Ivan's Queen

“Keep going!”

“No!”

“Do it!”

“No!”

“Amelia!”

“Father!”

My Dad glares at me murderously, his icy blue eyes narrowed at my crossed arms that imitate his own. I tilt my chin upwards, refusing to back down as I stare into his eyes. His resolve crumbles, hopefully out of love and concern for his eldest daughter, and he nods tersely.

“Stubborn girl!” He growls, making me roll my eyes.

“I’m not a werewolf, I can only do so much before my body tires.” I huff, relaxing when he takes hold of the oars and starts to row.

At six in the morning, my Dad had woken up me up for our usual training session. When I thought I could sleep in after I finally graduated from school, I was dead wrong. Although I trained last Summer too, I was hoping for a bit of leeway this time. But no, my Dad is equally as stubborn as I am.

“Two laps around the territory after this.” He states, daring me with his eyes to argue before adding, “And I’m coming with you.”

I smirk at him, remembering how I didn’t do my laps yesterday and instead, sat by the lake and slept for a while because my body was so exhausted. Of course, my Dad was not a happy camper when he found me after an hour.

“Fine.” I agree, causing him to smile in satisfaction before it disappears. “Can I have a rest day tomorrow then?”

“Rest is for the weak!” He raises his voice, puffing out his chest.

“You’re such a dork.” I roll my eyes but a laugh escapes me anyway.

He rows us back to the river’s edge where we started from and I hop out onto the steep edge of the grass. Tying the rope to the wooden plank, Dad and I start walking back home. The river isn’t that far from the pack house, a fifteen-minute walk at least but that’s not what I’m thinking about. Instead, my entire focus is on trying to act as natural as possible because my Dad has forgotten about the two laps I had to do.

“So...” He trails off, making me look at him suspiciously. “I’ve been meaning to ask...”

“Yes?”

“Have any boys come up to you again? Asked you out on a date?” He blurts, a protective glint in his eyes.

“Not after I let them know you’ll hunt them down with your shotgun.” I reply dryly, wrapping my arms around myself as we walk.

“I actually do have a shotgun, why do you kids never believe me?” He frowns as we walk over a small wooden bridge.

“You mean Grandad Winters’ fake shotgun?” I retort, smirking at his stunned expression.

“Who told you that –” I raise a brow, confirming that my guess is correct. “I-I mean...no?”

“Busted!” I grin cheekily, crying out in surprise when he lunges at me.

Laughing, I run all the way home and just when I’m about to climb the steps, he catches me. Chuckling breathlessly, I tease him about how he’s getting old. He waves me off, telling me that he gave me a head start. Scoffing, I shove him lightly before we walk inside.

Dad bought this house when he first moved to Berlin, before he even met mom. It’s hidden behind a treeline and is made of wood and stone, surrounded by a garden with a stream to the side. As soon as you open the door, you’re greeted by a large open space that is made into a living room and a kitchen at the back. The kitchen is my favorite part of the house with its rustic design. The best part are the beams on the ceiling with thick ropes draped and weaved around it which are also attached with light bulbs.

There are large, double doors leading out to a patio that has a seating area. Plant pots are placed by the beams holding up the canopy over it. To the left is the entrance where we came from and to the right is a long, brick wall with a fireplace embedded into it. Small lights line the curve of the hardwood, separating it from the thick, green grass that is littered with Evie and Isaac’s toys.

Dad had extended his home when him and mom decided to grow their family. He made a large extension at the back of the house where mine and Nathan’s rooms are. Another extension was made upstairs when his house caught on fire while he was courting my mom and he decided to build another room which Evie and Isaac now share. There’s also two guest bedrooms for mom’s family whenever they come over from The Netherlands.

Quickly showering and changing into a sweater and leggings, I put on my slippers before making it downstairs just in time for dinner. Taking a seat at the table, I help myself to the tacos, grilled corn and stuffed peppers.

“Aurora called.” My Mom starts, passing me the bowl of salad. “It’s our turn to visit this time.”

“I’ll ask Rico and Isla if they can manage the pack while we’re away, we can go next week if they can.” My Dad suggests, helping Isaac with his food.

The Romanov and Reid families spend each summer either in the US or Berlin every year and this year, it’s our turn. Aunt Aurora and Uncle Vulcan live near New York and have five children; Ayla, Ivan, Valentina, Misha and Mikhail. They were blessed with two sets of twins; Ayla and Ivan, and Misha and Mikhail.

Nathan and I get along well with Misha and Mikhail Romanov as they are my age and close to Nathan’s age, as he is a year younger than me. Valentina is nineteen whereas Ayla and Ivan are six years older. Both are twenty-four.

For the past few years, I haven’t seen much of Ayla and Ivan. Ivan took over his father’s position of the Lycan kingdom. Ayla found her mate when she was eighteen and is ruling the Vampire kingdom. Valentina runs The Renascence Pack in the US while Misha and Mikhail are still learning the ropes and deciding who they want to be.

Because Uncle Vulcan is a hybrid with both a vampire and a wolf, his children have inherited those genes too. Valentina and Misha are Lycan wolves but Mikhail is a vampire. A few years ago, when Ivan didn’t visit over the summer, everyone who knew about supernaturals found out that Ayla and Ivan are hybrids. The Romanovs had kept their family private over the years but I guess something happened where they couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.

“Nathan and Amelia, we’d like to talk to you both.” Dad stops us from leaving the kitchen, making us frown in confusion at each other. “Isaac and Evelyn, up to bed and no eavesdropping. I will hear you.”

I smirk when my younger siblings whine and protest about our father being unfair and how they are old enough. I don’t understand why they don’t just enjoy their childhood, being an adult isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

“I’m thinking of retiring from the company in the next year or so.” Dad states, leaning forward.

“Please don’t tell me you guys are leaving on a yearlong cruise because I am not watching over those two monsters.” Nathan groans, pleading them with his eyes.

“Me neither. You can take them with you.” I shrug, grinning when my Mom rolls her eyes.

“No.” Dad replies firmly, shaking his head. “I want to know if either of you are interested in taking over?”

Nathan and I look at each other, it isn’t something we’ve discussed in detail. We’ve mentioned it briefly in our late-night conversations but whenever I’ve said that he can take over if he wishes, Nathan has blatantly refused and pushed for us to think this through and have an equal chance.

“Can we have some time to think about it, please?” Nathan requests, his expression now serious.

“Of course you can, honey. There’s no rush, we just want you both to start thinking about your futures and we’ll support whatever you decide to do.” Mom smiles gently, understanding in her eyes.

“It doesn’t have to be taking over this pack or my company, if you kids have other dreams we will support those too. Don’t feel like you can’t come to us because you think we’re holding you both up to our expectations, understood?” Dad smiles for a fleeting moment, crossing his arms as he leans back in his chair.

Nathan and I glance at each other from the corner of our eyes and grin wickedly, before shouting at the same time. “Sir, yes sir!”

Dad rolls his eyes before lunging out of his seat, making us cry out in surprise as he puts us both in a headlock before kissing our foreheads while Mom laughs lightly at his antics.

“Come on, little moon. Let’s go ask Rico and Isla if they’re free to manage everything next week.” He holds out his hand for her to take and tucks her into his side once she reaches him, kissing her cheek lovingly. “I want this house in one piece when I’m back.”

“No promises.” I sing jokingly, grinning as I trace patterns into the wooden table.

A holiday, I think to myself. I can’t wait to see everyone again.