Chapter 418 Queen's Burden

Chapter 418 Queen's Burden
The news about Eloise attacking us and the deal we made had finally reached the public.

Almost everyone was on our side.

With Wolfe Tech back where it belonged, the company's stock was steadily climbing again.

Vince had also announced that Wolfe Tech would be working with Lycan Tech.

It was the partnership Eloise had refused from the beginning.

But not all the attention was good.

A lot of the hate was now aimed at me.

People believed everything Eloise had said.

They believed I stole Royal Threads from Alpha Zenna.

They believed I killed my grandfather so I could make this pack part of the empire Arnold Valduz had built.

After admitting that Valduz and I had secretly been mates since before the twins were born...

The story made sense to many people.

Not everyone hated it.

Some people loved it.

The ones who believed the sun shined out of Arnold's ass thought he had raised the best generation of leaders.

They praised us for helping influence the Alpha King into making better decisions instead of following the former King's terrible leadership.

None of that worried me.

Tamara Helios did.

She would be landing in New York soon.

She wanted her baby to be born there.

She had announced it publicly.

She even thanked Artemis Laboratories for helping her and her husband finally start the family they had wanted for years.

Valduz, Derek, and Mr. Valduz had all left the night before.

Valduz hadn't taken Zenep with him.

The girls were loving school.

They had started ballet again.

They had even launched a school supplies segment on their PupPaws channel.

"I'm back!"

Perry skipped into my study carrying a paper bag.

I already knew what was inside.

Chocolate pancake balls from my new favorite shop.

Normally I would have been excited.

Today...

I wasn't.

"Valduz said you were moping," she teased.

I rewound the news and paused it on Tamara's face.

"Look at her."

"I met her when I first started working with Xo."

"She's such a whimsical person."

"She loves children."

"She always talked about having one of her own."

"The twins were only two when she started trying."

I swallowed.

"And now..."

"She might die because of something that hasn't even happened."

"It definitely won't happen if she's removed first," Perry replied calmly.

"We don't expect you to understand, Elara."

She took the remote and switched off the television.

"You told me your packhouse was burning."

"You said Allison was trying to save you."

"Things like that happen when beings like that exist."

"We're beings like that," I reminded her.

"Okay."

She walked around my desk and opened several tabs on my computer.

One after another.

Disaster after disaster.

I frowned.

"What is all this?"

"Everything I caused over the years."

She kept opening more pages.

"I've done all of this."

"And I've continued doing things like it."

"I probably won't stop."

She opened another group of articles.

"These are all incidents linked to Tamara."

The list was almost as long as hers.

Perry looked at me.

"None of us is innocent, Hope Elara."

"We're fighting for dominance."

"Who we really are doesn't matter."

She leaned against my desk.

"You're a mother."

"You design incredible clothes."

"But nobody cares about that."

"To the world..."

"You're Alpha Hope Elara Rizen."

"The Rogue Queen."

"It doesn't matter whether you did what they're accusing you of."

"The rumor is already out there."

"And that's what people will remember."

Perry folded her arms.

"When she dies, people won't say..."

"'She was pregnant.'"

"'She always dreamed of having children.'"

She shook her head.

"They'll say a High Priestess is dead."

"A woman who stood at the top of her field."

"She'll know exactly what she's paying for."

"The world will know too."

"Only we will know the real reason."

She looked me straight in the eyes.

"That's what we do."

"We protect everyone else."

"You're a Queen now."

"Valduz is a King."

"These are the choices we'll have to make."

"Logic doesn't leave room for kindness."

"I know you."

"You didn't come this far by making easy choices."

She smiled softly.

"This is just the pregnancy hormones talking."

She kissed the side of my head.

Then she placed the paper bag on my desk.

Without another word, she left.

I knew she wasn't wrong.

Part of me wanted to forget everything.

Pretend the dream had never happened.

"Alpha Rizen?"

I looked up.

Allison stood in the doorway.

I waved her inside.

"I have what you asked for."

"Oh, good."

I forced a smile.

"I could use the distraction."

She hurried over and placed two folders on my desk.

"People will always twist things," she said.

"No matter how good your intentions are."

"Don't let the media get to you."

"We know the truth."

"I practically had to beg you to stay."

"I know."

I let out a slow breath.

"I think it's just the hormones."

"And everything that's happened."

"It's finally catching up with me."

"I hate it when Valduz is away."

It wasn't the whole truth.

But it was easier than explaining everything I was really feeling.

I opened the first folder.

It contained the names for the new Elder Council.

Several names had been crossed out in my grandfather's journals.

These were the elders who had fought every change he tried to make.

Even the smallest ones.

Nothing compared to the changes I was making now.

Everything was moving much faster than I had expected.

"Do you recognize those names?" Allison asked as I highlighted them.

"My grandfather did."

"He kept records of every council meeting."

"He even left notes."

I looked up at her.

"I trust you don't have a problem with his observations."

"Of course not."

She leaned back in her chair.

"I want to meet all of them, Ally."

"I want to know if we're on the same page before I make any decisions."

"I asked for a list because I wanted to make that choice myself."

"Not because I planned to agree with every recommendation."

"Right."

She nodded.

But she looked disappointed again.

"And the new Beta position?" I asked.

"I have two candidates."

She pushed the second folder toward me.

I opened it.

The first name was Benjamin Sullivan.

He was older than Allison.

I'd already received several complaints about him from the patrol leaders.

I set his file aside.

The second name made me stop.

Lois Burman.

The same woman who had called me a rogue bitch when I first arrived.

I slowly closed the folder.

Then I looked at Allison.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Lois Burman has a petition asking for me to be removed as Alpha."

I opened my top drawer and handed the petition to her.

"And Benjamin Sullivan is old enough to serve as an elder."

I held her gaze.

"When I asked for your help..."

"I thought we understood each other."

"I thought so too."

She frowned.

"Is the only reason you don't want them because they disagree with you?"

"A Beta is supposed to challenge the Alpha when they're being unfair."

"I know exactly what a Beta is, Allison."

My voice stayed calm.

"Until recently, we've worked very well together."

"These two won't help me."

"They'll make every decision harder."

"They already argue against everything I do."

I looked at her.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Alpha Rizen..."

She sighed.

"I'm not trying to make things harder."

"I honestly believe they're the most qualified people to replace me."

"Allison..."

I closed both folders.

"I'll choose the next Beta myself."

"Thank you for the Elder list."

"I'll review the other applications."

"I'll announce my decision at the next pack meeting."

"You're dismissed."

"Alpha Rizen..."

She stood slowly.

"You can't change everything and expect everyone to accept it."

"That's unrealistic."

"You already brought that so-called security system into the pack."

"Everyone knows what it really is."

"You're watching all of us."

She gave me a bitter smile.

"All hail Her Majesty..."

"The Rogue Queen."