Doubt filled the queen as she pondered her and Ace’s choices that had led to this particular moment. She loved Wren and Maeve, and she would do anything for them, but what was required to give them the best life possible? It was no secret that she felt trapped here, like a prisoner. She could almost feel the disdain that rolled off of Phineas and his children. She was not welcome here, but they did not have the courage to drive her away from their home just yet. But it would come. She desperately wanted to talk to Ace about the idea of leaving, handing the throne down to Hypatia as Phineas would want. Perhaps then, she’d be able to head out with an ounce of dignity. But not yet.

Wren and Maeve needed time to grow before she pried them away from the heights.

How could she have been so stupid? She had wanted it, but she hadn’t even stopped to consider the consequences of her actions, alphaess or not. She knew that there had been no interactions between her family and the rest of the pack, given a few exceptions. She did not know if Ace had talked to anyone, but she felt shunned, and perhaps that was how she was supposed to feel. She knew Wren had been so proud to come back and say that he had a nice talk with Tannis. She did not know Tannis, but she felt grateful that he had been respectful to her child, instead of avoiding him.

Perhaps it was paranoia or fear of what could come. That was really the question, wasn’t it? Was this a mother’s love for her children, a mother’s instinct, or was it paranoia? She had no idea, but she was determined to figure it out.

If she did leave... where would she go?