10.

As we stepped off the plane, my senses were assaulted by the flurry of activity and all the confetti being thrown into the air around us.

“All hail the queen!” they called out, their voices ringing with a solemnity that caused me to wince.

I hadn’t expected anything grand and big like what I was currently experiencing. I had not even thought of expecting a welcome.

And then, as if on cue, they all bowed before me, their gestures a show of respect that left me speechless.

“All hail the queen!” They chorused again, head bowed down with one hand pressed to the chest..

I stood there, frozen in place, my mind struggling to process what had just happened.

I’d thought Betnerd was just a small kingdom in the north, but I was shocked by the turn of events. Even when Chase told me about being a king here; I never thought it was something so grand. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself being greeted with such reverence? It was even worse because now, more than ever, I knew I did not deserve it.

I was a laughing shock in Zakori, and it was only a matter of time before the news traveled to Betnerd. But even before that happens, they might have noticed the brand on my wrist.

‘Well, this is unexpected,’ Nia said, mirroring my thoughts. ‘Looks like you've got yourself quite the fan club, Zara.’

I chuckled silently, grateful for her dry wit.

‘Tell me about it. I never thought I'd be greeted like royalty at an airport.’

As I glanced around at the faces of those gathered before me, I realized that this wasn't just about me, it was about the role I now held as queen and the responsibilities that came with it. I was now expected to be better than the other wolves and lycans, but the truth was that I wasn’t, and it was only a matter of time before that truth was exposed.

“You may rise!” Chase announced to the crowd.

As the crowd rose, their eyes instantly fell upon me, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was being scrutinized and judged for every move I made.

Hand in hand, we made our way through the crowd, and I could hear the hushed whispers and murmurs that followed in our wake. I felt their eyes boring into me, their scrutiny piercing through me like a thousand needles.

I bowed my head and walked through the crowd, tears pricking my eyelids and threatening to fall at any moment. But then, I felt Chase's hand gently squeezing mine, a silent reassurance that I was not alone.

“Keep your head high, and act like a queen. My queen,” he said.

With that, I squared my shoulders and met their gaze head-on as we both walked to the car waiting for us, which drove us to Chase’s pack palace.

“This is my home and your home for the next three months,” Chase announced as we walked into the enormous mansion.

His staff all lined up to welcome me, their eyes eager and shining.

“This is the first time I’m bringing a woman here, so they’re a bit surprised,” he said.

I smiled at them as he introduced me to them; the word queen made me feel like I was floating. It was a big title, one that carried a lot of weight.

‘What if I mess up, Nia?’ I asked her.

‘You won’t! We won’t!’ Nia encouraged.

‘But this big house, this title, this man who’d offered to help me. What if I fuck it all up?’

‘You won’t!’

I was now in a new kingdom, in a new pack, and married to a man I barely knew. I wanted to trust him, but I couldn’t even do that after everything that had just happened.

I was extremely vulnerable, and my heart ached. And suddenly, it felt like all the emotions I’d tried to suppress for the past few hours were coming down on me hard and fast.

After the introduction, Chase led me to a room at the end of the east hall. It was large and completely arranged to fit my style and taste. I gasped and took it all in.

“When did you do this?” I asked, my eyes still fixed on the room.

“Today, while we were on the plane.”

I nodded, impressed. “Your people do work fast.”

“They do.” With his hand in his pocket, he walked around the room, too. “You should rest for a bit. I need to have a conversation with my Alpha beta and Alpha delta.”

“Alright,” I said to him, and before he left the room, I called out. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome,” he said with his back to me and walked out.