Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder by Alice Knightsky
Chapter 138 Reign of a New Queen
**Rosalie’s POV**
The north was more than I ever dreamt it to be.
Since the moment I arrived, they had shown me nothing but kindness. I was a savior to them. While I certainly didn’t think of myself that way, it made me 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 overwhelmed. 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 come to the north, I was thrust into the life of a royal.
“I can tell something is bothering you.” Her motherly tone made me smile.
Seraphine had looked out for me 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 a*s*sured her.
Understanding passed over Seraphine’s face as she walked around the room, admiring what had been set up for me. I know it’s a lot, but you have to know how important this is.”
How has my life become so chaotic?
“I’m not sure about all of this, Seraphine,” I admitted. “I came 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 me to sigh again.
I knew what it was, but it didn’t mean I wanted it.
No one seemed to really ask me what I wanted. It was as if they just expected me 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 me. 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 someone.
That someone made me so happy that I wanted to cry.
“Georgia!” I stood and quickly wrapped my arms around her.
“Oh, Rosalie-” she whispered, hugging me tight, “it’s so good to see you again. I came 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 seemed 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 me told me 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 ba*s*sinet 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 name 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 name yet? Hey, you know, I have a lot of ideas.” She gave me a wink and we both laughed, just like the old times.
“I hate to interrupt the happy reunion…” Cerina smiled, causing us both to turn to face her. “There are some things we really must discuss.”
Letting out a deep breath, I nodded.
I knew the conversation was coming, but it wasn’t something I really cared to speak about. I wasn’t sure what they expected me 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 moment, her eyes turning to Seraphine before turning back towards me. “I know that you have only just come back, but your people need you, Your Highness.”
“Please, you don’t need to call me 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 home 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 me.
Did she really think I knew what to do?
An uneasy feeling grew within me 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 me to lead these people, but I knew nothing about ruling anyone.
“We think there is a lot you can do-”
“I-” hesitation filled me 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 mess something up. I never had anyone count on me before, and I was still grasping the fact I was a mother with a child who depended on me.
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 me 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. Someone 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 came to my brother, but I got the idea from Vicky—”
“Then you understand why I can’t do this,” I quickly stammered, 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 me, 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 me was a good thing, but at the same time, if I took on this role, there was no going back.
My mind drifted off to Ethan at that moment. 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 me 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 become 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 somewhere up the road, someone 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 me. I knew deep down that not everyone would be happy with me, 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 me 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 me, 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 time,” Seraphine added while standing to her feet. “Georgia, what do you and Cerina think would be the first plan of action?”
The two women seemed to think for a moment over Seraphine’s question before Georgia slowly piped up, “Well, for me, 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 time.”
Taking a deep breath, I thought about what Ethan would do first.
As much as I hated him for everything he had done to me, 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 me, 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 moment and took a deep breath. “We cannot just let the villagers starve after we finally get rid of the rogues. We can spare some 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 statement worried me.
“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 me at her praise, and for the first time in a longtime, 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 home he was always meant to have.