The Lycan Queen's Ruthless Beta

n I entered, and that alone told me this

ked in, and our eyes met for a brief second - there was still something strange about seeing him here. Yesterday he'd been a stranger in a crowded

until I'd settle

ood again.

ely. Today I want the council to form

his head. "I

studied him. "You're

Counc

your

elt

s served his pack primarily in diplomatic matters - negotiations,

ention, but he answered every question politely, without arrog

y nodded. "That's

ove on from there. Instead my father turned to

et my hands on

could almost hear his warning with

e successio

father stared

Luca na

shifted slig

said, without looking

ned bac

't even f

but I knew him well enough to hear the ang

sking you t

Wh

Luca des

throat. "Princess, with r

hy

n isn't decided by

her is

up. "Your Highness, Luc

toward h

rtled by the question

Wh

one belongs to th

if someone has royal blood, they

ne sai

idn't h

r cut in.

ed me why

ou believe Luca

e he's c

s your

nown him my

hav

know what

. "Being a good brother do

litics since he was a child. He's been taught diplomacy. He's worked with t

you ha

ha

should you

don't want

ast enough that even G

"You don't get to s

hy

you're t

if I don't

doesn't care w

uld stop it. "Then maybe th

y father slowly rose to

being c

ng the foundation

uestion

me t

m asking all of you to tell me why bl

right away. "Because b

oes

Ye

with that blood is weak? What

oke up. "The council

e ruler doe

len

ed. "Ex

arms. "You're assuming

has spent his whole li

you ha

I had to." My voice softened. "H

his face, saw him shake his head slightly.

nswer. I kne

cilor spoke. "Ther

is?" I

cautious. "The traditio

d. "What

ycan throne has passe

So

ycan has ever ru

edge of the table. "And you'r

kingdom may not a

use I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "So first

is insult

'm unsuitable because

sn't wha

ay what

ncilor stepped in. "Princess

by my ability

nore centuries

hy

tion holds king

ingdoms together." I pointed tow

blood frowned. "You cannot compare

Wh

he isn't o

and something inside me snap

r looked at m

s my b

e your bro

through the chamber. "He grew up here. He trained here. He served this kingdom. He's prot

fted - only slightl

ng your emotio

I didn't hesitate

down the table. "I don't think

oking at Luca. "Bloodline is important

Luca has served th

t them. "You would

head. "I would ask whether th

rs arguing about tradition. Luca stayed silent through all of

his palm against

t. He looked at me.

straighter. "The

ardened. "Y

ll t

ot undermine

I'll figh

seconds, neither of us moved. Then hi

d me, and not the way my father did. Like he was trying to understand the woman he'd chosen, or maybe th

sat back down. "T

Luca. The decision hadn't ch

on that throne. Even if I had