Zara

"Are you sure they’ll accept me?" I asked for the thirtieth time since I’d passed the "Welcome to Pine Plains" sign.

Since I’d passed that sign, I hadn’t seen a single building, house, or glimmer of life. It seemed like only endless forest, juniper, and pine groves rising higher and higher up the mountain slopes.

The scent of resin and earth permeated the air, mingling with the rich woodsy aroma that filtered through the crack in the window as we drove along the highway. The views were incredible; jagged, earthen walls surrounded us as we passed through and around the mountains.

We’d been driving for hours, but the finality of it all only dawned on me when I saw the sign, reminding me that we were getting closer and closer to the capital of the Sterling Empire.

"I have no doubt they’ll accept you," Alpha replied from the driver’s seat, the depth of his voice almost matching the rumble of the engine as we picked up speed on the climb. Though the sounds were similar, only one made such a strong impression on me.

Eyes I’d once thought honey-colored, but which were actually full of golden highlights, stared at me from the passenger seat. The way his gaze warmed when he looked at me too long, darkening the golden hues to something wild, struck me with full force every time.

I swallowed hard as his gaze fell on the jet-black dress I’d chosen for this special occasion. It was the most formal item in my wardrobe, along with a pair of black heels. The dress fitted my athletic figure perfectly,

Which had tightened even more over the past three months, and ended just above my knees. His gaze rose again, slowly, as I shifted in my seat.

"They will accept you because you are my mate," he said. "And you deserve to be accepted." He chuckled, just the hint of a dog-like expression before wiping it away. "As for our people, they will accept you because I accept you. They will respect you as I do, and that trust will grow over time."

"Wow. They must have a lot of faith in you and your parents," I muttered in surprise. The next words that flashed through my head were best left unsaid, but I had a bad habit of ignoring phrases. "Few possessed such devotion to Marcus or his parents. Most stayed only because they had no other choice."

"Not everyone can inspire such devotion," Alpha said, this with sincerity in his voice, not at all irritated by the mention of my recently deceased ex-boyfriend. The man-boy I’d once imagined marking myself, mating, and spending the rest of my life with.

The thrill I’d once felt when he’d carried me by the arm made me feel nauseous. Alpha’s gaze slid over me again, though only for a split second this time. "You’ll notice that my family’s home...

Isn’t very large. Most of the money collected from our pack members goes back to the community and the warriors who protect it. In fact, a significant portion of my parents’ income comes from my father."

"Doesn’t your father make money as an Alpha?" I thought, remembering Marcus and me running through the labyrinthine hallways of his home, which felt more like a mansion or estate.

As a young child, I’d gotten lost in those hallways several times. The first few times, Marcus found me crying in the hallway and, chuckling, led me down. Marcus had never had to go without; his family never worried about making ends meet.

"Being an Alpha doesn’t mean you get paid," Alpha chuckled softly, his laughter echoing in his chest. Though I felt I knew this man well, some of his words surprised me.

I absorbed every word, feeling out of place in the world of rules. "A good Alpha takes what he needs to live comfortably only if his people live in the same conditions."

For the rest of the drive, I replayed his words in my head, trying to apply them to my newfound position as Queen. As we drove along the winding road that hugged the base of the mountain, I thought about my new role and how much trouble I’d endured in just three short months.

After the death of their former King, things went awry. I was a newcomer, a rootless tribrid. Those who followed me did so out of duty and self-preservation, but many still voiced their opinions against me. I couldn’t blame them, not entirely.

After all, my first act in their world was to kill their King.

The dark thoughts swarming in my head dissipated as my name escaped Alpha’s lips, escaping the sun that painted my world in gold and amber tones.

"We’re only a few minutes away." He said this with a smirk, chuckling when I glanced at him, and leaned out the window.

"Your pack capital is in the middle of the forest?" I asked. I managed, raising an eyebrow.

Although I’d expected to see a huge city or at least a relatively lively village, neither Nova nor I would have complained if that were the case. It would have given us an excuse to go for more runs than our morning ones, which had become infrequent anyway.

"Now you can imagine huts and small wooden houses," Alpha said dispassionately, making me giggle on the spot.

"And small fishing boats, nightly campfires..." My teasing stopped as we descended another hill and rounded a sharp bend.

At some point, the traffic became too narrow, and only we and two cars behind us were left on the road. In the mossy white minivan behind us, with rusty rims and a bunch of lavender hanging from the rearview mirror, sat my dad and Ryan. Sophia, her parents, and Mason followed them in a darkened SUV with Govinda and Marcus.

We decided to take Holly along too, so she could experience the world better. I was most worried about Holly. After the rescue, she seemed to withdraw into herself, afraid of this new place.