Frustrated, I storm out of the great hall, finally letting my temper loose. A non-decision, I huff, remembering my parents’ words. They’ve decided to discuss it further with the King and Queen of Winter as if there’s anything to discuss.

Crede, a longtime friend and the man I know I’m destined to rule beside, waits for me, a wary smile crossing over his handsome face as I stomp over to him. His strong arms encircle me immediately, and I rest my face against his sturdy chest where I listen to the drumming of his heart beating.

“What if they send you? To the wolf court?” he asks, resting his chin on my head.

I draw in my brows in disgust. “You think my mother would sell me to the wolves? Crede, you’ll be a rug on a hunter’s floor before that happens.”

“You still believe in the realm of man?” he mocks, his voice tinged with a bit of humor. “That’s for children.”

Again, silence folds its warm arms around me and I don’t tell him about what I saw as a child. About the hunter. About the truths I know.

The realm of man isn’t a fairy tale.

Needing space, I step away from his embrace and walk through the open wood doors that lead outside. With his hands behind his back, Crede follows me out into the sun, his golden hair catching in the light. I stop and face him, tension twisting my gut. I open my mouth to speak, but not yet having found my voice I choke on the words.

“You hurt a wolf cub, who really cares?” he asks, not understanding the reality of my situation.

Bringing my hand to my lips, I start biting my nails. “He wasn’t a cub. He was big. A Royal.”

Not wanting to meet his gaze, I look down and mentally chastise myself. Because I should’ve noticed. I shouldn’t have been so stupid.

“How do we even know he was rogue and not a spy?” Crede shakes his golden mane, and brown eyes twinkle with mischief as he tries to joke in a meek attempt at making me feel better. “If it only takes pretending rogue to see you bathe, Liana…”

“Don’t even, Crede,” I mutter under my breath and stalk away from him.

Bellowing laughter follows my every step so I walk faster, suddenly needing to put some distance between us. He catches up with long, easy strides, and his closeness both annoys and soothes me. While I understand his sudden growing attachment, I can’t help but also resent it.

Crede’s going to be King. He doesn’t even have to wait for my father to pass. He has far too many wins, and my father won’t fight him once he’s ready to challenge. Out of respect for me, for my own affections he hopes to possess, Crede has remained patient.

But even the most patient man can’t resist the pull for something more, for something greater.

With one rash act, I’ve endangered my future as Queen of all the Realms. And wife to the beautiful lionheart.

He’s not the usual gruff male; he’d let me rule as my mother has. He’d spoil me, and not make me hunt for him. But I would, because I love to hunt. The chase, the thrill, the freedom.

It would be perfect.

One house…three women.

That part - that’s the part I’ve never liked. Sharing my life, my love with Lia and Calla. All under one roof. Our children would play together.

It’s the way of the pride.

Lia and Crede have already been promised and they’ll be wed soon. Calla will follow. And I would be next.

The idea makes my palms sweaty. I would be the most important, the one he truly honors. Yet, the thought of any of this actually coming to fruition terrifies me. It’s what I’ve always wanted. What I’m furious about losing.

Still the pull for something else tugs me. The need to be with my pride fights for position with the desire for something…else.

It’s silly really. I won’t even bathe near the males or females. I want to be more part of the pride but…

And now I’ve attacked a royal wolf.

For a long time, there was a joke that spread through the pride like wild fire. They ribbed on me, everyone saying I was the first rogue we’d had in three generations. The memory of it churns my stomach, because although I’ve never voiced my concerns, I think there might be some truth to it.

Especially after this debacle with the wolf.

My parents will no doubt leverage this against me. Try to use it to force my hand into marrying Crede. Immediately.

It’s my only option. I try to remind myself it’s what I want. What I’ve always wanted, but even to me, it tastes like a bitter lie.

“Liana.” Crede brushes his knuckles across my cheek, pulling me from the spinning thoughts running haphazardly in my head.

“I can’t do this right now, Crede,” I stammer out, inching a step away from him. “There’s too much going on in here.” I tap a finger to my temple.

He nods, and a radiant smile breaks across his face. “Then let’s get you out of that crazy head of yours.”

In the second it takes me to blink, to momentarily shut my eyes and open them again, Crede changes. His golden mane now covers his glorious lion body, his clothes lying a rumpled mess on the ground beneath his four legs. Brown eyes watch me, their gaze lazy as he waits for me to make a decision.

“Turn around,” I say.

Crede tilts his head to the side and sits on his rump as his tail swishes, making the leaves rustle at the contact. Familiar in this childish game we play, we each stick to our roles.

“Crede.”

He yawns, arrogance vibrating off him when he stands up to nuzzle my hand with his wet nose.

“You’re impossible,” I mumble.

Although I normally undress in front of Crede before I change, I leave my clothes on this time. He hisses and I shoot him a knowing smile.

I feel the shift, the intimacy between myself and the awakening lion as I transform.

Fierce. Majestic. Spirited.

On four legs, I glide forward, with Crede beside me. I give him a sideways glance and because our spirits are in tune with the other, we sprint toward the line of trees in unison.

My muscles stretch and I run faster. The pads of my feet dig into the soft ground and for the first time today, I feel in charge. Like my future is still unwritten. Like I may have a say in what lies before me.

Always my protector, Crede runs beside me, letting me guide us past the tall trees until we reach the plains.

He pushes his head to my neck and I ease myself down onto the glistening grass. He peers down at me. Fire burns behind his eyes and I feel the power swimming inside this magnificent creature I always thought was destined to be mine.