Chapter 105

Rowan left before dawn, disappearing into the shadows like he had never been in my room at all. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, my hands resting lightly over my stomach. I had almost told him. Almost. But what would that have changed? If I told him I was carrying his child, it would only make things worse wouldn't it?  He had no choice but to marry. If the truth came out, it would not only ruin me but it could also put me in danger. In danger with Lucian, in danger with Braam. No, I couldn't tell him. I'd rather not endanger anyone in that way. 

The next morning, I dressed carefully, concealing any trace of my sleepless night. When Beatrice entered my chambers, I was already seated at my vanity, brushing out my hair carefully to hide my otsayak mark. 

"My lady, the Queen Dowager is expecting you," Beatrice announced.

I nodded. "And Princess Blanca?"

"She's already there," Beatrice confirmed.

Suppressing a sigh, I rose and allowed Beatrice to adjust my gown before making my way to the Queen Dowager's chambers. When I entered, Blanca was seated beside the elderly woman, both of them deep in discussion.

"You are late Princess Arin," the Queen Dowager noted as I entered.

I curtsied. "Forgive me, Your Grace. I had to visit my husband." I lied. 

"Now that you're here, let us decide," Blanca said, gesturing toward the documents spread out before them. "We must finalize our selection."

I took my seat, forcing myself to remain composed. The discussions had been exhausting the previous day, but now we would have to make a decision.

"I still believe Lady Lilian is the best choice," the Queen Dowager stated firmly. "She is of noble birth, well-mannered, and intelligent.  She would appeal to all sides and gain support from the people. More importantly, she knows how to conduct herself as a queen should."

Princess Blanca nodded. "I agree. She will be a stabilizing presence beside Rowan."

I remained silent, though my fingers curled into her lap. I had no preference. No matter who was chosen, the result would be the same. But as I thought of Lady Lilian, I could not find a single fault in her. The young woman was kind, composed, and utterly perfect for the role.

"Do you disagree, Arin?" the Queen Dowager pressed.

I met the older woman's gaze and forced a smile. "No, Your Grace. Lady Lilian is a wise choice. A perfect choice even." 

The Queen Dowager nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Then it is decided."

The conversation turned toward preparations.

"Rowan must meet her today," the Queen Dowager continued. "He needs to see for himself why she is the right choice. Then we will finalize everything with her family and hopefully we can move along with the wedding quickly. 

Blanca smiled. "I shall send for Lady Lilian then. Shall we take her to him in the great hall?"

"Yes," the Queen Dowager agreed. "He must understand the urgency of this union. We must move quickly." 

My heart clenched, but I merely nodded, rising when the other women did. Together, we made their way to the great hall where Rowan was already waiting. He stood tall and impassive, his sharp eyes scanning the room as we entered. When his gaze met mine, it lingered just a moment longer than necessary before shifting away.

Lady Lilian was brought forward. She curtsied deeply before Rowan, her voice soft and composed. "Your Highness, it is an honor to meet you."

Rowan inclined his head. "Lady Lilian."

Lilian lifted her gaze and spoke with quiet confidence. "I know what is expected of a queen, and I assure you, I will serve you and the kingdom with unwavering loyalty. My only wish is to bring stability and peace."

Rowan studied her for a long moment. "You know the position that I am in. I am in dire need of a bride. I need to marry quickly and prove to the public that I am fit to be King in all areas. You would be willing to take on this burden?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Lilian replied. "I understand the weight of this duty, and I will not falter. I shall give you as many heirs as you need." 

The Queen Dowager smiled approvingly. "She is an excellent choice, is she not? She also comes from a very strong family. You see, she has five brothers. Fertile wolves are very common in her family." 

Rowan exhaled slowly, his eyes flicking once more towards me before he spoke. "Very well. If this is the decision, then let it be so."

I felt my stomach churn, but I remained silent as Rowan turned to Blanca, the Queen Dowager, and I.

"The three of will oversee the arrangements," Rowan stated. "A small ceremony, nothing extravagant. Three days from now. That would be enough time  to gather everyone." 

I barely managed to conceal my sharp intake of breath. Three days? So soon?

Blanca and the Queen Dowager nodded, but I  struggled to find her voice.

"Understood, your majesty," Blanca responded smoothly.

I nodded as well, not trusting myself to speak. Rowan's gaze settled on me for the briefest moment, and I knew he could see through my façade. He could see the sadness I was trying to hide. But he said nothing.

As we left the hall, I felt like the walls of the castle were closing in on me. I had known this was inevitable. I had told myself  I would accept it. But knowing it and feeling it were two very different things.

I had let him go. And now, he would belong to someone else.

But even as she told herself this, I couldn't shake the quiet, lingering thought that perhaps—just perhaps—it wasn't over yet.

................

Later that day, needing to escape the suffocating tension, I made my way to the infirmary. Lucian's room was quiet, save for the sound of a healer grinding herbs at the table. When I stepped inside, the physician turned and inclined his head.

"Ah, Princess Arin," he greeted. "You're just in time. I was about to change the bandages."

Lucian sat up in bed, his golden hair tousled from rest. He smirked at me, his sharp features still annoyingly handsome despite the state he was in. "Come to check on me, have you?"

I forced a smile. "Of course. How are you feeling?"

The physician responded before Lucian could. "His legs are healing, but at a slow rate."

I pretended to be concerned. "And when do you think he will walk again?"

"If all goes well, two weeks," the healer said. "By then, he should be fully recovered."

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from frowning. Two weeks. That wasn't ideal. I thought he would be in that position for much longer. 

Lucian must have noticed something in my expression because he reached for my hand and squeezed it. "I promise you, Arin, I will walk again. And when I do, we will finally have our wedding night. I know you have been waiting eagerly for that." 

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced another smile. "Of course."

Before I could say more, the door opened, and the Royal Concubine swept into the room. She looked between us before arching a brow. "Why did the Queen Dowager summon you today?"

I hesitated, then sighed. "We were selecting the Alpha King’s new queen. The Queen dowager was tasked with the selection process and she asked Princess Blanca and I for help.” 

Her eyes widened. "Already?"

Lucian scoffed. "That's absurd. It's too soon."

I lowered my gaze. "I suppose the king wants to get over it soon enough. At least as a way to appease the wolf clans. There have been a lot of rumours questioning the potency of the King. Some people really do think he might be infertile. We have selected a new bride for him, the wedding is in three days."

I watched their reaction, telling them was the only way I could know their next plan. Silence fell over the room before the concubine inhaled sharply. "We must stop this. We can’t let Rowan marry so soon. The wolf clans are only just starting to distrust him, we have yet to use that to our favour.” 

Lucian nodded, his jaw tight. "Don’t worry mother. We will find a way to stall the wedding. He isn’t going to get away with this.”