41: Cue Frank Sinatra

*Two Years Later...*

**Coal**

I shifted on the throne, hating the way it felt beneath me.

"Stop squirming," Raegan huffed beside me.

"I don't like the new cushion," I grumbled back. She took my hand into hers and kissed my knuckles.

She rolled her eyes but smirked, "suffer for these thirty minutes, then we'll be back in our room."

I pouted and gave her puppy dog eyes, "can't we go back now?"

With another roll of her eyes, she looked ahead.

The room was slowly filling with reporters. A sight I hated but was used to at this point. We'd had so many press conferences during our reign it was unreal. I was sure that not even the last two Kings combined had as many press conferences as we'd had in the last two and a half years.

When it was finally full and our families were seated around us, Raegan caught the attention of the room by raising a hand to silence them all.

"Thank you all for joining us today, as you were notified, the King and I have an important announcement to make regarding the whole of the Werewolf Kingdom and our allies."

She glanced at her mother. Emily smiled softly, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her youngest child's head.

Raegan inhaled deeply.

"After much consideration, the King and I have decided who we would like to inherit the throne."

I shifted once more on my throne and leaned closer to my mate.

"We are naming the young Prince John as the heir to our throne." She announced loudly. Her voice rang with the power that she held and I damn near purred at her display of it.

The crowd started to whisper immediately and hands shot into the air calling for our attention.

Raegan gestured to one reporter flippantly, "ask."

"What about Princess Carmen?" The reporter asked animatedly, a large grin on her face as the other reporters glared at her.

Raegan looked to me for me to answer the question.

I cleared my throat, "Princess Carmen is to remain a Princess, but after heavy consideration and discussions with all parties involved we concluded that she will grow up as a regular wolf without the burden of the crown."

"Our niece is to inherit the title of pack Beta from her father when she comes of age," Raegan added with a proud smile.

The reporters started to murmur once more and raise their hands.

We answered more questions about our decision and were asked about the possibility that we should produce an heir. Raegan didn't take kindly to that question, and the conference ended there.

Raegan's family and mine joined us on the dais as we got from our thrones.

"What are we having for dinner?" Johnny asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Raegan smiled and ruffled his hair, "why don't you ask Annalise? I'm sure she's happy to tell you."

He grinned and bolted into the side passage that led to the kitchens directly.

Raegan chuckled.

The two-year-old in Emily's arms started to cry and reach out towards her sister.

Raegan smiled broadly at the toddler and took her from her mother.

"What's up Sugarplum?" She asked, pinching the toddler's cheek.

She giggled and swatted at Raegan's hand. Raegan beamed at her little sister.

It was a look that absolutely took my breath away. She adored her little sister, and it showed.

"So, you gonna tell them about the stipulations?" Jayce asked us while folding his arms across his chest.

My father took a similar stance to him and raised his brows at us.

Raegan sighed, "it's not their business. The council has to get off of our asses now that we've named an heir and our efforts to have kids on our own is none of anyone's business but ours. Johnny will be trained and primed for the role, and if we have kids then Johnny will become the Alpha of father's old pack. It's details that they don't need to be privy to."

"Do you think Johnny will be okay with it if he doesn't get the throne after being prepared for it?" Emily asked in a worried tone. I sighed.

"There's a chance he won't be," I said, looking after where the boy had run off, "and if he isn't then we'll figure it out. He's being raised right, and I'm sure he'll understand. I'm more concerned that the training he'll undertake will go to waste."

"We won't let it," Raegan growled lowly, shifting her little sister on her other hip. "He has been written into father's pack, and we will not let his youth be wasted. We all went through this, and we decided this was our best option. Hopefully," Raegan looked up at me meaningfully, "we'll produce an heir before he is far along in his training and he won't have to get the excess stuff that he wouldn't need to rule as an Alpha."

"What if you don't produce an heir?" Morgan asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

Raegan's eyes shifted over to him. "What do you mean?"

"What happens to your father's pack if you don't produce an heir?" Morgan clarified.

"We have figured out a solution to that," I wrapped my hand around Raegan and tucked her into my side.

"And?" He gestured impatiently.

I rolled my eyes, "*and*, should Johnny ascend the throne, the pack he would take over will be handed over to Raegan's father's next closest relative. That would be Inez's child."

"Oh," Morgan nodded.

"What about if Johnny wants the throne even if you produce an heir?" Finn asked, he had my niece's hand in his and Bri had their other daughter on her hip beside him.

Raegan let out a heavy breath. This was something we'd considered, and it concerned us to think that there would be a point of tension between any child we had and Johnny.

"If he still wants the throne he and our child will both be given a fair shot at it." Raegan said and then pursed her lips.

"You're going to make them fight for it?" Bri gasped.

Raegan shook her head quickly, "no, absolutely not. But there will be competition for it, at the end of which the most suitable heir will ascend the throne."

"What kind of competition?" My father asked warily. He and my siblings were the only ones completely unaware of our contingency plans.

"Tests in political awareness, empathy, decision making in stressful situations. Things like that. It would be solidified upon us having an heir and Johnny expressing desire for the throne." I said.

"Any more questions for the room?" Raegan huffed, her annoyance palpable.

Our family let out small chuckles and then we all headed to the kitchen.

Though Raegan and I didn't have all of it figured out regarding the heirship, we were ready to tackle whatever came up with it head-on.

Together. With our family right along with us.