Subduing the Beastly Queen

t even pause in the shadow of the Great Trees that were peppered all over the Tree City, but thicker here at the edge of the amphitheater. With their massive bra

rotted up the raised lip of the circular arena to look over the amphitheate

like the mane of the Lion within him. He always stood proud in these moments, his massive shoulders back, no shirt beneath the vest so they could see t

g between the people, whispering apologies, until she made it to Emily , her best friend. Emily saw her coming and glanced at her from

blond hair swinging as she nodded a greeting, but her lips were tight. Helena smiled, then turned back to Emily , rolli

language they'd developed when she was ten, after h

he jab wasn't accompanied by his usual smile,

igned again. 'Sorry.

really upset,' he signed, using the clawed fingers they used to symboliz

d created specifically to imply he had no balls-but even when he sno

es were

did when he needed to bring the people on his side of whatever Kingly decision he'd made. But Emily was right, the ma

back and chin down, eyes fierce and teeth bared. He was Abendroth, the King of Anima, and as H

allow this distance among the people. We cannot allow tension between the tribes-all of us have seen where that leads. We lived throug

ack on the stage, face tight, eyes on her mate, her arms folded beneath her breasts. She looke

d back to her father, stress and worry on

packed with Anima on every inch. All the tribes were there in their natural human forms, the people of the lions, the birds, the horses, and serpents-even the few wolf packs that remained loy

tood, riveted, as her

e people. But now she sucked in a long, drawn-out breath and l

to Emily , the hair on t

ned back, 'Never seen

almost lost her mother. The days when the whole Lupine t

he fight?' she

mily 's face went flat

hand cupped around the other fist, but thumbs up, instea

ttle muscles at the back o

hard for twenty years to begin integrating them more fully into the tribes. And they'd had some success. Especially with the younger people. But recent months have

form. Add to that, he was the son of one of the traitorous wolves that had almost ended her parent's rule right before Helena was born. He'd only been four when his fa

question, to see if Emily was oka

ut allowed to remain in WildWood. They will be given

oices rapidly becoming more insisten

were a few who showed excitement because they'd always been a

to her toes-then rose again

of fear and rage. She could hear his hea

about this?"

course not! You

n tribes, you leave us no other option!" her father snarled over the hubbub of the crowd be

ched Helen

is hands clenched. He moved to step forward, but Helena fisted his sh

or anyone-that threatened someone

ny of them!" she yelled, whirling to face the stage as the en

eyes snapped stra

he bared