Lioness

Chapter 2

*Saturday night

There was a soft beeping sound that was starting to irritate me. My eyes felt a bit heavy, but I managed to open them a slit. What the hell happened?

"Oh, she's up!" someone pipped. Gretta came into view with a relieved face. She still wore the same outfit I had last seen her in, so it was probably still Saturday. Everything came rushing back as I looked over to see the beautiful stranger still sleeping peacefully on the single bed to my left.

"What happened?" I asked, with a strangely hoarse voice. Had I been screaming?

"Everyone out, please." Gretta looked over at Leo with an apologetic face. I nodded at him gratefully and he left, followed by the doctor and two nurses. The room was dark, only a lamp on the other side of the stranger filled the room with a soft glow.

"You met your mate." Gretta said. No beating around the bush, I guess.

"But I've never even been with a woman! How can she be my mate?" I was confused to say the least. She shrugged, "It's never happened before Reggie but there's a bigger issue here."

"And that is..." I trailed off, waiting for her to fill me in.

"The elders are saying that we cannot have two Reginas. They are saying we need to choose a new leader..." She awaited my response, body tense.

I calmly flicked the white blanket off of my body. I noticed I still had my businesslike attire on, save for the shoes. I sat up slowly, taking a deep breath.

The elders were simply three were lions who were to serve the new Regina for guidance, and for advice in general Pride matters. They had been on my back since my parents passed, judging my every move. This was the last straw.

"Reggie?" Gretta asked curiously. I took another deep breath, "Call in a meeting immediately."

"What? You can't even walk by yourself! You haven't had time to think this through Reggie, just wait until-" I cut her off with a desperate scream, "I said now!"

She jumped up and left in a hurry. I sighed, already regretting screaming at her. Mostly because it began a soft pounding in my head.

"Are you alright?" The sweet voice startled me, but her chocolate brown eyes were as warm as the first time I had seen her. A slow smile spread across my face, I even felt a blush warming my cheeks. She had a smile to mirror my own.

"I'm fine, just a bit overwhelmed." I admitted. She nodded, "Preach, sister."

We both looked at each other and laughed. Suddenly, I wasn't as angry at the elders as I had thought.

"What's your name?" I asked, she blushed then. "I'm Sienna, you're the Regina, right?"

"My name's Regina, and the title of a female leader in a Pride is Regina as well. Double Regina, I guess. My friends call me Reggie." I babbled. What was going on? A Regina doesn't babble.

She wore a simple white dress with long sleeves. She tucked a piece of blond hair behind her ear as she smiled warmly at me. She turned to lay on her side, facing me. My stomach fluttered at the sight of her. She was gorgeous.

"Well, Reggie," she began with a sweet grin, "I think we have a situation."

"Well, Sienna," I said with the same stupid grin on my face, "I think you are right."

The door swung inward with a worried Leo. "We need you in there Reggie, the energy is not good."

"I'll come with you," offered Sienna. I shook my head at her and told her to stay put. I sighed and headed towards the meeting room. Leo had already taken off running.