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*Hezzlie*

A few days after Alpha King Jackson leaves the mansion, I wake up to the sounds of a commotion happening downstairs. Rolling over, I feel a cold mattress next to me and realize that Rowan is gone.

My first inclination is to look out the window. I don’t see anything happening out there. No lines of wolves standing off against one another to fight, but then, I might not be able to see them from here. Still, a glance at the clock tells me it’s past 9:00 A.M. I seriously doubt Alpha King Solomon would attack right now. I’d expect him to attack at night or early in the morning.

Nevertheless, something is going on. I throw a robe on over the pajamas I’m wearing and head downstairs in time to see a maid opening the front door.

Natalie steps in, accompanied by a tall man with red hair who’s quite handsome and looks to be about my age. I smile at him, but when Natalie and I make eye contact, she squeals, so I do, too. Her being home is so much better than a battle! We rush to one another, and I hug her tight, like it’s been years since I’ve seen her instead of days.

“You’re back!” I say into her hair. “I’m so glad you made it back before the shit hit the fan.”

“I’m glad to be back,” she says. She lets me go, still smiling, and says, “This is Corey.” 

“Hi!” I grasp his offered hand tightly as he gives me a shy smile. “It’s so amazing to finally meet you in person. I’ve heard such great things about you.”

“Princess Hezzlie?” he asks, and I nod. “It’s great to meet you, too.”

“You can just call me Hezzlie,” I tell him. His eyes widen, like he’s not sure about that, like everyone I’ve talked to since I found out I was royalty does. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks.” Corey looks around, trying to get his bearings. “Everything is basically the same, I think.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” I tell him. I want to ask Natalie if this means that they are mates, but I can’t say that in front of Corey without embarrassing them both, and if I use the mind-link, he’ll probably be able to tell that we are talking without including him. “I’m sure you have a lot of friends who will be excited to see you.”

“I hope so,” he says. “Gosh, it’s been a long time.”

“Where’s Wilma?” Natalie asks, looking around. “I thought for sure she’d be the one to open the door.”

I stare at her a moment before words slip through my lips. “Oh, shit.” She  doesn’t know. How could she know? She wasn’t here for any of that.

Does this mean I have to be the one to tell her?

Natalie and Wilma were so close, almost like a grandmother and granddaughter–same as me and Wilma, but Natalie’s been here a lot longer than I have been.

I blow out a breath and say, “Some stuff has happened I need to tell you about.”

“Oh, Goddess! Is she all right? She didn’t… die did she?” Natalie clutches her chest, and Corey puts a hand on her shoulder, though it seems a little stiff.

I shake my head. “No, she didn’t die, but…”

“She’s a traitor.”

I hear Rowan’s voice from behind me on the stairs, and now I wish I would’ve been the one to tell Natalie because I see my friend’s eyes widen in horror.

God, why can’t he be a little more… understanding.

“What?” Natalie asks.

“I’ll… explain,” I promise her, turning to look over my shoulder at Rowan who only shrugs at me. Then he crosses the room, offering Corey his hand.

“Good to see you, Corey,” the king says.

Corey shakes his hand and bows his head at the same time. “You, too, Alpha King Rowan.”

Unlike me, Rowan doesn’t correct him and tell him to just call him Rowan, even though he wasn’t king when Corey left the pack. “Are you back for good?” Rowan asks, releasing his hand.

“I’m honestly not sure,” Corey admits. “Natalie told me everything that was going on, and I was hoping I could help somehow. I’ve been training as a warrior for years now, and I’d like to help defend my home pack, if you’ll have me.”

My fiance drags a hand down his chin, and I can see him thinking. He’s not sure because he doesn’t feel like he can trust anyone right now. Finally, he nods his head. “Sure, I think we could use another strong warrior. I’ll take you out to where Brody is training with the first battalion. That’ll be a good group for you.”

I know nothing about battalions or warrior training, but I do say goodbye to Corey as Rowan takes him away. The king does have time to stop and kiss me quickly before rushing away, and I almost forgive him for being such a butt to Natalie.

As soon as they are gone, I turn back to her. “Well?”

“Well, what?” she asks. “What’s going on with Wilma?”

“I’ll get to that, I promise, but.. Is he your mate?”

Natalie’s shoulders drop. “No, unfortunately, he’s not.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry.” I mean it. I can feel her disappointment, and I’m right there with her.

“It’s okay,” she says, though I don’t believe her, and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t believe it herself. “We’re still friends. I honestly think he came back to see if his mate might be here. It’s like I gave him the idea that this might be a good place to look.” She folds her arms across her chest. “Anyway–Wilma?”

“Right.” I take a deep breath. “Let’s go sit down.” Grabbing her arm, I drag her to a nearby sitting room, and we sit down. I think maybe I should call a maid for tea or something, but I haven’t even had breakfast yet. It occurs to me now that I’m still wearing my PJs. 

“What did Alpha King Rowan mean by she’s a traitor?” Natalie asks, sitting on the edge of the couch next to me.

With another long inhale, I launch into the story, telling her all about how someone tipped off King Solomon during our engagement party, and how we figured out it was Wilma. Then I tell her about Alistair. By the end of it, I see Natalie trying to digest all of it. It’s a lot, I know.

She leans back on the couch, and I see tears forming in her eyes. “I can’t believe she’d do something like that.”

“I know,” I agree wholeheartedly. “I couldn’t believe it either.”

She stares out at nothing for a few minutes, never quite letting the tears fall. “Well, congratulations,” she finally says, lifting my hand to get a better look at the ring. “You’re going to make an amazing Luna Queen.”

“Thank you.” I’m not sure what else to say. It seems unimportant, given the other information she’s just been given. 

“Do you think… we could see her?” Natalie asks. “I’d like to ask her… why.”

Now, it’s my turn to stare unblinking. Eventually, I manage a nod. I’ve wanted to see her, too, but I haven’t worked up the courage to do it yet. “Yes,” I finally say. “We can see her.”

I’m not sure what I’ll say to her, but I have a feeling those tears are finally going to fall.