ELRETH

Elreth hadn't seen her mother looked so shocked—well, except the night before when her father practically bit her head off. But it made Elreth feel shaky. What was going on that they were all so protective of?

She watched her mother carefully for clues as she spoke. "Aaryn told me they're effectively their own tribe, and that he's the Alpha. Alpha! And… and he was, Mom. I could see it! It was like telling me just… opened him up! He was amazing. I had to stop myself from submitting when he really pressed on me."

Her mother smiled, and even though it was weak, it was genuine. "That's wonderful. I'm so glad he told you. Your father will be pleased. He felt that Aaryn shouldn't have hidden it from you this long."

"So you all knew?"

"Yes, but it wasn't because we were hiding it from you specifically. I've known all along. Your father found out about Aaryn, but not that I was involved, apparently. And Gar… Gar kind of stumbled into it with Aaryn, as well. The Outsiders never chose Gar, he kind of chose them."

"For what though?"

Her mother had been reaching for her water and she hesitated. Then pushed forward anyway. "He… didn't tell you?"

"No, he said it was Gar's story to tell, and that I should ask him."

Her mother nodded and took a drink of water. "I agree. You should."

Elreth growled, but she knew her mom. If she was deflecting like this, something was up but she wasn't going to be the one to spill it out where everyone could see it.

Neither of them spoke for a minute. Elreth ate, but she didn't miss that her mother was just pushing food around on her plate. The whole meal felt tense and uneasy. Elreth wasn't enjoying it.

What were her mother and brother up to? Why was her dad angry? And why was Aaryn everywhere, in all of it?

"You know, El," her mother said quietly a few minutes later. "I'm really, really glad that you and Aaryn are finally getting together. He's so good for you. And I think you'll be good for him too. I really do. But can I give a piece of motherly advice?"

"If you have to," Elreth said, with a smile to soften the words. But her mother didn't look up, just nodded.

"One thing your father has always been very good at is knowing whose judgment to trust," her mom said quietly. Her chin beginning to tremble. "I think that's why he is so upset with me. He trusted me to tell him things that were important for him to know, and I hid this… but anyway, I would say, he's a good example to follow. Sometimes, even when you're in charge, sometimes it's good to allow people to have their own spaces, their own lives. Even just in one area. Sometimes… sometimes you don't have to be at the center of everything. And knowing who you can trust to handle themselves, and others and just… leaving them to it… it will make people love you as a leader. Because it lets them believe that you believe in them."

Elreth waited, but she didn't go on. "Okay, then," she said dryly. "That clears that up."

Her mother gave her a flat look from the side—a look she'd perfected on Gar, that said, "You just toed the line, now step back."

"What I'm saying, Elreth, is maybe consider not pushing to know all of this right now. Maybe trust that between me and your brother and Aaryn, we can catch anything that might affect you—and trust that if something comes up, we'll bring it to you. We won't choose to allow you to be surprised."

"Except, isn't that the nature of surprises, Mom?" Elreth said. "That they come when you don't expect them to?"

Her mother nodded. "So, then, maybe trust that if that happens and we get taken by surprise too, that we'll help you navigate it anyway. That we aren't trying to trip you up."

"I don't think any of you want me to fail… well, except maybe Gar," Elreth grinned. Her mother snorted. "But I do think that you and Dad tend to see me as your child who should be protected, and Aaryn… Aaryn sometimes wants to protect me, and other times seems scared of me. I'm… I'm struggling to find a sense of strength when I'm around you all—especially when you're together—because it feels like I just fall back into being a kid and a younger best friend. But I'm not, Mom. I'm Queen now. I have to make decisions. Big decisions. And if it goes wrong, it's not you and Dad, or Aaryn the people will look at. It's me."

Her mother nodded slowly. "You're right," she said, looking down at her plate again. "I'm sorry. I know I'm still mothering you. But you'll see one day when you have your own cubs—or pups, I suppose. Parenting isn't something you just stop doing."

Elreth blinked. Pups. She hadn't even thought about it, but her mother was right. When she and Aaryn had offspring—if they even could—their children might end up belonging to a different tribe. Not of the Pride.

Elreth shifted in her seat. It didn't matter. It didn't change anything.

Yet… she couldn't quite seem to make room for the idea, either.

She and her mother spoke a little more, but it was almost time for her meeting with the security council and her messengers still hadn't returned with news from the elders. Elreth's teeth were on edge. She wanted to talk to them—needed to talk to them—about Aaryn. To get the whole thing rolling.

She didn't want to wait.

Then her mother leaned closer and sniffed carefully. "You two still didn't…?" she asked carefully.

"We're waiting for the flames and smoke," Elreth said through her teeth. "Apparently, Gar's interruption was the Creator's plan, because neither of us had thought about how everyone would know. This will give us a chance to bring the elders in for advice, and figure out how to share the news."

"And give everyone a feast to look forward to," her mother chuckled. It sounded a little forced, but her smile was real. "That's wise, Elreth. Good for you. You two are… much stronger than I could have been, I think."

Elreth snorted. "It's a lot easier to stop when your father walks in."

Elia shook her head, her own cheeks warming with shared embarrassment. "We had exactly the same thing happen to us," she said sheepishly.

Elreth turned slowly to look at her. "Wait… what?! I thought Grandpa was already dead when you two—"

"No, no, I mean… an interruption."

"Who?"

"Behryn and a fist of guards."

"WHAT?!" Elreth shrieked, then clapped her hand over her mouth.

Her mother nodded. "It was mortifying—and I was so upset, your father almost shifted out of sheer dominance to get them away from me. The whole thing was just a mess."

"Oh my gosh," Elreth giggled.

Her mother shot her a dark look. "Do you want me to laugh about your father walking in on you?"

Elreth's laughter died. "No. No. You're right. Sorry."

Her mother expression remained irritated, but Elreth was pretty sure she was beginning to smile when she finally turned away.

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