CHAPTER EIGHT
1875 Words
The ride back home was quick and quiet. After Liam had tried to make me talk like a bazillion times and I refused, he gave up and just stared out the window.
By the time we walked into Aiden’s study, I was practically giddy with excitement.
“You guys are back so soon,” Aiden remarked, looking up from his tablet. “Is everything okay?”
“I…”
“Well, Her Royal Highness here decided to cut the tour short because she got an idea that couldn’t wait,” Liam said with a mock glare, which I returned.
“An idea? Sounds interesting… let’s hear it, shall we?”
“So what exactly am I supposed to do as a princess?” I asked, shaking my head when Liam motioned for me to sit down.
I was too restless with the energy coursing through me after seeing the village.
Aiden leaned against his desk, arms crossed. “You’ll have ceremonial duties—attending pack gatherings, presiding over festivals, representing the family at important events—”
“So basically look pretty and wave?”
“There’s more to it than that,” Liam interjected. “You’ll sit on the council eventually, have a voice in pack decisions—”
“Eventually.” I caught the word. “What about now?”
“Right now, all you need to do is learn,” Aiden’s tone was gentle but firm. “Our customs, our history, how things work here. You can’t make informed decisions without understanding the context.”
“I understand context just fine.” I started pacing. “I understand that there are people in this kingdom who can barely afford to feed their children while we’re eating five-course meals off gold plates. I understand that little girls are being told they’re not good enough to chase their dreams because of where they were born. That seems like pretty clear context to me.”
My brothers exchanged one of their looks.
“It’s not that simple—” Aiden started.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I spun to face him. “Why is it never simple? I saw those houses, Aiden. I saw how they’re living. Can I help them or not?”
“Help them how?”
“I don’t know yet. That’s why I’m asking you.” I forced myself to stop pacing, to look at him directly. “Do I have the authority to do something? Anything? Or is my entire role here just to sit pretty in fancy gowns and tiaras?”
Aiden studied me for a long moment. “You have resources at your disposal—a budget for personal expenses and charitable endeavors. You could organize events, fundraisers—”
“Good. That’s something.” My mind started racing.
“Those people I saw today, the ones in the outer district—why are they struggling so much?”
“They’re Omegas mostly,” Liam said. “And some are slaves. People born with lower ranks who do the manual labor.”
I stared at him. “Slaves.”
“It’s not… it’s different here than you’re thinking…”
“How is slavery different anywhere?” My voice rose. “You’re telling me people are owned by other people in this kingdom?”
“They’re compensated,” Aiden said quickly. “Given housing, food…”
“Oh, well then, that makes it fine.” Sarcasm dripped from every word. “As long as they get a meal while they’re being worked to death.”
“Elara…”
“No.” I cut him off. “You don’t get to ‘Elara’ me right now. You’re telling me that the people doing all the hard work in this kingdom, the ones breaking their backs to keep everything running, are the same ones living in houses that are falling apart? The same ones who can’t afford to send their kids to school?”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you,” Aiden said finally. “And before you start thinking we’re monsters, it’s been this way for centuries. The pack structure requires different roles, different ranks…”
“Different doesn’t have to mean unequal.” I was talking with my hands now, unable to keep still. “If these Omegas are the ones doing all the essential work, shouldn’t they be taken care of? Properly taken care of…not just given scraps and told to be grateful?”
“Well, seems to me like you have something in mind?” Liam asked. “So out with it.”
“I’m thinking I can have my first official act as princess.” I looked between them, my heart pounding. “I want to organize a charity festival. For the Omegas, for the families struggling in the outer districts. Distribute food to them, supplies, fabrics, so they can make decent clothes. Medical care if we can arrange it. Whatever they need.”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “A festival.”
“Yes. A festival.” I planted my hands on his desk. “You said I have a budget for charitable endeavors. I want to use it. All of it, if necessary. These people deserve better than what they’re getting.”
“Do you have any idea how much something like that would cost?” Liam asked. “How much planning it would take?”
“No. But I’ll learn.” I straightened. “Besides, we have so much more than we need here. We waste so much every day that’s enough to feed a lot of them for one week. So I really think the problem here is the uneven distribution, not scarcity. But we’ll discuss that later—let me focus on this festival for now. I’ll work with whoever I need to work with. I’ll do whatever it takes. But I’m doing this.”
My brothers looked at each other again, and for a moment none of them said anything… maybe thinking about it.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Liam said finally. “Actually, it’s kind of brilliant. The people would love it, and it would be great for morale…”
“I’m not doing it for morale,” I interrupted. “I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Even better.” Aiden pushed off his desk. “Alright. You want to organize a charity festival, we’ll help you organize a charity festival. But you’re taking the lead on this. It’s your project, your responsibility.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “You know, when Thorne brought you back, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Part of me worried you’d be too damaged by your time in the human world. Too soft for this life.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Now I’m thinking we should’ve worried about the kingdom being too soft for you.” He came around the desk, gripping my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, little sister. You’ve been here less than a week and you’re already trying to change things.”
“Someone has to.” But his words made warmth spread through my chest.
“I’ll help you with the planning,” Liam offered. “We can start tomorrow. Figure out logistics, budget, what supplies we’ll need…”
“And I’ll clear it with Mother and the council,” Aiden added. “There might be some resistance, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“Thank you.” I looked between them, and for the first time since arriving, I felt like maybe I could actually do this—be this person they needed me to be. “Both of you.”
“Don’t thank us yet,” Liam grinned. “Wait until you see how much paperwork is involved in organizing a festival.”
I groaned, but I was smiling.
We spent the next hour discussing possibilities, logistics, ideas. Aiden pulled out maps showing the outer districts, Liam made lists of supplies we’d need.
“I should go,” I said finally, when the light outside had started to fade. “Let you both get back to actual important work.”
“This is important work,” Aiden corrected. “And Elara? I meant what I said. I’m proud of you.”
I left before the emotion in his voice could make me cry.
The hallway was empty except for one person.
My heart stilled when I saw Thorne leaning against the wall a few feet from the door, arms crossed.
His expression was unreadable, but his eyes tracked my every movement.
“How long have you been standing there?” I asked.
“Long enough.” He pushed off the wall. “A charity festival. That’s your big plan?”
“What? You’re gonna tell me it’s stupid?”
“I think it’s exactly what this kingdom needs.” His voice was quiet. “And exactly what you needed.”
I stopped walking. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’ve spent the last few days feeling helpless. Out of control. Like everything was happening to you instead of because of you.” He stepped closer, and I hated how my body responded—how every nerve ending woke up when he was near. “This? Taking charge, making decisions, helping people? This is you taking your power back.”
“Well, it’s not about power.”
“Isn’t it?” His eyes searched mine. “You saw those people today and recognized yourself—the girl who grew up struggling, who knows what it’s like to go without. Now you’re in a position to actually do something about it, and you’re not wasting time. That takes power, Elara. And courage.”
“I’m just trying to help.”
“I know.” Something shifted in his expression. “And that’s what makes you different from most royals.” He was close enough now that I could smell him—pine and smoke and something uniquely Thorne. “Most people born into privilege never see past it. They accept the way things are because changing them is uncomfortable. But you? You’ve been a princess for three days and you’re already fighting for the ones everyone else ignores.”
Heat crept up my neck. “You’re making too big a deal out of this.”
“Am I?” He reached out, and for a second I thought he was going to touch me. Instead, his hand fell back to his side. “Your brothers are right to be proud. I’m—” He cut himself off.
“You’re what?”
His jaw clenched. “I’m proud of you, Elara.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that widened my lips. “Thank you, Thorne.”
“You’re making this impossible for me. Every single day, you do something that leaves me completely undone. How am I supposed to keep my distance when you keep giving me a thousand reasons not to?”
“Thorne—”
“Goodnight, princess,” he said immediately and walked away without another word, leaving me confused and hot as hell.
That bastard!
- Writer
