76!

LIAM

“There isn't any human here,” I said, trying to control his temper.

“She's human and she doesn't belong here,” he pointed at Brianna and I felt a burst of anger flow through me.

“Easily,” I heard Beta Chris as I tightened up my fist. “This is your first meeting, you have to be subtle,” he whispered to me.

I looked at Brianna, her head was cast down and I could see her wiping her face.

“Lord Glover, you dare disrespect your future Queen?” I demanded from him.

“She is not my future Queen!” He yelled. Everyone knows Lord Glover to be the man to grasp for power but right now he is grasping to be thrown to the bottomless pit that I would find for him.

“She's a human and a pest to our world,” he continued speaking. “How dare you defile our heritage?” He directed his question at me.

“How dare you speak to your future King that way?” Beta Desmond walked towards him.

Lord Glover suddenly bowed, his high rise shoulder seeming to have depleted.

“I'm only doing what's best for our Kingdom, My Prince,” he said with his head bowed.

“Lady Margaret is a better choice of a wife and Queen than her,” he said, looking at Brianna.

There was a bit of silence in the room until Brianna stood up, “how dare you?” She asked, looking at him.

“Brianna….” I whispered but I doubt she heard me.

“I am a wolf and a great choice to be a wife to the future King and be his Queen,” her fangs came out and her wolf eyes lit. “Your Queen,” her voice echoed through the room.

I looked at Lord Glover and it looked like he was going to wet his pants. He bowed in front of Brianna immediately.

“Have mercy my queen, I was misled,” he said, bowing to the ground with his face at her feet.

“Lord Glover, I demand you leave this council, you have abused your power and no information will be shared with you. That will be your fate,” I said to him.

“Yes, your highness,” he walked out of the meeting room like his life depended on it. Just like he should.

“Anyone who dares to question the Duchess legitimacy will be met with worse fate than Lord Glover,” I said to the rest of the delegates.

“Go, this meeting has been adjourned,” I declared and they are left immediately.

“Brianna…” I walked towards her but she took a step back.

“Hey, I'm on your side,” I said to her.

“I know that,” she nodded her head. “But I still need to process what just happened,” she didn't let me speak as she walked away immediately.

I noticed Beta Chris and Desmond beside me and I sighed, “Glover didn't do this on his own,” I said as I turned to face them.

“Absolutely not. Glover is a businessman, he makes deals. He made a deal with someone,” Beta Desmond said.

“Duke Mikeal,” Beta Chris and Desmond said at the same time. I looked at them surprised.

“Your father always gave him free reign to do what he likes because he knew the secret about Brianna and Trish's parents along with your Mother,” Beta Chris said bitterly.

“And Glover did mention his daughter Margaret as a suitable bride than the Duchess,” Beta Desmond added.

“That free reign that he has needs to be taken away from him,” I said, sounding pissed off.

“It's not going to be easy, Duke Mikeal controls up to half of our mineral resources. He could starve us,” Beta Desmond said.

“That's why we will take it away from him,” I said and both of them looked at me confused.

“How? Beta Chris asked.

“I just told Lord Glover he isn't going to be getting any information from this meeting,” I said to them. “And you said, he made a deal right?” They both nodded.

“Let's see who will honor that deal by setting a trap,” I said to them. “One of the items to be discussed in the meeting is setting up a large new space to enable more rearing of animals. There is no way Lord Glover will pass on doing that. Someone will have to tell him, that someone is who he made a deal with,” I looked at both of them and they were excited about my plan.

“This is a really good idea, Your Highness, hopefully whoever Glover made a deal with will take the bait,” Beta Chris said and I nodded.

I sighed deeply and looked at the window, being a ruler has its tough moments and I think this is one of those moments.

“Thinking about the Duchess?” Beta Chris asked me. I scoffed and turned.

“Why? You don't care about the duchess, she is a werewitch,” I said to him.

“So is my future daughter in law,” he said and my eyes widened. Then my face turned into a frown.

“You only accepted Layla because she's now a princess,” I said, walking back towards the table.

“Nonsense,” he said defensively. “I have always loved Layla, despite what she is,” he said and I looked at him.

“What she is, is a wolf, a witch and a princess and so is the Duchess. You and Mason better start accepting that,” I blurted out to him.

“We are, your highness. It's just hard sometimes but we are getting better,” he said his words softly and slowly.

“The Duchess didn't deserve what Lord Glover did,” he said to me. “She showed strength, loyalty and leadership on the battlefield. I was honored to fight alongside her,” he said proudly.

“Yes, and that was her first time as well,” Beta Desmond chipped in. “Her parents will be so proud,” he said and I nodded.

“Yes but I thought all of this was behind her. I mean the soldiers are telling tales about her. If Duke Mikeal really did this, then it's a stupid stunt to make me marry his daughter,” I said to them.

“I agree but the Duchess is strong, she will rise above it and be better,” Beta Desmond said and I smiled.

The door of the meeting room opened and Ethan and Mason walked in.

They looked like they were running. They were all sweaty and gasping for air.

“We know who helped Adrian beat up the elite guards,” Ethan said.

“It was all Ethan, his skills are impressive,” Mason said.

“I already know that, Mason. What I want to know is who helped him,” I said to them.

“It was Thane,” Ethan said and it felt like the whole room stood still. “Thane is alive, Liam.”