"Your Majesty," Roland greeted as I joined them out in the sunlight. Around us were hundreds of lycans, bustling about to create spaces for themselves to sleep and cook. They were unpacking their belongings and making themselves comfortable wherever they found a good spot.

"Are the barracks already full?" I asked him as I looked around.

"No, but they told me they prefer sleeping under the stars," he explained and somehow it made sense. Though I reminded myself to ask Rillon more about his home next time I saw him.

"That's good though, because we have two hundred and fifty archers arriving from the north, and also about a hundred more soldiers from Uthum," Eli added as he walked up to us.

"Will it be enough though?" I mumbled low but was interrupted by the always so cheerful Rillon who walked up to us with that wide smile of his and instantly placed his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him.

I raised my eyebrow at him, which he obviously ignored. "Listen to me, Little Lord King, one of my men is comparable to two of yours. We're stronger and we heal fast, so don't you worry your cute little head about it."

I heard the two human men clear their throats beside me, but eventually Kendrick responded, "I can attest to that," he chuckled. "Not sure how your father even managed to hold the border for so long."

The lycan studied the colonel for a moment and his grip went tighter around my waist, "we have weaknesses, just as everyone else."

"Something we should know about?" Eli asked nervously, "I mean for tactic reasons."

Mathew shrugged his shoulders, clearly not taking offense, "Spears, long distance spears can take us down quite easily if they hit the right spots and deep enough. Arrows though are weak and only bruise us."

I watched Eli's eyes grow big, he was astounded by this news, "You won't die from arrows?" he asked low.

"No, our skin and our pelts are thick enough to shield us from them and to keep us going," he snickered. "Anyways, boys, if you'll excuse us I need a moment with your king," he said and pulled me towards a small crowd of more well dressed lycans. And by well dressed I meant they actually wore clothes, since most of his soldiers only wore a loincloth or some sort of dresslike, sleeveless shirt.

They all seemed nervous around me, and I could see why. They had fought my father for decades and now they stood inside his castle and were greeted by his son.

"I understand there might be some trust issues between us," I began, "but let me start by saying I am forever grateful and so relieved to have you here."

Their expressions changed somewhat, but they still kept silent. "They'll warm up to you eventually," Rillon snickered and patted the shoulder of the largest man. "This is Sam, he's my Beta, which means he's second in command after me." I greeted the big man with his black hair and piercing blue eyes with a formal nod, before Rillon turned to the next giant.

"Luke here is Sam's son, that's Conrad, and that's Frej," he said, pointing them out. "And this fellas, this is Adrian of Gera, his majesty the king," he said and I realized I had not even introduced myself and they all looked taken aback. To their defense I wore quite simple clothes and no crown, perhaps they had expected someone older and stronger?

"I'd thought he'd be bigger," Luke mumbled to his father.

"Sorry to disappoint you," I snickered, "but I am in fact the king. We don't fight for our crown like you do, we are born into it," I scratched my head and peered thoughtfully at Rillon, "and as you all know some men are not fit to rule, my father was one of them."

"New king, new possibilities, eye?" Frej, the big bald one with a braided ginger beard chuckled and bumped his fist into my shoulder. "Sounds good ta me."

"Good," I chuckled. "Then make yourselves at home, and we'll meet after supper to update you with the latest news from the east."

"Sam will be joining us in the war room," Mathew announced, "and that Joseph fella has arranged rooms inside for the lot of you to sleep in, if you'd want one. Perhaps it's time you dogs got a bit more civilized?" the alpha teased.

The information divided them into two groups, some of them seemed excited to be sleeping in the castle, while others looked uncomfortable by the thought of it. "It's your choice," I added before I said my goodbyes and asked Rillon to join me for a walk back to the castle gates.

"What do you think then?" He asked and I couldn't help but smile at his proud face. He adored his men, they were clearly his family and he loved them like brothers.

"A bit rough around the edges," I teased, "nothing a bath can't change."

"You like them," he said proudly and let his hand slip into mine.

"I do," I said but stopped him and looked down on our joined hands.

"Am I moving too fast for you, darling?" He chuckled but my expression turned serious.

"You forget we may get executed for this," I mumbled as I met his eyes.

But his smile never left him, instead he looked around at the busy courtyard, some were looking towards us but most were busy doing their jobs. "Look at them," he said, "they have bigger problems to dwell on, if they hate it so much they'll leave and we'll be better off."

"But how can you be so relaxed," I sighed.

He gently placed a finger under my chin and stroked my lips with his thumb, "you and I are their only hope to stay alive, to keep their homes. You really think they'd execute us now with an army coming?"

I rolled my eyes at him and muttered, "no, I guess not."

His smile widened, "So, may I kiss you then?"

"Here?!" I asked with panic in my voice. But I never got the chance to stop him before he pulled me into his arms and gave me a long, not very chaste, kiss that ended with a hearty laugh.

"Gods I've missed you," he snickered as he let me go to lead me up to the big entrance.

"We are so dead," I mumbled but he stopped me and turned me around.

"Look, do they seem angry?" he asked and encouraged me to have a look around at the people below us.

The first thing I noticed were the chuckles on the lycans faces and it was apparent that they already knew of their alphas feelings for me. The humans were clearly too busy to take notice of us, or maybe they didn't dare to look up at us, fearing the huge warrior beside me. But one pair of eyes stood out, and that was Rolands. He met my eyes with a sad but also encouraging smile, and I couldn't get my head around why.

"No, they don't care," I whispered eventually and Rillon took that as a cue to bring me inside.

"I'll slow down though," he said with a more calm tone as we entered the halls. "I'm just happy to see you."

I turned to give him a faint smile, "don't worry about it, it's just hard to get used to after a lifetime in hiding," I explained and he suddenly looked sad.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said and brushed my cheek with his thumb. "But know that there can be positive outcomes after this war, and getting rid of that law will be one of them."

"I know," I said and let my hand fall into his again, "we'll change things around here."