Page 31 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

I feel foolish for thinking that now that I am the Queen of the South Alliance, I will be able to trust the people under me. I still don't know who to trust and who to watch. Alex and Brian have to guide me.

The feeling of inadequacy that washes over me makes me shrink into myself.

It's not like I expected myself to know everything off the bat, but I feel naive, and it irritates me. After everything I've been through, why don't I have an ounce of common sense?

"Careful, sweetheart." Alex's voice is soft against my ear, making me shiver. "Your magic is getting a little volatile."

That's when I notice the shift in theair and the wary glances being cast my way by the other Alphas, including Connor.

I force myself to calm down, difficult as it is.

"A banquet sounds nice." I meet Connor's gaze, trying to hide the anger in my voice. "But tomorrow we have to leave."

Connor smiles pleasantly. "Surely a few days of festivities won't harm your plans for your mother…"

"Are you being dense on purpose?" I stare at him, my eyes flashing.

I'm not going to act like a sheltered little girl who has to hide behind Brian and Alex to play politics on my behalf. There are all kinds of political tactics. Mine are just going to be blunt.

"Or are you telling me my mother's life is meaningless to you?"

Brian tenses but I can feel my mate's amusement.

"That's…" Connor begins, awkwardly, but I don't let him continue.

“I can appreciate the suggestion for the banquet, and I could understand if my mother’s current status skipped your mind, but she’s right in front of you.” I look at the Alpha, my tone scathing. “Tell me, Alpha Fenris, what should I be givingpriority to, in your mind? Saving my mother’s life or attending festivities?"

Everybody around us falls silent.

Two of the Alphas are smirking while the others are watching intently.

"I didn’t intend to…” Connor looks awkward. He clearly hadn't expected me to call him out on this. “I think you’re overreacting.”

When some of the Alphas murmur in agreement, the reality of the situation dawns on me. If I had agreed and gone along with this, I would have been shown to be someone easily controlled and walked on. And if I hadn't, these Alphas would have found some other reason to criticize me.

Why swear fealty to me when they want to play these games? One look at Brian confirms my assumptions. He had expected this. A show of power.

Why am I surprised? Wolf shifters don't respect those who don't have power, and when I collapsed in the North during the fight against the witches, it occurred to them that I might not be as powerful as they had expected.

My assumptions once again hold true when Connor finds himself bolstered by the backing of the other Alphas. “Since you’re a woman, it’s understandable that you’re going to get a little overexcited…"

I don't give him a chance to finish that sentence, flicking my wrist and lifting him in the air without missing a beat. The air around me crackles with electricity and magic, and my voice isicy. "Do I seem overexcited to you? Or do I seem angry? Which one of you thinks that the desire to save the life of the woman who gave birth to me is an overreaction?"

I look around at the tense faces watching me.

The heavy silence gives me the answer I need.

Connor is clutching at his throat as I begin to block the air around him. "I can kill you as easily as I breathe. I can take your breath away. I can take over your territory. I can become what Karina is. Is that what all of you are hoping for? Or did you mistake my empathy to be my weakness? Or …" my tone is mocking as I let my anger show, "is it that you thought I was weak and could be controlled or pushed around?"

Connor's lips are turning blue, but where I normally dislike violence and death, that voice of peace is quiet inside me right now. My wolf is burning with a rage I have felt only a handful of times. It sees Connor as a threat. I don't know if I'm overreacting or not, but I know a display of dominance is important.

Alex will stop me if I'm about to cross the line. I know he will.

"Sophia…" one of the Alphas begins, casting a concerned look toward Connor.

"It's Queen Sophia to you," I say, coldly. "I made a mistake thinking I could treat you as equals to an extent. I mistook your loyalty for the ability to be able to trust you. I won't be making that mistake again."

I toss Connor onto the ground, allowing him to breathe again.

---