Cora Queen of All Werewolves

Cora- Chapter 4

Today is the day I leave my home. Prince Joseph woke early today and even let me sleep in. When I got up, I began packing. I don’t own a trunk, but my mother gave me a quilt. I packed my meager items on it and tied the blanket around them. Honestly, it’s embarrassing, but it will have to do.

Dad knocks on the door gently and sticks his head in. “I’d like to take a walk with you before you leave us,” he says with a frown.

I nod and follow him out. He offers me his arm and leads me down a path away from town. “I know you’re trying to convince him not to dissolve the pack,” he tells me. “Your mother shouldn’t have asked that of you. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t think it matters,” I admit. “Prince Joseph is… he’s not very kind.”

“He’s not,” he agrees. “I’ve always hoped for the best for you. He’s not kind, but he’s wealthy. At least you will finally have everything you need. Maybe someday you can learn to love him.”

I give him a sad smile. I’m sure I’ll never learn to love him, and the feeling between us is mutual. Still, I don’t want my father to know. “I’m sure we will.”

He nods. “I knew this day would come, but it doesn’t make it any easier,” he tells me, hugging me tightly. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pin of a diamond and purple gemstone-encrusted flower. “This was your grandmother’s. I’ve saved it all these years for you.”

It’s beautiful and it looks so expensive. I shake my head. “You need to save that. What if you need to sell it?”

“We’ll be fine, Princess,” he says, smiling at me. “It feels weird to call you that now. You’ve always been my princess, though.”

He pins it onto the collar of my dress and smiles. I choke back tears. “I don’t want to leave.”

“You have to,” he tells me. “He’s the one wolf in the kingdom you can’t reject. You’re a smart girl, Cora. You’ll be fine once you find your place. I have no doubt that you’re mated to him because you will do great things.”

He looks behind me and frowns. “It’s time to go,” he says softly. “Your mate is waiting.”

I nod, but as my father takes a few steps, I don’t follow. I don’t want to go. I don’t want to be with Prince Joseph.

“Cora,” Father says softly as he turns to me. “I know this is hard, but you must. He will care for you and keep you safe.”

“But he won’t love me,” I say, my lip quivering.

“Then make him,” he tells me. “Make him learn to love you. You’re tough. You can handle him.”

Just because I can handle him doesn’t mean that I want to. I watch as my mate looks at us in the distance and then down at his watch. I sigh and step forward, not wanting him to be in a worse mood than he usually is for our drive to the palace.

When we arrive back at the house, my mate looks at me. “Have you not packed your trunk?”

“I don’t have one,” I admit, my voice soft. “My things are in the quilt on top of your trunk.”

He blinks a few times. “Where is the rest?”

“That’s all I have,” I whisper as my cheeks flame with embarrassment.

He nods as his jaw tightens, but he thankfully doesn’t say anything else.

My mother hugs me tightly and cries before reminding me that I can change his mind. I can’t, though, and I know that now. Even my father knows that. My brothers both hug me and wish me well before Helen cries on my shoulder.

“I don’t want you to leave,” she says. “I don’t want to live in a place without you.”

I offer her a weak smile. “Maybe someday we’ll live together again.” It’s an empty promise, but it’s the best I can do.

My father is the last to say goodbye as he’s been speaking with my mate. “You’ve got this, Princess. You were born for it.”

I nod and smile through my tears as my dad opens the car door for me. Joseph approaches behind me, so I slide across the back seat. He shakes my father’s hand one last time before taking a seat beside me.

The car lurches forward as I look at my hands in my lap. If I look out the window, I know I’ll cry. I don’t want to give the prince that satisfaction.

“How long have you been eating less so your sister can have more?” Prince Joseph asks. I stare at my hands, unwilling to acknowledge his question. “Answer me, mate.”

“About a year,” I say softly. “She is growing. She needs it so her wolf will be strong.”

“And what of your wolf?” he asks.

I shrug. “She’s my sister.”

I reach up and wipe tears from my face. Silently, Prince Joseph slides a handkerchief into my hand, not saying a word. It’s probably the nicest thing he’s done so far.

“Thank you,” I whisper as I swipe the cloth under my eyes.

Prince Joseph breaks the silence once we leave my territory. “I’m dissolving the pack,” he tells me, his voice firm. “The Alpha is terrible. No one should live in poverty the way he lets his pack. No one should have to go hungry so their sister has enough.”

I sniffle and nod. I was sure I couldn’t change his mind, but I still worry for my family. “Will you please keep my family together? For me.”

“Your brothers could be great warriors, given the chance,” he says. “Everyone at your pack is weak because of the lack of what they need.”

“Can’t they be great warriors in the same pack as my parents?”

He nods. “I’ll take your request under advisement.”

“Please,” I whisper. “I know we don’t exactly get along. It’s just… please.”

“Fine,” he says softly. “I will home them at the same pack. Your father was not the worst beta I have ever seen. He should find a decent place for himself at their new home.”

It’s almost a compliment. Honestly, I think that may be one from him.

It takes a few hours, but I'm instantly nervous when we arrive at the palace. It’s huge. You could house my entire pack inside the building and then some. Not only is it big, though, it’s nice.

“Come,” Prince Joseph says. He doesn’t open the door for me, so I slide across the seat again and exit the door he opened.

He leads me upstairs and into a bedroom. It’s enormous, with a cream canopy bed and pink bedding. The furniture in the room matches, with a vanity and a couch. There’s even a fireplace and a mirror. There’s a real mirror!

“This is your room,” he tells me.

“Mine?” I ask. “I have my own room?”

He nods. “I recognize that everything happened quickly. I’m willing to allow you time to adjust.”

Adjust? To being mated to such a stern, grumpy man? To having, well, anything?

“Do you have nothing to say?” he snaps. I’m confused and unsure of what to say. “You do not appreciate the wealth I am sharing with you.”

Prince Joseph storms to a door and throws it open, revealing a room with dresses hanging in it. “These are the dresses your father negotiated,” he spits. Dresses my father what? “They’re made to the measurements your mother provided. Hopefully, you’ll gain some weight soon, and we will have new ones made.”

“Thank you,” I say softly. I can’t believe my father told him I needed dresses. He already knew, especially after my mother had shortened them all. Still, that must have been terrible for him to admit.

A woman enters the room and bows. “This is Hazel, your maid. Link her should you need anything.”

And with that, he turns and leaves. No Goodbye. No explanation on how to link anyone. I sigh and sit on the couch.

“Is there anything I can get for you, Princess?” Hazel asks.

I shake my head. “No, thank you.”

This could have been me. Was this why my mother was sending me to meet him? Was she hopeful he’d think I was pretty and bring me to work at the palace?

“Where are you from?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “That’s not important. Someone is bringing your trunk up now. I can help you unpack.”

“It’s not a trunk,” I tell her, not wanting them to mistake Prince Joseph’s things for mine. “It’s a blanket.”

She smiles and nods. “That’s quite alright, ma’am. Not everyone is from here.”

A young man shows up with my quilt and hands it to Hazel with a nod. Neither seem bothered by my blanket bag, or they're really good at hiding what they feel. Hazel places it on the bed and unties it. She hangs the dresses in the closet like I’ll ever wear them again. When she returns to the bed, she frowns.

“Did you not bring a photo of your family? I can find a frame.”

I shake my head. “I don’t have one. I’m from the Aurgia Pack.”

This time, she doesn’t hide her face. As she frowns, I wonder if the pack being dissolved isn’t for the best. Even the servants know how poor we are.

“That’s quite alright, ma’am,” she says with a small smile. “Would you like to see the new dresses?”

I nod and follow her into the closet. There’s got to be two dozen dresses here, but my eyes immediately land on a brown one- an exact copy of the one he ripped when he marked me. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a little bit of kindness hidden in him, and that thought gives me the smallest sliver of hope.