Chapter 22

Two months later…

Being the queen hasn’t been as easy as I thought it would be. All the little projects I had in mind to help the werewolves took a lot more work than I anticipated but I didn’t give up. I had the perfect advisor by my side, my father. He himself didn’t have an adviser, he had my mother to help him with his decision but for me, that was a bit more difficult, I didn’t have anyone to talk these things to so when he offered to become my advisor I jumped at the opportunity. After just two months of hard work Hazel, Mavis, Ara, and I had planned on going on a trip to the human ground, it had to be on peaceful land else my guards, beta, and the secretary would worry way too much. My Beta, Remiel did come along though.

Whilst we stayed in Seattle I met with this handsome man, Patrick. He was human, the sweetest man I’ve ever met. He was a rookie lawyer, a man who loves to cook, dance, hike as well as spending his free time in homeless shelters and helping those people. I knew all these things because we started dating, it had been going well the past three weeks. I had to lie, of course, all he knew was that I am a realtor. I just didn’t mention the part about me being a werewolf, the queen of werewolves at that. The reason for these trips was to ease my mind but instead, I kept thinking of Roman more and more.

“Are you okay?” Patrick asked, pulling out of the kiss.

“Yeah, of course,” I answered, stroking his cheek gently.

“Are you sure you want to continue this?” Patrick asked, kissing down my jaw and to my neck. Not a single wave of pleasure coursing through my body.

“Of course, Patrick, I’m ready,” I tipped my head to the side and moved my fingers through his soft curls.

“God, you have no idea how much I missed you,” He moaned against my skin, his free hand moving between my thighs.

“Mm-hmm,” I hummed. I knew I said I could do it, but I couldn’t. It felt like I was betraying my body somehow. My wolf was heavily against this, making it difficult for me to enjoy this.

“Patrick, I’m sorry, I can’t continue this,” I sighed and pushed him off from me gently.

“That’s… Okay, we can just watch the movie,” Patrick said disappointed, and just patted my back then smiled.

“No, I mean us. We can’t continue,” I mumbled, avoiding looking into his brown orbs.

“What do you mean, Talu?” Patrick paused the movie and turned to me, taking my hands in his.

“I think we have to end this,” I bit my lips. I knew it was best, I’d end up stringing him along then it would end in me breaking his heart and he didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong?” Patrick frowned.

“Not at all, you’re incredible, I think I’m not over my ex yet and you deserve better,” I assured him.

“Um… I shall get going then,” He said disappointingly.

I watched as Patrick gathered his things and soon left, I let out a long sigh and shook my head. How am I supposed to move on when my wolf wouldn’t let me? Even she felt betrayed by Roman’s action, yet she wouldn’t try to move on. I’m a strong independent woman but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be loved and to love…

Now…

I heard about Erin passing away, it devastated me. Nobody knew what happened, she was a healthy normal wolf who went to bed after putting her son to bed and the next morning she just didn’t wake up. Surprisingly Erin and I grew somewhat close over the years. We met at Theo’s 19th birthday and ended up chatting the whole night. I wanted to pay my respects to her family and planned a trip to hers. I’d have to go to Silver Moon; I suppose it was a good thing. I had to visit Natalia too, she too was sick. It was weird, to say the least. I was surprised when the news broke out about her illness, they must’ve kept it a secret, but it had many people worried. Including me. Going to Silver Moon always brought back memories of Roman I didn’t want, quite honestly what felt worse was going there and him not being there at all.

I arrived at her parents’ house and took a deep breath. I had told my beta and secretary to stay at the house, I knew my way around Silver Moon and knew for sure they posed no danger. I got out of the car and walked up to the opened door. I noticed there were many candles lit and bouquets of flowers. I hoped the one I ordered for them had already arrived.

I paid my condolences to her parents, husband, and son. I felt bad for the little boy who’d now grow up without his mother. People die all the time but not werewolves, we are supposed to surpass the age of 85 without a single problem. You live even longer if you were one to never get in any fight. To know someone young you knew passed away made you reconsider a lot of things. I remembered her mother wanted to talk to me privately, so I excused myself to go talk to her.

“Queen Tallulah, I don’t know how to tell you this,” Her mother stuttered, stained tears on her cheeks. Her breath was slightly uneven; she was worried, saddened, and panicking at the same time.

“Tell me what?” I wondered, rubbing her shoulder for comfort. She wiped away her dried tears and motioned for me to follow her. She led the way to what looked like Erin’s old room. She got down and took a book from the bedside table.

“I just don’t know how to see it, here read this,” She sighed and handed the notebook and sat down at the edge of the bed, sniffles coming from her.

“What is it?” I frowned, taking the notebook. I looked over at Erin’s mother, whatever it was it must be important to do it all whilst grieving.

I read through the pages, it seemed like a journal. I felt like I couldn’t read this, it was an invasion of privacy. I knew damn well if I passed away young, I wouldn’t want anyone reading mine.

“I can’t read this, it’s an invasion of privacy,” I made up my mind, closing the notebook and handing it back to Erin’s mother. She insisted on taking it, but she then gave in and took the red book from my hand. She herself went through the pages until she stopped somewhere near the end. It was her daughter; I wasn’t about to tell her that she couldn’t read through her journal.

“Read this page,” She handed me back the notebook, I sighed and gave her a nod. The things you do for grieving people…

I took the notebook back and started reading the page.

Dear diary,

I found out something bad… I knew Skylar was obsessed with Roman, but I never knew she’d go so far. She drugged him at the party, I heard from Angelica, she couldn’t seduce him for sex, so she stripped him naked. She took my pregnancy test and claimed it was hers, I knew she went to the castle and ruined things between Tali and Roman. I had no idea at first but when the news came out, I was surprised… The worst part of it was that I knew and never told Tali and I watched it tear Roman’s life apart. Angelica and I stopped being friends with Sky but neither of us came forth to prove Roman was innocent. I wonder if that’s why Angelica moved, out of shame and self-hatred. Maybe I should move too? I already start to feel unsafe here and Easton deserves the best life.

I read it over and over again, I couldn’t comprehend what I just read. When Roman fought to prove his innocence not one of us wanted to believe him and had instead wrongfully punished him. I rejected my mate, I let the man who I loved go over practically nothing and now I didn’t know where to find him...