I watch from afar, eyes scanning as I notice how his muscles contort, shifting under his shirt as he picks up the large wooden beam, leaning it against the wall as he pushing it up with the help of another familiar face. I notice the sweat begin to trickle down the side of his face, eyes blinking to keep it from running into his eyes, wiping away the sweat as he releases the wooden beam from his hands and observes the work he has done so far in the past few hours.

From afar it may just seem like simple manual labor as he helps rebuild portions of the pack house which burned down in the attack, helping to replace the walls and build back up the bricks. From afar, it is a simple good deed as he helps those offering him sanctuary, but I know what River is up to. Anyone playing the game of politics can see what River is up to her - trying to win over the hearts of Crimson Lock, to make a friend of my pack more than just an ally. He knows that without a pack and with the possible future of me on a throne, it would be easier to gain favor as someone with political/royal power if he had a friend in Crimson Lock.

As River steps back from the wall and allows a pack member of mine through the hallway, I watch the pack member greet River with a smile, asking about his day as they make small conversation. Within the past few days I have watched as River reaches out to those within my pack, taking the last conversation we had about what we were to one another as a signal to do this. Though we have continues to keep our relationship under wraps, to only talk privately, and never bring up what transpired within the woods, I know we cannot continue like this. What we have between us will only continue to grow and River knows it too. River knows it and is building a cornerstone for when people find out and to assure himself that members of my pack will not come after him.

Yet as for now I cannot just stand here like some stalker watching River working from afar. I have matters to deal with. Matters which consist of Alpha Finley as well as Alpha Emmitt. Alpha Finley will be here within a matter of hours to hand over to me an official and signed copy of the deal we made for the government which will enter in with my reign. Alpha Emmitt will be here within the end of the day after these past few weeks having rebuilt the safety of his pack, that meeting being one including River as well.

No matter how many meetings I will have, one looming decision hangs over my head today and perhaps even tomorrow - Alpha Penelope's fate. With her troops pushing South by ten miles into our territory, a decision must be made. A decision on if we should attack now or wait longer. Though everyone knows waiting longer gives Penelope a longer time to create a plot and deal out her acts.

Taking in a deep breath, I step away, walking out of the pack house and back to my car as I tell Brie I am ready to head back to my home. "River is making a nice addition to Crimson Lock."

"He is trying to make his presence accepted," I comment, sliding into the passenger seat as Brie starts the engine. "Because of what I told him..."

"Is there anything wrong with him trying to make a name for himself? To try and befriend the members of Crimson Lock?"

"No," I reply, looking out the window as we drive off. "I understand why he is trying, for he understands making friends with my pack will ease his transition. But there are other reasons too, reasons which deal with power within a royal scope."

"He wants to be with you." I nod, looking to the cornflower blue eyes of Brie. "The first time I heard him speak your name, I knew what you meant to him. He has been looking out for you since the night you two met." A rush of blood runs across my cheeks. "He understands how politics will play when it comes to your royal title and he understands what will happen when you begin dating."

"He thinks befriending subjects and creating a good reputation will make it easier for when we will perhaps eventually come out to the people of my future kingdom as a couple."

Brie clicks her tongue, thinking of the possible events which could occur when I take the crown. If River would become a suitor and it would become known to the public, it would become more acceptable if he name provided a more acceptable reputation than that of the once-opposed alpha to my reign. "He is technically still an ally of Alpha Emmitt. He technically still has favor of the pack members who remain within that pack."

I agree with my Gamma, the two of us soon returning to my home as I notice the sleek SUV of Alpha Finley pulled up into my driveway. Letting out a sign, Brie wishes me luck as I hop out and head for the front door as house staff pulls the door open for me. Waiting in the front hall is the sleek smile of Alpha Finley as he greets me. "Alpha Leala, lovely as always."

"Alpha Finley, glad to see you made it safely. Shall we continue into my office." We walk down the hallway, past the paintings of my ancestors as Alpha Finley takes his time, eyes scanning over the details of every frame.

"I can see where you got your looks from. Quite the striking eyes from your father." Finley takes his time looking to my parents, examining just the two individuals who started the war which seems to have continued onto this day. "Quite the couple too."

"I take it you have the final copy of the deal, all signed and all copies printed for the others to have handed to them?"

Finley glances over to me form the corner of his eyes. "As promised, Leala."

Pulling from his messenger bag, Finley takes out the multiple bound copies, each done with a navy ribbon, my signature bold and on the bottom left right where I remember placing almost every signature. Taking the documents from Finley, I head into my office, hearing the alpha walk in after me as I take a seat at my desk. "To be honest, Leala, I was rather shocked just how...well, desperate you were to sign such a document. But I guess I had already known the type of government you were searching for, that you not willing to grant the crown such an extreme amount of power."

I glance up through my eyelashes, biting the edge of my lip as I notice how Finley takes a seat at the edge of his seat, leaning forward as he looks ahead at me. "So desperate after you were attacked. Flocking to me for advice...for a partnership. Yes, I agree this war is more than just who wins a crown and land, but about the survival of our race, traditions, and culture too. In your need for help, me, and your lack of experience, you did more than just give up most of the crow's power. Goddess, Leala, you really have done so much for me."

Biting my cheek, I stare at Finley, leaning back in my desk as my fingers run across the top of the treaty I signed what seems like years ago. "Did it not feel too easy, Leala? Like this treaty had fallen into your lap? You needed something from me desperately and I took that from you and you signed that treaty without a second thought."

Grabbing the top treaty of the stack, I rip the ribbon apart and flip through the pages to the portion on royal power, glancing up to Finley as he gets to his feet. As he nears the front of my desk, my eyes scan over the portion of the treaty Finley had referred to, my eyes scanning over the five paragraphs multiple times. My heart beats fast as I rise to my feet, my wolf wishing to rip from my body and attack the alpha before me.

"You never disagreed, Miss Maxwell. You never pointed it out. It is a done deal."

"You bitch," I growl, swiping at the alpha as my fingers grasp the collar of his shirt, pulling the alpha forward as I watch my eyes darken in the reflection of his own. "I swear-"

"You signed the treaty. If you had done your job, Miss Maxwell, then you would have read the treaty in its entirety."

"And you knew just how desperate I was...just how helpless I was," I whisper, my voice cracking as I recall just how helpless I was the day I went to meet with Finley that day. I much I needed his help. Finley knew just how much I needed his help and he knew I would skim over and not read the fine print.

"If you can let go of me now, Miss Maxwell-"

"It is Alpha Maxwell. Soon to be Queen Leala Maxwell."

Finely offers me a sly smile, mocking me as he does so. "My apologies, Alpha Maxwell. If you my release me, we can then distribute out these treaties to the alphas for them to have a physical and official copy." My grip loosens as my mind runs through the rules I read through, thinking of the rules I will be bound to through the treaty I signed. "After all, take advantage now of the alphas who will bend over backwards now to follow your orders before they have their own laws to make and have little time to deal with your own mindless issues."

I bite my tongue, glaring at Alpha Finley as he takes a seat once more, crossing his legs as he turns his head to look outside. "And as you come to terms with the life you will live in that palace of yours when everything is said and done at the end of this war, Alpha Maxwell, you can come and find me at the Senate Chambers. You may find me to be a powerful ally once more. Though no true power will come with your title except for influence, I may still come to find reasons to find an ally in you. Yet we can always come back to this at the end of the way, after your coronation."

"I will not find you to be an ally at all when any of this is over," I snap, glancing back to the pages which lay before me. "We fight for the same side here, Alpha Finley, no matter if you support me being on that throne of not. We both fight for the same cause and you were the little bitch who wrote this treaty to take advantage of me. I take the fall for not reading this through, I admit that. But I know, at the end of the day, Finley, when I am crowned, I will make it a purpose of mine to make sure that your power within that senate will become diminished starting the moment you take your seat."

"Then we shall wait for those games to begin, dearest Leala."

<><><>

"Then what power do you hold?"

"I am like the Queen of England."

"Is that not what you wanted?"

I let out a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling as I try and think of the words to say. "She holds more power than me. She actually gets to approve bills before they become laws and dissolve parliament. Sure, I had hoped I would have more power than that while still handing over more power to the Senate, but this treaty makes me just some influential figure for the people to turn to. Like some celebrity who will have false political influence."

River shakes his head, running fingers through his hair as he processes what I have just informed him. Having turned through the pages of the treaty, River picks up the document and places it on the nightstand as he gets up from the chair and sits at the edge of my bed. "You said you wanted to fight for a government where the crown was not the central power, but I know you still wanted the crown to hold some sort of power. Finley played you, but for now, you - we, need to focus on this war. Our efforts need to be on this war and more specifically on Penelope as her forces get closer to us."

"Finley played me but he understands I still hold the central power and authority while this war is being fought. I still need his men and his support during these trying times. Regardless of what that treaty says, River, Finley's ass is still mine until that treaty goes into effect."

I can hear his calm breath, how his chest rises and falls calmly, and the gentle beating of his heart as I keep my eyes trained on the ceiling. It was foolish of me to sign that treaty without reading the fine print, it was foolish of me to do so much of what I have done. But I am not the only one who has done foolish things. River believes he was foolish to leave his pack when I called on him, though we all know he would have been slaughtered with the rest. Penelope was foolish to leave this pact we all made, to fight her own war when this war is really about the survival of our race. Oliver was foolish to think I would let him control me all the way to my coronation and to think I could be controlled and let him get away with being beside Keva. Keva believes we are all foolish. Keva believes she can never be foolish.

How could Keva ever be blind sighted? The witches called to me, offering me a message that I could reach out to them and fight beside them. My mother fought beside them when she entered into that palace she never made it out of. Something rubs me the wrong way about those witches, about the historical stories of them, the stories, the mythical tales which surround them. My mother was desperate when she called upon them and I have learned now that when we are desperate, we can make grave mistakes.

Aunt Taylor married one of those sorcerers, a mage, one who could prove useful and had extended his own help. I know reaching out would not make my aunt happy, but Declan offered his help should I ever require it. I trust him more than a stray coven across the ocean. Beside, should Keva have planned this war out, having endless amounts of time to set up the pieces, then how likely would it be that she should know of my uncle being someone to use magic, much less offer me the help of his own coven?

"Alpha Penelope's pack will not take a large amount of effort to wipe out. We must save our strength for when we must fight Keva."

"Keva will prove a difficult task. What if she decides to attack when we are fighting Penelope?"

"Then she will be sacrificing her isolated fortress. The fortress of Eternal Shadows is one of great difficulty to breach, after all, it is cloaked in a magical spell and in the middle of an ocean. We must arrive by ocean."

River bites his cheek, pondering my last statement as he wishes to argue it. "Your uncle and his coven could prove useful if they can use ancient spells."

"What do you propose?"

"It depends on the manpower your uncle's coven can offer us."

"He did not make a definite promise for his entire coven, but I can bet he would be willing to bring this proposal before them. Keva winning the war would mean she would go after the covens. Elves are not fond of the other species," I explain, sitting up from the bed as I slide my feet to the floor, inches away from River's own as the two of us look right at one another.

"I believe you met the sorceress within the walls of the palace." I nod, recalling the peculiar woman who had seemed to transport me into another realm one strange night. "She created tunnels of magic. Tunnels of time. Tunnels fabricated from space and time using ancient magic your uncle's coven may have records of. If they have records of and can interpret, then we can create out own tunnels...portals for our armies." Fiddling his thumbs, River glances ahead to the window, taking in a deep breath. "Tunnels to enter into Eternal Shadows and wage war on Keva without her ever expecting a war from within."

<><><>

My mind feels fuzzy, hand to concentrate on the words spoken from Cedric's mouth as he stands across from me, trying to hold a casual conversation about some current pack drama or rumor. Trying to keep my chip up, I simply nod my head, agreeing with him as I listen to his muffled words, placing my chin on my hands as the two of us stay in the living room, peering outside every couple of minutes as we notice the groups of troops pass by. Some of the men belong to our pack, others to Alpha Emmitt's as some of his pack has just arrived at Crimson Lock, meaning Alpha Emmitt will soon be here to meet with us. River is placed at the front door, nervous to meet with the only remaining ally, the only alpha which still means he holds some sort of power. Alpha Emmitt being an ally of River makes me wonder if Emmitt knows the truth of River's parents. If Emmitt does, then that is one less alpha to worry about if the truth comes out, but if he does not, then it makes me worry.

If the truth of River's parents would come out, I cannot fathom how people would respond. I know many would be mad, many would be shocked, and many would be disgusted. The thought of a boy born from a woman brought to life – it is unnatural and would be thought of as a disgrace and something from the devil. It is black magic and it would be shamed. Would people come after River with pitchforks? Perhaps not, but they would not accept him as a king or perhaps not even someone to have as a council member or someone of political influence. They would shame him and chase him out of the kingdom, perhaps to live a life like his parents. Witches, sorceresses, mages, vampires, hunters, and others who would find use for his blood – those people would not just come for River, but they would also try to find Sybil.

I received hate from alphas at first, but it helped that I had a pack that accepted me. They accepted me because I was their rightful alpha. River did have that, or a portion of that before he discovered it was a sham because Keva only abused what he was to rip that pack from him for her own personal use. From my pack and family name, I built my power and my allies. Though, those some allies proved to be fake. Allies such as Penelope. Penelope, who knows the truth about River yet has kept her trap shut. Why? It could cause a ruckus and help her cause. Why does she not open her mouth and spread the truth? Why has Keva not done the same?

"He's coming," River exclaims, excitement in his voice, something I have not heart in days. I watch as the alpha slips away from the door, rushing to greet his ally as Alpha Emmitt exits his car and walks up to River. The two embrace one another in a friendly hug, greeting each other with bold smiles, as if dear friends. Turning to Cedric, I ask if we know about their friendship.

"They seemed close last time we were at their council meetings. Seem like true friends."

"It must be good for the two to finally meet once more," I comment, my heart aching for River as I watch him. He has been in pain since he arrived here, having heard the news of his pack being torn apart. To see a good friend once more since the two lost their pack members, it must be good for both of them. Emmitt was not nice to me in the past, but I will greet him with open arms today for River's sake.

Getting to my feet, I straighten out my blouse and wiggle my toes in my heels as I look to my Beta. Nodding, the two of us walk to the front door. "Any word on your uncle?"

"He will arrive here tomorrow with the leader of his coven."

As we enter into the doorway, I watch River and Emmitt walk to the front door, in deep conversation about how the two have been, their conversation cut short as Emmitt's eyes meet mine. I know he is not pleased to be speaking with me. "Alpha Emmitt. Thank you for meeting with me today, my condolences for your pack members."

Holding his head high, the alpha simply nods his head and glances to River before he looks back to me. "Thank you for your hospitality, Alpha Maxwell."

"I have my chef preparing dinner, it will be served in the next hour should you be hungry."

"No need."

"Should we-"

"If you do not mind, I thought it would be best for me to meet with Alpha River first."

I am cut off, short of words as I do not know what to say. To not meet with the alpha I should meet with while River will meet with him. River has no men to control, he has no true power, only a name. Emmitt has men, yes, but not even that many compared to most alphas here. He drove all this way to meet with River when River has no true influence on the council?! "Alpha Emmitt, excuse my remarks here, but did you drive all this way to not speak with Alpha Maxwell? The woman you have now allied yourself with? The future Queen? The leader of this war." Cedric speaks up for me, stepping forward as he will take the blame for speaking up for me, knowing that Alpha Emmitt has disrespected me by not wishing to speak with me, but River.

"Alpha River is my ally first, not Leala Maxwell."

"Alpha River has no pack," Cedric retorts. "Alpha Maxwell is the leader of this side of the war. Alpha River now fights under the flag of Crimson Lock. If you wish to as well, then you will speak with Alpha Leala Maxwell too."

Cedric glares to River, insisting he speak for me, to put Emmitt in his place. It is not up to River to do so, but for me.

"Alpha Emmitt, my Beta is both right and wrong. River does hold power in this pact, but he is not who you will be speaking with today. If you wish to speak with Alpha River, then you will do so with me. If you have allied yourself with Alpha River then you have allied yourself with me. I am the leader of Crimson Lock, all those who fight for the flag fight for me. You wish to speak about war and treaties, then you speak with me. Did you not drive all this way to speak with me?"

Emmitt bites his tongue, knowing he is caught here as he knows he did drive all this way to talk with me.

"River does not fly the flag of Crimson Lock."

"So he does not," Emmitt concludes, his voice cross. "We shall meet then. I would like to have Alpha River present in the room."

"Of course. We may meet in my office."

The three of us head back to my office, Alpha Emmitt's temper becoming a short fuse as I know I have just made it even shorter. I must be careful around him. As the door shuts behind me and I take my seat, Alpha Emmitt sits in the same seat Finley was this morning, his jaw tensed as I look to River. "Alpha Penelope slaughtered the children in the streets," Emmitt begins, drawing my attention away from River instantly as my skin pales. "She dragged them out of their homes and hiding places. I had a wife, Alpha Maxwell, and she had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. We had named her Riley. You want to know what Penelope did to them? What she ordered her men to do to my own family?"

I bite the inside of my cheek as my throat dries, scared to hear the answer as I watch Emmitt's face twist with a kind of emotion I have never witnessed a man like Emmitt possess before, one of sadness, hate, anger, and loss. "My own wife was thrown into the street from our house, her throat slit from ear to ear, but it was not the way Penelope's men killed her which made me cry out to that goddess who abandoned us eons ago, no, Alpha Maxwell. It was the way my wife's arms reached out to the body of a child just inches away from her, strangled before her mother's eyes before the mother was killed. I cannot fathom what my wife witnessed and what she must have thought before she perished."

The thudding of my heart seems painful as I hear the story, my eyes seeing to water, my own body finding it hard to breath as I cannot image what kind of scene Emmitt came home to. "I am so sorr-"

"Please," Emmitt interrupts. "I have tried to mourn the loss of my family and fellow pack members. The more people express sympathy, the harder it becomes. You want to help me get vengeance?"

"I do."

"Then help me get the bitch and her pack that slaughtered my pack and family."

"I promise you, that is the next step in this war."

Emmitt nods, a smile pulling at his lips as he clasps his hands together. Leaning back in his chair, he glances over to River. "Be glad you had no family, no children, no wife in that pack of yours, River. Penelope would have displayed their bodies like artwork."

River takes in a shaky breath, his golden eyes watering as he looks to me. The look he gives me, one of sadness and longing, it makes me feel something, a feeling which I cannot place. "That pack was my family," River whispers, glancing down to his feet. "Yet she did try to take something of mine not in that pack."

Emmitt goes on for a few more minutes commenting about the slaughter, remarking about the security of his boarders, about the elves which came, about what was told to him by the few warriors which survived or ran to get help. The elves came with blades and magic. Penelope's men came and the elves left when they saw how many wolves were there. Keva's men did not go to wipe out Emmitt's pack, but Penelope did. This war Keva fights is to wipe out us, but Penelope does not care, for she went to wipe out Emmitt's pack. Why? Does she not care for the survival of our race or does she wish for little opposition? Is she blind to how strong the elves are and how few men she actually has? She has always been arrogant, but she is smart. Penelope has been impatient, yes, but she has been smart enough to see that she cannot take on Keva or my armies alone. What is her end game here? No matter what, she is a force which must be taken out now before she becomes more destructive and goes after another pack.

"We are worried she will attack again, this time a northern pack. Reports of her pack moving closer Alpha Yusuf or Finch's boarders have been coming in. We do not want another situation to arise where families become slaughtered."

"So you will call for an attack upon Penelope?" River asks, looking back to me, having calmed his nerves.

Nodding, I think back to the magical dust which he had sent to me months back. If we are going to battle soon, it could prove to be of use. "I will. I will call upon the other alphas. We will not take our entire army to Penelope, only the men needed to make a presence to wipe her out while still keeping our packs protected from Keva."

"Penelope will not surrender," Emmitt comments as we all gather ourselves and rise to our feet, finding this meeting finished.

"I do not expect her to."

I watch as Alpha Emmitt leaves the room, asking to meet with River later after he has settled into his room. As River and I are left alone once more, I find myself opening the drawer to my desk with the dust River had sent me. Picking up the packet, River raises an eyebrow as he wonders what I am up to. "You sent me this what seems like years ago."

"I am glad you have not used it yet."

"I have not felt the need to," I comment. "Brie informed me it was very powerful."

"It does have limits," River assures. "Powerful, yes, but every power has its limitations."

"How does one use it?"

"It is important to understand what you cannot do with it." I nod, glancing to the dust as River takes the package from my hand, his fingers gently brushing against mine. "You lose an arm, ear, leg, finger, or anything...well, then it is gone. What is gone cannot be given back. Things can be healed though, such as a cut. The dust can be ingested if you are sick, it can be sprinkled into a wound, and much more. It depends on the magical skill of an individual."

"What did you think I could use it for?" I ask, curious as to why River would send it to me.

"I figured Brie would educate you on it a little too. Perhaps in battle you would have it on you. If you had a deep cut you could sprinkle it on the wound. If you got ill with wolfsbane you could swallow it with some tea. Or with Brie knowing you had it, she could use it to help you as well if you were limited with your knowledge or use with it."

A light blush creeps up onto my face, my fingers brushing across my face, only to run across the groove on my face. My fingers trace the scar which has found a home there, running along the new feature as I think of it. The blush across my cheeks disappears as I think of the scar upon my face. River's own hand comes up to my cheek, covering my hand as his fingers lock with mine, pulling my hand down from tracing my scar. "What is healed cannot be changed." Taking a step forward, River comes closer to me, letting go of my hand as he brushes a lock of hair behind my ear, eyes looking to the scar as they settle on my eyes.

"Could I have healed it with the dust?"

"Yes."

"Brie never-"

"You never asked for it. Do not blame Brie."

"You could have-"

"You never let me see you," River calmly states, trying to help me not blow up. He is right, I never thought of the dust just sitting in my desk drawer when I knew what it could do. I am now stuck with a scar upon my face. "This scar is not ugly, Leala. It does not take away from your beauty. It only adds to your story."

I lean into his embrace, River's left hand settling on my waist as my hands fall onto his chest, the two of us less than an inch apart as I fall into his golden eyes. Before I can process the distance between the two of us, his lips close on mine, the two of us falling into one another as I check quickly to assure the door and blinds of the curtains are shut. As we lead one another to the desk, I carefully place the dust back inside the dresser and clear my laptop from the desk.

My back meets the cold wooden surface, my legs wrapping around River's waist as his hands slide under my blouse. Kicking off my heels, the two of us dive into one another, finding solitude, peace, and passion in one another. As I allow my desires to take over, the stress and anxieties of the day begin to fade away. As River's lips brush across my ear, he whispers three words which cause my body to tense for a short second and I become speechless.