The library darkened, the dim lighting only slightly brightening as the sun fully sank into the horizon giving away to the darkness of night time. Aston sat at the meeting table in the enormous room, watching everyone take their seats around him.  Nicolai promptly decided to sit next to his mate making him very aware of his presence, their legs brushing up against each other. The tiger felt comfort and a tingle from the contact giving the lion a small reassuring smile. The events of the day had started to weigh in on his mind as reality started to sink in. 

Completely sink in.

Aston had found his mate, a person that most tigers cherish due to their solitary nature. He had never defined himself by his sexuality growing up due to the possibility of his mate being of any gender, hoping for someone strong and kind. The lion next to him was the biggest surprise he could have gotten especially in their world. He remembered Ephraim’s outburst prior to their introductions making him realize the long road they had ahead of them. 

But he was ready.

“So to break the ice, it looks like we're going to be having two kings instead of just our little Aston,” Viktor stated, breaking the silence. 

His statement seemed to make the situation before them very real for the elders as they looked at each other before directing their eyes to the twosome across the table from them. Aston looked into the intense stares of his elders, seeing a range of emotions from judgment to concern to happiness aside from the indifference on Kendric’s face. The stares made him feel nervous as he tried to maintain his firm guard staring back at them and their intensity. His tension from their stares was broken from a single hand resting on his knee giving it a slight squeeze. He looked down to see Nicolai’s strong hand resting on his leg giving him a sense of warmth and stability, his eyes looking up at those golden orbs. He felt himself relax, feeling his confidence coming back to him as he took the hand from his leg and interlocked their fingers. 

Nicolai smirked, giving his mate's hand a squeeze to make him feel more at ease than he already was, the stress starting to slip from his body. Adria and Emersyn, having sat sandwiching the newly mated men, smirked knowing that Nicolai now had a handle on the situation. 

Nicolai’s smirk disappeared once he turned towards the elders, “Are any of you in opposition to the thought of me being your future king’s mate?” His face resembled something that put the elders on edge.

Defiance. 

“The only concern I have with you lion is the reaction of the clan and other animal groups to this union. We do not need our reputation on the line especially with the power struggle we have gladly maintained since our previous king's death. May Wyatt rest in peace.” Lydia retorted looking down her nose at the two. 

“Like I stated before, the wolves and the vampires will see this as an act of war for Falcon Haven. Lydia is right. Mixing of the species is something not common in our world, more or less the fact you both are men.” Ephraim spoke up defending Lydia.

Aston’s eyes glowed “Same-sex relationships are very common within other were-animal groups as well as our own! Plus you don't seem to have a problem with Viktor and Kendric being mated, especially since Kendric is the original Tiger King of our clan.”

“That is beside the point Aston, we also have to think in regards to you producing heirs since it was you that Wyatt chose you as his successor,” Ephraim growled back. 

“Now Ephraim” Isadora stated, gaining his attention, “You know more than I do that Wyatt chose him based on more than merit alone. You seem to have forgotten.”

“Isadora don’t let your fondness for the boy distract you from your responsibilities to this clan” Ephraim snarled, flashing his eyes at the brunette.

Isadora stared hard at the man, “My duties to this clan have not changed, or have you forgotten that Aston is a part of those duties?”

Ephraims face reddened as he glared at the tigress, steam figuratively coming out of his ears from his frustration.

“If you and Viktor hadn't coddled him then we wouldn't be having this problem and he would not be challenging for us to handle. Instead, we rely on an enforcer to coerce him into coming back to the compound so that he is safe! He. Is. A. Child.” Ephraim seethed.

“Shots fired Ephraim” Rhea gasped from her post next to River guarding the door, feigning pain from his words putting her hand to her chest, “Shots fired.”

Aston silently chuckled at his friend's reaction to the elder's words, bringing a sort of comic relief to the room that was thick with tension. He squeezed his mate's hand before glaring at Ephraim's red face and glowing blue eyes, his annoyance for the elder growing stronger.

“At 25 years old and basically a grown man by human standards, treating him as such will probably benefit us in the long run. Also from the power that he displayed earlier along with his mate, I'm sure he will reign properly once we give him proper standing” Kendric stated uninterested in the argument. Aston looked at the former king with fondness, as he knew he had his silent support.

“That is neither here nor there, Kendric! He has been scarce for 8 months now, ever since he discovered that cliff on the outside of the city” Ephraim turning his gaze towards the blonde, “Yes Aston, we have been very aware of your whereabouts since you haven't felt the need to attend our meetings plus missing the last Gathering. Do you not realize how that makes us look with your absence?”

Aston continued to glare at him even though he knew that the man was speaking the truth. He had slacked completely on his duties not keeping the promise that he had made to Wyatt before his untimely demise. He felt a small sense of guilt knowing that the elders had done everything in their power to keep the clan in tip-top shape during his absence. Aston suddenly felt selfish. Looking at Nicolai, who had surprisingly stayed silent during the argument, he stared into his golden gaze feeling a sense of comfort and control.

"I’m sorry,” he said, focusing on the elders before him.

Isadora, Ephraim, and Lydia stared at Aston with wide eyes, so wide it was as if they could pop out of their skulls and would be on the floor. The elders stared at him in an awe-like silence, looking as if he had grown a second head. Aston was sorry?

”I'm sorry for being absent, and I'm sorry for unloading my part of the duties onto all of you due to my selfishness” Aston stated reassuring his previous statement. 

Nicolai and his sisters watch the tigers in amusement as they continued to stare at Aston with incredulous looks

“Who are you and what have you done with Aston?” Isadora asked again, looking at the man confused. 

“I am still very much me Isadora'' Aston replied, “But after listening to Ephraim’s bitching, I have realized that I do need to own up to my past actions. Wyatt is gone now and I think it's time to get us back on track as well as discuss this treaty with Nicolai.” 

The elders looked at each other seeing a different person in front of them at the table, Viktor and Kendric looking at Aston with pride already knowing what he was capable of. Viktor looked at the lion's stare watching the future king with small smiles knowing that they as well could sense his potential.

“So Nicolai” Viktor purred, catching the attention of the alpha, “What do you have in mind in regards to the treaty we had discussed with you?”

“I think the treaty we had discussed on the phone is now null and void” the alpha replied, getting a smile from Viktor, the others frowning at him with unease. 

“What have we done wrong, alpha? Were you unhappy with our terms and conditions?” Lydia spoke out looking worried.

“You’ve done nothing wrong, elders” Nicolai replied dryly to her before looking into Aston’s concerned hazel eyes, “There has been a change in plans due to the events that have transpired today. It seems that we no longer need that treaty, there is no need for it because... Aston and I are the treaty now.”

Aston stared deeply into the golden eyes of his mate seeing nothing but admiration and care, something he never thought he would experience from someone else. He noticed that in regards to him Nicolais demeanor always changed, the way he spoke, his body language, and his facial expressions. This side of Nicolai was only for HIM. He had finally understood Adria and Emersyn’s reaction to the change of their brothers' actions, this was a side of him that no one else experienced. 

“What do you mean?” Aston breathed not really knowing what else to say.

“We are mates, love, our union will mean the joining of my pride and your clan. You are going to be my queen, the queen to my king, the only person in my life that is just for me, and I for you” Nicolai explained.

Viktor and the women around them let out a resounding "awe" causing Aston to turn a deep shade of red as he was not used to spoken affection or affection of any kind. Aston felt anxious at the personal statement that his mate said in front of everyone, feeling his stomach becoming lighter and slightly fluttery. He was not used to this feeling. Were mates supposed to be this affectionate? Was Aston supposed to feel warmth coursing through his body from Nicolai’s words?

“So does that make you my Queen too?” Aston stated raising a brow to the dark-haired man, his lips twitching.

Nicolai’s mouth fell open slightly as his face displayed a slight shock, his sisters starting to snicker next to them. His shock was replaced with a booming masculine laugh that filled the room sending heat straight to Aston’s groin, his cheeks reddening once more. 

“No love, I think I would be considered your King, the title of Queen doesn't seem to suit me as much as it does you” Nicolai chuckled looking at his mate with a twinkle in his eye. 

Aston’s eyes narrowed at the playfulness of Nicolai sensing the mirth radiating off the man. Rhea’s laughter roared in the background as she knew had touched on a subject that she knew so very well.

“Your flattery is going to get you somewhere special Nicolai” Aston stated glaring at his mate. 

“I hope that somewhere special is with you, love” Nicolai grinned, squeezing his mate's leg seeing a shudder go through Aston’s body. 

Aston watched his mate with caution knowing they had an audience in front of them witnessing their interaction. Ephraim stared at them with disappointment as he watched them take the seriousness out of the discussion. He looked towards Lydia knowing she felt the same contempt from the group about their current conversation. 

“So Aston, are you and your new king going to be able to produce the clan with heirs?” Ephraim said, making the rest of the room go silent.

“Yes lion alpha, are you going to produce children with our Aston here, or are you going to have another lover for that?” Lydia added, “As we all know lions, especially males, are not known to be monogamous.”

To Be Continued..... to part 2