Chapter 23

VANESSA

Every time we have one of these, I am forced to eat with every high rank. They ask me the same questions, and sometimes ask while I am chewing which is worse.

"If everyone can stand as Queen Vanessa and Prince Drew enter." I hear Natalia say. We enter the dining room, and everyone is standing. My eyes lock on to Asher's, and he doesn't seem so happy with me, mainly because I lied about who I was. We take a seat, and everyone follows.

"Thank you everyone for taking the time to join us. I am excited to have those from different areas here. However, there are safety precautions so I will be going around tasting your blood. We have a warlock creating shape shifters. “Everyone nods, as Servers serve everyone, and we begin to dig in.

I go around one by one to take their blood. It took about 20 minutes, and everyone came out clean. When I came to Asher I did it really quick to get out of there. I finally got to sit down and was talking to my son. Sure, enough the questions come.

"My Queen, as we heard a lot about you. A lot of things seem untrue. Like for starters are you really a hybrid?" I rolled my eyes, like out of every question that is what you ask. So, I did the only things that would get them to shut up about the hybrid questions. I turned my eyes glowing red, popped out my vamp fangs, and popped a light out of my hands Everyone was in aww. I suddenly stopped and went back to my food.

"I can do that too" Drew says, as he lets some light out of his hand, and even I was in shock. When did that come out? I looked at Alec and he just smiled.

"You knew I asked him?" He laughed at me.

"Yeah, it came out not too long ago." I held my hand out as he high fives me. I am happy he will get some strong traits from me. I leaned down and got close to his ear.

"You're the best child a mother could ask for, and I love you for eternity." He wrapped his arms around me and sat on my lap. No matter how old he gets, he loves to be in my lap listening to my heartbeat.

"My Queen, are you still doing trails for your King?" I looked over, and noticed it was the Elder Alpha I spoke with. Everyone, once again, has their eyes on me.

"They've been going on, unfortunately no one has met the expectations. Being a King is more than power" I responded putting a bite of steak in my mouth.

"What are rounds of the trails?" He asked again.

"Well first off they go through my father. Once they go through them. They are tested on strategy and go through a fighting round with one of my chosen warriors. Then they have to fight me." I went to put another bite in my mouth, and yet again asked another question by him.

"Isn't a fight with you unfair, as there is no one stronger?" I was getting annoyed at this point. I don't like explaining why it needs to be done.

"The fight isn't about beating me, it's about ability. It's all about strategy. So even if you lose, I want to be impressed that you almost got me to my tap out. When you become a royal, you are always front line. To fight off someone enough so that everyone can hide or get ready. You go front line so you can die, not so you can win each time. So, it's not unfair, and if you think it is. Then with that mindset don't bother even approaching." The room went quiet, and now I've suddenly lost my appetite.

I bent down and whispered to Drew. "Go hang out with Alec, I need to go" He nodded and went over and hopped on his lap. I never knew why he liked to cuddle so much, but it warms my heart. Alec and I were friends, and I trust him with my son’s life. I got up and walked out. I think thinking of a new king overwhelms me. I just don't know why I can't rule on my own, but even I have to follow them. I walked outside, in front of the pack house.

A hand is placed on my shoulder. I look to the side of me and look at Asher.

"I am sorry for my father; he wants me to be a king. He's always been a greedy bastard." He says with a smile.

"That's okay, I should be used to it. Everyone wants to be of power, but no one wants to love me. I think with Alias being gone; it's made things just lonely for me. When my mark faded, so did the connection I had with him. I miss him." He reached out and placed his arm around my shoulder leaning my head on him.

"So, you're going to tell me why you told me your name was Valerie?" The question I dreaded for a while now.

"If you knew who I was, would you have treated me the way that you did? He sighed and that answered my question.

"My entire existence, I've followed a code of honor. I've never done anything that was slightly wrong. I needed an escape, I needed to feel like I mattered more than a queen."

"I would have done the same thing, and I am glad that I was able to help you feel good. I can't imagine what it's like to lose not only one mate but 3" I laughed, as it's true. I am the Taylor swift to the werewolf world "I hope you don't think I used you, even though I did. I left because I don't want the lingering, as my heart craves for a warm body to hold me. I wish my mate would have been the right one for me, but he is a friend that I am grateful to have." He stood behind me, wrapping his arms around me. I just let him. My heart is vulnerable, and his hold is everything to me. I just met him, but he just has a way of making me calm.

"You son is something else, isn't he?" I smiled at those words.

"I wasn't a great mom in the beginning, but he heals my heart more than he knows. He grows by the month, and I can't help but be said that one day, he won't want to cuddle. He will be finding his own mate; I just can't imagine it." Asher had rested his head on my shoulder. I closed my eyes and just felt my wolf happy. But the moment didn't last long. A scream came from the woods. Everyone came running outside "Alec you take my son, and you guard him with your life" I took off my clothes and shifted right away. Heading back to the woods and Asher followed.

When I got there my eyes must be playing tricks with me, I see Alias there with his mouth puncturing a woman's throat. No, he is dead, this isn't him. Shapeshifter I know it's one. So, I went on instincts and dodged towards it aiming for its throat. It darted away and it molted its skin. It showed my father now. He's messing with me. He darted towards me slicing its claws against my stomach. It was a burning I've never felt. I crouched to the ground, and it hurt in pain. Asher comes darting in from behind the shifter and grabs it by its throat snapping his neck. That was fast. He runs over to me looking at my stomach.

"What was placed in the claws, it is melting your skin?" He asks. He picks me up and carries me to the pack house.

"Take me to the bath, I need to scrub whatever is burning off of me." He had carried me to my bath, as he lay me in there. He turns on the water as I am aching of pain. It took everything in me not to react. I grab the loofa and begin to scrub at the marks. Alec rushes in.

"What happened?" He kneels to my side brushing my hair.

"Shapeshifter. His claws were laced with something and it burns like hell." He runs his fingers over it, trying to understand.

"Alec, I need you to send more people to look for them. Make sure you warn them about their claws if it hurts me. It will most likely kill you." He stands up and runs out the room. Asher is still there, watching as my skin starts to heal itself.

"You saved my life, thank you. Those shifters are getting stronger. Too strong for me." He grabbed a towel for me, as I stepped out and wrapped myself in it.

"Can I ask you something?" I looked at him, as I sat on the toilet.

"Sure, go for it." He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

"Are you hoping to find your mate here? Or are you here to enter the trails?" I can't explain the feeling he gave me, to want to ask him.

"Can I say both?" So, he's not found his yet, and what if he does.

"So, if you don't find your mate, you're willing to go into the trails?" He looks at me, and frowns.

"Is it wrong for me to say yes?" I thought to myself, is it??

"Meet me outside, I want to test your abilities"

I left the bathroom and headed down to the courtyard. He followed not far behind. As soon as I got out, I dropped the towel exposing my naked body. He was already nude, but we've seen each other naked already. We circled around each other. I am watching his movements. I noticed how he put more pressure on his right leg, which means it is dominant. He was waiting for me to make the first move, and I think he knows that I will go for his leg. I ran towards him as my eyes darted to his leg and quickly grabbed his arm and flipped him on his back. It was so loud, that everyone started circling around him.

He used his hand to grasp my foot, throwing me down, as he used his elbow on my dominant arm. I used my strength to throw him off of me. My eyes begin to glow red. I weaved back and forth tackling him to the ground. I pounded my fist to his face, and he let me. No one just lets—

And, boom, he shifted into his form, taking my arm in his mouth and twisting it behind my back. I yelled in pain, using this chance to shift into my wolf. Which appeared all black. But he grabbed my foot in the process and threw me to the side. I was angry, he was beating me. I let that cloud my judgement. I tackled him, biting it all which he used to his advantage, pushing me off. He tackled me and wrapped his mouth around my throat. It was a bad choice for a wolf to be. I shifted to my human form as a sign of defeat.

The crowd had gasped. I have never lost a battle, and he made me tap. He shifted back laying on top of me. He lifted himself up and handed me his to get up. He beat me, and at this point I want him as my king.

"I want you as my mate and king. You defeated me, you saved me, you have honor, and show you care. I know you are wanting to find your mate, but if you decide otherwise the offer is on the table." He looked at me in shock. Everyone heard what I said.

"Think about it, you don't have to make a choice now. I also don't want you to feel obligated as I basically proposed to you. If you say no, that is okay. I won't think less of you. But I really hope you say yes" I turned away and went to walk inside. I feel Alec looking at me, and he wasn't happy. I think he put on a front for so long, that this was still a wound for him. I got to the front porch when…

"Vanessa!" He yelled out. No formalities. I like it. I turned around, and he was staring at me.

"I accept. You are not only helping your kingdom. You are helping my pack and that's all I can ask for." I took a deep breath, but I also didn't get my hopes up.

"After the mating festival. If you find your mate, you will have to reject her properly. But you can change your mind. I have a son and that is something you will need to consider too. Wait till then to give me an answer. A mating bond is a lot stronger than you think, and I will not have you resenting me by accepting now." I turned around and walked back in the house. I couldn't stop the smile that formed on my face. I grabbed a long sleeve hoodie and placed it over my body when I walked in. I heard the chatter happening outside, people were in shock.

"Daughter, is this what you want. Him?" My dad mind-linked me.

"He is what this pack needs, and what I need, what Drew needs. He would be a great King. But we can't think like this until the mating festival."

"As you wish."

I don't need a man in my life, but sadly it's what my kingdom needs. If he can love me, my son, and this kingdom. He would be the perfect fit. He was a strong opponent, and we can learn a lot from him. But with the mating festival it makes my heart ache, as he will find his mate, and I know that he will choose her. The bond is too strong to deny, and he may find it hard to leave her. Most are nervous as they know the offer is available. He may choose it, but I know he won't. The trails will begin, and my training needs to get better. I almost died today and got beaten. I was weakening and that is not okay.

But what really makes me question is what was in those claws?