Sabrina's Point of View
"It is a no for me," Derek said.
We were seated at a long table, the council members and I. Asmall gathering made up of two men and two women, just to balance things up.During my father's time, there were five men and one woman. Derek was one ofthe most complicated person on my council. I kept wondering how the heck he hadmade the number, and remembered that my father had told me to let him stay andthat his advice would be immeasurable to me.
Well, I did not like the one he was giving. I let the otherstalk.
Vanessa looked from Derek to me. "This hasn't happenedbefore, your majesty. Are you sure you really thought this through?"
"No, she did not," Derek cut in. "She isdoing it out of love. Or is it infatuation."
"Is there a difference between the two?" I askedhim.
Derek looked at me as if I had just spoken in a languagethat he did not understand.
I turned to Vanessa. "And yes, I have thought thisthrough. Regardless of what Derek here might say about it. Plus, it hasn'thappened before, this I have also considered."
"So the people might not take it with open arms,"said the other man named Clinton.
"Change is always constant, Clinton."
"You say that because you want it to happen toyou."
"Are you going to counsel me, Derek, or are you goingto condemn me?"
Derek shook his head. "First of all, this plan of yourshas a lot of loopholes, and I don't see it playing out the way you figure. Theman in concern is an Alpha that we know nothing about."
"Oh, he is from here," I said. "You can checkout his family records."
"We cannot trust this man with a position he knowsnothing about," Clinton said.
"And that is why he is going to make me his Luna. I'llteach him the ropes."
Derek turned to Ava. "Can you please tell her majestythat this is not wise?"
"You talk as if you are afraid of losing your seat,Councilman Derek."
"It's not that I'm worried about, your majesty. It isabout you losing your position to a man who might betray you."
The hall was silent after he said this. Everyone had theireyes on me. They were waiting for me to assure them that Kevin would not betrayme after I had made him Alpha King.
"Is this man of yours from a royal family?" Avaasked.
"No, he isn't," I said. "What has that got todo with this?"
"Well, almost everything. Handing royalty to a commoneron a silver platter tends to bring bad luck. And we don't want that."
"Look, I know Kelvin better than any of you here does.He isn't thst kind of person. I can vouch for that."
"Of course, you can. But what about us? You think itwon't rub off on us, or that we won't face consequences if he turned outbad?"
"Maybe you should just stick to being AlphaQueen," Vanessa reasoned. "The law allows you to get married to anyman of your choice and still keep the throne, performing your duties and all.You do not have to relinquish all that, except if you have an heir."
Which I didn't.
Why were they so against me making Kelvin Alpha King? But itwas a decision that I had already made, whether they liked it or not. So, theywould just have to adjust to the new me.
I leaned back into my chair. "My decision has alreadybeen made. And it is up to you all to support me, or don't. Regardless, this ishow we will do it and the people will accept."
No one said anything else.
***
After the meeting, Vanessa came to meet me in the lobby. Itold her that I loved her robe, and she just smiled.
"What was that back there?" she demanded.
Vanessa was my cousin, so she had some sway when it came tome.
"What was what?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"You making decisions before consulting us, is what. Isit because of Kevin?"
I turned to face her. "You don't like him?"
"No, I don't like the fact that you're rushing this.You shouldn't rush anything when you're in love with a man. What if.." shestopped talking and lowered her voice to a whisper. "What if he is justafter your throne?"
"You cannot be serious, Vanessa. Kelvin is not likethat. And you all are wrong about him."
She shook her head. "Well, I hope you are right. Forall our sakes."
"You should support me on this, cousin."
"I am trying to, Bri. But I just thought there could besome time to talk this through. You didn't even tell me."
"Sorry. What are the rest of them saying?"
"They'll agree, eventually. But Derek might have a planB in mind, though I don't know what it is."
"If you find out, let me know."
"Sure."
Later, I sent for Kelvin and when he came, I told him allthat had happened during the council meeting.
"I understand they are concerned about how I am goingto turn out, but I am not that man."
"Oh, how I wish you'd been there to tell them yourself,babe. But I told them that my decision has already been made. Vanessa latertold me that they would agree anyway."
"Really?"
"Yeah. But Derek might have a different planaltogether."
"Should be ready for him, babe," Kelvin said, aserious expression on his face. "Do you want me to watch him? I can sendmy beta to keep an eye on him."
"No, and if I wanted to do that, I have spies. Whywould there be any need to watch him?"
"Well, I mean, you just said he could have an ulteriormotive, right? Better you keep an eye on him lest he takes you by surprise. Hemight even want to hurt you so as to prevent you from making me AlphaKing."
I thought about this for a moment. It didn't make any senseto me, what Kelvin was insinuating. Because I didn't see Derek as a traitor,even though he could be full of crap most times.
"Uh-uh, I don't think that would be necessary,babe," I disagreed with him.
Kevin shrugged. "Alright, then."
So we spent the rest of the day and it was only interruptedwhen the council members returned to give me their feedback on the matter. Andit was exactly as Vanessa had told me.
Ana was the one who spoke for them, and it was odd, becauseDerek was usually spokesperson.
"We are only agreeing with you because we feel thatyour good judgement about people with fall with this one too," Ana said,and I just nodded at them with a smile.