85: Emma

"Oh my god!" she squealed, crossing the room in rapid strides to envelop me in a hug that would have crushed the air from my lungs before the marking. Now I could feel the precise pressure of each of her fingers through the fabric of my dress. "I'm so happy for you both!"

She pulled back, her eyes dancing with excitement. "But I'm also very excited about breakfast. I haven't had salmon in ages." She spun toward the buffet, her enthusiasm making me laugh.

Elijah approached more slowly, his expression one of careful assessment as his gaze moved between Theo and me. Finally, he extended his hand to Theo. "Congratulations," he said, his voice warm despite his obvious surprise. Then he turned to me. "How are you feeling, Em?"

"Weird," I admitted. "But good. Definitely some things I need to get used to..."

Theo laughed, the sound rippling through me. "I think the maintenance team will appreciate that."

I scowled at him, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

"What are you going on about?" Elijah asked, his eyebrows drawing together.

I sighed, dropping my voice to a murmur. "I broke the door handle for the bathroom in our suite this morning because I didn't realize how much stronger I am."

Christian, who had been quietly observing until now, burst into laughter. "Oh, that's priceless. Please tell me you ripped it clean off."

"Not exactly," I grimaced, remembering the way the metal had crumpled in my hand like aluminum foil. "More like... crushed it beyond recognition."

"The look on your face," Theo added, not bothering to hide his amusement. "Pure horror mixed with confusion. As if the handle had personally betrayed you."

"I'm glad my distress provides such entertainment," I said dryly, but I couldn't help smiling. There was something absurd about the whole situation—me, former Gamma of the Blood Moon Pack, now Queen and accidentally destroying fixtures with my bare hands.

We filled our plates and settled around the table, the conversation flowing naturally despite the momentous change that had occurred overnight. Elena peppered me with questions about my enhanced senses, her scientific curiosity evident in the precision of her inquiries.

"So how much different is it?" she asked, leaning forward. "I mean, werewolf senses are already heightened compared to humans, but this seems like another level entirely."

I considered how to explain as I savoured a bite of salmon—the flavour now so complex I could taste the very water the fish had swum in. "I knew mine were already good," I began, then caught Elijah's sceptical look. "What? They were."

"Better than mine," Elijah mumbled, spearing a piece of melon with unnecessary force.

I smirked at my brother before continuing. "But this is like night and day. When I woke up, I told Theo off for breathing too loud."

"I wasn't even snoring," Theo defended himself, raising his champagne flute in a mock toast. "Just normal, regular breathing."

"It sounded like a hurricane," I countered, then turned back to Elena. "It's not just sound, though. Scents are more nuanced. Colours have depths I never noticed before. Even textures feel different. It's like... I've been experiencing the world through a filter until now, and suddenly it's been removed."

"Fascinating," Elena murmured, her eyes bright with interest. "And the strength?"

"That's the most unsettling part," I admitted. "I keep misjudging how much force to use for simple tasks. The door handle wasn't the only casualty this morning."

"She snapped a hairbrush in half," Theo offered helpfully. "And cracked a glass."

"Not to mention almost dislocating your shoulder when I rolled over in bed," I added, then immediately blushed as I realized what I'd revealed.

Christian hooted with laughter. "Now there's a hazard they don't warn you about in the royal marriage manual."

Elijah cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "I assume there are other... changes as well?"

I knew what he was really asking—about the mental bond, the shared emotions that came with marking. "The telepathy is stronger," I confirmed. "And yes, there's a... connection. I can sense Theo's emotions, even from a distance. It's like carrying a piece of him with me."

Theo's hand found mine beneath the table, our fingers intertwining. His emotions washed over me through our bond—pride, love, and a deep contentment that resonated with my own.

"I've been meaning to ask," Elijah directed his question to Theo, "will Emma's lifespan change as well?"

A sudden hush fell over the table. It was a question I hadn't even thought to ask yet, too overwhelmed by the immediate changes.

Theo nodded slowly. "Yes. The marking aligns our life forces. Emma will live at least as long as I do." His eyes met mine, full of somber understanding. "It's a significant change, one that we should have discussed more thoroughly before—"

"No," I interrupted, squeezing his hand. "I knew what I was choosing. Who I was choosing." The realization that I would outlive Elijah, Elena, and many of my pack members by centuries sent a pang through my heart, but I pushed it aside. That was a grief for another day.

The conversation drifted to lighter topics as we finished our meal, but I could sense Theo gathering himself to make an announcement. Finally, he set down his napkin and cleared his throat.

"I think this calls for a proper celebration," he said, his voice carrying the authority that came so naturally to him. "I'm arranging a formal ball for tonight, where we'll make the announcement to the rest of the summit's attendants."

Elena clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up. "I love a ball! Oh, Emma, we'll need to find you something spectacular to wear!"

I raised one eyebrow, glancing at my brother. "I don't think Elijah shares your excitement," I said, smirking at his unimpressed look. My brother had never been one for formal events, preferring the straightforward nature of pack gatherings to the political maneuvering of royal functions.

"As long as I don't have to dance with any council ministers, I'll survive," Elijah said with a resigned sigh.

"Don't worry," Christian chimed in, "they'll all be too busy tripping over themselves to dance with the new Queen." He wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Better start practicing your royal wave, sis."

A flutter of anxiety rose in my chest at the thought of facing the entire summit as Queen. It must have shown on my face, or perhaps Theo felt it through our bond, because he leaned close, his voice for my ears alone.

"You don't need to be nervous," he said softly. "The people all love you. I love you." His fingers traced the line of my jaw. "And crowns aren't so bad when you get used to the idea."

I looked into his eyes—the eyes of my mate, my King—and found the strength I needed reflected there. Whatever changes came, whatever challenges we faced, we would face them together. I was no longer just Emma Maxwell, Gamma of the Blood Moon Pack. I was the Queen… and I had a feeling that would take a lot more getting used to than enhanced hearing or broken door handles.

But with Theo's hand in mine, I was ready to try.