To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Sitting on the throne didn’t make their stares less intense. They didn’t utter a word, but I could tell they had so much to tell. They didn’t seem to be accommodating at all, and I could understand why. The reason became more prominent when an old man got up from his chair and stepped forward. The man’s stride rivalled his age. He looked like he couldn’t stand for a second. But the way he walked made me take that thought and shove it down somewhere else.
“He’s a werewolf,” Chris whispered, noticing how I was struggling to place his species. I knew we were in a place filled with people of different tribes because of their sitting positions. Blonde-haired people sat in one line, the same with the others. The throne room was divided by hair colour, each tribe clustering together like segregated islands.
Clearing his throat, he fixed his grey eyes on me before he focused on my mates. “Forgive me for this, my kings, but this isn’t something you expect us to take in with a glad heart. You left the Kingdom years ago, leaving us to our devices. The men you appointed guarded us. For years, we lived without a king, only for you to return and spring this on our faces? To recognize a human as our queen? Outrageous.”
The old man’s words cut deep, his disdain discernible. I felt a surge of defensiveness, but Fred’s gentle squeeze on my hand steadied me.
“Leave this to us, Bunny. We will get the throne for you like you wished.”
“No, let me do it.” I patted his hand, smiling.
I promised to get the throne back to them, and I would. It might be difficult to get their people to like me, but that doesn’t mean I was ready to back down.
The Bella before I met my mates would have done that, but not the pregnant one.
“I understand your concerns,” I started, my voice measured. “Believe me, I have thought about this with my mates. I know it will take some time for me to get your approval. All I ask for is the chance to prove that I’m one of you.”
‘Before you guys killed my parents’ I wanted to add but didn’t do it, knowing it would only spark debates.
The old man’s gaze never left mine, his grey eyes piercing. “You’re not one of us,” he spat. “What could you possibly know of our ways?”
I lifted my chin, meeting his stare. If there was anyone to back down between us, it would be him. “I may not have been born into your world,” I began, my voice clear as I lied through my teeth. Telling them I grew up among them might spark questions I wasn’t ready to answer, which was why I kept that titbit of information to myself, “but I’ve proven my loyalty, my compassion, and my strength. I’ll do everything in my power to protect and serve this kingdom.”
The room fell silent, the tension thick. You could slice through it with a knife and get lumps. “I’m aware most of you have learned about the attack on the palace and the town beyond the bridge, right? I helped your brothers when they were in need. I brought my mates back from Earth to fight for the kingdom. What do I get from It? Will you let your contempt blind you?” I got up from my throne and took a step towards him, my gaze going from one man to another, searching their faces for signs that they heard my words.
They all had their focus on me, as the old man held his stance. “This is frowned upon. We can’t let our queen be a human! This is against the laws of the kingdom!”
There were murmurs from the people at his words, as they silently supported him. He was gaining because this law was all they had known since they were kids.
“Laws? What law? The one that told you not to intermarry? Why?”
The man’s nose flared at my words. I seemed to have struck a cord within. He looked like he was barely holding himself, and might faint should he not hold back. The old man’s face reddened, his cheeks puffing like a bellow. The air thickened with tension as he thundered: “You dare question our rules?”
” Why shouldn’t I?” I stood firm, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel Fred’s and Blue’s eyes on me, their silent support bolstering my courage. “Laws that promote division and prejudice are not laws at all. They’re shackles holding this kingdom back.”
Fred and Blue shifted beside me, their eyes locked on the old man, when I turned to look at them. Fred’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening. Blue’s eyes narrowed, and his brow furrowed.
“I think the queen has made her point,” Fred said calmly, his deep voice a soothing balm to the tense atmosphere. “Everything that has a beginning should have an ending, like this barbaric law.”
The old man’s gaze never wavered, his grey eyes blazing with indignation “You may have fooled our kings,” he spat, venom dripping from his words. “But you won’t deceive us so easily. We won’t recognize you as our Queen!”
I took another step forward, my heels clicking on the marble floor. My heart raced, but I stood tall, my shoulders squared. I was trying to be the queen, and I would be one. “I’m not trying to cheat anyone,” I said, my voice ringing through the silence. “I’m offering a chance for unity, for progress. We have divided our kingdom for too long. It’s time we bridge the gaps.”
A murmur spread through the room, like a gentle breeze rustling leaves. Some nodded, their faces thoughtful. Others scowled, their eyes flashing with anger.
The old man’s expression twisted, his face a map of disgust. “You’re no better than the other monarchs who try to twist the law,” he snarled his words with a slap. “Do you think you can change our laws just because you feel like it??”
“I’m not trying to change anything. I want everyone to let go of the old, and embrace the new.”
The place fell silent, the tension hanging like a challenge. Fred’s hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with mine. Blue’s hand rested on my shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring.
“We stand with our queen,” Blue declared, his voice ringing through the room. “And I expect you all to do the same!”
The old man’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between us. “You can’t force us to do what you want anymore. We will only acknowledge those who are worthy of being acknowledged. We won’t be subject to your rulership anymore! We deserve kings who care about us, not those who use us for their gains!”
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the back. A woman with silver hair, her locks cascading down her back like a river of moonlight. Her eyes gleamed like stars in the night sky.
“Enough,” she said, her voice commanding attention. The room parted, like a curtain drawing open as she approached me, her steps fluid.
“Welcome, Queen Bella,” she said, her voice dripping with warmth. “I’ve waited a long time for this.”
Her eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a jolt of recognition. Who was she? What did she want? Why do I feel like I had seen her before?