Saving the Queen |✓|

Chapter 1

Alexis

I look at myself in the mirror as my black hair drips with water from my shower; my eye's drifting down to the mark on my neck. I turn 20 today. It's not only my birthday though, but the anniversary of my mother's death, too.

She died 10 years ago from an attack. My father wasn't able to protect her because he lost his wolf to a witch. He was shamed for years until he finally stepped down as King when I was thirteen. I took over in place of my father and the kingdom was surprised when I did even better than him. Everyone was proud. I ended up being known as the fairest and the most ruthless Queen ever known.

I just wish my mother was here to see my success. All I want is to see my mother's proud look in her eyes as she watches me lead a whole species on my own. I'm sucked out of my thoughts when the sound of someone knocking echoes around my bedroom. "Queen O'Riley, you're wanted in the main hall." My old nanny, Carol, calls through my door and I thank her. I miss how she used call me Ale, but that ended when I became Queen. A lot of things ended when I became Queen.

I walk to my bathroom when I hear her leave and dry my hair, tying it into a loose bun. Walking to my closet, I pull out a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I have no one to impress today.

After leaving my room, I take my time walking the halls of my childhood home. Pictures line the walls, stirring up old memories as I gaze upon them. I take a few minutes to view all the photographs before heading downstairs, not wanting to keep my father waiting. He called me home to Ireland yesterday to chat. I would've asked what this discussion was about last night when I flew in from California, but it was far too late.

"Father." I greet him simply when I walk into the main hall. He turns around and smile's brightly at me. "Alexis, it's been so long." He engulfs me in a bear hug and I gladly hug him back. "It's only been 3 years." He laughs at my statement. I moved away when I was seventeen. No one in my family liked my plan, mostly because I moved for war, but they couldn't stop the Queen.

It's not like I even wanted to move. I moved to protect my friend, Cece. She had found her mate and left when we were sixteen. A year later she contacted me saying she needed help in a war against a neighboring pack.

The neighboring Alpha had taken a liking to her because she resembled his dead mate. Her pack being one of peace and not war, was too small to fight the warriors coming their way and called on the kingdom for assistance. She was like a sister to me so of course I couldn't deny her request for help.

Sadly, Cece's mate died in the war protecting her. I ended up sentencing Alpha Ace, the man who started it all, to death, and Ace's son took over the pack. After everything was done and over with, Cece tried running the pack on her own, but failed. She ended up moving away to goddess knows where to grieve for her mate. And much to my father's distaste, I ended up liking the States and stayed to run Cece's pack so it could still thrive.

I still rule over all, even though quite a few people tried to force me to step down from my position. Most don't like that a woman is ruling over them, but they accept it or fight for power. The very few that do fight for power always lose.

"What did you need to speak about, father? I need to get back home to take care of paperwork." I hardly ever see my father outside of our Skype chats and I hate to cut our meeting short, but it has to be done.

"Straight to business as always, darling." He lets out a small chuckle and leads me to the living room. It's bigger than when I was younger. He must've remodeled. Being queen, I took ownership of all the houses under the Royal name, but I let my father keep this one. He said his best memories of my mom were in this house and I couldn't deny him the happiness that he felt whenever he entered it.

He takes a seat on the leather couch, dragging me down to sit by him. "Alexis, you're doing a wonderful job as Queen and I know we've had this chat before so please, just hear me out?" I feel my smile fall and get replaced with a scowl, already knowing what he wants to talk about, but I keep quiet. "Very well, please continue."

I cross my arms over my chest, and he looks at me with pleading eye's. "Alexis, I want you to find your mate." Just like I thought; the mate talk. "We've been through this, I don't want a mate. They're nothing but a weakness. A weakness that I can't have right now." He grabs my hands and I resist the urge to stomp off to my room like a child.

"That's not true. A mate gives you a reason to get up in the morning, to fight harder in war. They understand you the most, and they're there for you when you need them most. They're wonderful and I know you need one."

"Please, can we not have this discussion?" I take my hands from my father's and stand. "This is a crucial time for me as Queen. People are only just recently taking me seriously as a ruler. Finding my mate and revealing my one weakness could tempt the hundreds of wolves who still wish for me to step down, to try something." I shove the hatred bubbling up to the back of my mind and walk away.

My father is walking behind me and grabs my arm, turning me to look at him. "Listen to me, take a look at yourself in the mirror. You're tired all the time, you don't sleep, and you've become angrier then before. The role of a royal is meant to be shared. That's why there is a King and Queen. The duties are too much for one person to handle." I can see his eyes water and I sigh at the sight. I always hated seeing my father cry.

"Please, you're under too much stress. You need a mate. Without one, you'll become ill for not taking care of yourself and I can't lose you after losing your mother." He begs and I give in.

"Please don't cry, I'll think about it." I hug my father. I've only ever seen him cry like this when my mom died. After that, he stopped talking to everyone besides me. He had to stay strong for me and now I had to be strong for him. "I have to go father." He pulls away to dry his eyes before looking back at me.

"I hate to see you leave so soon." He gives me a sad smile. I'm about to give him one as well when an idea pops into my head. "What if you came with me?"