Chapter 156
My breath caught in my throat. "How?"
Aldric's expression was grim. "If there is enough reason to believe something has happened to Rowan on the battlefield, they can declare him unfit to rule and his brother can take his place."
The air left my lungs.
"That's impossible," I said quickly. "Rowan is alive—"
"But he is gone," Aldric interjected gently. "And with war, there is always uncertainty. The people are worried and scared, if they think something happened to him in war, they would not hesitate to put another king on the throne."
My mind raced. Could they do it? Could they truly name Lucian as Alpha King in Rowan's absence?
The thought made my stomach churn.
"Aldric," I whispered. "What do I do? I cannot let that happen."
He looked at me, his expression unreadable. "I'm afraid there is not much you can do. I am sorry your Majesty."
— ———————-
Later that evening, as I followed Aldric down a familiar corridor, my mind still swirled with unease. But when he finally stopped before we reached the end of the hall where my chambers was and pushed open a door, my breath hitched in my throat.
The room was bathed in soft candlelight. And in the center of it, against the far wall, stood a beautiful handcrafted crib.
I stepped forward, my fingers tracing the smooth wood.
"There are more things inside," Aldric said, gesturing around the room. "Clothes, blankets, small trinkets. Everything is already packed and prepared."
I turned to him. "Where did this come from?"
Aldric hesitated. "The Alpha King decorated this room himself. He made the crib in your absence."
My chest tightened.
"He... he made this?"
Aldric nodded. "Before he left for battle, he ordered this nursery to be completed. He wanted everything ready. He said he wanted you to see it while he was gone, I was the only one he handed the keys to."
My vision blurred. I turned back to the crib, running my hand over its delicate carvings. Rowan's hands had shaped this. He had built this for our child.
A sob escaped my lips before I could stop it.
"My Queen, I know all this must be very hard for you." Aldric's voice was gentle. "But things not the time to show weakness."
I wiped my tears away quickly, but my heart still ached.
"I won't," I murmured.
I wouldn't let Lucian take this from me.
I wouldn't let him take what Rowan had built.
I wouldn't let him win.
.................................
I was seated near the window, letting the cool evening air soothe my nerves when a sharp knock echoed through my chambers. Before I could even answer, the door swung open.
Lucian strode in, his expression smug, his boots clicking against the floor as he approached me. In his hand, he held a sealed letter—my letter.
My heart stopped.
"I believe this belongs to you," Lucian drawled, tossing the parchment onto the small table beside me.
I stared at it, bile rising in my throat. "How did you—"
He smirked. "The messenger was intercepted before he could leave the castle gates. You really thought I wouldn't keep an eye on you? That I'd just let you cry to Rowan about how mean I'm being? Just how petty can you be! I can't believe it!"
I clenched my fists, keeping my expression neutral even as my pulse pounded in my ears. "That letter was for my husband, you had no right."
Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. "Your husband is miles away on a battlefield. You really think he's going to come running back just because you wrote a few desperate words on paper? Can you use your brain for a little bit? Do you even have one?"
I bit my tongue, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
Lucian sighed dramatically. "I must say, Arin, I expected more of a fight. Are you finally realizing there's no winning against me? When will you realize that?"
I lifted my chin. "I don't need to fight you, Lucian. You're a nuisance, very soon you'll be back in the dungeons where you belong and all this will go away."
His eyes glinted with amusement. "Oh? And why's that? You think I would allow you or anyone else to throw me in the dungeons?@
"You might not, but you'll still be thrown in the dungeons.You are way too desperate," I said smoothly. "Everyone knows you want the throne, you don't even have the decency to hide it. You can't even win it back on your own, so you skulk around in the shadows, whispering into the ears of cowards, convincing them to betray Rowan while his back is turned."
"How shameless." I spat out.
Lucian's smile faltered, just slightly, but it was enough.
"I wonder," I continued, "if you're so sure of yourself, why do you need to steal my letters? Why do you need you resort to silly tricks like this if I really mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. Why are you so afraid of Rowan knowing the truth?"
His jaw ticked. "You talk too much, Queen."
"And you act too much without evening, I shot back. "A man who was truly worthy of the throne wouldn't need to play so many games to get it. That's all you ever do, play and play games."
Lucian's hand curled into a fist at his side. For a moment, I thought he might strike me.
But then he exhaled sharply, his smirk returning. "Like I said earlier, enjoy being queen while you still can," he murmured. "You won't hold the title for long."
With that, he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
I stared at the letter on the table. My fingers itched to grab it, to try sending it again, but I knew it was pointless.
Lucian had made sure of that.
———————————-
I tried to push him out of my mind. I tried to focus on the baby. On happy thoughts, on good things.
I spent more time in the nursery, sitting beside the beautifully carved crib, running my hands over the delicate wooden edges Rowan had crafted.
"This is all for you," I whispered to my unborn child, pressing my hand against my belly. "Your father built this for you. He wanted you to have a place that felt safe."
A small kick pressed against my palm, and I smiled despite everything.
But no matter how much I tried to keep my thoughts on the baby, my mind kept drifting back to Rowan.
Was he safe? Was he hurt?
Did he know I needed him?
I sighed and rubbed my temples, exhaustion weighing me down.
I needed rest. A lot of rest.
————————-
That night, sleep didn't come easily. When it finally did, it dragged me into a nightmare so vivid it felt real.
I was standing in the middle of a battlefield. The sky was dark, thick clouds swirling above. The scent of blood and smoke choked the air.
Bodies were scattered across the ground. Wolves—both in human and wolf form—laid lifeless, their fur matted with dirt and blood.
Then I saw him.
Rowan.
He was on his knees, his once-powerful form battered and broken. Blood trickled from a deep wound in his side, his breathing ragged.
"No," I whispered, my feet refusing to move.