Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

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TAMING THE QUEEN OF BEASTS: Elreth is about to challenge her father for dominance--and win! But as the Anima's first ever Alpha Female, she has a difficult road ahead. Her best friend, Aaryn, is a disformed wolf. Definitely not the people's first choice for the new Queen's mate. Can love conquer all? Or will their bond be the end of Elreth's rule?

*****

RETH

"Lucine was untouched," Behryn said through his teeth. "She was a sacrifice."

"Untouched by any but me," Reth said through gritted teeth. It was perhaps the greatest regret of his life. "It was weeks ago. I knew—I knew the wolves were going to send her. She told me. We were at the Harvest and I had too much to drink and wandered into the meadow to stare at the stars and she followed. She was there and made herself available. She talked to me for hours about how we were destined—how she was the strongest sacrifice. I had no doubt of that. But she had me seeing it—that it didn't matter if she waited, because she was going to win the Rite, and we would be mates. And frankly, I was out of my mind about the whole Rite to begin with—so barbaric. It appealed to me to subvert it. I wasn't thinking clearly. I… gave in."

Behryn shook his head. "You broke the Rite, Reth. I can't believe you broke the Rite—and then rejected her?"

"They brought Elia—for Lucine to slaughter," he snarled, all his protective nature for his childhood friend now entwined with his love for his mate. "They broke the Rite too, choosing my mate for the sacrifice. They knew, Behryn. I don't know how, but they knew. It was a powerplay, and we all know it. They thought... they thought Lucine would kill her and I would mate Lucine and it would forever be a reminder..." Reth's breathing sped up at the sheer fury in his closest friend's face. "I confess," he said softly, but firmly. "I admit my fault. I ask for absolution."

He did not need to remind these men that they'd all brought confessions to him in this very room, and been forgiven. That they'd all been shamed or shocked in this room before. That was the point of the ceremony—to begin anew with one's mate. To let the past stay behind. Behryn knew it, and Reth knew he would get over this and absolve his friend and King. But damn, it hurt to see judgment in his eyes.

"You are forgiven, of course," Behryn said quietly, his eyes never leaving Reth's. "But do you have further confession? Is your soul cleansed, Reth, or is there more?"

Reth took a deep breath. "The wolves chose Elia because I knew her already."

The men in the room all made noises of shock, or disbelief. Behryn went very still, his eyes widening.

Reth cleared his throat. "I chose her in the Rite because I knew her and cared about her from my years in the human world."

Behryn got to his feet, his jaw dropped. "You admit treason against your people by choosing an insufficient mate?" he asked, hushed.

"No! I knew she was the better choice because I knew both women. I know Elia is different. She is, however, my true mate. Not just a chosen female, she is my heart's bond. She was chosen for me by the Creator, and she will serve Anima well."

"She is weak!"

Reth growled. "She is weaker than our females in body—but not in the ways that our kingdom needs. I knew as soon as I saw her refuse to kill Lucine after she'd watched Lucine kill the others that she was exactly what I needed, what we needed. I chose true."

"Then why raise it in confession?" Behryn snapped.

"Because, I've hidden my knowledge of her. And because of… of Lucine."

"That's why you rejected Lucine?" one of the other men asked.

Reth nodded. "I'd intended, after taking Lucine, to keep her as mate. I didn't see another way. I would have made her Queen. But when Elia chose not to kill her…"

Reth raised his eyes to meet Behryn's. "It was within my right to kill Lucine when I chose Elia, I could have covered my crime, and I did not."

"Admirable. But if it comes to light…"

Reth winced. "I pray to the Creator that it never does. Lucine is now free to take a lover—I pray she will. I pray she'll move beyond her hate and shame and begin to rebuild her life."

"Her life that is substantially diminished now, because of your rejection."

"That would have happened whether we'd mated or not," Reth said, his voice as hard as steel. "As soon as the wolves brought Elia into that circle, they decided Lucine's fate. While I take no pleasure in ruining the female, it was at the hands of her own people that it happened."

The men looked back and forth between themselves soberly. But Reth kept his eyes on Behryn. As the Secret Keeper, only he could absolve Reth—the others would follow if he did. So Reth stared at his closest friend and silently begged him to offer it.

Behryn's face was pale. He hadn't expected any of this. Reth regretted it. He knew he'd hurt his friend by hiding all of this from him.

"Is there any more?" Behryn asked quietly.

Reth shook his head. "None. You know everything now."

Behryn stared a moment longer and Reth held his breath. The room was utterly silent, as if the other men held theirs too. But then Behryn broke the gaze and turned his head to scowl at the wall. "Absolution is granted," he said darkly. "You are brother and we are one."

"You are brother, we are one," the others recited.

Reth heaved a sigh of relief as one of them walked over to remove the bonds around him. He looked at each of them in turn before speaking. "Thank you, Brothers. I am humbled. And I assure you, nothing that I've shared changes my commitment to you, or to the Kingdom. I have… made some mistakes. I ask your assistance to do better in future."

The men nodded, but they kept glancing at Behryn, who was clearly still tense. But he nodded too, and led them as Reth was freed from the restraints, to the center of the room.

Then, as was the custom, Reth stood in the middle of the room as each man took it in turns to exchange vows with him. In the past, Reth had always been one of the men in line. He was surprised by humbled, how emotional it made him to see his closest friends and confidantes kneel before him, not as King, but as their brother.

"I vow to you, as my blood is your blood, that should you ever leave us, I will watch over your mate, and her offspring. I vow to you, as my blood is your blood, should anyone, bar the Creator, ever take your life, I will avenge your death. I vow to you, as my blood is your blood, that I will hold your secrets, absolve your sins, and stand with you in battle…"

Man after man—some soberly, others with a grin—all made their vow to him, and he to them.

He was the last in the circle to mate. Their bonds were now complete, their mates and offspring safe. And Reth realized he did feel lighter for laying down his burdens and allowing his brothers to know, and forgive him.

He just prayed the troubled expression that remained on Behryn's face after the vow didn't herald difficulty between them.

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