* * ☾ * *

Healer Rhea's POV

A full week had passed since Rhea's return to the Kingdom, and goddess, she was a nervous wreck upon taking up Kieran's offer in dining with his family.

And while it was a wonderful gesture, Rhea was going to take this opportunity as carefully as possible—Given that she hadn't a male in sight to follow her.

Though in this case, she didn't know what to expect more than what Kieran had mentioned. His children were going to be there, most likely highlighting the bachelor of the litter. Even if it did perk her interest, there was only one wolf that caught her eye and it was starting to grow.

With every dinner and every night that they spent with one another, it turned back to what it once was—Friends.
Or more so, in Rhea's case, considering her attachment was starting to shine brighter.

Though perhaps, she could tempt the idea of finding a mate in this Kingdom. It would take her mind off of the looming council meeting and Holy Knot mass in the coming days. Until then, she wanted the rumors to flow like wine.

At the current moment, she was doing a few touchups to her hair and face to bide her time until the carriage would arrive. However, a sharp knock sounded, and Rhea groaned—Knowing full well it was Ray attempting to join the dinner in an attempt of being her escort and date.

"I have ten minutes!" She shouted back, but the door had started to creak regardless—Which she groaned in mirroring the sound as she twisted to the side. "I don't recall this was an invitation to—" But it had been the wrong door, to begin with.

"No?... Shall I knock again?"

"This sneaking around is getting tiring, Rom."

"I will gladly make you my Luna by tomorrow, but I will follow your lead, little Queen." She snorted as she continued to pat her face with a bit more of a tint. One that nearly caused a snarl to escape her lips, and it bewildered her why this anger was building in her chest. "Amory?"

"Hm?

"I said you're looking lovely this evening, but I suppose I've been ignored." Her lips parted as she scoffed and turned away. "Flattery...Did Lyall tell you that will work?"

"I don't tell my males everything...Besides, I would like to think I know the inner workings of a female."
"Oh? Duly noted. Perhaps we can explore that and our inner workings..." She already had her head up to look at him, and his body towered over her as he met to kiss her crown. "...All depends on how tonight goes."

"I believe you will enjoy Kieran's family. It will change your perspective of wolves without a doubt. His son would be a good suitor for you. Had I been a better man, I would have paired the two of you together."

"Oh?"
"But you are mine, Amory. And I am a selfish beast. I do not want males anywhere near you besides those I trust not to look at the way I do to you." Her heart began to flutter as she closed her eyes and settled further into him. Sighing as she truly did want to stay in this evening, but her title was gaining.

"You are managing it fairly well, considering even you know that Kieran is going to try and push me to his son." She teased, but Romulus' firm hand rested down on her shoulders and tightened his hold on her. "I'm doing my best to ignore it, but it's going to happen regardless. See, I am taking your words faithfully."

With that, Rhea had stood to her feet cautiously, as her hands were leveled with her cane, and she settled a sweet kiss to his lips and moved to the side.

"What time will you be returning?" She laughed as she continued off towards the opposite chair in an attempt to gather up her cloak. "Will you be here waiting?"

"Perhaps, but I wouldn't think a dinner would be too long." He thought, and Rhea managed to caress his cheek for a moment before turning towards the door. 

"I'll see you tonight, then?"

"Count of it, Amory." He said with a smirk, one that truly did not settle well in her stomach—However many times she's witnessed a snarling grin. This had a different sort of temptation written behind his gaze.

Damn him!
Damn him for making her think such naughty thoughts before heading into a wolf's den!

Upon her walk from her apartments and towards the main foyer of the lovely castle, she had dutifully avoided any portrait of herself. It was much too vain for her to witness on the daily.

Especially when she didn't look like that anymore.

Yet the snarky laughter had settled outward, and a quickened sob had hurriedly caught Rhea's attention as she turned the corner. If she was late to the dinner, so be it, but the sound of laughter and crying was not a mixture she was fond of.

There had been a rather tight group of wolves looming over a few females, and Rhea recognized them as clear as day. They were servants, humans, and she knew well enough that a few helped her with the furniture choices in her apartments.

They were full of smiles and laughter then, but here there were tears streaming down their cheeks.

And Rhea truly lost all sense when she caught Irene featuring a reddened cheek.

She stormed forward and took to going to the root of the issue, Mariah, without any hesitation or backing.

Her males weren't present and she had already said goodbye to the King, but Rhea was used to dealing with hardships on her own. This was nothing more than she could handle.

"What seems to be the problem here?" Rhea called, and while that had stopped a bit of laughter—her eyes were glaring toward Mariah. And the female had only snarled her smile further. "Nothing you'll—"

"I'll ask again, Mariah, what is the problem here?" Lacking a title was surely a reason to insight the female's anger, but as it had caused a slight tick, Rhea smiled.

Wolves were so easy to read.

"I will not be disrespected by a weasel from the outer territories."

"A weasel?...Oh, goodness, what a tragedy. How ever will I survive? And from my recall of history, all wolves started in territories. So you are no better than I. Besides, I outrank you, female."

"That's a lie!"
"Is it?... From where I'm standing I'm an active councilmember the King sought out personally, and you're the third child of a councilman. The title you flaunt around isn't truly yours, but your father's...And the only disrespect I am seeing is you harassing my servants and handmaid." Mariah's eyes flared as she turned and gawked at the amount Rhea had under her belt.

"T-That's absurd! You don't need—"

"And you have no need to belittle servants. They have all the means to quit and go elsewhere. Then who will help you out of bed?" It had startled the she-wolf, and the effect of never being spoken to in this way had truly been written across her face.

Hers and her entire group off behind her, though nobody was having the last laugh.

"If you have no respect, at least have the respect that history has placed you on top. But only by a slim marking."

"What good are humans anyway?"

"True, you see them as less than Omegas. But we have one thing to topple yours, female." Mariah scoffed, and the question had fallen right from her mouth before she could hold back. "That we don't need Heats to have your male's pups, and we can wear our weight in silver and not feel the burn. Before you mock a human again, watch your back—If I hear one word you spoke ill to mine or any others—"

"Is that a threat?!" Rhea smiled and shrugged her shoulders before she turned back to the servants gawking at the scene. She motioned for them to leave the hall as she hooked her arm to Irene.

Good goddess, she didn't want Clive to see his little adoration like this. And thus she had opened her apartments once more and allowed the servants to hide here for the time being. And off to work they went to clean an already dust-free room.

But there was nothing more Rhea could do, not without announcing her true blood and title.

In addition to the fact that  Romulus would not favor this type of surprise when there was already so much else to deal with, besides, she needed to hurry and get to the dinner before they find her tardiness offensive.

As she hurried down the steps and took the shortcut toward the awaiting carriage, it was an absolute relief to see it still there.
With a quick glance upwards, Rhea spotted the cloudy weather, taking the opportunity to pull up her hood and smiling underneath at the male waiting out front.

"I apologies, some she-wolves were harassing my servants." It had been the truth, and the male seemed rather surprised that had gotten the better half of the reason for her delay. And it most certainly earned a kinder, more genuine smile.

"No need to apologies, Lady Rhea." She had easily slipped her hand into his offered one and aided her into the tall seating area.

It hadn't been the King's personal one, but it was familiar, never-the-less.

The travel from the palace to the Lestrange residence wasn't too long, which she was thankful for, given that the weather hadn't held up as her males had suggested it would.

However, upon arrival, she had caught the few members of the staff hurrying towards the carriage in a frantic manner—And more importantly, an Enforcer.

One that Rhea instantly recognized as being one that closely worked with Romulus.

"Lady Rhea, when you didn't arrive the—"

"Oh, I'm quite alright...This cane and I take ages, have you seen the castle's staircases?" She asked, taking hold of the gift—Only for it to be taken from her by the very Enforcer and handed off to Kieran's servant.

The bustle was concerning as she hardly had the chance to thank her driver, but with the looming clouds starting to grow darker, Rhea picked up the pace and ducked under the manor's roofing, and sighed in relief.

Though she wasn't the only one, given that the others she had come into greet were just as eager to get her inside.

"Lady Rhea has arrived, sir." The announcement had been rather surprising, but upon seeing the crowd of guests—Rhea had kindly remembered that Kieran had a large family. And so she had gripped the Enforcer's arm just a bit tighter as she curtseyed towards the rest of them.

"I apologize, Kieran. I've—"

"Nonsense, nonsense...You're here now, that's all that matters. Come in, sit down—The weather hasn't held up in our favor to dine out in the courtyard, but things are much better suited by the fireplace." He claimed as the unnamed Enforcer had taken to helping Rhea out of her cloak.

"What is your name, sir?"

"M-me?...Uh, Jonathan, ma'am."

"It's a pleasure, Jonathan. But truly, I'm fine." She patted his arm and took gentle steps forward towards the closest couch of the fire...Only then she caught the rather stiff figure of the King resting his arm on the mantle with a brown drink in his hands.

"You're late, Lady Rhea." He cooed, and her eyes flared—Damn him! This was meant to be a reputation-building moment, but here she was being berated by the King.

"I do have a reason, if I may."

"Indeed, tell us what held you up." He was testing her, and by the gods, she had all the patience in the world when it mattered.

But this pup was going to get booted out of her bed if he continues any further.

"A female was harassing my servants." She easily replied, and that caused Romulus' figure to stand straighter. "Which?"

"My handmaid, Irene...She didn't speak to me when I left her in my rooms, but there was a redness to her cheek that suggests—"

"Which female was doing the harassing, Rhea?"

"Mariah and the rest of her crowd. I'm sure you'll hear all about it from her father tomorrow morning...I apologize again for my tardiness, Kieran—I truly couldn't leave them." It was then that Kieran's daughter, Willow, had scoffed.

"It doesn't surprise me, she has nothing better to do—And she surely isn't studying for classes."

"Willow—"

"Well, it's true, Mother! She hardly does any of her assignments and pays for them to be done." Rhea gawked, and Romulus had to withhold his smirk. Goodness, his little Queen couldn't stand for cheating, could she?

"Well that speaks more of her character than I thought, but regardless, let's not let Mariah sour our night...Now then, Willow, what interests you?" And the King watched in awe as Rhea had fallen into place so flawlessly with Kieran and the rest of the family.

Though he did note that the seating arrangement had caused him to be at one head of the table, and Rhea beside the very son he had been glaring towards. And goodness, the two were still going back and forth with medical nonsense that Romulus couldn't find an answer to no matter how far he looked into his whiskey glass.

Amory or Rhea, either of the two, was natural at taking control of the conversation and including everyone. At times, she would even include him, though he could read her so easily that she was still a little startled at his attendance this evening.

The only time he had to reign in his wolf was now when Kieran had asked his son to take Rhea out on a stroll for some fresh air. The bastard, though it was going to happen regardless.

"You made a grand choice in finding Lady Rhea, she is a marvelous female." Kieran boasted and Romulus had only tipped his glass. "It took a bit of convincing for her to join, but I thank you for extending an open invitation. She will surely need it in the days to come."

"Bah, Mithwell hasn't a clue from his left to his right hand, let alone how to control his daughter. And he's petitioned for her to be Queen? Goddess have mercy, having no Queen is better." There were nods of agreement at the table, and that caught Romulus' attention.

"Had my human advisors truly voted for her entrance then?"

"If numbers fault me, then yes—Though Mithwell is as sneaky as they come. Surely he has something over them if they're voting such." Willow had laughed as she discussed the very details of what being in class with Mariah had been like, but since graduation, Mariah hardly looked at a book while Willow continued into further education.

Which no doubt would spark a friendship between her and Rhea.

"I said it before and I'll say it again, I'd rather drink silver than even think of coming close to that female." The laughter had risen, but it still hadn't called the two to return.

And it was starting to agitate his wolf more than he could've predicted. He wanted to know every painstaking detail that they spoke about, what was making her laugh or find the male interesting enough to give him her attention?

Though he truly wouldn't understand half of it, as Rhea and Colten were discussing something more than a sense of political nature. They were talking about lore and stories, history and science. And truly, it was breathtaking to be able to speak with someone who could keep up.

"Can I interest you in a walk through the gardens?" Rhea knew the hold she had on this male, given that he had a book at the read during dinner suggested his interest—Considering he had placed the book down within two minutes of dinner starting.

"Perhaps another time. The ground is too soft and I'll likely slip—" The male had only held up his arm, and regardless of it all, Rhea had taken the kind opportunity.

If the world spun perfectly, then perhaps her father would have sought someone like Colten out—A male who fit perfectly in being a King Consort. Who's political views couldn't be swayed by money or threats.
But instead, laid behind truths and not rumors, it was refreshing to hear.

Though it also allowed her a new insight. "By now you know my position beside your father and the King."

"Yes, quite a feat, I must say. Are you the youngest at the table?" She explained that if Clive didn't count, then yes she most certainly was. But she didn't want to think of that sort of thing.

Her experience accounted for more than just her age.

"May I ask a question?"

"Of course, what is it you wish to know?"

"Excuse me for being blunt, but why have the wolves banned the Vrovaria religion?" The question had caused him to duck his head down in shame, but she knew he was building an answer.

One she truly did need to hear.

"Mind you, this is speculation of what I believe has happened—But wolves are set by one notion. That the Moon Goddess is our mother, and what the humans spoke in their texts and prayers didn't voice much of her at all."

"That's because we don't hail from the same mother, she is in our text and prayers. More than you might think. It's wrong that the Kingdom has left them to rot." It had taken Coltron by surprise that the outer packs had allowed humans to worship without fault.

But he smiled in knowing that Rhea would bring that up during their next meeting, as well as finding a bit of information about the growing number of missing humans.

"I hate to admit things, but wolves truly turn a blind eye to things that don't concern them. I do not mean to insult the King, considering he is just a few steps away in my house, but one male cannot solve decades of evolution."

"Well, perhaps you would like to join us for yourself? I would be honored for you to join me and my males. But please, do not think you must." He teetered back on the idea of doing so or not, but there was no harm in joining.

"Your honor will be my pleasure, Lady Rhea." And thus, the two returned with a smile on either of their faces as they sat down in time for a bit of wine and whiskey between the males and females at the table.

______

Date: 06/30/23

Time: 10:07

Words: 3210

Author's Note:

So I did some math, and I planned to have this story completed in time for the Wattys--Meaning that I have until August 8th to get everything posted.
The way that I'm going right now, won't be enough, so there may or may not be a few random updates throughout the week to help me meet the goal.

But besides that, Rhea is off to make connections!

Mariah better watch her back.
Clearly her and her family aren't as popular as they thing they are.