The Unexpected Queen

LEAH

Jake drops me off at home after school, and we spend the ride talking about our day. Sally, it seems, has decided to sit next to him in history. I try to keep my face neutral, but it’s hard. She’s always so sweet to me when Jake’s around. Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I can’t shake the feeling that she knows I like him and is flirting with him just to get under my skin.

He pulls into my driveway and we say our goodbyes. I watch him drive away, a heavy feeling settling in my stomach. I sling my backpack over my shoulder and head towards the house. It’s not a big house, but my mom has made it feel like home.

We’re close, my mom and I. It’s been hard for her since my dad died. My aunt moved in to help out, to take care of me when my mom was too lost in her grief. I get it, though. Losing your mate is like losing half of yourself.

“Hey, Mom!” I call out as I step inside.

“I’m in the kitchen!” she calls back. I drop my backpack on the floor and head her way. She’s at the counter, kneading dough, flour dusting everything around her.

“Hey, sweetie, how was your day?”

I slide onto a barstool, resting my elbows on the counter and my head in my hands. “It was okay,” I say, trying to sound casual.

She raises an eyebrow at me, a knowing look in her eyes. “What’s up?”

“Nothing, really.” I don’t have the energy to talk about Sally and why she gets under my skin.

“Alright, I won’t push. But if you want to talk, I’m here,” she says. She brushes the flour off her hands and walks over to the kitchen table, picking up an envelope. “This came for you today.”

I take the envelope from her, noticing a hint of sadness in her eyes. The paper feels expensive, and my name and address are written in elegant cursive.

“What is it?”

“Open it.” She gives me an encouraging smile, and I get the feeling she already knows what’s inside. News of the king’s ball has been all over town.

I open the envelope slowly, pulling out the paper inside. I swallow hard, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in my stomach.

“The king would like to announce that he is inviting you to a special occasion. Our just ruler is searching for his mate and demands that every unmated female of age come to the castle’s mating ball,” I read aloud. My stomach churns with each word. “Do I have to go?” I look up at my mom.

“Yes…unfortunately. Anyone who refuses will be punished. And knowing the king, we don’t want to find out what that punishment would be.” She goes back to her dough, kneading it again.

“But you can come with me, right?” I ask.

“Yes. You can bring a family member, so I’ll go with you.” She gives me a reassuring smile.

“And if I find my mate before then, I don’t have to go, right?”

“That’s right. It’s only for unmated women,” she says, setting the dough aside to rise.

I breathe a sigh of relief. If everything goes as planned, Jake and I will know we’re mates as soon as I turn eighteen. Then I won’t have to go to the castle and meet the awful king.

I get up from the stool and tell my mom I’m going to my room to do my homework. I head upstairs, closing my bedroom door behind me. I drop my backpack by my desk just as my phone lights up with a text.

I don’t care about seeing the castle, no matter how grand it is. I’m happy here in our small town with my mom. We don’t have a lot of money, but my mom always makes sure I’m fed, and our little wooden house is enough for us.

I snort at the letter’s wording: “Our just ruler is searching for his mate and demands that every unmated female of age come to the castle’s mating ball.” Demands! What an arrogant jerk. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth and thinks he can boss everyone around.

I set my phone aside and focus on my homework, not stopping until it’s time for bed. I change into a tank top and shorts and crawl under the covers. Only four more days until my birthday, I think, turning off the light.

The darkness wraps around me, pulling me into a dream. I’m standing in a long white dress, the fabric billowing in the wind. The forest around me is dark and scary. I look through the trees and see two dark eyes staring back at me.

I put a hand to my chest, holding my breath. The eyes flash, and suddenly, the shadow starts running towards me. I turn and run, weaving around the thick tree trunks, the full moon lighting my way.

I’m panting, panic rising in my throat as I hear the creature getting closer. Just as I feel it about to attack, I wake up in my bed, screaming.

My mom bursts into my room, rushing to my bed. “Leah! What’s wrong?”

I’m soaked in sweat, looking around in terror. It takes a moment for me to realize I’m in my bedroom, not a dark forest.

“It was just a dream,” I say, my breath coming in short gasps. I feel like I’ve just run a marathon. My wolf, Sia, is calm inside me, and I can’t understand why she’s not freaking out about the dream we just had.

“Didn’t mean to scare you, Mom,” I say, sinking back into the bed.

She slides in next to me, her body a comforting presence. “It’s okay, honey. Just go back to sleep.” Her fingers trace soothing patterns in my hair, a gentle lullaby that gradually calms my racing heart.

As I drift off to sleep, nestled in my mother’s arms, I can’t help but wonder if the monster will invade my dreams again.