Agree to disagree…
As I walked towards the courtroom, the grandeur of the space seemed to loom over me, making me feel smaller with every step. The high arches and the echo of my footsteps amplified the tension inside me. I kept wondering what could possibly be going on and why Lucas and Simon had decided to summon me there instead of their study or, at the very least, the living room. The choice of location was unsettling. By the time I finally reached the courtroom, I walked in with a facade of confidence, only for it to quickly dissolve as I was met with the piercing gazes of the elders, as well as both Lucas and Simon.
Standing there, seeing each and every one of them present, I froze. My anxiety surged like a tidal wave, crashing over my once-confident exterior. How could I have forgotten the conversation I overheard between Lucas and Damien a while ago? I distinctly remembered Damien telling Lucas that the elders had requested a meeting. How could I forget something so crucial? Everyone in the room had turned to face me the moment I stepped in, leaving me with no choice but to walk further inside and confront the situation head-on.
“Queen Veronica, welcome. Please, come and join us,” the head of the elders said, gesturing toward an empty seat at the long, imposing table. I forced a smile, masking the apprehension brewing inside me, and made my way to the seat. The room was grand, with towering windows letting in rays of harsh sunlight that seemed to highlight every anxious move I made. As soon as I sat down, I glanced over at Lucas and Simon, but neither of them looked in my direction, which unnerved me even more. I had wanted to discreetly ask them what was happening, but since they refused to meet my gaze and didn’t open the mind link to me, I had no choice but to sit in uneasy silence, waiting for the meeting to unfold.
“All right then, now that the Queen herself has arrived, why don’t we proceed with what we were just discussing?” the head elder announced, his voice booming through the large room. I looked up, trying to compose myself as I listened intently.
“Just as we mentioned earlier, your responsibilities as Kings and Queen not only include providing smooth and efficient governance but also ensuring the continuation of the royal legacy,” they began. The mere mention of the royal legacy made me shift uncomfortably in my seat. I gulped nervously, rubbing the back of my neck as the elder’s words sunk in.
“We previously discussed the absence of an heir, which has become a source of concern not only for us elders but also for the packs loyal to your reign. There have been challenges to your authority, and it is now imperative that an heir is born as soon as possible.” The elder’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Before I could fully process their words, Lucas interrupted. “Yes, but we do not understand why this has been raised again. We don’t know who might have informed you before we got the chance, but now, things can proceed as they should.”
Before he could finish, another elder interrupted, “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but we must strongly disagree. Yes, we asked for an heir, but not from someone with no royal ties. This woman-she was brought from a foreign land by you two. She stayed in the mansion for a few months and then disappeared for nearly a decade, only to return with two children. How can we be certain they carry royal blood?”
As they spoke, a strange sense of relief began to wash over me. I had expected to walk into this meeting and face a conclusion that would not favor me, but instead, it seemed the elders were still debating the matter. Perhaps there was still a chance.
“Elder Raymond, why would you say that? I disagree entirely,” another elder spoke up, his voice sharp and defensive. “Simon made it clear-they conducted an extensive investigation and presented their findings. How can you disregard the fact that the boys are our kings’ bloodline? The issue is not the mother.”
“And yet, do you expect us to disregard our Queen?” another elder retorted, his voice dripping with disdain. “Morally, it would be unacceptable to have the heir come from a mere concubine rather than the Queen herself.”
“And if the Queen is unable to provide an heir?” another elder countered. “Are we supposed to wait and risk the kingship falling into the hands of another? Let us not forget that this has happened before. King Adam Salvatore’s Queen was barren her entire life, yet the royal bloodline continued.”
“But wait,” another elder said sharply. “You do realize the Queen was stripped of her title for being barren.”
“Yes, I’m aware,” the elder replied. By this point, my anxiety had returned tenfold. The weight of every word spoken seemed to press down on me, suffocating me with fear. Were they suggesting that I could be stripped of my title as well? The thought alone made my heart race uncontrollably.
“May I please say something?” I managed to speak, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the storm raging inside me. “I understand the elders’ concerns regarding this situation, but I would suggest we proceed with caution. The future of the kingdom is at stake, and we must not act hastily. Just because something was done in the past does not mean it is the right course of action now. By the order of the Moon Goddess herself, I was made Queen. If there is any uncertainty, we should first consult her before making any decisions. It would be unfair for me to be cast aside in favor of a woman who betrayed this kingdom and left, only to return years later with children whose parentage is uncertain. For all we know, this could be another trap.”
The room fell silent as my words hung in the air. Then Elder Baron, the head of the elders, spoke. “Queen Veronica, we understand your concerns. We certainly do not wish to invoke the wrath of the Moon Goddess. We will consult her as you suggested, but given that these boys have been proven to be the biological sons of our Kings, there is little we can do to alter the situation in your favor.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “And what exactly does that mean, Elder Baron?”
“If the Moon Goddess confirms that the boys are ordained heirs to the throne, then, within seven days, you will be de-crowned, and the boys’ mother will be made Queen.”
His words echoed through the room, sending a chill down my spine. I tried to remain composed, but inside, my wolf was on the brink of losing control.
“Well, that’s fair,” someone agreed.
“I think that’s the best course of action,” another chimed in.
One by one, the elders voiced their agreement, and I could feel the ground slipping out from under me.
The meeting adjourned, and I sat paralyzed in my seat. Lucas and Simon had left without so much as a word, and the elders trickled out of the room one by one. How had everything spiraled out of control so quickly?
Once the room was empty, I felt tears well up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “That slave… That filthy, disgusting slave,” I spat through clenched teeth. “How dare she take my place?” My vision blurred with unshed tears, but instead of breaking down, I erupted into hysterical laughter. My wolf clawed to the surface, and in my anger, I raked my claws across the table, leaving deep, jagged marks in the wood.
I had to regain control. There was no way I would allow my title to slip through my fingers. Not for her. Not for Ashley. She wasn’t worthy of the air I breathed, much less the crown.
After what felt like an eternity, I composed myself. With my wolf tucked away, I stood and left the courtroom, my head held high. No one would ever see me break-not her, not anyone. As I walked back to the mansion, I could hear the giggles of children in the distance. Each laugh felt like a dagger to my chest. It was already bad enough that I had no children of my own, but now, I was forced to endure the joy of my worst enemy being a mother.
“Simeon, get down from there! You’ll hurt yourself!” I heard Ashley’s voice ring out, followed by more giggling. My fists clenched by my sides as I made my way to my room. I needed a plan. Anything, as long as it secured what was rightfully mine.
The maids around me cast furtive glances, clearly sensing my mood.
“What are you staring at? Do you want me to rip your eyes from their sockets?” I barked, and they quickly returned to their tasks. My frustration was impossible to mask at this point.
Once inside my room, I slammed the door shut and immediately reached for my phone. “Mom, I need to call Mom,” I muttered, pacing frantically as I dialed her number.
“Veronica, what is it this time?” she answered, exasperated.
I rolled my eyes. “Are you ready to have me back at home with you and Dad?”
“What? Of course not! What’s going on?”
“Good. Now listen to what just happened…” I began, pacing back and forth in my room as my frustration surged. The view outside, once serene and comforting, now seemed like a cruel reminder of the power slipping away from my grasp. The tall trees swayed gently in the wind, completely unbothered by the storm brewing within me.
“What? Veronica, speak clearly. What happened?” my mother’s voice, usually cold and calculating, now held an edge of concern.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to explain everything, recounting the events of the meeting with the elders. Every word felt like another blow, as if retelling the story made it even more real. My voice trembled slightly when I got to the part about being decrowned, but I didn’t let the fear linger long.
“They want to replace me, Mom. They’re saying those boys-Ashley’s sons-are going to be the heirs. And if the Moon Goddess agrees, I’ll be stripped of my title within seven days. Seven days, can you believe it? All because of that… that woman!”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. I could almost picture my mother’s sharp eyes narrowing in thought. She had always been a master strategist, a woman who never let her emotions cloud her judgment. In times like these, I needed her clear-headedness.
“And what are Lucas and Simon saying about this?” she finally asked, her voice icily calm.
“That’s the thing!” I nearly shouted, feeling a fresh wave of anger wash over me. “They barely said a word! They just sat there, letting the elders run the whole meeting without defending me. I thought they would at least stand up for me, but they just stayed silent. As if they’ve already accepted this fate.”
My mother hummed thoughtfully. “Interesting. They’ve either been cornered politically or… they’re complicit. Either way, Veronica, you’re in a very precarious position. But it’s not over yet.”
I could feel a spark of hope flicker at her words. If anyone could find a way out of this nightmare, it was my mother.
“First,” she continued, “you need to focus. This isn’t a time for emotional outbursts. You’re a queen, and no matter what happens in the next seven days, you must remain in control of your composure. Understand?”
I nodded, despite her not being able to see me. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good. Now, here’s what you need to do. You must appeal to the packs, Veronica. The people may love their kings, but they’ve also seen you as their queen for years. Use that to your advantage. Start visiting the packs, especially the more powerful ones. Make them see that you are still their queen, and sow doubt about Ashley’s return. Question her loyalties, question the paternity of her children-do whatever it takes to make the people hesitant to accept her. Remember, the elder’s council base their decisions a lot on the voice of the people”