Ivory Snow

Ivory opened her eyes two hours later to a room that was darkening as the sun went down. She closed her eyes again thinking she was still dreaming. She could feel her mate’s embrace and smell his woodsy scent surrounding her. It was the room and the feeling of the bed that felt like a dream.

It was as though her unconscious mind had blended the two sides of her together. The Princess and the farmer.

Adam could feel Ivory stirring, as he had only been sleeping lightly. It was a trait he had picked up over the last few weeks. His wolf was constantly on alert, not completely trusting those around them. The rogue packs after all were a common home base for murderers and thieves. So, when he felt Ivory begin to wake up, he did as well.

He always loved the way she would practically burrow into him, like she was trying to hide from the coming day. If she knew what the evening was bringing she might try for real.

Slowly, awareness returned to Ivory. She began remembering that she was in the royal guest suite in her uncle’s home. Before she could give that too much thought, Adam shifted his arm encircling her from behind.

His hand, which had been protectively placed on her belly, was now playfully lying north of that. Ivory gave him an exaggerated sigh, acting as though he were disturbing her.

“I do have a promise to keep, my Queen.” His voice was low and deep in a way that never failed to hit her in some very interesting spots.

“Well, we can’t let you be known as a male who doesn’t keep his word now can we, my King?” She drew the last word out, causing a lovely reaction in her mate.

They enjoyed a few minutes of quiet time together before Adam had to bring her back to the real world. He was holding her close, her head on his chest when he popped their contented bubble.

“Your uncle requested permission to invite guests to dinner tonight. They are mostly members of the court who came here after Ava took over. It seems many did not support her moving into the castle.”

Ivory grew very still. That had not been part of the plan.

She knew eventually she would have to reenter society but look what happened the last time she did that.

Adam felt her tensing up and rubbed his hand down her back. “I told him to only invite those he trusted the most. And to not tell them about you. I want you to be able to make an entrance the way you want. I know this is faster than planned, but things are going to be moving along quickly from here on out. We need to be ready to meet it head on.”

“I know.” She whispered. “It’s not that. It’s just...” As with every other time she was faced with strong emotions, she couldn’t find the words.

“Show me.” Adam kissed the top of her head.

Ivory closed her eyes and brought up the image of the last time she attended a party. She focused on the feeling of happiness and boredom.

Then came her aunt, and everything changed.

Now she could feel the worry coming from her father. She had only been interested in the female family member she did not know. Her mother was in denial.

Then, they were gone.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I’m not worried about me.”

Adam huffed. “You shouldn’t worry about me and our brothers either. We are in a safe place, surrounded by guards. You and I are stronger already than even your parents were. I even scared your uncle.”

“You... what?” Ivory leaned into his arms, moving her head back to look at him.

Adam chuckled as he told her about his little meeting in the hall. The story worked. She was distracted from her momentary worries.

A little after he finished, there was a knock on the door. He kissed Ivory one more time and then left her there to go open the door, pulling his pants back on as he walked.

“Yes?” Adam asked roughly, not recognizing the female at the door.

She was an older female, possibly the same age as his mother would have been. She was a foot shorter than him and the face of someone who could hold her own.

In one hand, she carried a small bag. The other had a fist placed on her hip. The female bowed her head slightly, probably out of habit, because her face was showing anything but respect.

“Pardon, my Lord. The Duchess requested I come to this room at this time. She said my services were needed. I’m not sure who I am here to work on or why you are in this room. But those are my orders.”

“What is it that you do?”

“Not much these days. I used to be the royal hairdresser, the Princess’s to be exact. Then that snake stole my pup from me, and I ran for it, just like everyone else. Now. Who are you and why are you in the royal suites? I have no patience for wolves who think they deserve more than what Mother Nature gave them.”

Adam grinned and folded his arms across his chest. “I think you and I are going to get along quite well. I just so happen to feel like Mother Nature gave me more than I deserve, and I assume you are here to work on my mate. Before I invite you in though, I must stress to you the importance of keeping her a secret until the time comes. Do you understand?”

The female huffed. “Young pup. I have been working on royals my entire adult life. Ever since my first shift. I know how to keep my trap shut and act like I am no more than a fly on the wall. I am also the one who warned the Duke about the snake’s trap to catch him. Now, where is my charge? And don’t think you are going far either. You could use a cut and shave as well.”

Adam’s jaw dropped at the rashness of the female. Then he busted up laughing as he stepped away. Guess he now knew where Ivory learned it all from then.

The female walked right by him, took five steps into the room then dropped her bag in shock. She just stood there, as though she had been turned to stone.

Adam closed the door behind her and walked around her toward Ivory.

She had heard Angelica’s tirade outside the door and climbed out of bed. She stood a few feet away from them, wringing her hands.

He recognized the movement and went to comfort her.

Ivory had been anxious and excited to see Richard. She had been nervous and unsure when she saw her uncle and the rest of her family. But Angelica had been closer to an aunt than either of her biological aunts were. If anyone were to scold her for chickening out the way she had, it would be Angelica.

Ivory gave her a curtsy, bowing her head. “Evening, Miss Angelica.”

Adam realized he was getting a glimpse into the pup his mate had been.

Ivory’s lip trembled. He was about to encase her in his arms when Angelica’s arms opened wide. Ivory stumbled forward until she collapsed into the older female’s waiting embrace.

Both sobbed.

A moment later, Angelica straightened her back and sniffed. “Let me have a look at you.”

She held Ivory at arm’s length and looked her up and down. “Oh my. Look how grown you are. And…” Angelica sniffed again, leaning inward. A smile crossed her rough face, making Ivory blush. “And you have a pup coming.” She finished softly.

Ivory nodded and glanced back at Adam. He may not know much about females, but he did know enough to stay away when two of them were crying together.

He could barely handle one as it was.

Angelica followed her gaze, eyeing Adam. Her face was a lot softer this time. She was more attractive this way. But no one would ever hold a candle to Ivory in his eyes.

When they looked at each other again, Angelica had fresh tears running down her face.

“I thought you were gone. I heard that awful female and creepy little man saying you were gone, washed away with the ocean. Where have you been, pup?”

At the door, Adam had thought she meant Ava had taken Angelica’s pup away, he hadn’t known she was referring to Ivory.

“Mother Nature took me away from him. I had been hurt badly. She delivered me to seven brothers, who found me and cared for me. She delivered me to the male that was destined to be my mate. I know I should have come back sooner, I just...I…” Ivory hiccupped and wiped at her face.

Adam couldn’t stay away any longer.

He stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on her back. Ivory laid her head on his shoulder.

“You were young is what you were. Still are. I don’t blame you for hiding until you were ready. I do wish you had let me know though. But I know why you couldn’t. I understand.” Angelica sniffled and inhaled deeply.

“Well now, we have a lot of work to do. The Duchess says you are having a special dinner tonight. I assume that means you are ready to take back what is rightfully yours?”

“Yes and no. I am not ready for tonight, Angie.”

The use of the old nickname made Angelica’s heart swell with happiness.

“You, Princess Ivory, are higher than any of them. You’ve survived the worst life can throw your way. You are going to go in there, holding your head up high, and you are going to tell those wannabes where they have gone wrong all this time. You are going to bring this kingdom back to the greatness it once knew.” Angelica placed a gentle but firm hand on Ivory’s cheek then patted it in a not so gentle way. “It’s time to buck up and bring my Princess back. The one who could control a room without a word. Where is that female?”

“She’s in there, and more. She’s been running a home with seven males, most of them pups stuck in their ways. Not to mention putting me in my place time and again. The female who tamed Agatha into letting her milk her. She got six male pups to bathe regularly and clean up after themselves. She just needs to believe in herself. You’ve got this, love.”

Ivory closed her eyes and took a slow deep breath, willing the Princess, the Queen to come out of her. When she opened them again, her green eyes were on fire.

“There’s my pup.” Angelica said proudly. “Now, let’s get to work. We’ll get your hair up in curlers, and then I will start to work on him. He can’t meet the court as the future King, looking like he grew up in a barn.”

Ivory giggled. “He did grow up in a barn.”

“I did not.” Adam said with mock indignation. He actually felt it for real but the smile on his mate’s face was worth the dig. “I own a barn and work in it. I do not live in it.”

Over the next hour and a half, Angelica worked hard turning the two weary travelers into royalty.

While she worked, they answered all of her questions.

For once, she did not ask about that day. Not even when she saw the scar on Ivory’s head, she paused and fought back the tears threatening, but pushed on. She didn’t want to hear the details. It was enough to know that the pup she had spent her life caring for had been returned to her.

Angelica left their suite with a skip in her step, feeling better than she had in almost four years.

Ivory watched the guests arrive through their third-floor window. Adam held her close, watching with her. Not long after the last guest arrived, Jeffery knocked on their door.

He bowed low, knowing full well who it was he was greeting. He didn’t mind in the least bit.

“Your majesties.” He grinned ear to ear, loving that he could say that again and what it meant for the future. “The Duke wishes for you to join him and the guests. He would like you to wait in the foyer until the right moment. He said you would know when that was.”

“Thank you, Jeffery.” Adam looked toward Ivory, a little way behind him, raising his arm for her. “It is time, my Queen.” He was really beginning to like the sound of that. From the moment he first saw her, he always knew she was special.

Ivory took another steadying breath. “Well then, let’s not keep them waiting.” She wrapped her palm around his arm and let him escort her out the door and down the stairs.

The Duke and Duchess greeted their guests at the entrance to the dining room. Jack and Mark stood beside their parents, welcoming and greeting.

The six brothers stood off to the side, immensely grateful that they had no responsibilities.

The long table had been set for their twenty guests, in addition to themselves. It was wide enough that two people could sit on the ends next to each other, comfortably. As the guests came in, they were escorted to their seats by the two butlers.

Once they were all seated, the brothers took their seats at one end of the table, where there were two conspicuously empty chairs. The other end held the Duke and his family.

The guests eyed the brothers and the empty chairs, quietly wondering if they were for the pups parents. No one dared speak of it though. The room was small enough that every wolf would be able to hear.

After holding his mate’s chair, the Duke stood behind his own and began to speak.

“My dear friends, it has been some time since we all gathered formally. With the difficult times, it did not feel appropriate. Things have been strained in our kingdom for quite a bit of time now. People have taken the sides they thought were more fitting. More than one of you has come to me with complaints. I know that many of you would like me to accept Ava’s offer of surrender. But I have refused time and again.”

Murmuring could be heard up and down the table, some in agreement, some in frustration.

The Duke held up his hand, silencing them. “I had some visitors today. They came to help with our effort to fight back. They were led by two wolves I never thought to see again. It is because of them that I believe this war is finally nearing its end. Now, before I reintroduce them to you… yes. you know them as well as I do...”

The guests looked at one another, shrugging at the silent question of their friends and neighbors.

“…I must stress the value of secrecy. For their safety, and that of all of us. It is of utmost importance that their names are not repeated outside of this room. The only people who know of their existence are all in this room, at this very moment. If word reaches the Evil Queen, that means that we have a traitor amongst us. And I guarantee that that traitor will be killed the moment they are found.”

Only the guests were gasping and gaping at his remark. The six brothers smirked, including little Gabe.

“I know those words are harsh, but you will understand why in just a moment. Trust me, I have my reasons, as will you. First, while he will not agree that he is important, personally, I think he is what we need in leading both our troops and the volunteers he brought with him.”

Captain Richard walked through the entryway door, having been standing with Ivory and Adam moments before.

He gave her a swift kiss on the cheek before leaving her. He had been floored when she walked down the staircase, where he fell to his knee once again.

Tonight, they truly looked like royalty.

Richard stopped at the end of the table, staring down the length of the table with a look that meant death to all if they didn’t listen.

Most of the males stood up and cheered, extremely pleased to see him. A few stayed in their seats, incredulous to his usefulness and agenda.

“Excuse me, my Lord. I do not mean to be rude. But there were rumors that he and his wolves were paid to abandon the royal family. How do we know he won’t do the same to us? How can we trust him?” One of the males who remained seated asked.

Richard snarled and opened his mouth, but the Duke signaled for him not to. Richard chuckled softly, knowing what was still to come.

“A good question. Please remember that more than one wolf in this room was also rumored to have been a part of that plot. All of which were started by Ava. However, I have a witness that can tell you all who was and was not involved.”

“That’s impossible.”

“No one else was allowed near that cove.”

“I thought everyone was killed.”

The Duke let the whispered conversations continue for a moment, letting their curiosity build.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” They silenced immediately wanting to hear what came next, nearly forgetting that one more person had yet to make an appearance. “Please remember, for her safety and ours, outside of this room she is to be referred to only as Snow.”

Richard stepped quietly to the side of the room.

“However, in my home, you will only refer to her and her mate as their status deserves. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to announce the return of my niece. Princess Ivory and her mate, the future King, Adam.”

As he said niece, the butlers opened both doors, revealing Adam in a dark purple suit and Ivory in a light purple dress that flowed the length of her body.

Adam’s hair had been cut short to where not even his fingers could hide in it, his facial hair gone completely.

The top layer of Ivory’s hair had been braided on the top, creating a holder for the small tiara, the rest was curled and waved down her back.

Richard’s appearance had brought on a burst of applause, but the royal couple had been met with utter silence filled with shock, surprise, and a good deal of confusion.

From the side, Richard went to his knee. The Duke and Duchess sank to theirs, along with their sons. The guests slowly came out of their stupors, stood up, and quickly fell to the floor. Even the brothers bowed this time.

Although, they were more shocked by the change in Adam’s appearance than anything else.