(LOCKE)
It was Sigrid who had pointed out to me that Corrine had not once shifted and gone for a run since she came to the North. Sigrid had suggested that perhaps my mate was shy.
I had already been planning to show Corrine this beach and have her go for a run here, but I hadn't realized that the reason behind her unwillingness to shift was because she had never been allowed to before.
I'm starting to wonder what grudge Princess Ravenna could possibly have had against Corrine. My mate is well read, highly educated, and she knows how to carry herself. If she was being groomed to be the princess's shadow, she had to be perfect in that role.
Shadows are not unheard of in the wolf kingdoms, but they are usually concealed, to be used in times of danger. From what I understand, Corrine's existence was known to everyone in that palace.
I've spent some amount of time in the same room as Princess Ravenna, even if we didn't interact, and I can see a stark difference between them. Corrine is graceful and quiet. She carries herself with an elegance that is admirable and regal. Ravenna was haughty. She liked male attention, and she wasn't shy about it. She had a cruel streak that I often witnessed, but Corrine treats the castle staff gently. Even though she doesn't trust them, she doesn't lash out at them.
It has only been a few weeks, but she has managed to win the hearts of not only the workers in the castle but also in the nearby villages. I don't know if she realizes how much she has accomplished. She's keeping her head down and working diligently, almost as if she has something to prove.
I always thought I was a workaholic, but Corrine seems determined to outdo me.
When my mother was queen, she would go with my father to the outskirts of the kingdom to battle the monsters. She was one of the strongest warriors in the North, and her presence was required at the Veil. As a result, she had less time to manage the inner workings of the castle, but she tried.
My father never cared if she was able to manage the castle or the kingdom. Together, they worked it out. But what Corrine is doing is different.
She can't fight on the border, but the work she's doing within the kingdom is no less impactful. She's introducing changes that I never once thought of. While the Northern Wolf Kingdom is rich in gems and gold, it is also poor. I don't have time to oversee them all. But within just a couple of weeks, my queen has managed to do what Bella was never able to.
I heard from Rothan that she asked for certain items from the human kingdom, books on certain trades that don't exist within our kingdom. I don't know what she's planning, but Rothan seems quite impressed.
I doubt Princess Ravenna would have put in the same amount of effort as this woman.
Maybe it wasn't the worst thing to have brought her here instead of the princess.
I watch the change wash over her, and when her wolf stands before me, I can't help but stare at her. Corrine may be identical to Ravenna in her human form, but her wolf form can't be more different. She has a ring of white fur around her neck and on the edge of her tail. It's a very unique look. I've never met a wolf who has two different colors.
I see the apprehension in her eyes when I approach her, and when I run my hand over her head, her eyes flutter shut, and she leans into it.
"Stunning," I breathe out, in awe of her magnificent animal.
She rumbles, a hint of pride in the sound. She then turns around as if wanting me to see her tail. In our wolf forms, it is our beasts that are in control. Corrine's quiet personality has taken a back seat; her wolf wants to preen and show off how pretty she is.
Amusement fills me.
I run my fingers through her fur, marveling at how exquisite her wolf is. She rubs against me before taking off at a sprint along the shore. When she glances over her shoulder at me, almost coyly, I bare my teeth in a grin.
Bursting into a run, I shed my human skin, transforming into my wolf and chasing her. I nip at her ankles briefly, and she howls happily before trying to outrun me.
I've never seen her have so much fun before, and while I don't care, I also do. Refusing to examine these confused feelings, I wrestle her to the ground, playfully biting her neck and then her tail. She snaps her teeth at me in an unexpected move, and I'm impressed.
Wriggling out from under me, she keeps running, and I have no choice but to chase her down again. My wolf is enjoying itself, and so am I. I don't remember the last time I was this carefree.
While I do participate in pack runs, I've never played more than a cursory role. At the end of the day, I am the alpha and the king. I have an image to maintain. But around this woman, who is my mate, do I really have to maintain anything?
I catch her once more and tumble with her to the ground before aggressively grooming her. She lies still under me, letting me do as I please, before suddenly biting my leg and darting out from under me again.
We play like this for a while till Corrine finally begins to slow down. I realize that she's tired now. She doesn't want to stop, however, so it's my job to make sure she does.
Snapping at her, I block her path. She takes a few steps backward, unwilling to change back to her human form. When I snap my teeth at her again in warning, she gives me an irate look before sinking to the ground.
I'm the first one to shift back. "That's enough," I tell her. "We need to go back to the castle."
Huffing, she closes her eyes, and I watch her shift back into her human form. As she finishes, she stumbles forward, and I catch her in my arms.
"I—" She struggles to say something, but then she passes out. I'm not surprised. If she has never taken part in pack runs before, it makes sense that she would not be accustomed to holding her wolf form for such a long period of time.
I hold her still form in my arms, gazing down at her relaxed features. Her breathing is steady. She passed out due to exhaustion, that's all.
Sigrid is waiting for us when we return, and she smiles when she sees us. "Did she have a good time?"
I shrug. "She seemed happy enough."
"Good," she says decisively. "She complements you, Your Majesty."
She takes the sleeping woman from me as I frown. "What do you mean?"
"While you are cold and rational, she is understanding and gentle. She softens your rough edges."
"I don't need anybody to soften me up." I bristle, and the older woman chuckles.
"Of course you don't, but she is your perfect match. I'm glad you brought her here. And I know I'm not the only one who feels that way."
I look at the motionless person in her arms, and I hesitate. Is this tiny slip of a woman really changing me? And more importantly, do I want her to? I don't think I'm acting any differently than normal, but maybe I should be more cautious around her.
"How is she eating these days?"
Sigrid beams, setting down my mate on the bed. "She's doing much better. The healer is seeing remarkable progress. It seems like she wants to get well now, so her body is going along with it. It's amazing how the mind assists the healing process. Perhaps it's got something to do with your growing relationship with her."
I scowl. "There's nothing going on between us."
Sigrid disagrees. "You're fated mates. Of course there's something going on between you. There's no need to deny it."
"When did you get so talkative?" I growl, and she raises a brow.
"I can leave if it's a problem."
Shaking my head, I mutter, "That's not what I meant. Anyway, you say she's eating better now?"
"We've introduced some fatty foods, and she's able to keep them down. Healer Pat told me to let you know that if you wish to try for a child, she will be able to conceive."
"And her body? Will it be able to withstand the strain?"
A few weeks ago, I wouldn't have cared about how her body would handle the effort of carrying a child. But now, after seeing how fragile she truly is, I don't know if putting her through that stress is a good idea.
"If she conceives, then she will have to monitored and cared for, but Healer Pat believes it should be safe enough with the right amount of vigilance." She hesitates. "The elders are being vocal about this and called to ask him. That is why he told me."
A snarl builds up within me.
The pack elders are the heads of the noble families. My father always kept them at bay, but ever since I came to power, they have become more interfering, especially during my constant absences when I'm fighting at the Veil. The only reason they did not protest my bringing in Princess Ravenna as queen was because she was of royal blood. They want to preserve the sanctity of the royal and noble bloodlines. I understand the importance since my parents also believed in it. That is why I have not revealed Corrine's true identity to them.
If they find out that she is not of royal blood, they will call for an immediate dissolution of the marriage. While I can prevent that because she is my fated mate, it doesn't change the fact that any child she bears will not be a pureblood. I have to admit that this thought does bother me, but it was my decision to bring her in for political purposes, and I can't hold that against her.
There are only a scant few individuals who are aware of Corrine's true identity. I plan to keep it that way.
"I have not decided whether I want to have a child with her yet."
I know I told Corrine differently, but seeing how she passed out after holding her wolf form for more than an hour gave me pause. It would be better to wait till she's healthier. I don't trust that Healer Pat's words are not influenced by pressure from the elders.
Corrine stirs, and Sigrid moves toward her. "She will want to change her clothes."
"Leave her be. She's tired. You can retire for the night, Sigrid."
Sigrid leaves, and I strip off my shirt before climbing into bed. Gathering Corrine's small form in my arms, I curl around her. As I sink into sleep, I feel her body jerk. When I open my eyes, she's still asleep, her breathing deep.
Maybe I just imagined it.
I allow myself to drift off, my wolf content.