***
Ruby had just finished dropping off the welfare reports, and was heading down the corridor when the heavy oak doors of the royal quarters swung open. Dr Lorenzo and his young assistant were emerging from the queen’s bedroom. She quickly ducked behind a pillar, heart giving a small, curious thud as she watched the two healers walk towards the stairs.
Once they were gone, she stepped out and stared at the werewolf girl’s bedroom door. Why were the royal healers in there? What secret is the King keeping from the pack now?
Was the so-called Queen fragile? Was she sick? And if so, was it a simple fever, or something the pack would find… interesting? She needed answers. She needed a smoking gun to prove that this marriage was fake.
As if the universe were answering her call, the door opened again. King Derek stepped out, looking tired and more than a little irritable.
“Your Grace,” Ruby called, walking toward him with a smooth smile.
Derek halted, his shoulders tensing as he turned to face her. “Ruby? What are you doing here?”
“I was just leaving, but I couldn’t help but notice Dr Lorenzo leaving the Queen’s chambers,” she said, her eyes searching his face for any crack in the mask. “I wanted to offer my congratulations on the wedding again, of course, but now I’m worried. Is she quite alright?”
Derek turned and started walking again. “The queen is a bit under the weather.
Nothing for you to lose sleep over.” He reached his study door without looking back. “Have a good night.”
Before she could squeeze another question out, the door clicked shut, leaving her standing alone in the silent corridor. Ruby stared at the wood, her eyes narrowing. A little under the weather. Nothing to lose sleep over. He was lying. She could smell the tension on him, and she wasn’t about to let it go.
***
When Kira woke up the next morning, the vast bedroom was empty, and the only sound was her phone beeping non-stop. She grabbed it off the nightstand, frowning as she squinted at the screen. Jessica had blown up her phone with texts and missed calls. Kira smiled a little despite everything. She would talk to her bestie later, once she got to campus.
She swung her legs out of bed and paused. There was no pain, not even a twinge across her back. Just like Lorenzo had promised. A bit of ointment for a few more days and she would be good as new.
In the shower, warm water running over her skin, her mind went straight back to what the healer had said last night. Someone had been poisoning her for years. Aconite. Fadevine. Enough to kill most wolves. But who?
Who could possibly want her dead? Why wasn’t she dead yet? The memory of her father’s face flashed in her mind, that look of zero regret and nothing but cold hate. Tears burned her eyes at the thought, but she quickly shook her head. No, it couldn’t be him. If he had wanted her gone, he could’ve ended it when she was a helpless baby. Why drag it out with slow poison?
Her thoughts began to spin through years of memories: the rogue attacks she had narrowly escaped, the night her bedroom had mysteriously caught fire, and all those “accidents” that had happened over the years. The ones where her father had called her careless and uncouth. Were they really just accidents, or were they carefully planned attempts on her life? Could it be Lydia? Or was there someone else lurking in the shadows? Was she even safe?
She stepped out of the shower, wrapped herself in a towel, and padded to the walk-in wardrobe, hunting for her own clothes, but found nothing, not a single thing of hers.
She felt suddenly, properly alone. There was no one in her corner, not her father, not the man who was now technically her husband. Derek had made it crystal clear last night that he didn’t trust her, or any werewolf. In his eyes, she was part of some grand conspiracy.
“So why marry one?” she scoffed. “Why pick a bride you’re convinced is the enemy?”
For a wild second, she pictured just running, far, far away from Moonfang, Dravengard, and from Aethelwulf Centralis as a whole. Disappearing into human territory, starting over somewhere no one knew her name. She was basically human anyway, right? No wolf, no pack ties. She could do it.
A soft knock snapped her out of it. Mara walked in with a warm greeting, carrying several pieces of clothing draped over her arm.
“Good morning, Your Highness. Sleep okay?”
“Yeah, thanks, Mara. You?”
“Quiet night. No wars breaking out, at least.” Mara gave a small, wry smile.
Kira didn’t really understand what the woman meant by that. From where she stood, it was the Lycans who had started the wars and oppressed the werewolves for so long, but she decided to let the comment slide.
“I can’t find any of my stuff,” Kira said, gesturing at the wardrobe. “Any idea where it went?”
“Oh, right.” Mara laid the clothes neatly on the bed. “Your old things were taken away. These are just samples for today. They were brought in this morning. More will arrive later today.”
Kira blinked. “What?”
“King’s orders,” Mara said simply. “And you’re wanted downstairs for the family introductory breakfast at half past seven. I’m here to help you get ready.”
Kira stared at the pile of expensive-looking outfits, then at Mara, then back at the clothes. Queen life was hitting her like a freight train, and she was definitely not buckled in.
As Kira finished dressing, a knock sounded at the door, and Mara opened it to let Connor in. He stepped inside and dipped into a quick bow.
“Your Highness, the family breakfast has been moved to tomorrow. The King is handling some urgent pack business.”
Kira couldn’t have been happier. She had been dreading the awkwardness of a family meeting, even though she knew she’d have to face them eventually. “Alright then, I’ll head to campus,” she said, reaching for her handbag.
“You’re not to leave the palace until His Grace returns.”
Kira blinked, staring at him in total disbelief. “Excuse me?”
“King’s orders,” Connor replied simply.
“I don’t care. I have a presentation at ten, and I’m already running late. Am I a hostage now?”
“Not at all, Your Highness, but the King wants you to recover fully before going out in public.”
Kira didn’t waste energy arguing; it wouldn’t get her anywhere. This one was following instructions. He’d promised not to mess with her education, so what was this about? She sat back on the bed, waiting for Connor and Mara to leave so she could slip out anyway.
A maid brought in her breakfast just as Connor bowed and exited. Kira waited patiently until Mara and the maid were gone, then headed to the door, only to find it locked from the outside.
“Are you kidding me right now?” she muttered, rattling the handle. “Let me out of here. Now!”
Silence was her only answer. She kept twisting and pushing, but nothing budged. Frustrated, she stepped onto the balcony and peered down; there was no way to climb, and her room was on the top floor.
If only she had her wolf. Moments like this made her miss it the most.
She went back to the door, knocking and yelling at whoever might be listening to open the damn thing. But by mid-morning, she realised it was pointless. They weren’t letting her out. Defeated, she slumped onto the bed, picked at her breakfast, took the meds Lorenzo had prescribed, and soon her eyelids grew heavy. She lay down and drifted off.
***
When Kira finally stirred, it was already dark outside. She woke slowly from a deep, dreamless sleep, the kind that left her groggy and disoriented. The room came into focus bit by bit: high ceilings, rich dark wood panels, soft dim lighting, and that calming, soothing scent lingering in the air.
As her eyes adjusted fully, she spotted a dark silhouette by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Derek stood there in a sharp dark suit, arms folded across his chest, watching her.
Her eyes snapped wide, and she glared at him, even if he couldn’t see the fire in her gaze through the shadows.
“You’re awake,” he said, his voice flat and even. “Good. We have questions that need answers.”
Kira pushed herself up against the pillows, ignoring his tone. She knew this was about her suppressed wolf, but she wasn’t letting him steamroll her. She had plenty to say about him locking her up and controlling her life.
“Straight to business, then,” she murmured, glancing around for her phone.
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