HIS QUEEN
Chapter 17

Shouts erupted at the table. A few slammed their hands on the table in disbelief. I heard things like: a halfbreed for queen? Others called me a common slave. Thane raised his palm and the table quietened. "That is unacceptable" a man with white hair shouted. All eyes were on me. Some with happiness, some with hate and some expressionless. Thane wiped his mouth gently with a napkin.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Not at all my king."

"Then seat Anstice." The elderly man begrudgingly sat. The meal continued in silence after that. I felt a few people glare at me but I didn't look up. I focused on my plate ignoring them and yet unable to stomach anything.

"Eat" I looked at him and back at the plate immediately. I managed spoonfuls and quietly excused myself from the table.

As I lay in bed trying to fall asleep, Thane lifted me and took me to his room. He lay in bed behind me silently.

"The people don't approve of me do they?"

"It doesn't matter what they think" Doesn't it?

"You'll be seen as a weak" he didn't reply.

The next morning, I walked down the hallway nervously. People were obviously talking about me but nobody approached me or pointed fingers because of the intimidating figure beside me. I felt the lingering stares at my back. We had breakfast without any incident. Jairus wasn't at the table.

Thane leaned into me. "I have business to attend to. Finish your meal and meet me in my study" I nodded. He left the table and I continued eating. People began leaving the table one by one until I was the last person at the table.

I breathed a sigh of relief and stood up. I didn't want to leave when the table was still full. I couldn't stand the stares so I ate slowly until they all left.

I strolled to the infirmary. The pack was training so I followed a track road. I helped out in the children's ward until noon. I saw Kyros just as I was about to leave. He was at the reception talking with a she wolf.

"Esme" he smiled as he saw me. "How have you been?"

"Very well. How have you been?"

"Just fine. You were greatly missed by the children" I blushed. "And Lily too"

"I haven't seen her today"

"I gave her the day off. She works too hard"

"I'm gonna go now" he nodded and I left. Things were now awkward between us.

I looked up at the sound of voices. Shit! I had followed the training ground. I wanted to turn back but I had been spotted. Training had dismissed and the trainees were scattered around the large field. Some people stood in groups and talked. I lowered my head and held the hem of my skirt tightly as I passed.

'Let me pass without incident' I kept muttering it in my head until I tripped on a keg and fell face flat. Great! my bad luck had to win today. Laughter echoed in the field. I silently stood up and dusted my skirt. I looked up to see a smirking girl.

Her auburn hair fell in waves down her shoulders. Her face spotless and her head held high. She circled me with a look of disdain.

"How could the moon goddess pair the king with something so bland and inferior?" Her cronies giggled. I tried to walk past but they blocked my way. "Great! a dumb too"

"Gardenia stop it" a male voice boomed.

"Why should I. If a common half-breed has the opportunity to rule us, I think I have a chance too" so that was her problem. She wanted to be Thane's mate.

"The king needs a strong queen not a weakling. An asset. The people need a strong queen not a puny half-breed who can't even stand up for herself" some murmurs of approval was heard. For the first time in my life, I felt extreme hate for another person. Intense anger burned through me. I clenched my fists tightly and met her eyes.

She smirked at me. "I, Gardenia, she wolf of the North challenge you to a duel. Winner becomes queen" I couldn't possibly win against her. She was stronger, faster and trained. I had never fought anybody, I had no experience whatsoever. But rejecting it would make me look weak.

She smirked at me. If I accepted, she had a high chance of winning and if I declined, I was admitting my weakness. I looked up and saw a familiar silhouette at a window in the castle.

"I accept" she smiled triumphantly at me.

"Very well then. See you at the duel" she pushed my shoulder as she walked past. Her cronies giving me nasty looks as they passed. The rest of the people murmured as they left. I held my head high and walked back to the castle.

I went straight to my room and locked the door. My heart ached badly. He watched the whole thing happen and didn't move a muscle. I was humiliated and embarrassed.

Anger drove me out of my room and to his study to confront him. I marched furiously down the hallway and to his study. I slowed down as I heard voices in the study.

"She shouldn't have accepted the challenge"

"And be seen as weak by the pack, the entire wolf world?"

"Gardenia will kill her. She's the strongest female"

"That's why we have to help her. She has no experience. We can teach her so she has a chance of winning"

"She wouldn't even last for a minute. There's no point in trying" I choked back a sob and ran to my room. I locked the door and sank to the ground. Was that really what they thought? That I was weak? And useless? Was that what Thane thought of me? I muffled my sobs in my hands. What was the point in trying when I had already been condemned.