**Rosalie’s POV
The north was more than I ever dreamt it to be.
Since the mont I arrived, they had shown nothing but kindness. I was a savior to them. While I certainly didn’t think of myself that way, it made feel good that I could help.
“Rosalie!” Seraphine called out as she walked into my suite. I hadn’t seen her for a couple of days. “Are you settling in okay?”
Looking around the Luna Queen suite I had been placed in, I felt nothing but overwheld. It was beautiful, but I felt like they were expecting more than I could give them. “Yes, it’s beautiful.”
I didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but deep down, I couldn’t help but feel out of place.
This wasn’t the life I had wanted.
All I wanted was to live a small peaceful life with my son and be an average person. Yet, as soon as I had co to the north, I was thrust into the life of a royal.
“I can tell sothing is bothering you.” Her motherly tone made smile.
Seraphine had looked out for since day one. She wasn’t my mother, but her role in my life was a very close second.
“I’m fine. I promise. This is just more than I was expecting,” I assured her.
Understanding passed over Seraphine’s face as she walked around the room, admiring what had been set up for . “I know it’s a lot, but you have to know how important this is.”
How has my life beco so chaotic?
“I’m not sure about all of this, Seraphine,” I admitted. “I ca here for answers, yes, but I never expected to be thrust into this kind of life.”
“I know, but it’s your birthright,” she stated causing to sigh again.
I knew what it was, but it didn’t an I wanted it.
No one seed to really ask what I wanted. It was as if they just expected to take on the task without asking questions.
And that just wasn’t the person I was anymore.
Filled with trepidation, I let out a heavy breath, taking a seat on the sofa. “Don’t worry about . Um, is everything okay with you? I haven’t seen you for two days.”
Seraphine was always around, but I also knew that she had been busy ever since we returned.
Before Seraphine could answer, soft knocking at the door caught my attention, and as the door slowly opened, I watched as High Priestess Cerina entered with soone.
That soone made so happy that I wanted to cry.
“Georgia!” I stood and quickly wrapped my arms around her.
“Oh, Rosalie–” she whispered, hugging tight, “it’s so good to see you again. I ca as soon as I heard you were here.”
Pulling back, I smiled at her.
Dirt and soot covered her skin, showing evidence of her fighting. Her eyes were tired and worn, and I could only imagine the things she had been through.
She seed more burned out, but there within the depths of her eye still lurked the spark of a fire. One that I was sure appeared on the battlefield.
“I am so glad to see you as well. I’m sorry for leaving–” I knew I didn’t have to apologize, but the tight-lipped smile she gave told she understood.
“It’s all in the past,” she replied slowly, looking down. “I take it we have a baby now?”
Laughing, I nodded my head as I took her hand and led her over to the white bassinet in the middle of the living room. My child’s sleeping form laid calm and peaceful, wrapped in the blue knitted blanket I had made him so long ago.
“Rosalie–” Georgia gasped, her hand coming across her mouth with tears in her eyes. “He is so beautiful.... What did you na him?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” I replied, turning my eyes back to him once more.
She was right. He was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen, but perhaps that was my biased opinion as his mother.
“No na yet? Hey, you know, I have a lot of ideas.” She gave a wink and we both laughed, just like the old tis.
“I hate to interrupt the happy reunion...” Cerina smiled, causing us both to turn to face her. “There are so things we really must discuss.”
Letting out a deep breath, I nodded.
I knew the conversation was coming, but it wasn’t sothing I really cared to speak about. I wasn’t sure what they expected to do.
“Of course, I’m so sorry.” I replied, making my way towards the sofa, gesturing for them all to take a seat. “What can I help you with?”
The woman hesitated for a mont, her eyes turning to Seraphine before turning back towards . “I know that you have only just co back, but your people need you, Your Highness.”
“Please, you don’t need to call that,” I quickly replied. “It’s just Rosalie.”
Cerina looked towards Seraphine, who smiled, shrugging her shoulders.
“Rosalie, you are the returned princess. The new queen of the north.”
I knew what they were saying was true, but I didn’t want it.
“I am not the queen you want. I don’t even know what my people need,” I replied, trying to make Cerina see reason.
“Well, for starters, we need to rebuild the northern territory. While we helped our neighboring villages, we do need to rebuild our own ho and need guidance on how or where to rebuild,” Seraphine added, trying to bring light to the situation.
“Yes, we do. On top of that, we also need more supplies. We are running thin on things as you saw yesterday–” Cerina noted, looking towards .
Did she really think I knew what to do?
An uneasy feeling grew within as my anxiety built. The two of them continued to discuss things that needed done within the territory, and all the information was just becoming very overwhelming.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to collect my thoughts.
They wanted to lead these people, but I knew nothing about ruling anyone.
“We think there is a lot you can do–”
“I–” hesitation filled as a rush of confusion flooded my mind, “I can’t.”
As much as I wanted to help them, I didn’t know how. The last thing I wanted to do was ss sothing up. I never had anyone count on before, and I was still grasping the fact I was a mother with a child who depended on .
Now, I was expected to rule a territory!
“Rosalie, it’s your birthright,” Seraphine replied in a soft motherly tone. “Your people have been without their rightful leader for so long.”
“I understand that, but I don’t know how to run a country. It wouldn’t be responsible for to take on that role,” I tried to explain.
I knew I was disappointing them, but in the end I would just let them down anyway.
It was for the best that I didn’t rule. Soone with experience was needed instead.
“Rosalie–” Georgia’s gentle voice caught my attention, “I know this is a lot. I don’t know everything you went through before you ca to my brother, but I got the idea from Vicky—”
“Then you understand why I can’t do this,” I quickly stamred, trying to make her see reason. “I was never raised to be a leader. I was never treated to believe I could be anything more than what I was. I only just started getting used to the fact I could be my own person.”
“I know–” she said softly, “but you don’t have to do this alone. All three of us are here to help you. However, to , that’s if, and only if, that’s what you decide to do.”
“Yes, Georgia is right,” Cerina replied, reaching forward and taking my hand. “None of us expect you to know how to do this all on your own. You will have a team of advisors helping you.”
The slow rush of worry coursed through my veins. The idea of having people to help was a good thing, but at the sa ti, if I took on this role, there was no going back.
My mind drifted off to Ethan at that mont. Wondering how he ruled so easily and all on his own.
“I don’t want to let anyone down.”
Yet, as I looked at my child, I questioned my decision.
He was born as an Alpha, an heir to the kingdom, and he was born to rule. I’d already taken away his father from his life, now would I also take away his birthrights? Was I being too selfish?
While I was his mother, was it really up to to decide whether he should grow up as a nobody?
Leading these people and becoming their queen would at least give him options. He could choose his own path when he grew older. One day, this could all be his, and he would beco the king as so many of his ancestors had done before. Or one day, he could choose to walk away– but at least, he was the one to make the decision for his life.
Cerina squeezed my hand. “I can’t promise you that sowhere up the road, soone won’t be disappointed with you. As a leader, you just have to realize you are doing your best to have your people’s best interests at heart.”
Her words touched . I knew deep down that not everyone would be happy with , but at least I could say that I tried my best.
“Okay,” I replied before giving myself a chance to change my mind.
The smiles that littered their faces made feel good about my decision.
Yes, it wasn’t what I had wanted to do, but the choice felt right.
“I know you can do this,” Georgia replied cheerfully. “You have more courage in you than you realize.”
“Thank you, Georgia.” As long as I had the three of them with , the job didn’t seem as hard to take on. “I don’t know what I am supposed to do first, though.”
“Well, we will take everything one day at a ti,” Seraphine added while standing to her feet. “Georgia, what do you and Cerina think would be the first plan of action?”
The two won seed to think for a mont over Seraphine’s question before Georgia slowly piped up, “Well, for , it would be to figure out our next plan of action with the rogues.”
“Yes, and then, of course, on my end, we need to focus on the people. Supplies and rebuilding. However, everything can be taken one step at a ti.”
Taking a deep breath, I thought about what Ethan would do first.
As much as I hated him for everything he had done to , he was still the only leader I actually had the chance to get close to. The only one I had seen rule from a far.
“Georgia, let’s start with the rogues. What is it you need to know?”
She smiled at , her brows raising. “Well... for starters, General Vandough needs more supplies to help with the villagers, but we are running low within the pack here too. What do you think?”
I thought for a mont and took a deep breath. “We cannot just let the villagers starve after we finally get rid of the rogues. We can spare so supplies for the villagers, but split it in small batches. We will help them to get through the winter, but as the weather gets warm, they need to be able to re-establish themselves.”
The looks that crossed their faces from my statent worried .
“Is that right?” I asked hesitantly.
Cerina nodded her head. “Yes. What you said were the words of a wise leader. I have no doubt in my mind that you are going to make the most amazing queen, Rosalie.”
A swell of pride rose within at her praise, and for the first ti in a long ti, I felt what I was doing was right. If I could help the north rebuild, I would create a safe place for my son to live in peace.
The kind of ho he was always ant to have.
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