"This way," Rebecca calls as she barges past me brushing her shoulder against mine with Leah in tow. The way she walks into the crown jewel room I'd think it was her own personal stash.

Percival 'humphs' and Eli mutters to himself but Mira is all set to explode, eyes ablaze until I grab her arm. Her look says 'What the fuck' but she reluctantly simmers down with my silent plea. Jenna, Chloe, and Willow file in last, yet there's still plenty of room.

"This was Charlotte's," Rebecca cooes, reaching into a case in the center of the room with a red pillow and two crowns.

I've never seen something so elaborate and priceless looking, not to mention flashy. The gold crown has numerous red rubies embedded with countless diamonds throughout, making it glitter even in lower light. She picks it up and for a moment it looks like she's about to put it on before she holds it out for me. I hesitate, something feels wrong about me taking it.

"Of course her Highness is more than welcome to use any other crown," Percival mentions. His energy screams tension but not specifically why.

Is he uncomfortable to be around me for the first time since the greenhouse? Is it because he doesn't want me to wear his beloved Charlotte's crown? Or is it Rebecca?

"How does this work?" I ask, glancing at Percival then Eli for direction.

"All of the crown jewels, be it actual crowns, necklaces, rings, earings, cufflinks, armaments, etcetera belong to the throne and those who occupy it, so all of this," Eli pauses, gesturing to the contents of the room, "Is yours."

"Excuse me?!" I gasp, feeling my eyes bug out.

"For as long as you sit on the throne, they are yours," Percival clarifies, like that information should be blatantly obvious. "Some rulers use the crown that their predecessor wore, others, one of the relics and many commission new ones."

"Well, I definitely don't need a new one and I'd rather not take Charlotte's," I blurt out rather stunned.

"Really? Why not, it's a beautiful crown," Rebecca presses as she looks at it closer before turning to put it on. Just shy of her head, Percival snatches it and carefully places it back in the case where it belongs, giving the woman a weary glance.

"Because people already think I'm trying to replace and erase her, I'd rather not add to it," I mutter bitterly, more to myself, but catch Percival staring at me.

"Well consider it like accessorizing," Anna offers. "If I remember right you said you prefer silver coloured accents?"

"She does," Mira agrees, pushing past Rebecca.

"Ah, that's no problem. We have several options that are white gold or platinum," Percival offers, making his way over to a cabinet and fishing through it. Systematically, he goes through several locations and piles poor Eli high with boxes before returning to a small table in the center.

"How often will I have to wear this?" I question, dreading possibly breaking or misplacing the no doubt priceless artifact.

"Not often," Eli chuckles, "Unless you want to wear it daily, otherwise special occasions only."

I breathe a sigh of relief and look at the boxes they've started to open. Each one has something slightly different. Rebecca and Leah make excited noises whenever the larger, more fancy crowns are opened, Willow gets excited by anything sparkly, and I just look at all the elaborate gems and dangly things, dreading that they'll get stuck in my hair.

Several of the crowns have a feel to them. Like the artifacts housed in the Central Archives and Hall of Kings, they almost have an essence to them. Just as Eli and Percival get near the end of the stack, a box practically speaks to me with a familiar hum that tells me whatever's inside is the one. As if sensing my added interest, Eli moves the others further away, opening the black leatherbound box directly in front of me.

Inside is the most beautiful crown with delicate sweeping silver leaves and flowers woven together to form the crown, brilliant silver and patina-covered reliefs added to the lifelike look and imbedded diamonds make it shimmer in the light. Every flower center holds a blue, teal, or green gem, all the shades found at the heart of the lake and with the same calming feel.

"Excellent choice, Highness," Eli says with a grin. "Only Queen Althea wore this, it was a gift for her. She was a beloved and kind queen but fearless and cunning too... I think it's a perfect fit for you hmm?"

My fingers trail across its surface, tracing every detail and coming to stop in the center at a crescent moon surrounding a tricolour gem, a blend of all colours. It feels like home but older and different. Percival sets open jewelry boxes containing a necklace and earrings and the other housing rings and bracelet.

"Oh, that's okay, I think my ring would match well enough," I say, pulling the chain from between my breasts to show off Chris' engagement ring. The stones match perfectly and the silver work has the same feel.

"Interesting..." Percival murmurs. "I would be very interested to know where you guys came by such a ring...."

"I'm afraid you'll have to talk to Chris, all I know is it's a Glass family heirloom." I tuck the ring back away and take a step back from the crowns.

"I'll be sure to have this set cleaned and ready for the ceremony," Percival says with a nod and begins to pack up.

"Well that was easier than I expected," Mira says, raising a brow. All I can do is shrug since it was more than enough for me.

"Let's get you changed out of this and I'll have you all altered for your big day," Anna replies, her voice chipper. "Oh and I didn't have a chance to show you the best part, pockets!" She reaches around and shows me the skirt's side pockets that are practically invisible and I smile once more.

I love pockets!

Such a small detail coupled with this being her chosen dress shows just how observant she is and how good she is at her job. I was apprehensive at first, seeing her with Rebecca, but I know now she was just working with what she had at the time.

Getting out of the gown without loosening any of the pins for adjustments proves harder than I expected and takes both Mira and Anna's help to accomplish. Back in my comfy clothes and twirling my hair back in place, I feel once again at ease and lighter knowing that everything's taken care of.

Walking back into the salon, I see the room still divided with Willow, Jenna and Anna fussing over the flowers while Rebecca and Leah stare down Mira and Chloe. The only saving grace is the day is done and we're off to dinner.

'And a front row seat to watch Kane meet the royals,' Ember snickers.

Sweet jezus, she's right!

"Tonight is the start of the chef selection, so you've come at a great time," Chloe says to Willow. "Everyone is competing to take over as head chef with the old one retiring, so I hope you brought your appetite."

Everyone files to the door and I'm more than happy to no longer be the center of attention. My mind wanders back to the crown and familiar feeling of home... and all the happy memories I've had by that lake. I can't help but wonder if life will ever be that simple again.

"High - Jess?" Eli calls having purposely fallen behind. "I wonder if I could have a moment of your time?"

"Of course." I nod for the others to go on without me, though Rebecca and Leah are long gone.

"I've got some news..." he trails off, fishing a paper from his robe. My throat instantly parches at his words. When last we spoke, I gave him the police report that detailed my mother Lyana's death and explained how I became an orphan. He perked up at her name, saying he had heard it before but wanted to consult his files first to be sure.

In his hands are two photocopies of old missing person reports, both women are identical in age and physical description. My fingers tremble as I trace the details. The first one, Diana, was reported missing when she didn't return from her morning run. Her pack searched her regular route and found no trace, her scent dead ended at a road. The second one was less clear, stating Lyana failed to check in and was reported missing. Seeing her name I scan every part of the skimpy report and land on the issuer, Alpha Hale of the Valley Glen pack.

My chest tightens and my stomach feels like it drops. Eli guiding me to take a seat on the nearest sofa barely registers as I focus on trying to calm my rising nerves.

"I knew I had seen the name before... but with the police report stating no identification found I pulled all of the missing females from that time period, removed the found and closed cases, then filtered out the right hair and eye colour and was left with two," Eli explains.

"Is this her?" I whisper, unable to take my eyes away from the paper.

"I tend to be cautious in these types of cases... but the evidence does point to her," he agrees. "We'll know soon enough. I spoke to her Alpha and he's sending over DNA to compare from an old hairbrush."

Suddenly my head starts to swim and I feel lightheaded. I lean forward, dropping my head in my hands and take a deep breath letting it out slowly before repeating the process. After what feels like an eternity but is just probably a couple moments, the lightheadedness subsides.

"Should I get a doctor, or one of the healers? Or perhaps the king?" he asks, worry etching his features as he gives me a moment.

"No, I'm okay, that just... it hit a lot harder than I expected. Nothing against your abilities, but by this point in my life I had just accepted that I would never know," I mumble, feeling stunned still.

"Fortunately you have me on your team now," he responds with a kind smile, patting my hand. "Another day or two and I should have an answer for you... It will be up to you if you want to meet them of course."

Did I want to?

There are so many questions left unanswered, I'd be foolish not to meet them, but there's a bitter nagging voice reminding me that they never came for me, and left me to make my own way with humans.

'Humans that loved you like their own,' Ember points out.

'And I loved them too, but what about you? They made me believe you were an imaginary friend and lock you away... All those years you should have had free... If we hadn't found Chris, you could still have been a prisoner!'

Guilt still eats at me for how I treated her for most of my life. Ember doesn't blame me, she says I didn't know any better but still, if I had a pack I would have.

"I don't know how it'll go, but I'd like to meet them... I know nothing about my birth mother, having the chance to know SOMETHING... I can't pass that up," I say, trying to swallow the lump forming in my throat.

"Very good Jess," Eli says with a sympathetic smile. "I'll see to it and keep you informed. Alpha Hale was already scheduled to be here for the coronation-"

"Hale?" I gasp because the report was dated over twenty years ago. "He's still Alpha there?!"

"Indeed! He had newly taken over the Valley Glen pack from his father at the time, only I think two years into it? He's actually getting ready to hand over the reins to his son, so I'm sure this closure would be beneficial for him as well," Eli muses. "He was very interested when I first called inquiring about additional information on their missing person report, offered to come right away, but I wanted to be thorough."

"Valley Glen, are they... What kind of pack are they?" I whisper, hanging on every word.

"Small but well respected," he offers, pulling out another file from a different pocket. "One of the most south eastern packs, located far away from humans deep, in the wilderness. It's actually quite a beautiful location, a fertile valley surrounded by mountains covered in old growth forest... Might explain your affinity for nature, hmm?"

"I always assumed that was my adopted family, we were farmers. My mom called us stewards of the land, said it was our job to take care of it and that it would reward us year after year... a partnership." My chest tightens once more and eyes start to water as I think back to all of the time I spent learning from the only mother I knew.

"It appears as though it was in your blood." He scans the paper and flips it over before turning his attention back to me. "They have a similar connection, though more on the medicinal side. Valley Glen's strength isn't in it's warrior base but it's healers. More natural born healers come from there than anywhere else and they supply some of the most potent and effective medicines used throughout our society."

"So, they're good guys?" I ask, hoping for nothing more. The thought of coming from a pack like Dimitri's leaves me unsettled.

Eli smiles fondly at me, as if picking up some of my apprehension. "Some of the best."