Stronger- #Wattys2019

Part 34

"You are not wearing that to breakfast with the alphas." Bruno growled at her. The barking started as soon as he shifted into his skin, yelling at her from the changing stall he had been in, and continued until she stepped out.

Nadine understood why he was frustrated with her wolf and how she had managed to get past him. The fact that it all worked out wasn't the issue, it was the loss of control. She understood where he was coming from and tried to explain that she and her wolf had finally found some common ground. However it all stopped when she stepped out in her black sweats and long sleeve shirt.

The critique irritated her. She didn't have many clothes to begin with, less after her small growth spurt. To add to the frustration, she hadn't grown any more, she was still super short and petite.

Seeing the look of self conscious frustration drift across her face, the man groaned. "Well, hurry up, we'll find you something that won't look like a potato sack on you."

"When did you become the fashion police?" She grumbled.

The warrior rolled his eyes. "All I know is that those lunas in there are difficult to impress. Saving their pups was a significant jump up in their book, but you need to start playing the role of a queen. You can't afford to let them think they are higher ranked than you. And right now, you look like a warrior in training, who is more comfortable playing with the pups, not their equal, let alone their superior."

With a nod of acceptance from the girl, Bruno quickly led her to a room on the opposite side of the palace from the royal residences she was more familiar with. "Where are we going?"

"To see my mate. Sarai is a bit smaller, she might have something that would work."

Opening a seemingly random door, Bruno called in. "Piękny, I've brought a guest."

Nadine glanced around awkwardly. Mated couples were given a chance to stay in suites built more like apartments with more than one bedroom, a small kitchen and bathroom. However, it was the first time Nadine had seen one. Her room in the royal residences was a simple guest room with just the standard bedroom and an en suite bathroom. Bruno's home was quaint, full of children's artwork and photos of the warrior with his family.

Suddenly a stunning, Mediterranean beauty poked her head out of the back of the suite. With long soft curls of raven black and eyes with flecks of green and gold. "Oh! Your Majesty..." She looked around and tried to comb her hair while snatching up some kids clothes from the couch. "Come in, come in. Please forgive..."

"Don't, please don't clean or do all that Majesty stuff. I'm just Nadine. Please." She mumbled out, embarrassed by the fuss.

Bruno chuckled. "I would love to say we had time for you two to get to know one another, but right now, our future queen needs to find an outfit suitable for breakfast with the alpha families. And fast."

"Now?" Sarai's jaw dropped. "Of course... well..." Her eyes slid over Nadine's petite form before they widened. "Oh! I know! Come with me." She grabbed the king's mate and pulled her into the back bedroom.

"Just be gentle!" Bruno called after them before laughing to himself.

His mate blushed as she shut the door. "So, I don't have much your size..." She moved to start shuffling through the closet. "But, I do have this amazing silk dress that I can..."

"Black please. I don't really care what I wear, but I suppose I have to dress up. However, I prefer black."

Stopping to look back at her guest, Sarai smiled. "Coincidentally, it's black. Now come on, off with the other clothes."

"Oh. Um..." Nadine paled. "I try not to..."

"Nadine." The other woman called over. "You can't stop the rumors. People saw you in the Training Center. I don't know what happened, and I won't ask. But don't worry about judgement here. Besides, to pull this off, I need you to put the dress on twice."

Moments later, the awkward girl stood stiff as the mated she-wolf zipped up the dress inside out. "I just don't understand..."

"You'll see." Sarai gently pushed her shoulders to turn around to face her. Then she gathered up a chunk of fabric just under her right breast and pulled a hair tie from her wrist to secure the fist full of silk into a tight bundle. "Now, we turn the dress right side out and you have a custom ruched detailing that fits the dress across your rib cage before flaring out."

After putting the dress on the proper way, Nadine blushed. She never would have thought of something like that. It not only worked, it looked really nice. However, her eyes landed on the scars shown by the sleeveless cut and low back.

Noticing the change in the girl, Sarai looked her straight in the eye, through the mirror. "Stand straight. Your past doesn't define you. The fact that you survived does. Show them all that you are stronger than they think."

"Why does everyone believe in me?" The words were out before she had fully processed the thought herself.

A warm smile reflected back. "We all want what's best for Alpha King Alexander. And we can see that you are the best for him."

She bit back her response. Nadine didn't know the woman well and shouldn't let too much of herself out. However she wanted to scream. Once again, her life was taken from her. A mate she didn't choose, who didn't even want her, had managed to completely take over her life. Had he been anyone but the king, she would have rejected him ages ago. She didn't need a male. She certainly didn't need one with a king size ego and temper to match.

Yet, most of all, she didn't want people to be nice to her simply out of loyalty to him. Would she ever be able to trust their friendship or loyalty was for her alone, rather than for him?