CHAPTER 548: THE QUEEN’S JUDGEMENT

Jasmine simply stop in awe and disbelief as the Queen hugged her.

Everyone in the hall turned to look at them.

Jasmine herself just stood freezing unable to believe what was happening.

Eventually jasmine very gently let her arms go around the Queen.

She closed her eyes as she breathed into the warmth of the Queen.

It felt like home.

She had never hugged the Queen before, only been around her.

Only ever perceived her presence but just having her hold her.

Especially when she had been brought to be given judgement on, but was rather welcomed with open arms.

The Queen hadn’t hugged anyone.

She hadn’t even spoken to anyone.

She had only come straight to her.

Jasmine breathed into the Queen’s beautiful scent of roses and lilies.

She smelled like nothing she had ever perceived before.

Then the Queen finally let go and Jasmine was forced to come back crashing to the world.

The Queen looked much younger and beautiful.

Her long and straight hair was caught up in pins filled with precious stones and neatly arranged on her head.

The last time Jasmine had seen her, she had looked ailing and yet, was still beautiful.

But now she was radiating.

The Queen gently touched Jasmine’s cheeks.

"It’s so good to see you." The Queen said dimples Jasmine never knew existed appeared.

Jasmine looked down at her feet, too shy to look the Queen in the eyes.

It was a taboo after all.

"The same your majesty." Jasmine replied.

The Queen surprised her again by hugging her once more.

Once she let go, she held jasmine’s shoulders.

"I couldn’t wait to see you." The Queen said looking all over Jasmine. "I’ve been excited for your arrival."

The Queen was happy to see her?

Why?

What had she offered the Queen.

Or what did the Queen even see in her for her to say she was excited for her arrival.

She felt everyone’s eyes on her.

Especially Anna.

She could feel Anna’s piercing gaze so hard on her, Jasmine knew that if her eyes could kill, she would already be dead by now.

"You smell like Jasmines." The Queen said her eyes seemingly surprised. "My daughter used to smell like them. She would bring them all..

And the Queen’s words trailed off in an incomplete manner and her face fell.

Jasmine wondered what had offended her.

And then the Queen instantly shook her and the smile that had been placed before reappeared immediately.

"How was the journey? Did you have any trouble?" She had changed the topic so quickly Jasmine was taken aback.

Jasmine smiled going along with her. "It was perfect. Thank you."

The Queen gently caressed her cheeks and then she saw Nanny Nia standing by.

"Nanny Nia! You are here?" The Queen gawked in amusement.

Nanny Nia quickly curtseyed. "Yes your majesty. I am."

"I haven’t seen you in ages. What are you doing here?" The Queen asked looking all over her.

"I work for the Crescent pack. Alpha Xaden employed me to work as a nanny for Jasmine your majesty." Nanny Nia offered.

The Queen looked from Jasmine to nanny Nia.

"Is this true?" She asked.

Jasmine nodded. "Yes your majesty."

"Nanny Nia is one of the best Nannies I have ever seen. She used to take care of my grand daughter when she was young. I’m sure she took care of you."

Jasmine nodded. "She did your majesty. She is one of the best things the goddess has ever given to me."

"She truly is the goddess sent." Queen Rose agreed. "Thank you for taking care of her."

"It’s a pleasure your majesty." Nanny Jia curtseyed once again.

It seemed the Queen wanted to say more when she now turned to me.

It was as though there was no one else.

Just me and her.

And then came a loud and deep clearing of throat.

It came from the throne where the King was seated.

We made eye contact and he looked at her disapprovingly.

Jasmine very quickly pulled her eyes away from him.

"What?" The Queen asked confused.

And then it finally it occurred to the Queen that there were other people standing, waiting for her.

"Oh my!" The Queen said. "Do forgive me! My mind just went off."

To Jasmine’s surprise the Queen unconsciously took her hand and dragged her along as she went to meet Anna.

Anna had a fake smile stamped on her face.

"You must be Xaden’s sister." Queen rose said.

Anna lit her fake smile once more.

Anna had her eyes all over Jasmine and Jasmine could tell that Anna was furious that the Queen had barely noticed her.

"Yes I’m Anna." Anna said as she curtseyed in the most elegant way possible. "It’s an honor to meet you your majesty."

"The honor is mine." The Queen replied.

She didn’t hug Anna she just stood smiling at her which seemed to infuriate Anna even more.

"You look just like your mother." Queen Rose stated. "The resemblance is striking. Did your brother tell you?"

"Yes he did your majesty." Anna said. "I’ve seen her pictures."

"What happened to you was very unfortunate." The Queen said as she held unto Jasmine’s hand.

Anna’s eyes looked down at the firm grip and Jasmine knew her well enough to know that she was boiling in rage.

"Yes Alpha Bale and his family. I don’t think I can ever forgive them for what they did to us." Anna said.

Jasmine knew that hint of manipulation.

She was very much familiar with Anna’s games.

She knew where she was headed and she knew that she intended to soil and drag Jasmine’s names in the midst of all of this .

"I was given report that Bale himself was dead along with his wife. Wasn’t it?" The Queen asked.

"Yes your majesty." Anna curtseyed. "But they still have their bloodline."

Jasmine choked.

She knew where this was headed.

Anna was about to be Anna again and make her look bad in the Queen.

She knew this ploy and she hated to admit that she was scared.

Here she was with someone who welcomed her with open arms and made her feel loved.

Made her feel special.

And made her feel at home.

Yet Anna intended to ruin that for her.

Jasmine’s heart raced.

Was this it?

Was this the moment that the Queen was going to punish her.

"I don’t mean to be so difficult but it’s been very hard for my brother and I because we still have to be faced with a reminder everyday. We still have to be reminded about what happened to us." Anna said her eyes brimming with tears.

"Anna." Xaden whispered as if in a bid to silence her.

It was like a warning.

So Anna went silent but still sniffed her tears.

Xaden looked very very annoyed.

The Queen looked at Jasmine and the Anna.

"If I can recollect, Jasmine is Alpha Bale’s daughter isn’t she?"

Jasmine’s heart was pounding now and her pals were sweating.

Her entire being was sweating.

"Yes your majesty." Anna sniffed as she used her hankie to wipe her tears. "But I don’t mean to put her in this. It’s just...."

And then she wept some more.

"Well. It is unfortunate what happened to you. And take my condolences. Your brother still hasn’t forgiven us for what happened to your family. I don’t expect you to either." The Queen began.

"Oh not your majesty i don’t mean I am angry with. You I could never-

"Would you let me speak?" The Queen very gently interjected and Anna’s face went red.

She nodded.

Jasmine wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole that very instant.

"But then I don’t believe that we should pass on the sins of the child to the father do you think so?" Queen asked.

Anna’s face went instant white.

Jasmine’s mouth dropped in amusement.

Her lips began to quiver in disbelief.

Jasmine could not believe it.

Had the Queen herself just stood up for her.

"Your parents had made mistakes before. Your mother in particular even though she was my very good friend and served a punishment. Do you think I should have punished you for it too? Would that be a fair and just thing to do?" The Queen asked.

Anna began to stutter and sweat.

Jasmine began to wonder.

Punishment?

What punishment?

"N... no... you.... Your majesty." Anna replied.

"Very good." The Queen nodded. "I believe that everyone deserves a fair trial. A fair hearing. And a good beginning. I don’t think it’s Jasmine’s fault what happened. I have heard the tales of what happened to myself. Especially with her recent losing her child."

Jasmine swallowed an her eyes went pale at the haunting memory of her dead child.

"So as Queen of wolves with the power vested in me Jasmine, I declare you innocent of all that has been accused of you. Past and present." The Queen said.

Everyone was shocked.

Jasmine could not believe it!