The Last Spirit Wolf (Elena Norwood)

-Noah-

I take a deep breath in front of the doors to the Council meeting room. They are already gathered in there, expecting me.

I nod at the guards at the door and they open them for me. All of the Council members rise as the doors open and I come in. I make my way to my seat, at the head of the table, and signal for them to seat.

"First order of business," I say, not giving anyone else the chance to speak first. If this is going to work, I have to make it clear that I don't want any opposition, "the search for a wife is over."

"Ah! Great news!" One of them exclaims.

"Wonderful, Your Majesty!" Another one says.

"Lady Violet is one lucky woman!" Someone else says.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

I look at William, sitting a few seats down to my right. He simply shrugs, not planning on getting involved in this.

"You misunderstand. Lady Violet found her mate in our party, it is Warrior Lucas. She has come back with us to be with him. She bears his mark."

There's a gasp. They're all staring at me in disbelief.

"Well, Your Highness, If I may," one of them rises, "there are so many other Houses ready to offer you a suitable partner, and they have already agreed to host you. I can at least guarantee you that in my House, mate or not, your potential wife would never choose someone over you."

"As I said, the search for a wife is *over.*"

There is a deafening silence in the room. The Council member that had stood up slowly sits back down on his seat, not taking his eyes off of me. There is a mixture of emotions in the air. Shock, confusion... anger.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, that is not your call to make," someone else stands up, it's Caldwell, by far my least favorite Council member, "there is tradition, these Families supported the crown in the time of your father, grandfather, and his father before him, we cannot just decide to change our customs because... why? Because the first candidate found her mate? We

cannot disrespect these Houses in this way."

Many members raise their voices in agreement.

"Or... could it be... this *mate of yours is clouding your judgment, Your Highness? May I remind you she is a simple wolf? She is not suitable to be your mate, much less *Queen,*" he says.

"And who are you to decide if she's suitable for me or not? She is my Goddess chosen *mate,*

"Your Majesty," Caldwell smiles sardonically, "don't be naïve. Such a thing isn't *really* real, it's just hormones playing their part. You were in unknown territory, severely injured, and this mate of yours saved you... arguably... let's not pretend like this isn't some form of Stockholm syndrome."

Some Council members laugh, others are not so sure that mocking their King is smart.

"Council member Caldwell, as much as I appreciate your... input... if I have to repeat myself a third time, I might have to adjourn this meeting until you can all process what I said." There's a moment of silence as I have clearly insulted their capacity to understand plain words. Caldwell's expression shows he's not pleased, but other than that, he's unreadable. He finally sits down.

"Very well," I say, "I'd appreciate it if you all communicated back with your Houses and passed along the information that my search for a wife is over. It's up to you if you want to upset them by telling them the truth, that I won't be taking in a wife at all."

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but this can't possibly be the best solution," Council member Alcott says, standing up, "I understand it's unsavory to have to take in a wife while having a mate, you even bear her mark, but this is politics; emotions should be set aside for the greater good!"

"Unsavory? You know what's unsavory*?" I have to reign in my temper, "My Council lying to me, making me believe I was visiting these families *personally* to negotiate the placement of our warriors on their land, while in reality, what was negotiated "behind my back* between this Council and the Families, was that I would take in a wife; something that goes directly against my expressed wishes," I stand up slowly as I continue, "Do you feel that I am a child, Council member Alcott? An *idiot* you can manipulate so easily? They tried to kill my mate, Council member Alcott, with wolf's bane. And do you realize what would have happened if they had succeeded? I would have killed every living thing within that manor. I would have ended an entire *royal* Family, and I would not have thought twice about it."

I see Alcott shiver at the coldness in my voice. The other Council members have stopped looking me in the eye and are either looking at the table or the exit, just in case.

"Make no mistake. *You* do not tell *me* what to do, you advise me. *That* is the extent of your role here."

I walk away from my seat for a few minutes, giving them space to recover from that aura thing Vera told me about. When I return to the table, no one dares say a word.

"Now, I understand this change of plans comes with complications, so we should address that instead." I say, "For instance. Is there any way to negotiate with the Families protection for their land? It benefits them, it is beyond me why they wouldn't want trained warriors to protect them against rogues."

No one speaks and after a few awkward seconds, William clears his throat.

"If I may, Your Highness, House Cerulean has agreed to host Castle warriors whenever you're ready to send them. Rogues have already pushed the Family to the edge of their territory; they have only a percentage of the farmland they had before, and have lost countless lives guarding what little they have left."

"Very well, I will see that a party is sent," I say.

Council member William bows,

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Anyone else?" I ask.

Council member Alcott stands up,

"They don't want Castle warriors because they do not trust the Crown, Your Highness. They don't trust *you.* You are uneducated in our ways and traditions, and quite frankly disrespectful to the foundations of this Kingdom. They will not trust someone who disrespects them."

He speaks boldly, but dares not meet my gaze.

"So, their solution is to let rogues take over their land? I may be uneducated, but they are halfwits if that's the case."

"Your Grace! You cannot disrespect our Families like that!" Caldwell yells, indignant.

"Tell me, what would you call it then? They are being offered help, they are refusing said help because I won't marry their daughters and stick to tradition, all the while their wealth significantly diminishes with every rogue attack," I turn to Eli, "what was the percentage of land lost last year alone?"

"Thirty-two percent of all available farmland, twenty-eight percent directly owned by the Families," he says.

"Twenty-eight percent," I repeat, almost as if speaking to myself, "So tell me, Council members, what "would" you call it?"

They all stay quiet again.

"Speak to your Houses. If they refuse help, I will not force them to take it, but I *will* offer all of their servants, staff, soldiers, and farmers a safe haven in our land. These people are being left unprotected because the Families are acting like conceited children. That stops now. They don't have to trust me, they just have to stop being fools. Anyway, it's up to them," I shrug as I stand up, "we'll continue this meeting after lunch."

"But we barely even started. Your High-" Someone protests.

"We've barely even started and you all have bored me already," I say, giving my back to them as I leave, "I'll see you all after lunch."

I leave the room and no one dares say anything else; even if they did, I don't think I would have heard them.

I make my way to the now repurposed King's chambers. Vera had the brilliant idea of turning all of that space into a new clinic, since we refused to move into Alistair's chambers. Even Caleb offered up his Beta wing to be repurposed as he has taken up a Warrior room. Eli also had no intentions of moving into the Beta wing; he decided to stay close to his own, the warriors.

The sweetest scent of vanilla and cinnamon draws my attention; I knew she'd be here.

When I enter the new clinic, Vera is sitting down at the center of the large room that is now being repurposed as an emergency room for incoming cases. She's sitting with a bunch of documents and medicines; she's taking inventory.

Everyone bows their head as I make my way to her. She feels me approaching and raises her head.

"Hey, you! How was the Council meeting?"

"Short," I say, extending my hand to her, "come, I think we both deserve a break."