Now, according to the laws of this very
Kingdom, those due to take the throne should be titled as soon as their intention to ascend the throne
is confirmed with the incumbent leadership. This was confirmed with Alpha Michael who is the
incumbent during our previous visit. In addition, if you were not aware of this fact, Minister Byron,
you should have referred to me with my previous title, or, used Your Highness for the five of us. Not
doing so is a blatant disrespect to not just myself and my Kings, but the Kingdom itself.”
The minister looked like he wanted to dispute something, but knew he didn’t have a leg to stand on.
“Your Highness, your ascent to the throne would have been better acknowledged had you taken your
betrothed as a mate.”
“Minister Byron, you believe that someone should be marked against their will to satisfy the selfish
desires of another?”
“It would have been for the good of the Kingdom!”
“No, Minister Byron, it would have been for the good of your pockets. Do you have a daughter,
Minister Byron?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“He does have a granddaughter on the way though, my Queen,” Michael interjected.
“Thank you, Michael. Well, first off, congratulations on the forthcoming birth of your grandchild,
Minister Byron.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” he stuttered, suddenly nervous when he saw the homicidal look on my
face.
“Now, this is an unpleasant conversation for the dinner table, Minister Byron, but tell me. Would you
stand by and allow your granddaughter to be forcibly marked and mated against her will? Knowing
that the process would involve her being raped and she could potentially die?”
He shook his head frantically.
“So why do you believe that is an acceptable situation to force me into, Minister Byron?”
“Because you…”
“No, Byron. There is no acceptable justification for that behaviour, and one of the first changes I will
be making is repealing all laws that make that process acceptable and lawful.”
“But you haven’t done that yet, so…”
“Byron, you’re encouraging rape right now. Rape is against the law, that means any form of sexual act
without consent is against the law.”
“But it’s not rape! You should have agreed!”
By that point, I’d had enough.
“Michael, take Minister Byron away. His attitude of encouraging breaking of laws that are
fundamental to the safety of civilians is not an acceptable attribute for a minister. He will be tried
accordingly, but immediately stripped of his Ministership.”
“Of course, my Queen.”
The room was blissfully silent.
“Now that unpleasant business is over,” I smiled. “Let us eat, shall we?”
Our tables were soon full of plates piled high with different meats, vegetables and side dishes from
around the Kingdom. The Eclipse Mountain pack always did enjoy a buffet, especially for the Royal
Family.
Three hours, a lot of food and wine later, and the world’s most awkward dinner was finally over. I
hadn’t needed to have any other ministers dragged away from the table, but there were a few I’d given
Michael the task of having watched.
“You’re amazing,” Oscar whispered in my ear when we reached our suite again. “Royalty really does
suit you,” he took my hand, spinning me around in a circle, before dipping me backwards and
catching my lips in a passionate kiss. “Even faced with an awful person like that, you still manage to
show grace.”
“Trust me,” I replied. “That was no easy feat. Artemis was going crazy. If I’d let her have her way, he
would have ended up ripped to shreds.”