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Healer Rhea's POV

Stephan could hardly find the will to sleep when the female beside his was simply reeking of mating pheromones. It was as if the goddess was torturing him by giving him such a prized female, but to have her smelling so undoubtedly good was driving both him and his beast to whine at the thought of being so close to her.
It was more than likely going to turn him feral if he didn't get a taste soon.
Good goddess, he could just imagine from the smell alone that she would Devine.

But all good things came with a cost, as Rhea was in immense pain the following morning—She didn't know how or why, but the muscles that contracted during their involvement hadn't been the best for her healing wound, and as both her pupils had determined—It would be best to keep their interactions in that sort to a low until she was properly healed.

It caused a slight gap between them, and Rhea was worried once more. She couldn't offer him more pups, to begin with, but what male would want to attach themselves to a female who couldn't have a sexual relationship?
That they couldn't extend themselves any further than that.

Goddess forbid that her males look at her with curious glances and smirk to know what happened the previous night, only to be completely oblivious that the torturous ache in her lower half was the movement of muscles that were beyond irritated between the week's heaviness and her activities with her male.

It was a damning thing to prescribe herself something for the pain, but there was nothing to cure her from the embarrassment of having to tell Stephan of what followed them into the morning.

But she had nothing to fear, not when he cupped her cheek and silenced her worries with a kiss.

That when she was healed, he hoped by then that they were more in a relationship than they are now. And the thought of the future was gaining every step of the way. Even to the point of expecting the first group of newcomers from the previous camp.

The transition didn't take much, not when the skeleton model of the main house was just a week away from being complete, perhaps even less with the incoming extra hands. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you'd climb the ladder and try to help." Dane teased, and she turned to her male and sighed.

"I would, even with my hand. Has Lillian sent word?" It pained him to give Rhea false hope, but even worse to give her upsetting news. "If there is any news, it will come with the next carriage. We could send a runner? Sure Nelo would be happy to carry a message." With this, the two turned to the wolf who spent his days tending to the animals.

He couldn't be any more happy with his task, even as he comforted a pregnant goat who was days away from giving birth. "No, I don't want him to stress about caring for Nelly—Perhaps we could go?" She asked, and the male sighed.
"Ma'am, it's unreasonable. And you know the Alpha will have a stern word with me if I take you without his knowledge." Rhea was about to argue, but it shifted into a scowl when she realized that Dane was already aware of the fact that she didn't want to tell Stephan.

"Damn, you're learning my ways too quickly."

"I am. As is the rest of your males. You have plenty of duties here, do not split yourself so thin." It wasn't as if she could if she wanted to, even by midday she was limited to a chair to recharge for the given few hours, before she make the better half of the day with only a small amount of pain.

"What do you think of this, Dane...I want your honest opinion." She deemed, turning up to look at the taller man, and she felt delighted in seeing him smile. Even through the dirt and sweat that caked his skin.

There was happiness swirling in those eyes of his.

And that was worth all the aggravation.

"The pack is very welcoming, I never thought I'd meet a helpful wolf that didn't ask for anything in return. But I believe that is your doing and voice that is coming to help us here and now. Besides that, it's nice to know that our work means something to sustain us—Not anyone else." That made sense, but Rhea could feel he was missing an important piece.

"And Alpha Stephen?" Now his voice had turned silent, losing that smile he had given her. "Compared to the rest of the Alphas I've had the pleasure of meeting, he's nicer."
"Nicer?...And as a mate for me?"
"You love him, that much is clear."
"And?" His nose twitched, hating that she was managing to dig for an answer—But he hated even more that he couldn't deny his Queen of anything. "You could do better, your majesty."

"Better?"

"Do not dare place your settlements on the Alpha because of your injuries. You will heal, and any male would love to worship you." He spoke so intensely that Rhea worried that he was putting himself into the ring, and she truly did not know how to place those feelings.

It broke her heart to hurt anyone in this way, but she had blocked the idea of having a lover for so long that her eyes had only looked at Stephan as an option. Not anyone else, but Dane?

Was he truly interested?
Or did he confuse it with loyalty to her crown and title?

"Since you're my confidant, who should I be looking towards?" She asks, turning slightly to look up at him before feeling the guilt in asking. But just as she was about to retract her statement, he responded.

"I would be honored if you were to choose me, your majesty. I will take care of you until my last dying breath. I will work endlessly to prove my worth." Rhea's head had fallen short as she blinked away the tears as she turned to cup his cheek.

"You are still thinking as though you're on my father's guard. You are not, Dane. You're a man of your own doing. Just as I am with my false name. I don't want a husband of mine to see me as the Queen, but Rhea. Just Rhea." He nodded, but the embarrassment had caused him to start itching the back of his head and look anywhere other than Rhea herself.

"I understand."
"But you are a very handsome male. Any female will be lucky to have you. And who knows—I haven't heard of an Alpha taking a human female as their mate before. So perhaps I am just chasing the stars like my father always claimed I was." Dane grunted his displeasure at the shift in conversation, no male ever felt good in hearing rejection. But he bowed his head in taking it to the fullest.

"Your father would be so proud of you, Amory. I believe that, truly, with my heartiest of hearts."

"And that is why you're my favorite, though don't tell Osmin that." A saddened laugh had erupted from his throat, and Rhea knew the signs of tears swelling up to the extent.
Granted, she didn't know what more she could say on such a topic.

She was still coming to terms with the idea of love.
Amory loved her parents, both her mother, and father, for the short time she had with either of them.

She loved her unborn brother. And she loved the young Prince Romulus, as her memories of him were rather fond. But those ideas did not translate to the burned and scarred woman who was standing beside the lanky male—Overseeing the project before them.

"Rhea! Oh, please don't be sad. We did keep a good portion of your shack." Rolf cheered, with Gilroy walking just beside him. This made Dane's back straighten once more as he leaned down and kissed the woman's cheek.
"I'll get it done, Rhea." He promised, though she didn't recall ever giving him an order.

Instead, she watched sadly as the male who gave out his heart to a female that he trusted, was crushed all too soon. Little did he know that she embraced something she almost swore to herself that she would never allow.

What was the point of sex for more than pointless pleasure and babes?
As a female, she was taught that sex was meant to be saved for marriage, a loveless one at that. But Rhea treated the idea of a relationship with a dutiful point of view, as any princess would.

Her husband would want her educated, as they were more than likely in a position of power as well to be aligned with this type of arrangement. But even now, she wondered if she were to reclaim the throne, what would happen?

Which Kingdoms would demand to reinstate the old settlements or ties of her father?

Upon pushing those thoughts aside, Rhea had decided on a whim—That she would add another building to her properly. But that meant she had to find Wesly in the midst of construction.

"Do either of you know where Wesly is?" She asked, and they both turned their heads to gaze in either direction. "He might be in the shack, ma'am. Last I saw, he's got his notes all spread out." Rhea smiled her thanks in taking the first steps forward and grunting at the pain that coursed once more through her body—Up her spine—and directly into the center of her temple.

As if this damnation was going to be with her for all eternity.

The walk was quite simple, and she knocked at the newly fashioned wooden door and smiled to see Wesly just as how her males painted the pictures.
He had his nose nearly touching the parchment. "That is not good posture, Wesly...You'll be coming to me about back pains within the week if you keep that up." She claimed and nearly caused the poor male to fall to the floor.

"R-Rhea! I-I'm sorry—I—" She waved it off and pushed the moved pages back into place before standing beside him and pinching a nerve. Earning her a pleasurable groan she smirked.
"That's better, is the ache gone?"

"Y-Yes—Good goddess, how do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Pinpoint pain in the instant? You did that back at camp, too. A few of the other males would talk about it that you were blessed with a healing touch." Rhea rolled her eyes as she took the seat at his side and eyed the plans.

"I hate to add to the plans you've already set in place, but I do have one request." That didn't seem to pass over too negatively, not when Wesly so easily took to grabbing a new piece of parchment and the map holding all the plans for the property.

"What did you have in mind, ma'am?" And a brilliant smile had blossomed so easily—
"A printing building...I believe I have the answer in building back our funds and then some." Now that had caused the male's eyes to rise with ease.

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Date: 05/08/23

Time: 12:18

Words: 1975

Author's Note:

So usually, I start posting a story that I have completed and finished editing. This story, however, I wanted to make sure it made it to the Wattys, and posting all at once isn't good for the algorithm.

So, at the ungodly hour of about 1:30 AM, I was able to finish this story. Epilogue and all.

Altogether, it's nearly 220,000 words.

A project I managed to complete in a little over a year!

Now, onto the next chapter, and prepare yourselves, time jump ahead!