"You know what I don't understand, mother, is why you built this alliance around me and not my brothers. They're all strong and talented. Why would you want a queen when you could have a king?" I ask.
My mother tsks like the answer is obvious, and says, "Come on Josephine, you and I both know you are the strongest. They have Alpha blood in them so, of course, they're all strong, but you have something more, something you can't train. I see the way you watch everyone. You study and listen, and you can see through the nonsense to see what's really happening. Your brothers are very good at doing what they already know, what society has already established, but you can knock down and build up a new world order."
I've never heard my mother speak of me this way. Based on what she's saying, she
