Southern Wolf Queen (Complete)

A Southern Wolf Welcome

Jewel's POV

Tau's kiss threw me for the biggest loop of my life! Holy hell, it was like nothing in this world! Granted I had nothing else to compare it to but if kissing like that was normal what would it be like if I found my mate!?

I spent the four-hour drive from the small airport to the gates of the Southern wolf castle. I was lost in the kiss with Tau. The castle was just as I remembered it from a few years ago. Though today it felt smaller for some reason. I saw a massive amount of people on the grounds and stairs.

"Appears they are giving you a royal welcome." Elder Braun mentioned as he too was seeing the same as me.

Original detail around Jewel. Hawk announced in everyone's head. That would be Elder Braun, Mike, and Logan securing me. Athens and Pinky would buffer along with Tiffany and Lory. The new security would cover the luggage.

Athens took my arm as he leads me up the stairs. There I saw an older man and woman, grey hair and age lightened brown eyes staring back at me. They seemed not impressed.

"Greetings Princess Jewel," The man and woman gave a curt bow. "I am Javier and my wife Rita." The elder man waved a hand to the woman next to him. "We are the head butler and maid for this place." He seemed stern though his aloofness bugged me.

"Javier, Rita," I did not bow I released my Alpha aura out. I let it slam into everyone around. Hawk I felt, placed a hand on my shoulder adding his to my mix. People near us fell, while others caused a wave of bows. "you would do well to use respect when addressing my brother or myself. I expect fair treatment of everyone in my party." I let Akasa growl her warning.

"Of course your Highness." Javier and Rita squeaked together. "Let us show you to your rooms." They spoke with more respect.

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We followed them up to the rooms, Hawk and I were given access to rooms fit for our stations. Both of our doors were across the hall. I noticed Jakarta moved her bags into Hawk's room. As the rest of them began to move into the rooms down the hall. The smaller room adjacent to mine was left open. Though only Athens, Elder Braun, and Pinky noticed. "That will be Tau's." Athens picked up his suitcase and disappeared into that room.

My heart fluttered knowing Tau would be sleeping in the room right next door. It even had an adjoining door. I was, broken out of that thought as there was a knock on my door. "Your Highness, we have a meal prepared for you and your staff downstairs. The local head families are also present to greet you and your brother." Javier bowed low.

"Please tell the rest, we will be down shortly." I nodded.

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I descended the stairs with Athens at my side. He was not going to leave unless to sleep. Behind me was Hawk with Jakarta on his arm, followed by the ones from home and then the ones from Linzi's. I had detached myself until I could see what their plan was. Walking into the dining hall, I watched a group of twelve men ranging in age from ancient to close to mine.

"These are the twelve royal head families." Javier waved his hand in their direction. I knew a few that had made my birthday. They had pledged their loyalty to me back then. But, I still didn't trust fully their words were one thing, actions spoke louder.

The first to hold out his hand was a man with greyish silver hair, hazel eyes with a stately demeanor. "Samuel Avalos," he grunted. The evident distaste on his words. Ok, he is against it.

The next I had met at my birthday. About five years old, shorter a hint of Asian ancestry as he introduced himself. "Andrés Chen." He gave me a weak smile. Ok, not fully against me, I can work with this.

"Mateo Mora," spat a thirty-looking guy massive in the shoulders and disdain heavy in his brown eyes. He wouldn't shake my hand. Definitely not for me.

"Gael Calvo head of security in the palace and head of the Calvo family." He was young maybe mid-twenties. I could see he was unsure. He was glancing around at the others as he reached his hand out to shake mine. I felt an instant dash of slight tingles. Nothing like Tau's touch. But I noted it. I could see his slightly widened eyes noted it too.

"Gabriel Barboza," my eyes instantly flicked to the man who said that. It was one of the families who had tried the arranged marriage thing. I didn't bother to shake his hand.

"Sául Coto," grunted the next. He wouldn't even look in my direction. Kept his eyes solely on the painting across from him. I didn't shake his hand either.

"Thiago Loria," the next announced. He had a warm smile and a stubbled jawline. His outstretched hand was a welcome sight. He had also been to my birthday.

"Santiago Levia," spoke next to Loria. Which told me they stood together with me. I liked this. I shook his hand as well.

"Sebastian Beita," Another next to them gave me a warm smile that reached his dark brown eyes. Shaking his hand I noticed three left.

"Emiliano Sosa," the curly brown-haired man with tattoos seeping out of the top of his shirt. His brown eyes told me everything I needed to know. He did not like me one bit.

"Diego Maroto," spoke the man who had a Greek accent. He was the other whose family had tried to arrange my marriage. He at least had documentation showing what an asshole the sperm donor of a dad I had was.

"Nicolás Lobo," the grey-haired man with all-black eyes showing his wolf was present, literally spat at my feet. My brother growled the floor started to move. This was the man who had tried to kill me numerous times while I was here.

My group moved down and around the table so we could sit opposite the family heads. once we were almost around Nicolás Lobo paused as he looked at Leon. "Who was your mother?" He growled.

Leon, I could tell was taken aback by the aggression Nicolás Lobo was displaying. I have never seen him not display aggression so to me it was nothing new. When Leon didn't answer him right away he slapped a hand on the table and leaned toward Leon. "Answer me pup!" He shouted, his teeth elongated when he yelled. He was about to do a partial shift.

"Enough!" I slapped my hand back on the table releasing my aura. I noticed all those who seemed against me shook but tilted their heads slightly in acknowledgment of my aura. "He was an orphan!" I snarled at Nicolás. I let Akasa's eyes shine through mine. Every single one of the heads paused. They knew my bloodline, they knew my sperm donors' aggression too. They paused, the wind picked up in the room as it twirled around the table. Nicolás lowered his eyes as he set down in his chair. I looked at Leon who bowed his head low to me, mouthing a "thank you."

We settled into the chairs. I glanced at everyone to see they were watching the heads silently. Athens stood behind my chair leaning against the wall. When did your anger swirl the wind in a room? Hawk asked in mind link.

No idea where that came from. I shrugged and we started the meal.

If today was anything like this up to coronation we were in for a wild ride. The new team needed to be on point. I needed to know I could trust them. We needed to get our s**t fully together. I needed my Tau back. Wait... Crap he is not mine.

Shut up he is yours. Snapped Akasa in my head.

Is not. I mentally groaned back.

He is. You would do well to watch the ones who displayed distaste. That one who challenged just now. You may have to kill him. Akasa was giving me a warning. Even I knew The Lobo household was the oldest, the strongest, and related heavily to the Royal line through arranged marriages. Killing this family would be difficult unless I could place a family head loyal to me. I already hated being here. Tau not here made it that much worse.

Why did my thoughts always go to him? I groaned in my head.

Do you want me to answer that? Akasa asked.

It was a rhetorical question. I hated that she could hear my thoughts. But, since you are offering why do they?

Hmmm, perhaps I shouldn't. This wolf drove me nuts

Spill or don't offer. I snapped back at her. I was pulling out of my mind to see everyone quietly eating. Each of my team eyeing each of the other tables. What a way to start this journey. I hope they had chocolate here. I was gonna need a lot of it.

Never mind. Akasa huffed curling up in the back of my mind.

Ugh..Can I go home already? Nothing about here did I like. Even less without Tau. Gah... Focus Jewel! Find a way to get the heads to back you. That was going to be my first goal.