Genevieve

"Heal him," Hope said.

My eyes widened. I looked back and forth between my brother and Hope. "How do I do this?" I asked. Hope grabbed my hands and positioned one over Matthew's wound and the other on his head.

"When you shift, you imagine yourself in your wolf form. When you heal, just imagine yourself healing Matthew. Imagine the blood going away, imagine the wound closing, imagine him healthy," she said.

I closed my eyes and focused on Matthew. I pictured him in his room. We were playing with his Legos while Asher was playing with Elise. We had pillow fights. We ate breakfast together. We watched movies. I tucked him into bed a night. I pictured the gash closing up and leaving just a faint scar, the size of my thumb. I heard a gasp and I opened my eyes.

All the blood was gone. Matthew's eyes fluttered open and he started blinking. "Matthew?" I asked.

"Eve?" he asked and tried to sit up. "My brain hurts," he groaned.

I sighed in relief and hugged my brother close to my chest. I almost lost him. "I love you so much Matthew," I whispered as tears flowed down my cheeks.

"Uh... I love you too Eve," Matthew said slowly.

I pulled away from him and looked at his confused face. "You don't remember," I stated.

"Remember what?" he questioned.

I shook my head and just continued to hug him. "It doesn't matter anymore," I mumbled.

*****

"Eve. Let go," Matthew whined.

Asher chuckled from behind us and pried my hands off my little brother. "You've been holding him for almost two hours. The kid needs to breathe," he said as Matthew ran out the room.

"I can't help it," I said quietly as Asher wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on the top of my head. "I almost lost him Asher."

"But you didn't. Matthew is okay. You saved him," Asher whispered before kissing my mark, making my legs turn into Jell-O. I sighed and leaned against his chest. "Why didn't you tell me you can heal people?" Asher questioned.

"I just found out. That was the first time I've ever healed someone," I stated.

"What happened? How did they hurt Matthew?" he asked hesitantly.

"There were six guys. One of them held Matthew. He had a knife with him. Uh... another guy came and he started chanting. I think he was a witch. After he stopped talking, all the rogues just left. But the guy stabbed Matthew," I explained.

"Did he get away?" Asher asked while shaking with anger.

I turned around in his arms and clasped my hands behind his neck. I buried my face in his chest and mumbled. "I killed him, Asher."

He sighed. Tears rolled down my cheeks. "I killed someone," I choked. I never had to actually kill someone. I was trained in case of an emergency, but if there was any problems we had guards to take care of the situation. I'm Queen. I'm supposed to protect our species not kill them. Asher gently wiped my tears away and hugged me close to his chest.

"You were defending Matthew. The rogue was a threat. You just disposed of a problem. You shouldn't feel sorry for protecting your family," Asher cooed. I silently nodded in his chest. "So.. this witch," Asher said. "What did he say?"

I shrugged. "It wasn't English," I stated.

"Can you pronounce it?" he asked.

I nodded and replayed the man's words in my head. "Um... dát... vám... uh..." I recited slowly. "Dát vám... um.. moc. Dát vám moc."

"That is definitely not English" Asher muttered.

I giggled. "No shit, Sherlock."

"Whatever, Watson," he grumbled. I laughed and pressed my lips to his, making his pout completely disappear.

"Get some!" a voice shouts causing us to pull away. I blush when I turned around. Shawn, Britney, Jordyn, Scott, and Jacobs were standing in the hallway.

"Hush. Don't embarrass her," Jordyn scolded Shawn.

Jacobs faked a gag. "Get a room."

I rolled my eyes. "We're in a room," I stated.

"One with a door!" Scott exclaimed. I smiled, enjoying the way Scott was relaxed around my closest friends- my family.

"And one that's not your six year old brother's room!" Jacobs said before they all started laughing. I pouted and glared at the bunch. I smirked to myself and focused. The laughter was replaced with gasps and shrieks as I used my powers. The ground beneath them dipped, then became straight once again.

I smiled and threw my fist in the air. Asher chuckled from behind me. "You're just too much," he mumbled as we watched our friends try to catch their breath.

"Your Highness," Scott said trying to get my attention.

"Please don't call me that. I feel old," I said. I looked at the group and noticed that they all looked extremely serious. Scott was standing straight with his hands glued to his sides. Jordyn and Britney had their arms crossed in front of their chests. Jacobs and Shawn were in a position that they would use to intimidate someone.

"What's going on?" Asher questioned from behind me. I felt uneasy, knowing that bad news was about to come out.

Jacobs stepped forward, so he was in front of everyone else. "Word has gotten out that you have abilities."

"What?! How?" I asked.

"There's a snake in the castle," Shawn stated angrily.

I groaned. "What am I supposed to do?" I'm not officially Queen yet, and I already have a traitor in my castle. But no one new has joined the castle. Just Jacobs and his guys, who everyone trusts. I know for a fact it isn't any of them. I can just feel it, they can be trusted.

"Nothing for now," Jordyn speaks up. "You have that meeting with the Council in an hour."

Great. I get to sit in a room full of old werewolves. Just wonderful.

*****

"Everyone is grieving over the loss of our King and Queen. We are sorry for you loss," Malcom, one of the Council member, said. Asher and I are currently sitting in the conference room with seven men and three women, who are all part of the Council.

"Thank you, Mr. Malcom," I said politely. Asher gave my hand a gently squeeze.

"When is the coronation?" Janette asked while bouncing in her seat. She looked like a giddy teenager who just asked to prom.

"Tomorrow evening," I answered.

"Alpha Reed," Malcom said. "What are your plans for your pack?" Asher shifted uncomfortably.

'You don't need a decision now. We can figure it out another time,' I assured him through the mind-link.

"I'm aware that I have responsibilities as the King; but I also have responsibilities as the Alpha of my pack. I am not going to abandon them," he stated.

"So what is your plan?" Malcom asked. He obviously just means business. The other Council members barely talked.

"My Beta is taking responsibility of my pack for the time being. I will be staying here in the castle with my mate."

Malcom nodded and changed the subject. "I hear that you have powers?"

Word does go around quickly. "Yes, sir," I said. "I have the ability to move the earth and heal people."

Malcom raised his eyebrows and looked at me skeptically. He grabbed his briefcase then placed it on the table. He pulled out a silver knife.

"You don't mind demonstrating these abilities. Do you?" he didn't wait for an answer as he slid the blade across his hand. I gulped and walked toward him. I took a deep breath and took his hand in both of mine. When I was finished, Malcom held his hand up to show the rest of the Council. "Interesting," Malcom said while examining his hand.

I sat back down in my seat by Asher. He grabbed my hand again and started rubbing circles on the back. "What do you mean by 'move the earth?'" another Council member asked. I easily made the ground shake, and everyone grabbed the table for support.

"You seem to have these powers under control," Malcom commented.

I nodded. "I haven't had them for long, but I can easily control them," I stated confidently.

"Are you part witch?" Janette asked.

"No. I just randomly got these abilities," I said, leaving the Moon Goddess out of the conversation.

"The chances are that you will pass these powers on with your children," Malcom said. "You two will need to complete the mating process within the week."

I took a deep breath. "Excuse me?" I asked, wanting to make sure I heard him right.

"The mating process will need to be completed before the end of the week. You will also need to be pregnant with pups by the end of the month," Malcom stated.

I felt anger course through my body. He wants me to have sex and mother a baby. I'm 18! I'm not ready for a kid. I already have Matthew. Asher and I aren't ready to complete the mating process- we just started it for crying out loud!

"And if we don't?" Asher questioned.

"You have no choice. The kingdom needs a heir. You two have responsibilities. Its time to grow up and carry out with your responsibilities. Stop being kids," he demanded.

I stood up and looked Malcom in the eye. "We are not children. We are aware of the responsibilities we possess, and mating is not one of them," I said sternly.

Malcom shook his head. "You are wrong. As King and Queen, you are to provide a heir. Your child."

"We will have a child. But not now. We are not completing the mating process. I will not get pregnant. You cannot force me to do those things," I spat angrily.

"I can. And if I have to, I will," Malcom said while getting up. He started to walk to the door, and in less than a second, I was in front of him. I transported for the first time.

"You can't force me to do anything. I am the Queen," I said calmly. Malcom just brushed past me and left. The Council was staring at me in pity.

"Can he force us to mate?" Asher asked.

She gave us a sympathetic look before looking down at the ground. "Malcom is the head of the Council," Janette said. "He can do anything," she said softly before she and the rest of the Council left.