He Called Me A Stone And Chose Her Pearl Chapter 21
Sophie quietly handed me a letter.
Theo explained that when we first met, he had been about to depart for the border in secret and couldn’t reveal his identity. Since taking the throne at thirteen, most of his public images were either from years ago or digitally altered for security, which was why I hadn’t recognized him.
He also wrote that he had worried the Queen Mother would object. Before leaving for the war, he had promised her he would prove, through a decisive victory, that he was capable of choosing the person who would one day rule beside him.
I was touched, but also deeply uneasy.
I was afraid the Queen Mother wouldn’t like me, afraid I couldn’t possibly shoulder the duties of a Luna Queen.
That very afternoon, Nolan came to our house after hearing the news.
He stared at me, his expression ugly.
“She actually got to King Theo. I always knew she was calculating, but I never thought—”
Terrified, my father cut him off and ushered him out the door.
From that day on, my parents’ attention shifted entirely to my wedding, as if they had forgotten Vanessa’s was ever scheduled.
Vanessa locked herself in her room and refused to see anyone.
A few days later, I was invited to Arden Royal Castle.
Behind the ancient stone walls were modern elevators, a security center, conference rooms, and a medical wing. Queen Mother Helena Ramsey received me in a private drawing room. She asked me about the books I’d read, my thoughts on the educational disparities between packs, and what I enjoyed doing.
She put on no airs. She even told me Theo would come see me as soon as he finished his military debriefing.
But when I returned home, Vanessa fixed me with a venomous stare.
“Don’t get cocky. You haven’t won until the wedding is over.”