Visitors...

Hayley

It took all day, but despite all my attempts I still couldn't produce a spark of magic, or anything that remotely resembled it. My own weakness was getting to me, and I could feel frustration slowly gnawing at my bones.

"There's no need for you to be frustrated, Hayley. I've told you, haven't I? Magic takes time." Miranda said to comfort me. She was disappointed as well, but it was probably for a completely different reason.

"You're just saying that because you feel sorry for me. Don't be, I'm used to being called a failure." I replied before rising from the floor. We had thought that being on the floor and closer to nature would help me in some way, but apparently that hadn't helped at all. If anything, it made me even angrier. Not only did I ruin one of my best dresses by sitting on the floor, it had all amounted to nothing.

"You might be slower than the others, but you're definitely not a failure. One who's a failure can't possibly be mated to Alpha Damian." Miranda said, and only then did I decide to confront her about her failed betrothal to Damian. I was going to force the truth out of her one way or another, and make her air the reasons why she couldn't bring forth a child.

"You were almost betrothed to Damian, right?" I started, and Miranda nodded casually to my first question. "So what happened? Why didn't you two get married?"

She chuckled before turning her eyes away from mine. "The people didn't want the Alpha to wed a witch. They wanted their heir to be a pure blooded wolf." Miranda lied before turning to face me. "However, once you learn magic, you will fulfill my dreams for me."

"And what exactly are these dreams of yours?" I returned with genuine curiosity.

"A werewolf with magic. I've always wanted to recreate what the old men had. The Forgers were Werewolves, but they practiced magic first. The men of this generation don't think it's possible, but I know it is. That's why I'm so sure you can do it, I believe you can learn magic." Miranda answered with profound eagerness. Her eyes were lit up in joy, but I really couldn't trust anything she said anymore. She sounded so genuine, but I chose to believe Damian. He had nothing to lose by telling me the truth, however Miranda could gain a lot by leaving the truth out.

I knew that I'd have to give something up before I could acquire magic. In a situation where I lost something vital, there was a chance that my marriage with Damian could end as well.

"Wait..." I said inwardly at the realization. Perhaps the reason why I hadn't been able to utilize magic was because I wasn't ready to give anything up just yet. I had just found happiness after living my entire life in pain and sadness. I wasn't ready to lose any of this, not yet. I wanted to enjoy my life this way just a little more.

"It seems you might have visitors." Miranda informed me, finally distracting me from my thoughts. She was right, there were knights marching into the house, and they didn't seem to dress like the ones I was familiar with. Taking a closer look, I immediately recognised the emblem on their armours. These weren't just ordinary knights, they were knights from Diamond pack.

"Diamond pack?!" I questioned abstractly, and Miranda nodded in affirmation.

"It seems like it, that's their symbol of their pack. I think their Alpha might be here." She said, and I immediately felt my blood curdle at the thought of Zion being in the same space with me.

I immediately left the garden and headed straight to my room for a change of clothes. As the queen I was allowed to be in meetings concerning the kingdom, and although Damian would probably be against it, I was going to come anyway.

As expected, I met Damian in our room getting prepared to go and meet with his visitors. His eyes narrowed in curiosity the moment he saw the dirt on my dress, and he wasted no time in making enquiries about it.

"It's nothing, I was just sitting on the garden floor." I answered while trying to keep myself from staring at his naked body for too long. My reply was supposed to answer his question, but it only managed to get him even more curious.

"Why? Isn't there a bench in the garden anymore?"

I didn't want to give him the whole truth, Damian wouldn't let me learn magic when he knew about the consequences of doing that. If he learnt that Miranda was trying to teach me magic, he would likely limit me from meeting with Miranda, and currently she was the only person I could even consider a friend.

"Forget about the dirt, Damian. I want to come with you." I said before returning my eyes to his face. "I want to be in the meeting with you, I want to be involved in the kingdom's affairs."

He stared back at me, unsure of the reply to give me. I could tell he so desperately wanted to refuse me, but at the same time he knew I wouldn't budge. To avoid the stress of having to argue with me for hours, Damian reluctantly agreed.

"You're the queen after all, it's only right that you're involved in this matter." I was about to squeal out in joy, when his voice arrested me. "Please don't cause a scene Hayley, I know you're aware of his presence, but for today just keep your anger in check. We can't afford to lose allies to Conrad over personal differences."

I nodded slowly to his words before giving him a bright smile. I had no intention of causing a scene in the first place. The only reason I wanted to be there was to show Zion how well I was doing. I wanted him to regret ever rejecting me, and I wanted him to know that he would never be able to get me back. I was doing better than he was now, and I fully intended on rubbing it on his face.