Replacement Bride for the Alpha of the North - Chapter 269

Chapter 269: YOU NEED TO REST
There were some things that changed and there were some things that remained the same, and as days bled into night and months into years, one didn’t realize how time went away so fast.

It felt like yesterday when Zander attended Zaya’s wedding, but today, she would be back for Zade’s crowning ceremony.

That was right.

Once a little boy, now he was the crown prince of the kingdom. It took so much of Zander’s effort to convince him to take the throne after him, since he was not interested in it at first.

However, after so many years, he accepted the role and today would be his crowning ceremony.

“You look so dazzling,” Zander said, he walked toward Zade. He was a young man now, nineteen years old now, but a years ago, he had taken over the Northern pack from his mother and he proved himself that he was worth it of the title.

“I know.”

Zander clicked his tongue. “I don’t realize that you became so cocky now.” He patted his shoulder and then stood next to him, while the other maids were dismissed, leaving the two men alone just an hour before the ceremony.

The reflection on the mirror in front of them showed the two generations of Nortern.

“Do you think I can be a good king?” Zade asked. He sighed deeply. The cloak that he was wearing felt so heavy, but probably it was because the responsibility that he had to shoulder.

Zade had a second thought about taking this responsibility. Being a king was so much different from being an alpha of the pack, he had a vast territory and so many people to think of.

More so, he didn’t think he could compare himself to his uncle. He had handled this kingdom so well.

Especially when the shifters lost their beast. It was a tough time. From what Zade heard, the last battle against the dark magic users only lasted for a few days, but the damage of it was so massive.

Not only their kingdom had to be rebuilt again, but also the fact that the shifters were no longer able to shift into their human form. It was a tough time, where their kingdom was in the most vulnerable state and if there was an attack from outside, they would be doomed.

It was a pity that Zade was not able to experience the feeling of shifting into your beast for the first time. He heard a lot of stories about it, but probably the one that stuck to him was the experience when your father would guide you through the whole process.

People said it was a beautiful experience.

It was a pity that no one in his generation would experience that.

Despite everything, king Zander handled everything alone. Not to mention, at that time he had to lose his twin brother, his father, and princess Zaya left the continent, leaving him alone.

The throne was a lonely spot.

“I don’t think I can be a good king like you, uncle.” Zade narrowed at his own reflection on the mirror.

Zander chuckled when he said that. He remembered his younger self when he doubted himself. He used to compare what he had done to what his father had achieved, but then he realized there would be no end to that.

“Every king has their own time, Zade. You can’t compare yourself to the previous king because what will come to you will be so different from what the other king had to face.” He patted his back. “You will be fine. In the end of the day, you would know that you have done the best you could.”

“Thank you.”

“You will be fine, Zade.”

Zander gave him a hug, but suddenly the door was opened and Zaya entered. She looked beautiful like usual. She and king Rowan just arrived three days ago for this ceremony along with their three children.

“Zade!” Zaya walked inside and opened her arms.

“Oh, not again,” Zade grumbled. He narrowed his eyes at his aunt and tried to avoid her but he couldn’t when she hugged and kissed him. “Oh, I miss you!”

“I am not a child anymore,” Zade said. The only person that he couldn’t stop from kissing him was his aunt.

“Oh, please. No one too old to get a kiss or two!”

With that the ceremony went smoothly, the weather was nice, as if the universe blessed him. Zade would be a fine king and Zander would look forward to that day.

But before that, there were a lot of things that he had to learn.

After the ceremony, days passed and then years…

A lot of things happened, trouble occurred and then resolved, as they went with their day, there was one magical night when Zander saw her again for the first time after so long.

Her beautiful green eyes stared back at him. She looked so young, while Zander was already so old. He ceased his involvement in the palace’s affair and let Zade to take over. He was more than ready for the throne now.

“Am I going to die?” Zander asked in his hoarse voice. He stared at her beautiful face. Time had stopped for her, because she didn’t age even a year since the last time he saw her. She was frozen in his memories. “Or am I seeing thing? Are you even real?”

Nadia chuckled. “Too many questions like usual,” she said. Her voice like a beautiful music in his ears.

Currently, Zander was laying on the bed, while Nadia laid down next to him, staring at him. She looked peaceful.

Zander raised his hand and caressed her cheek. “You look so beautiful.”

“So, you don’t hate me anymore?” she asked cheekily.

“I have never hated you, Nadia. I was willing for you to take my life and even if I could turn back time, I will do the same thing over and over again.”

Nadia scrunched her nose. “How many time I have to tell you that I didn’t mean to kill you.”

“You killed my wolf spirit. Same thing.”

“Now the shifters don’t have wolf spirit anymore.”

“Yes…”

Nadia grabbed his hand and kissed his palm. “You did not fail, Zan. You know that. You are a good king. You are a good mate, a good brother and everything that people could ask for.”

“I couldn’t do anything when you died.”

Nadia shook her head, she moved closer toward him, she snuggled against his chest and Zander was surprised to feel the heat from her body and her scent. It hit him so hard. Only now he realized how much he missed her.

“There was nothing you could do, Zan. I saw it coming. You couldn’t prevent it.”

“I should do better. Our time is very short…” Zander breathed evenly, he relished her presence.

“Indeed.” Nadia patted his hand and then pushed herself up into a sitting position. “Let’s go to the garden,” she said. “You have rebuilt the place. Let’s go there.”

After the battle decades ago, Zander rebuilt Nadia’s favorite garden and he used to spend his time there, especially now when he was not really active in the court. You could find him most of the time there.

“I am tired,” Zander said, but despite that, he pushed himself from the bed and followed her outside of the room.

He had been very weak in the last few days and spent his time in the bed, but right now, he actually managed to walk. He didn’t want to lose sight of her.

“Come on, old man,” Nadia laughed, taunting him and Zander simply smiled at her. She was his sunshine and he missed her brightness. “Come with me.”

Zander refused when one of the warriors there wanted to help him, he dismissed them and tried to pick up his pace because Nadia had walked ahead of him.

“Slow down,” Zander panted.

“No, come on! Quick!”

After a lot of effort and when Zander thought he wouldn’t make it, they finally reached the garden. This was the most beautiful garden in the entire palace and not everyone was allowed to enter.

Zander saw Nadia was sitting next to the lake there and he approached her, resting his head on her lap.

“You feel very real for me,” he said softly. He breathed heavily.

Above them, the moon was shining. Its reflection was on the surface of the calm lake. It was beautiful and quiet. Zander hoped thing would stay like this forever.

“I am real, Zan. I am always with you.”

“Hm.” Zander closed his eyes, he took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Don’t leave me again now.”

“I will not.” Nadia kissed his cheek and ran her fingers through his greyish hair. He looked old and tired. “I will not leave you anymore. I will be with you. Now sleep, Zan. You need some rest, you have done so well. I will be with you from now on.”

“Hm. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Zan.”

The next day, they found the king was sleeping in his favorite garden, but this time, he slept for a long time with a smile on his face.

He looked so peaceful.

He had been in pain for long and it was time for him to rest.

The funeral for the king was held the next day and there were so many people mourned him. He was a good king, who was loved by his people.

A great brother, a great mate and a great mentor for the next king.