I smiled, a sense of genuine purpose settling into my chest. "Perfect. Let's do that right after we check in with Athena. It's been a while since I visited the orphanage anyway."
Sam nodded, his expression softening with approval. "An excellent idea, My Queen. The children always look forward to your visits, and seeing you there will do wonders for the pack's morale while the King is away."
We turned the corner into the wider, sunlit wing of the estate, our footsteps echoing softly against the stone floors as we set off to find Athena. The weight of guarding the stronghold on my own was still there, but with a clear plan in mind, the nervousness faded, replaced by the quiet determination to be exactly the ruler my people needed.
We navigated the sweeping corridors of the residential win
