Queen of the Lycan, Karina Espinosa [accelerated reader books .TXT] 📗

answer to anything, even though it was usually my first instinct. At least not here.

“What’s next on the agenda?” Alexander continued the meeting, ignoring the audible dissent from the Council.

“We want to discuss lowering the security in the village,” Finlay suggested. “The threat the Princess claimed upon her arrival has nae been shown. We’re confident the village is safe.” Finlay looked over at me with his condemning green eyes as if he didn’t believe a single thing I said.

Before leaving New York City, I was faced with Úlfur, a Lycan unlike any other we’d ever faced. At first, he pretended to help me with my cases when I worked for the Special Investigative Unit, or the SIU, but slowly his true intentions were revealed. He was after the crown, and apparently, he’d been watching me for a very long time. Why, I had no idea, but the last thing he told me before I left for Scotland was that he’d be following me here. I knew this wasn’t over, and I couldn’t be careless. He was not my friend, but rather a formidable enemy.

Ranulf straightened. “These are serious accusations,” he said. “They should nae be taken lightly.”

“I agree,” Alexander declared, nodding to his right-hand man.

“What proof do we have?” Callum demanded. “The word of a lassie?” he scoffed. “Has anyone seen this so-called wolf god?”

They all started to laugh as if it was all a grand joke. They didn’t believe that Úlfur was Fenrir, the son of Loki and the first wolf. They thought I was lying. Their obvious disregard only angered me further. These old bastards would ruin the Lycan if they didn’t wake up.

After learning that Úlfur was actually Fenrir, I did a little research. Unfortunately, all I came up with was a load of fiction. At least that was what I think it was. I found him mentioned prominently in Norse mythology. The humans recorded him in their histories, but was it true or was it myth? How would I even know? What I did know was that Fenrir was a Lycan and he was stronger than any of us, which meant he was more than met the eye.

The Council’s laughter and lighthearted chatter continued until I couldn’t take it anymore. I slammed my palms on the mahogany table, the sound echoing in the council room and catching the attention of everyone around the table.

“Mackenzie!” Alexander tried to stop me, but I was already standing up. I was done being obedient and keeping quiet. I’d been quiet for a whole week, which had to be a new record.

I glared at each and every one of the Council members and held their gaze a second longer than necessary, establishing dominance. “If you want to risk the lives of everyone in this village,” I shrugged, “then by all means, go ahead and reduce the security. I don’t have a problem with it. I’ll protect what’s mine, and when they come for you, don’t look my way for help, because I’ll let them eat you alive,” I growled.

“Mackenzie.” Alexander placed a hand over mine and urged me to sit down, which I steadfastly refused to acknowledge.

An unsettling quiet descended over the room before Jacob grunted, “Put a leash on that lass, Alexander.”

I snapped my gaze toward him and flashed my silver eyes, baring my canines with no regard for his position within the King’s Council. If they thought the Highlanders were feral, they hadn’t seen nothing yet.

Jacob swallowed loudly and diverted his light blue eyes from mine.

“Anyone else?” I asked the group. “Because this lass is a woman and your future Queen. Show some damn respect.”

Alexander kicked his chair back and stood, placing his hand on my shoulder and pushing me down to take a seat.

“This meeting is adjourned,” he announced. “We’ll see you all at the Blood Moon event.”

The grumbling Council stood from their seats and slowly exited the council room until only me, Alexander, and Ranulf remained. Alexander’s hand was still firmly placed on my shoulder, keeping me in my seat.

“Hells bells, Princess,” Ranulf sighed as he ran a hand through his dark hair.

I kept my glare fixed straight ahead, avoiding both their gazes. I was too upset to listen and too angry to care. I needed to calm down.

“Darling,” Alexander murmured as he released me. “Ye cannae have those kinds of outbursts. This is nae a dictatorship.”

I scoffed, “I’m not trying to be a dictator, but they have to start showing me some fuckin’ respect! I’m not some little girl running around here exaggerating and telling lies!”

“Language,” Alexander reprimanded. “They will nae take kindly to you establishing dominance over them.”

“So what?” I threw my hands out. “I am dominant, and they need to learn their place.”

I knew what I sounded like, but fuck that. When women were assertive, they were accused of being too aggressive or emotional or whatever. But when a man did it, it was okay. No way. I wasn’t going to soften up because I was a woman and that was expected of me to soothe a male ego.

“We’ve never had a luna as an alpha. This is new territory for everyone, Mackenzie. Have patience,” Alexander pleaded.

I rolled my eyes. Patience? Where was their patience when it came to me? All week long, they’d been talking shit. I had the bite marks on my tongue to prove how much patience I had.

“There’s only so much she can take, Alexander,” Ranulf inserted. I was surprised he backed me up. “Yer lucky ye’ve gotten this far.”

I’d tried really hard this week since moving here, but I hadn’t exactly received a warm welcome from the King’s Council. I didn’t think I ever would. The last thing they wanted was to be run by a luna. Much less a luna who started a rebellion and freed all the lunas from servitude. I wasn’t necessarily known as a rule follower or someone who played well with others. And don’t even get me started on the European Summit. I hadn’t