Page 159 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

Katherine chuckles. “I know. But I want to do this on my own. Have some faith in me, Alice.”

“Nobody has more faith in you than I do.”

Her smile softens. “I know. I’m glad you came.”

She’s going to need me in the future and I plan to be there for her.

By the time I leave Katherine’s place, the sun is close to setting. Darian is waiting outside, and Katherine greets him as she walks me out.

“I’m sorry to hear about your parents.”

Katherine gives him a small smile. “Thank you.”

“If there’s anything you need—”

“Your fiancée made the same offer.” She glances at me. “I appreciate this, you guys. It’s nice to know I have somebody in my corner. Where’s Mira?”

“In the park with Jimmy and Mary, getting ice cream,” Darian answers. “Do you want to go see her?”

My friend shakes her head. “Not right now. I’m not myself.”

I watch her head back inside. “She’s not dealing with it well, but she’ll be fine.”

“If you want to stay longer—”

“No, it’s time I went home. She has her own battles to fight, and when she needs me, she’ll call.” I do have faith in Katherine, no matter what she thinks.

As we walk toward the park where our daughter is waiting for us, Darian murmurs, “I heard you went to the Moonlight Pack’s healing center before you left to come here.”

“It was just a pit stop.”

My mate nudges me with his shoulder. “Should I be worried?”

I glance at him with a grin. “You don’t look worried. Should that worry me?”

“Come on, tell me,” Darian persists.

“You’re so nosy, Darian.” I push him away, laughing, and he pretends to fall for a few steps before coming right back to my side.

“I’ve always been nosy. Just tell me.”

I roll my eyes. “It was two pit stops, actually. I went to the healing center to see Edith. She’s a healer. She gave me this ring when I came of age. She was kind to me when I felt I had no one. I wanted her to see that I’m doing well. She has retired, but she still lives in the healing center apartments for older, retired healers. She was happy to see me. I might invite her to come meet you and Mira.”

Darian smiles. “Well, I would be honored to meet her.”

My lips curve. “My second stop was to see Cyrus Black. He has taken over his father’s position as alpha of the pack. That meeting was a vindictive one.”

“Oh?” My mate looks amused.

“Cyrus bullied me. He and Willow enjoyed tormenting me. I wanted him to know that I was going to keep my eye on him. I think he might have pissed his pants when I walked into his office.”

Darian frowns. “If you think he’s unfit to be the alpha—”

“Not yet,” I say lightly, looking straight ahead. “Don’t do anything yet. I want to keep an eye on him for a while. He took over his father’s position last year. Edith told me that he has changed. I’m not sure I believe it, and I wanted him to know that I would be watching his every move. If he’s a good alpha, and his children don’t turn out like he and Willow did, I have no problem. Let’s wait and watch.”

“Do you feel satisfied after confronting him?” Darian asks, walking beside me, his eyes on me.

“I don’t know,” I reply thoughtfully. “But I’ve decided to be involved with the kingdom, Darian. I think there are certain laws that have to be written—or rewritten. Take my friend Sam. I used to work with him at Benny’s Diner. His mother is a human, and his father is a shifter. His mother was denied access to a shifter healer, and he has watched her suffer for years. I called him right before I left for Phoenix, and he’s going to take her to see Edith. She may be retired, but she’s still a good healer. I want things to change, Darian. And I want to change them.”

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