Giovanni

Chapter 2

Thora Hawthorn:

"I am going to be the queen one day and you are telling me I cannot run patrols with Santiago?" I glare at my father as he sits in his office looking stressed as always.

"Thora, it is dangerous to run patrols an-" I cut him off growing tired of his stupid excuses.

"It is dangerous to be me, Dad. I will be crowned soon. I am a good fighter and can take care of myself. I am tired of sitting with you all day running through pack issues and meetings. I want some real action! I need to show the people I'm not some weak little girl!" I almost yell. "Besides, no one crosses our borders anyway. At least no one smart." I mutter the last part. Father looks at me bored and I sigh and plop down in my chair quite unladylike of me. I stare down at me handmade dress and glare.

"Thora, you need to be learning pack relations and how to run not only this pack but all the others. Being a good leader is about more than just fighting away dangers in the middle of the night. It's about. . ." He pauses for a second and then sighs "You need to learn how to be a good leader. Everyone knows you can fight but can you bring the people together" It's my turn to sigh. I am not the most patient person out there and its true its hard for me to sit through a meeting or sit on a throne and listen to people fawn over me before complaining about their own issues.

"I know but," I pause as I see him give me a look of disapproval for my whining. I let out another long sigh and continue to mindlessly stare at my big stack of paperwork. I look up at my father as he types quickly into his computer with a hard look on his face. "Dad."

"Thora." He says back and then looks up at me.

"Do I actually have to wait for my mate? I'm Twenty-two next week and-" he cuts me off with another hard stare.

"Thora, it is a tradition for you to wait for either your mate or the age twenty-five." I glare at him. "I didn't find your mother until the age of thirty-three so I was king for eight years before I found her. You can wait." I sat rolling my eyes at him as I had already heard this story time and time again. The only thing it was missing was my mother's disapproving glance and what she deems to be wise words.

'Patients is something always needed.' She'd say and then pat me on the head. My mother, a human, had become a fan favorite with the people. My mother and father labeled the kindest King and Queen. Everyone respects and loves them and I will say it will be a hard act to follow.

My mate will be a huge deal. My mother was not easily accepted as the queen and that is something I fear for my mate. The people love my parents and in turn, they love me and have faith in me to follow in their footsteps. However, my mate cannot be human. My mother is and it took them years to get used to the thought. Not only that but she has a constant band of guards floating around her. She has her own personal guard, Garrison, plus a team of others who are under Garrisons' control and we call them The Gold Team.

I don't want that for my mate. The constant fear and not being able to defend himself. I hope and pray that I get a strong mate so we can be strong as a team. As much as I love my mother and father I know my father would and will have to throw himself into the line of danger to save my mother. My father would die for her and while that's adorable its also dangerous in the position it is.

"It's late. You should let Nadia take you back to your room," My father speaks after a long while of me being lost in thought.

"I can take myself, Dad," I groan and crack my knuckles absentmindedly.

"Take Nadia. She is your guard for a reason. You are strong, not indestructible." He comments clasping his hands together in front of him.