"Mama, who will be Queen?" Turning away from the window as I wait for Albot’s return, I look to find my daughters playing with their dolls by the thrones, their white hair resembling mine while each sport one brown eye like their father and one prismatic eye like me. Walking towards the twins, I crouch down to look at Arora who asked the question, slowly playing with her hair.
“Depends on who is fit for it.” I answer, standing up straight and picking Arora up in my arms.
“Being a ruler isn't just about pretty dresses and golden tiaras… in our case, silver tiaras. We have to be fair and just rulers to the many packs. We have to solve problems and disputes before a war can start." I answer, gently tickling her sides as she lets out a giggle. I smile at my four-year-old pup, placing a kiss on her forehead as she giggles some more.
"I hear giggling." Albot's voice calls out, a squeal of surprise sounding from Nova as I confirm that she is held in the hands of her father. She must have tried to sneak away to the training grounds again, that pup always wanting to learn to fight with Narin and Ruby, the new Head Tracker of my pack. A golden crown sits atop my mate’s head, his tailored suit fitted to his body, hiding the muscles that I know are under the fabric as he carries our squirming pup towards me and places a kiss on my lips.
"How was the trip? Did you make a new ally?" I ask, settling the squirming Arora down and watching as she joins her sister in sitting on the thrones, their small frames giggling as they watch their father and me.
"Yes, we did. Next time, I'm staying home with the pups, and you can go to the next meeting." I can sense the tone of there's more to talk about later in his voice, Albot sending me an annoyed look with a sigh. It's been four years since the war ended, with many packs quickly converting to our allies and a few rebels that have had to be squashed. I have a feeling the pack he went to was one whose Alpha was still a supporter of Alexander and his line, and Albot had to help take down the Alpha for a new one, one we can trust, to take over. The supporters of Coro and his line are evidently the one thing that worries me each day, with my pups’ safety being the priority.
I watch as the twins slowly slink away towards their toys, a hint of mischief in their eyes as they sneak glances at their father. Of course, the two little ones would be planning something for their father since Albot has been away for four weeks now.
Strong arms pull me close, fingers capturing my chin, tilting my head to look back as lips claim mine in a long, slow kiss, one that leaves me breathless with a promise of more to come tonight.
"I've missed you." Albot whispers, his lips trailing my jaw and leaving sparks in their wake. My lips open, ready to respond when the cry from the bassinet just by the window sounds, causing me to chuckle.
"And, surprisingly, I've missed that too." Albot chuckles, a grin on his face as he gives my lips a quick peck before striding to the bassinet and lifting a crying Isaac out from within. Knowing the girls are safe, I walk to my mate, wrapping my arms around him from behind and listening to Albot as he soothes our son back to sleep.
"Narin came home yesterday. He finally found his mate, Hanna.” I inform him as we watch Isaac sleep for a moment.
“I wanted to wait for you to return before we welcomed her into the pack." I whisper, my eyes turning to focus on the twins when I hear a crashing sound only for Nova to call out “I’m okay.” Keeping up with these two can be a hassle even with the help of the nannies assigned to protect the twins.
"Good. It's about time that idiot came home. We need our Beta, and now that he’s found his mate, we can grow stronger." I nod, smiling as I nuzzle closer to Albot, breathing in his scent.
If someone had told me all those years ago that making a wish on a shooting star would lead me here, as Queen of the werewolves with a mate, three biological pups, and two adopted pups, I would have laughed at them.
I was unwanted by so many in my pack, unloved and always the punching bag of the King. Even now, as a runt, many still question me. But with Albot by my side, we have managed to grow into a stronger pack and stronger nation.
"Crystalline, we're here." The doors to the throne room suddenly open, with Matrix walking into the room hand in hand with Marcie as their son Jacob rushes in, making a beeline to where the twins play. I roll my eyes at my best friend who makes himself at home sitting on the throne before Marcie drags him off and hits him upside the head.
Geminie and Amberle arrive next, the two she-wolves ushering there pups to play with the others, while Ariven and Dominic talk animatedly about sparring with each other once more.
"How the hell did you manage eighteen years with his annoying ass? I swear the next time we come here; I'm putting a sleeping drug in his coffee." I laugh at Marcie’s irritation as she walks over to me, Matrix bounding over to Ariven and Dominic as the three Alphas start planning which day of our reunion to spar. Albot chuckles, rocking Isaac some more as he gives me a knowing look.
"The next game of "I Spy" Matrix starts and I'm gouging his eyes out." The fire-haired she-wolf states, causing me to one again laugh loudly. Albot settles the now-sleeping Isaac back in his bassinet, kissing my forehead before joining the three other men, Geminie sighing as she joins us.
"You think that's bad, Karaoke Fridays at the pack makes me question why I haven't strangled him yet." Marcie retorts with the rest of us bursting into laughter.