Untamable

Chapter 17 Queen

Elizabeth’s POV

When Edward’s face falls like a kid who just dropped his ice cream, it hits me—he's been lying through his charming teeth.

If he truly were a banished rogue needing a place for the night, why the long face at the sight of a warm pack?

Clearly, he expected me to lead him to somewhere particular—specifically, the rogue’s base.

He’s definitely not a friend, I decide.

So, I take off running, eager to avoid any trouble he might bring my way.

The journey back takes ages, mostly due to my paranoia. I double-check every rustling leaf to ensure I'm not trailed by some unwanted company. Finally, the comforting roar of the waterfall greets me as I enter the familiar forest. Those towering, dense trees feel like nature's very own private fortress. It’s the kind of security a rogue could only dream of.

Back at the camp, Penny jumps up the second I appear. She rushes toward me, envelops me in a bear hug, and hands me a bouquet of wildflowers, the kind that seems to say, “Thanks” in the most colorful way possible.

"Elizabeth, I can't thank you enough!" She exclaims. "Without you, Lucy might have been nabbed by now."

"Don’t mention it," I say with a reassuring smile.

"I'd never be dumb enough to get caught," Lucy retorts defiantly, just as Echo playfully smacks the back of her head.

“Manners,”Echo says.

Lucy spins around, her eyes blazing with teenage rebellion. "Hey, Echo, why don't you save your ancient wisdom for someone who cares?" she snaps.

Echo raises an eyebrow and chuckles. "Take your sass to the Lycans, kiddo. We're not the audience for your temper."

Lucy rolls her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms. "Maybe if anyone here actually listened to me, I wouldn’t have to yell!" she declares.

"Lucy, sweetie, calm down," Penny says with concern, trotting after her daughter.

“It's not fair!” Lucy shouts as she storms off, her footsteps echoing her frustration. "Nobody gets it."

Watching them with an amused and slightly exhausted expression, Echo remarks dryly, "There goes the brainless teenager and her devoted mom."

"Don’t be so harsh, Echo." Catherine suggests, nudging Echo with her elbow.

"What? I’m just telling it like it is," Echo snorts. "That’s what happens when you spoil your kids rotten."

"We should give the kid some time to grow up," Catherine counters.

"Like how long, centuries?" Echo mocks, rolling her eyes.

"Guess every pack needs a little drama," I say with a smile, shaking my head.

"We could do without that drama," Echo points out.

"Alright, alright, enough of the banter!" Maggie cuts in, turning her attention to me. "You must be famished, Elizabeth.”

"Starving," I nod, my stomach growling in agreement.

"Go fetch her something to eat," Maggie orders Echo. "She's been out there for ages. She must have tales to tell."

"Plenty," I mutter.

As the night falls and the campfire crackles to life, we huddle around its warmth. The firelight dances on our faces, creating an inviting, cozy scene. I snag a buttered slice of bread from Catherine and swipe a piece of bacon from Echo’s plate without a second thought.

"Slow down or you’ll choke," Maggie warns, half-amused, half-concerned.

"I'm starving," I protest between mouthfuls.

"Her appetite is contagious," Echo laughs softly.

"Pass me some water," I murmur.

Catherine hands me a cup, and I take a thirsty sip to wash down the dry bread, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "So, I ran into this stranger when I found Lucy…" I start.

They exchange glances and lean closer.

"It's a young man who claims he's from The Silver Moon Pack, exiled for the sin of turning down Alpha Robin's daughter, Dorothy."

Margaret laughs heartily. "You bought that story?"

"I was skeptical," I admit. "I mean, sure, Alpha Robin does have a daughter named Dorothy. Last year I actually got an invite to her birthday bash. I didn’t attend, though. Anyway, the stranger was asking if there was a place nearby where he could crash."

"You didn't tell him where we are, did you?!" Echo gasps in horror.

"Of course not," I assure her. "His clothes were too snazzy for a rogue."

"Think he's a Lycan spy?" Echo questions with her eyebrows knitted.

"I doubt it," I shake my head."He's just too handsome for that."

Catherine giggles. "That's some interesting logic. Why can't spies be hunky?"

"Echo's idea," I explain. "She says a good spy should blend in, not be eye-catching."

"Fair enough," Catherine nods with a grin. "Lay it on us—how handsome are we talking?"

"Breathtakingly handsome," I sigh.

"Oh boy, don’t tell me you were smitten at first sight," Catherine teases.

"Maybe just with his face," I clarify with a smirk.

She laughs and presses on, "And what happened next?"

"At first, I couldn't tell if he was tricking me or if he genuinely needed help. But I didn't want to expose our den, so I led him to my old pack," I wince, "which is why it took forever. The whole trek, I kept an eye on him, especially when we hit Wood Pack. He had this split-second look of disappointment. He masked it quickly, but I saw it."

I shrug. "So, I figured he was shady, not to be trusted. That’s why I made a quick getaway."

"You did the right thing, Elizabeth," Maggie nods approvingly, the corners of her mouth curving into a proud smile.

"Maggie, he almost got me," I say quietly, feeling a shiver run through me. "He… he was unlike anyone I’ve faced before—so powerful, so cunning."

Maggie nods, urging me to continue. "Tell me what he looked like. If we know who he is, it might help us fend off any potential threats."

"He said his name was Edward, but I’d bet that’s a false name." I rack my brains for more details. "He’s about six feet tall, athletic build, blonde hair, blue eyes, carries himself like he’s on the runway, oh, and he's got this distinguished scar over his left eyebrow."

Maggie's face transforms from focused to utterly gobsmacked, and finally, she wears a look of complete shock she can't hide.

"No way…" she murmurs, staring into the fire as if it might offer answers.

"What’s wrong?" I ask, thoroughly puzzled.

Slowly, she shakes her head, a complex expression on her face as she looks at me. "Elizabeth, the man you met is Prince Edward…" She pauses before adding, "He’s my second son."

Thinking it's a joke, I laugh—until the somber look in her eyes drains the humor from my face.

"You're not joking?"I ask.

She shakes her head with certainty.

"But how can you be so sure from my description? Loads of people could look like that."

"First off, my son’s name is Edward. I can’t be sure of his height now, but his hair and eye color match your description. And not everyone has a scar over their eyebrow, Elizabeth," Maggie sighs. "I’m certain that’s my son."

My heart skips a beat. I start to stammer, "But that means… you are…."

"I am Margaret Evans, the first wife of King James Theo," she declares, "Maggie is the name I took on when I went into the wild."

Well, that certainly explains why she used that name when we made our vows by the moon.

Holy the moon.

I suspected she had ties to The White City’s Lycans, but never thought that she was once the queen.

No wonder she always said her husband was too noble for legal bounds.

"You’re the former queen," I say, astonished, covering my mouth. "Everyone thought you were dead."

"I needed them to think that," Margaret chuckles dryly. "Otherwise, my husband would have hunted me to the ends of the earth. Only news of my death could assure him."

"What happened?" Catherine asks softly.

"You kept your identity secret all these years?" Echo chimes in, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. "We fought side by side for years, and you didn’t trust us with that?"

"No, no, my friends," Maggie sighs, shaking her head. "I worried you’d not accept me for being a Lycan. I’ve done many things I regret regarding the rogues…" She pauses, gathering her thoughts. "James and I drafted many anti-rogues policies. Please forgive me—I was young and foolish then."

Catherine pats her shoulder and says, "Share your story with us if it helps ease your burden."

"We won’t judge you for it," Echo assures her, her tone frank but kind. "Who doesn’t have a slightly dumb chapter in their past? It doesn’t define who we are now."

"I agree," I add, thinking about my foolish bond with Aiden.

“Thank you,”Maggie gives us a grateful smile, and begins to share her tale.