Chapter 57. Threats of War

Ainslee

There are wolf shifter guards. There are wolf shifter servants. There are wolf shifter advisors.

And, sitting on an appropriately carved-wolf throne, is a wolf shifter king. An Alpha King. Alpha King Karl Striker of Warfang. The cousin I’d never met before and only found out I was related to very recently. Just like I’d only just found out I was a Luna Queen. Or, rather, Princess, as King Axel has decided, at least until I marry him.

“Axel,” King Karl says cordially to my husband-to-be.

“Karl,” King Axel replies.

King Karl turns his attention to me, looking me up and down. “Ainslee Bleiz.”

I curtsy deeply. That much I picked up from my lessons. “Your Majesty.”

To my shock, King Karl snorts. “You don’t have to go calling me that, Ainslee. We’re cousins, after all, and you are a Luna Queen.” King Karl looks at King Axel and dares him to correct him.

Prudently, King Axel does not.

“Um… thank you… um…” I can’