The man boasted dark mahogany skin, long, braided hair, and emotionless charcoal eyes that zeroed in on me with a laser-like intensity. They held zero ounces of warmth. I didn’t think I’d receive the same warm reception I got from Maria. He was muscular but lean, his strides confident and purposeful. He bypassed Bash without a second glance and stepped forward until he stood in front of my desk.
“Your Majesty.” His voice was deep and rich, his South African accent making it sound more like ‘Your Mehjesty’. He bowed slightly, just enough to technically consider it a bow, but shallow enough that it was still offensive. Ranulf stood, his face stony and ready to reprimand him, but I waved him down.
I peered at his file and then glanced back at him with a raised brow. “Junior Khumalo, Alpha of the Johannesburg Pack of South Africa?” I confirmed.
“Yes,” he answered in a clipped tone.
I motioned to the empty seat in front of me. “Please, have a seat.”
He hesitated for a moment before pulling out the chair and sitting down. His back was ramrod straight and his palms were placed firmly on his lap. No fidgeting there.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” I started. “I’m sure you’re extremely busy, so I appreciate you taking the time—”
“If the Queen requests my presence, I’m obligated to appear before her,” he interrupted dryly.
I gave an awkward smile. This wasn’t going well. “I’m guessing you’re not a fan?” I quirked a brow. He remained quiet, pointedly staring at the wall behind me. “It’s okay, Junior. You can be informal. I want your honesty. Even if it hurts …” I muttered the last part and looked away.
He cleared his throat. “Informal, you say? Well, I’ve heard a lot about you, Your Majesty. They say you fight for the underdog, the ones without a voice. That you were behind the change the Lycans saw in King Alexander during his last years. But what about my people? Who is speaking for us? I didn’t believe in the last monarch, and I don’t believe in you.”
I clenched my hands together and fought to keep from yelling like a two-year-old, But I just became Queen a week ago! I knew that no matter what I said, it would make no difference to him. I could have been made Queen two seconds ago and he’d still be pissed. He and his pack had been snubbed far too long. It was time I started making things right.
I nodded. “You’re right. You’ve been treated unjustly for a long time and it’s unfair. My predecessors have done nothing about it, but I don’t want to be like them—”
“Those are just pretty words … empty promises.” The bristling Lycan rolled his eyes contemptuously.
“That’s why you’re here,” I said quickly. His attention snapped back to me. “I didn’t request your attendance just to hear the harshness of your words, Junior. I asked you here because I want you to join the Queen’s Council.”
He froze in his seat and narrowed his eyes at me. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head, wondering if this was a trick. According to his file, he’d been requesting a seat in the European Summit for quite some time and was denied at every turn. What I was offering was even better. He wouldn’t only have a voice in matters that concerned one region, he’d have a voice in matters that impacted the entire Lycan species. It would be the highest honor and a first for any pack member in the continent of Africa, from a people who had chafed under the rule of the dismissive European Summit far too long now. He could change the fate of his people by being a part of the Queen’s Council. I was offering him the opportunity of a lifetime.
“It’s challenging enough to deal with the interests of different species;” I stated, “I don’t want to add race into the equation. It shouldn’t even be a problem in this day and age, but I’m not so blind that I don’t know it still is. You and your pack deserve for your voices to be heard, and if the Summit won’t give it to you, then fuck ‘em. I will.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “I only have one question.”
Junior furrowed his brows as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “And what’s that?”
“How do you treat your lunas?”
My question made him jerk back in surprise. “If you’re wondering whether my lunas are free or not, you have nothing to worry about. We didn’t partake in the Freedom War because our lunas have always been treated with respect.”
“Excellent!” I clasped my hands together. “Then we understand each other perfectly. Now, it’s all up to you, Junior. What do you want?”
He leaned back and slumped in his chair. It was the first time I’d seen him look less than perfectly poised and composed. “I would have to renounce my position as Alpha and move to Scotland …” he murmured mainly to himself.
Nonetheless, I answered him. “Yes, you would.” I glanced over his shoulder where Bash was leaning against the wall by the door, wearing a sympathetic look. I understood what he was feeling. Bash knew exactly what it meant to give up your position as Alpha. He did the same thing when he came with me to Scotland. As such, he knew it wasn’t a decision one could make in the span of a few minutes.
I sighed. “Why don’t you stay a while? My mating ceremony will be held soon, and you’re more than welcome to attend. Stay until you’ve made a decision.”
Junior nodded slowly and stood, his bow a smidge deeper this time, and allowed Bash to escort him out of the
