Zarek looked from the smirking Syris to the innocent-looking Tanith, and finally to Roxy, who was currently covering her mouth to muffle her uncontrollable giggles.
Zarek grumbled, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
But he didn’t toss the child into the lake. He rely stepped over her with a heavy sigh, marching toward the porch. "Keep the scaled nace away from my boots."
Roxy scooped Tanith up, kissing the toddler’s pale, scaly cheek. "You are a brave little nace, aren’t you?" she cooed, while Drax snickered behind her.
That morning’s chaos, however, was rely a prelude to the storm that was about to descend upon the Iron-Wood Manor.
The news of Roxy’s return did not stay contained within the forest. It hitched a ride on the wind, carried by passing rchant caravans, migrating flocks, and the silent air of the Beast World.
It traveled to the frozen peaks of the North, the humid swamps of the South, the sprawling plains of the East, and the rugged coasts of the West.
The Queen of the Iron-Wood, the mate of the continent’s most terrifying Alphas, had returned.
By the ti the sun reached its zenith two days later, the Manor was no longer just a ho; it was the epicenter of the Beast World.
Representatives from every major clan arrived to pay their respects and verify the miracle with their own eyes. The periter of the Iron-Wood territory transford into a massive, sprawling festival.
Tents were pitched, roasting spits were erected, and the air grew thick with the scent of spiced ats, blooming flora, and the thrum of beating drums.
In the center of it all, seated on a beautifully carved wooden throne, sat Roxy.
She looked nothing short of ethereal.
Ren had ticulously gotten a stunning gown from the oceanic Imperial Silk she had brought back. The fabric, a deep, shifting indigo that seed to ripple like water, clung perfectly to the new, fuller curves of her body.
Her hair, which had grown incredibly long during her ti in the Deep Spires, was styled into soft, cascading curls that frad her face and highlighted the glowing, healthy flush of her cheeks.
Sitting securely in Roxy’s lap was baby Tanith. She had been thoroughly scrubbed and dressed in a miniature silk dress of her own, with a delicate erald-green silk band holding back her fine, dark hair.
She looked like a tiny, serious princess, her vertical pupils tracking the massive crowds with cautious curiosity.
To Roxy’s right sat Iris. The wolf-girl was practically vibrating with excitent. She wore a fluffy, multi-layered ball gown that Ren had painstakingly gotten from Surface cotton and Deep Sea lace.
Her striking violet eyes sparkled in the lantern light as she swung her little legs from her chair.
And standing directly behind Roxy’s throne was Drax.
The firstborn dragon-shifter had taken his role as his mother’s personal guard to the extre. He didn’t mingle. He didn’t eat. He simply stood there, his jaw set in a hard line, glaring at anyone who dared to step too close to his mother’s personal space.
"You look beautiful, Roxy. Like a true Goddess."
Roxy looked up, her face breaking into a massive, genuine smile.
Pushing through the crowd of diplomats and rchants was the delegation from the Wolf Tribe. Leading the pack were Mara and Sera, their faces shining with a mixture of reverence and overwhelming relief.
Behind them trailed several other female wolves, carrying baskets of rare winter berries and woven blankets as tribute.
"Mara! Sera!" Roxy gasped, carefully shifting Tanith to one arm so she could reach out.
The female wolves didn’t care about protocol. They rushed forward, dropping to their knees to press their foreheads against Roxy’s hands.
"We thought the earth had swallowed you," Mara wept, her ears pinned back in distress.
"I’m so sorry," Roxy murmured, squeezing their hands tightly. "I never ant to cause you pain. But I’m here now. I’m whole."
Mara looked up, her amber eyes scanning Roxy’s glowing face and the luxurious silk clinging to her body. A knowing, female smirk touched the older wolf’s lips. "You are more than whole. The ocean agreed with you, my Queen. You radiate power."
As the won caught up, a small, nervous figure shuffled out from behind Mara’s skirts.
It was Hati, Mara’s young son. The wolf pup was dressed in a neat little leather tunic, his ears twitching nervously as he looked up at the dais. He wasn’t looking at Roxy, though. His gaze was fixed entirely on Iris.
Iris stopped swinging her legs. She stared back at Hati, her violet eyes blinking in surprise.
Hati swallowed hard, his face turning a dark shade of red. He took a hesitant step forward, bowing awkwardly. "Princess Iris," he squeaked, his voice breaking. "Would... would you like to co play? We are chasing fireflies near the creek."
Iris’s face lit up like a sunbeam. She looked up at Roxy silently pleading for permission.
Roxy chuckled, her heart lting at the sheer innocence of it. "Go on, flower. But stay where Drax can see you."
"I will protect her!" Hati puffed out his little chest, taking Iris’s hand.
Above them, Drax let out a low, nacing hiss, his eyes narrowing at the boy holding his sister’s hand. "If she gets a single scratch on her, pup, I will roast you and feed you to the birds."
Hati squeaked in terror, but Iris just giggled, dragging the terrified boy away into the crowd.
"He is very protective," Mara noted, eyeing Drax with deep respect. "A true King in the making."
"He’s a nace, just like his father," Roxy sighed fondly, leaning her head back against Drax’s leg for a brief second.
[Or he took it entirely from you.]
Well whatever.
Drax’s expression softened instantly, his hand dropping to rest gently on his mother’s shoulder.
The feast raged on for hours. There was dancing, drinking, and endless storytelling. Roxy accepted gifts from the Panther clan, trade agreents from the Eagles, and formal apologies from tribes who had previously doubted the Iron-Wood’s supremacy.
But by the ti the moon hung high and heavy in the midnight sky, the adrenaline that had been sustaining Roxy finally left her.
The crowds began to disperse, returning to their hos. The roaring fires died down to glowing red embers. The Manor grounds grew quiet, save for the crickets and the distant snores of overfed Beastn.
Roxy sat slumped in her wooden throne, Tanith fast asleep against her chest, a little line of drool wetting the priceless oceanic silk. Roxy’s eyelids were incredibly heavy, her body aching from the sheer physical toll of smiling, talking, and carrying the weight of an entire continent’s attention.
Kaelen’s calm voice cut through the quiet. The Wolf Alpha stepped out of the shadows of the porch, his eyes soft as he looked at his exhausted mate.
He reached his arms out, preparing to gently lift her and the sleeping toddler. "Co, my heart. It is ti for bed."
But before Kaelen’s fingers could even brush the silk of her gown, Zarek stepped between them.
He didn’t ask. He scooped Roxy and Tanith up into his massive arms in one fluid motion.
"I have her," Zarek rumbled, his voice brokering no argunt.
Roxy was too tired to care about anything. The mont she felt the familiar, furnace-like heat of Zarek’s chest, she simply lted. She curled her body inward, burying her face into the crook of his neck, inhaling the comforting scent of smoke and pine.
"Mmm, I’m so tired, Z," she mumbled against his skin.
"I know, little bird," Zarek whispered, his harsh features softening completely. He adjusted his grip, ensuring Tanith was securely sandwiched between them without being crushed. "I have you."
Zarek turned and strode into the Manor, his heavy boots taking the stairs two at a ti. He bypassed the main living area and headed straight for the upper floor, making a direct line for the master bathroom to draw her a warm bath before bed.
Kaelen didn’t protest the theft. He simply folded his arms behind his back and followed silently, his footsteps making no sound on the wooden floorboards. He was a patient wolf. He knew how to stalk his prey.
As they reached the second-floor landing, heavy, thudding footsteps echoed from the stairs behind them.
Torian, crested the top of the stairs, rolling his massive shoulders. He had just finished calculating the value of the tribute gifts and looked ready to collect his own reward. He locked his dark eyes on the master bathroom door where Zarek had just disappeared with Roxy.
Torian took a step forward.
A hand shot out, pressing flat against the center of Torian’s broad chest.
Torian stopped, looking down at the arm blocking his path. He followed it up to Kaelen’s perfectly composed face.
Kaelen stood in the center of the hallway, his eyes weren’t hostile, but they were unyielding.
"Move, Wolf," Torian rumbled, a low warning vibrating in his throat. "I have balanced the ledgers. The Queen requires attending."
Kaelen didn’t budge an inch. A slow, incredibly sharp smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth.
"Wait your turn, Torian," Kaelen said softly, his voice a lethal, silken purr. "The week is just getting started."
Torian’s brow furrowed, his instincts rising to the challenge. He opened his mouth to argue, preparing to shove the wolf aside.
"Father Kaelen!"
The loud, cracking voice of Drax echoed up from the bottom of the stairs, drifting from the direction of the kitchen.
"Iris is trying to feed the singing pearls to the hounds, and Axel just set the curtains on fire trying to use his new armor!"
Kaelen didn’t even blink. He kept his eyes locked on Torian, his smirk widening into a look of absolute, unapologetic triumph. He patted Torian twice on his massive chest.
"The children need your help," Kaelen whispered.
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