Chapter Sixty

“Dearest cousin, I thought you would sleep forever,” Emily said with a smile as my eyes fluttered open. I had fallen asleep seconds after I held my twins.

“My twins?” I asked in a slightly panicked voice.

“They are doing just great. Look at them sleeping so peacefully,” came her response and my eyes watered to see them both lying side by side on a much smaller bed.

“I love them so much,” I said with a warm heart. I knew as I watched them that I would give my life for them.

“You almost lost your life during delivery, are you sure you're okay now? Simon should be here to check you but I heard you gave him quite the fright,” said Harriet half serious, half joking.

“I am more than fine now, just a little tired,” I said, appreciative that they were by my side.

“Father says he will host a ball in your honour; you have given the lineage hope,” said Emily.

“Hope?”

“Father has been trying to have a male child for the longest time now,” explained Harriet.

“But he has you two; women can continue the line, can't they?” it was not very common but when there was no male child in the family, the first daughter became queen.

“Father does not believe women should rule. Anyway, at the very least there is a male child to take over his throne. If his newest mistress does not give birth to a male child then your son will be raised as heir to the throne,” that news did not excite me at all. My son was going to inherit his father's throne. I was going to make sure of that.

“Anyway the ball will happen in about forty days. That should give you time to recuperate nicely,” Emily said with a smile.

I leaned forward to pick up my twins on the small bed they lay on. They cooed softly as I carried them in my arms. My son looked just like his father. He had the same dark hair and even though his facial features were still soft for a baby, his jawline bore similarities with Alpha Dagen. The only thing in which he differed from his father was his eyes. He had green eyes just like I did.

And my baby girl was just stunning. She had taken her father's gray eyes but everything else about her seemed to scream me.

“What are their names?” asked Harriet.

“Reginald and Charlotte.”

Forty days later, my cousins were making a fuss about me. Harriet thought I should wear a purple dress which would be indicative of my Royal status while Emily felt that a green dress would do me justice. Harriet felt it was best to leave my hair down but Emily said it was best to pack it up so that my face would be more pronounced. I simply stayed while they decided the fate of my appearance.

Indeed it would be the first time I would attend any social function in this pack. Uncle Napoleon had insisted that I have my children first before beginning my royal duties. More importantly, he had wanted me to immerse myself in the ways of the people before meeting with them. So while for months I had watched my cousins fuss over what to wear for every ball, I had stayed back. I had not felt left out, however, only relieved. I did not know how to feel about attending a ball when I could easily run into someone from Alpha Dagen's pack or my father's pack. What if the Council of Elders decided to visit? My secret would surely be exposed then.

“I will keep my hair down and wear the green dress,” I finally said, putting an end to the sister's argument. It was best not to draw too much attention to myself. If I had my hair down, I could hide my face if the situation called for it.

“I want a different look,” I said to the maid doing my makeup. If she could transform me into a different person, it would be even better. Nobody could find out that I was Regina or that the children that were the centre of today's ball belonged to Alpha Dagen.

When the maid was done applying my makeup, I was satisfied with what she had done. The image that stared right back at me still bore my semblance but managed to look nothing like me. It also helped that green eyes were a norm among the Royal family so I would not stand out too much.

The ball was already in full swing when I arrived. There were so many people I did not know and I was glad for it. My cousins did well to take me around and introduce me. I was fine with all of it until I was introduced to Alpha Raphael and Captain Thoma. I had met them briefly once and I was well aware that they were very close friends with Alpha Dagen. My heart skipped a beat. If they could be here it could mean that Alpha Dagen could be present here too or that in future I was sure to run into him.

“Do you want to know something interesting?” Harriet said with a giggle after she had introduced me to the two.

“What?” I was feeling uncomfortable the longer I stayed in their presence. They did not look like they recognised me but one could never know.

“Alpha Raphael keeps the largest and most beautiful harem,” came Harriet's response.

“But I will forsake them all this very second if you will be willing to accept my love,” Alpha Raphael replied with a bow in my direction.

“What?” I was a bit startled.

“Do not mind Alpha Raphael. He loves to fool around,” said Emily, seeing the surprise on my face.

“I am not fooling around this time. Your beauty blinds the eye, princess,” said Alpha Raphael, staring into my eyes. Could he tell? Was he taunting me? These questions plagued my heart.

“Captain Thoma, I have been thinking of running away from my father's kingdom. Could you give me some tips on how to do so?” I observed the sexual tension between Emily and Captain Thoma. That struck me as strange because I remembered that months back, she had been against her father setting her up with him.

“I do, indeed, shall we?” and with that Emily left the group.

I was growing more tense with every passing second as Alpha Raphael continued to look at me.