Chapter 26

VANESSA

I woke up and startled myself. I am looking at the man who is to be my mate. I start watching him as he is silently snoring. It hasn't been long, but when the heart knows. It knows. He must have caught me gawking at him because his eyes open up. He stretched his arms, "Morning beautiful." He went to reach his arm over and laid a kiss on my cheek.

"I didn't mean to wake you; I just want to make sure that this is real. Nothing is normal, but right here right now. I am happy." He squeezed me tighter in his arm.

"Oh god, get off! You need to contain the smell in your armpits" He laughed.

"Get used to it babe, you'll be dealing with my stinky ass forever!" He shoved his armpits in my face, as I tried to get away. The door slammed open, as Drew ran in and jumped on the bed. This is going to be a hard one to explain, I forgot this is what he does each morning.

"Hey son, you're up early" I kissed him on his cheek.

"Mom, I am not a kid anymore. You can't kiss me like that." Yup he was aging again. I looked at Asher, and he was thinking the same thing as me. He stood up, and held Drew down, as I placed kisses all around. Drew started groaning trying to get out of his embrace.

"No, eww, Mom, stop!" He had finally let him go.

"You are always going to be smothered in my kisses, even when you're a grown man watch out." He flopped on the bed and cuddled up to me like he does. Still my baby.

"Drew, I know you met Asher before, but he has accepted me as his mate." He looked up to meet his eyes.

"So, you're going to be my new dad?" He asked. He sat next to him, and you can tell that he is trying to find the right words.

"How about we be friends and see where that leads us Drew. I know it's a little fast, but that doesn't mean it has to be for us. I can never replace your dad, but I'd like to be something close to it. I care for your mom, and I care for you." Alright, he is not safe later with me.

"How can you care for me if you don't know me. You don't know us. How can someone care for someone they have not known for a long time" Yep there’s my kid. He was getting smarter by the day. I know one day he is going to be a stronger king. I would usually stop this conversation, yet him speaking up for himself is what he needs. One day someone’s going to question him, or he is going to call them on their bullshit.

"Sometimes water is thicker than blood. Caring shouldn't have to be something someone deserves. It should be given regardless. That's how respect is earned young prince. One day you will learn." I noticed the way Drew looked up to him, taking in the information that he was given. He just nodded in understanding.

"Mom, I want to train today. Can you do it?" Those eyes I can't take.

"I am sorry, I will be pretty busy today. We all are, so we can't train today. You can't go alone yet."

"Let me train him, I am better than you." Asher jokes. I know he is trying to gain his trust. It's not easy coming in third to Alias and Alec. Now that I think about it, I also seem to choose someone with the letter "A" ha.

"Don't ask me, ask him. I have Queen business to attend too. I'll be in the shower." I leaned over and kissed Drew's head, and quickly kissed Asher, but he pulled me back smashing me into his lips. His hand was holding my head into place.

"Now you may go shower" I started searching through the draws to find some clothes. When Natalia had busted in.

"Hey, I wouldn't do this if it isn't important. You need to come outside now." I groaned.

"Can't a girl get some damn peace!!!" I threw on some shorts, and muscle shirts. Asher, and Drew followed me.

We got outside, and there was a crowd with a girl yelling. Cussing up a storm. Wonderful, just fucking wonderful.

"Step aside" I ordered. Everyone cleared the pathway, and it was the redhead that Asher rejected. Her eyes were swollen and puffy, and she was angry as hell. She was challenging me.

"I am going to kill you Vanessa!" She said. Warriors had grabbed her to stop her from getting any closer. I would have done the exact same, but I will give her the respect.

"Let her go, she is challenging for her mate. I will allow it." The guards had stepped aside once again.

"Natalia, I need you to take Drew inside please. He is too young to see this." I saw her take Drew's hand, and lead him out.

"Kayla, I rejected you. Even if you win, I will not choose you." I heard Asher say. Inside I was doing a victory dance.

"You never gave me a chance; you were chosen for me. I will win my mate by killing the queen." She darted towards me head on. I stood there in place, as threw her fist to my right. I grabbed her arm, twisting it, flipping her over. She yelped in pain but returned to her feet. She slapped me across the face. I deserved that one. I grabbed the back of her head grasping your hair.

"I understand your pain, but this is not the way. You deserve so much more than someone who doesn't want to be with you. I respect you, but don't embarrass yourself more. " I shoved her to the ground, releasing her.

"If I were anyone else, I would cheer you on. But picking a fight with the queen is not the one. I am not the one Kayla." She stayed laying on the ground crying. She was in pain. She reminded me of me when Caleb did that to me. It was hard, and now because of me. She was a lesser mate less. I knew I had to do something.

"Beta Alec, I want you to take Kayla to a suite. She is not to be harmed, but respected." He nodded and walked over to her to help her up. She fell against him and cried her eyes out, who was to understand then him. Maybe. They can fall onto each other. I took a deep breath before Asher came over and intertwined our fingers together.

"Well since it's out of the bag, Asher has accepted being my mate. Everyone meet your soon to be King." I walked back inside the house.

If it wasn't one thing it was another. I wish things were simple once again. I felt a pair of arms wrap from behind me. I knew who it was, but I just laid against him.

"Sometimes I wish I weren’t a queen. That I was this normal wolf, who finds her mate, and just lives normally. Being like this is just heartbreaking. You never know what is right or wrong. I would trade it all to have you, me and my son. But being the strongest creature, makes me responsible for everyone else. The whole being a mate, and mom. Without having to miss a second of it sounds nice." He kissed the side of my cheek.

"That can still happen you know. With me by your side I will take over a lot of the work. I don't mean to be a buzz kill, but we need to talk about that." I rolled my eyes, great more business. I walked over to the counter and sat on a stole.

"Alright, hit me with it." I said.

ASHER

She looked defeated and seeing Kayla so broken was the last thing I wanted. I hope one day she can recover, because when you meet someone like Vanessa. She wasn't this super model, with perfect everything. That's what I loved about her. She had a tight belly, but she had stretch marks. Cellulite, wrinkles. But it's the beauty mark under her eye that makes her eyes stand out, It's the one on her side that makes her body look so decorated naked. When she is stressed, she just smiles. My heart just melts to all of it. She pouted, as she made her way to the island. Use her planning the future, and what goes on. I was ready for it all.

"My pack is in crisis due to rouges. Food supply is running out, and more and more people are dying. We went from 200 to 98 people. I want to bring them all here." She stared at me with that bored look in her face, she really did hate doing business.

"You want to add a brand-new pack to my kingdom? We don't have room without crossing boundaries. Unless they are split up throughout. Just for living purposes." She responded.

"I was wondering if my high ranks can live in the pack house?" They were my right hands. I knew I couldn't leave them.

"My Beta doesn't even live here, but it's a compromise. Sure, you can bring them here. Since we're talking, I wanted to ask permission of something." She looked kind of nervous to ask, but I knew she was trying to include me, and make sure I felt important. Even though she will get her way regardless.

"Alright, I will sit down. Shoot me with it." She bit her lip, and I wanted so badly to be the only one doing that.

"I want to make Alec my Beta. I know we have our differences, but he is strong, he is open minded. I also feel guilty of stripping him of his Alpha. I thi—" She was trying to plead her case, but she had already won.

"I think it's a great idea, I just need your word. I won't have to worry about him." She stood up and placed herself in between my legs.

"You don't need to worry, unless you stop putting out, I may have to reconsider." She started laughing, and there it was. She was showing her vulnerable side.

"We can announce it tonight, or would you like to do it in private?"

"We will make it public; I think I ruined his reputation enough." She had wrapped her arms around me, and I just melted. I connected my lips to hers, and she returned it back. I cannot wait until we are mated.

"We are under attack, it's shapeshifters. They are killing by the dozen. Hurry!"

"Son of a bitch! Can't catch a break!" She yelled out. If it's not one thing it was another. The smell of smoke filled my nose. Drew. That's what caught my attention. I need to make sure he is okay first!