The Alpha Princess

CELINA

Stepping out of the shower, I start to dry my long, dark hair. It’s already got a natural wave to it, so I add a few loose curls to give it some shape. I twist it to the side, covering the deep claw marks on my shoulder.

Next, I focus on my face, covering any imperfections on my soft, round cheeks. I carefully line my lips with a bold, crimson lipstick, then move on to my eyes.

Even though I’ll be wearing a mask, I outline them with eyeliner, then add a touch of silver eyeshadow and a coat of mascara. On my neck, I wear a choker—a necessary accessory after last year’s incident at the ball, when someone tried to mark me.

They were quickly dealt with. Marking someone before the Claiming is strictly forbidden.

Once my hair and makeup are done, I head to my walk-in closet and choose the gown my mother picked out for this event. It’s a midnight-blue sleeveless dress, adorned with crystals that give the illusion of stars.

The dress is floor-length, so I have to put on heels to keep it from dragging. The slit cuts off at the top of my hip, leaving little to the imagination. Looks like underwear is out of the question tonight.

Finally, I secure a silver mask to my face, the thin glass hiding my eyes.

“Cel, are you in here?” Jenna’s voice echoes as she enters my room.

“Just finishing up,” I reply, glancing at the long scar on my arm. The faint smell of wolfsbane still lingers. Damn rogue lycans. Even with a scent-disguising spray, the poison is still detectable.

I find a pair of silver gloves and pull them on. They’re adorned with jewels, matching the dress, and they reach up to my mid-bicep, covering the scar perfectly.

“I see you found some wine,” Jenna says as I step into the bedroom. She’s holding a dark-green bottle by the neck, inspecting it.

I tilt my head. “No, I didn’t. Where did you find that?”

“Just here by the door.” She motions to the small decorative table.

“Hm. Must be another gift from an admirer,” I say as she sets the bottle back down.

She looks stunning in her dress. Her dark-auburn hair is curled and falls over the white scarf around her neck. Her cream-white gown has diamonds cut up the side that glitter every time she moves, drawing attention to the flesh visible beneath.

She puts on her white wolf mask and smirks down at the slit in my dress. “Looks like I’m not the only one going commando tonight.”

“We should probably avoid sitting on any cold surfaces,” I suggest, linking my arm with hers and leading her out of my room.

I give a nod to my little guard, Lucas, then turn my attention back to Jenna. “So, have you decided on a movie for tonight?”

She shakes her head. “No, but I’m craving cookie dough and pretzels.”

I’m about to respond when I hear a voice reach through an open door down the hallway reserved for only our most esteemed guests.

“You’re going to stalk that poor woman, aren’t you?”

Jenna and I freeze. The voice that follows is unmistakably Ruben’s.

“I prefer to think of it as performing my civic duty to protect the alpha princess.”

The first man chuckles at that, and I realize it’s Prince Christopher. “She’s going to kick you in the nuts,” he warns.

I can almost hear the smirk in Ruben’s voice as he retorts, “That may be so, but you’ve felt this girl’s power. Are you telling me that you didn’t want to submit to her?”

Christopher scoffs. “A lowly she-wolf? You’ve got to be kidding me. Even as an alpha princess, do you really think she’s worth my time?”

“If you see her legs, you’d change your mind.”

I clench my jaw, ready to storm in there and give him a piece of my mind, but Jenna tugs me back, whispering urgently, “Cel, no!”

She guides me down the stairs and to a room adjacent to the ballroom. Once we’re alone, I start pacing, trying to calm my rising anger.

“Lowly?!” I growl, my inner wolf bristling at the insult. “Who does he think he is?”

Jenna places a calming hand on my arm, shushing me when footsteps walk by. “He’s a prince, Cel,” she whispers. “An ass but still a prince. And he just ended things with his girlfriend of fifty years. Cut him some slack.”

“But he called me a lowly she-wolf,” I hiss, the words stinging.

Jenna grips my arms, pleading, “Let it go. Please. If you do, I’ll let you choose the first movie tonight.”

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to relax. “Fine.” She’s right to urge me to calm down, really. If I blow up at the prince, I’ll be no better than my father losing his temper with the king.

But Jenna is still looking at me nervously.

“What? I said fine,” I say.

“Your aura, Cel,” she murmurs.

“Oh. Right.” I quickly rein my aura back in.

“Thank you,” she says, finally hooking my arm through hers again as we head out to face the ballroom’s open doors.

CHRISTOPHER

Ruben guides us into a room filled with trees and moonlit orbs. A soft mist falls, mimicking a gentle rain. We navigate through the sea of females who immediately take notice of us.

Ruben holds out his hand as he gestures toward the growing crowd. “Okay, this is the Moonlit Ball. It’s always held the day before the Claiming.

“Our eyes are always covered, our necks are covered, and this mist blocks our scent. This gives the females a chance to get to know a potential new mate before they get their necks bitten into. It also gives you a chance to secure a night of adult-rated fun.”

I roll my eyes, annoyed that I’m even here. I’d rather be working. “Lovely.”

“Now, you have about ten girls waiting to talk to you. So, go,” he instructs, pushing me forward.

I shoot him a glare as a bold redhead approaches me.

“Are you as handsome as you are tall?” She flips her hair and tugs slightly on a silver scarf around her neck.

“I’m not interested,” I say, moving away from her.

“Wait, what?” she demands, following me. “Do you know who I am?”

“Not really, and that’s kind of the point.”

She grabs my arm, causing my beast to bristle. “I am the alpha’s daughter of the Moon Lake Pack—the strongest southern pack.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, but I don’t date conceited people.” I pull away as I hear her growl.

“Sabrina, retract those canines,” the alpha queen commands from one of the tables where the mated chaperones are seated.

I smirk and continue walking.

I feel a subtle shift in the air, causing every unmated male to stand at attention, including myself and my beast.

A woman has entered with another female. One is wearing a stunning dark-blue, floor-length gown with a daring split up to her hip. The stones catch the light, drawing every ounce of my attention to her.

Her black hair is twisted and curled down to her waist. Her long legs stir dangerous thoughts in my mind, while the smirk on her red lips makes mine tingle.

A diamond collar hides her bare neck and is paired with a silver wolf mask, signaling she’s unmated. There’s no way this woman will leave the Claiming unmarked.

When she looks up and sees me, a playful smile graces her lips before she returns her attention to her companion.

Her friend is nearly as tall as the stunning female and almost as beautiful.

The woman has dark-auburn hair, left in long curls that reach her hips. She’s wearing a skin-tight white dress with shapes cut up the sides, letting every male know she’s not wearing underwear.

She has a white scarf around her neck as well as a white wolf mask. Judging by the men ogling her, she won’t be left unmarked either.

I watch as the two women begin to navigate through the crowd. Not a single male has approached them, and I’m guessing it’s because the women are paying so much attention to only each other.

I catch a light bell tone in the taller one’s laugh, and it sets my skin ablaze. What is happening to me?

“So, you’ve found one girl you like here.” Ruben’s voice comes from my left, watching her with as much interest as I am. “Too bad she’s just a ~lowly she-wolf~.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, though I can’t tear my gaze away from her long enough to even look at him.

“That, my dear brother, is the alpha king’s daughter,” Ruben informs me, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“That? That is the alpha princess who forced her own father to submit only a few hours ago?” I run my eyes over her once more.

Ruben chuckles, seeming to be entertained by my stunned state. “That she is.”

“Why is she hiding her aura?” I ask. At the moment, I can feel more power radiating from her friend than from her. It’s impressive.

“I don’t know. Probably so she won’t draw attention,” he says. “The power you felt from her earlier? That was her in recovery mode after being poisoned with wolfsbane. So, you haven’t even felt her full strength.”

He pats my back, a smirk playing on his lips. “Too bad you’ve already decided she’s not your type.”

A low growl escapes me as a man approaches her. She lets out a delighted squeal, kisses his cheek, and wraps him in a hug.

“Who is that guy?” I ask, my eyes narrowing when his hand drops to the small of her back as she turns to address the people he’s with.

Ruben shrugs nonchalantly. “No idea. That’s the whole point of this event. She must know him if she recognized him.”

“Why doesn’t Dad want her marked tomorrow?” I ask while I watch her laugh and place her hand on the shoulder of a white-haired guest. They’re getting ready to take a group picture, so they must know each other.

That does not calm my beast while we watch the camera flash.

“Probably because he’s worried it might be a rogue,” Ruben guesses. “He’s been on edge since he found out the mate she killed was some rogue.”

My eyebrows furrow beneath my mask. “How did he find out about that?”

“He made her tell him just before you arrived. You can’t say no to the lycan king, even if you’re a princess,” Ruben explains, a note of finality in his voice. Then he straightens and puffs out his chest. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Surprising myself, a growl rumbles deep within me as I watch Ruben approach her. My inner beast starts pacing restlessly, his gaze fixed on her.

I can’t tell if he’s intrigued by her or disturbed by the aura she demonstrated earlier today. I try to soothe him, but he’s itching for a challenge.

To calm my beast, I lean against the wall, my eyes never leaving her. By the time Ruben has reached her, the two girls have already disappeared from his sight.

He looks around with confusion, whereas I easily spot her weaving through the crowd, mingling with anyone she chooses and going unnoticed by anyone else.

I study her as her calculated movements turn into a game. How many times can she ditch my clueless brother?

One minute she’s chatting with friends, the next she’s dancing on the opposite side of the room. I’ve counted twelve times so far, and it’s clearly getting to him. His confidence has shrunk, and his proud form has slightly deflated.

My lips twitch with amusement. I’ve never seen anyone do that to my brother before.

My smile falls when I find Celina again. Right now, she’s blending in with the chaperones, chatting with her mother. But even though I can’t see her face, something about her posture tells me she’s concerned.

CELINA

“Mom, have you seen Jenna? I can’t find her.”

My mom adjusts my top, not meeting my gaze. “Stop following Jenna around and find a mate, Celina.”

I take a deep breath, holding back my frustration. “Mother, I have spoken to several males.”

“Did you find one you will allow to mark you?”

I take another breath. “No, but—”

“Then you haven’t spoken to enough.”

“Mom—” I start, but she cuts me off.

“Honestly, Celina, I expected more from you. This is your last Claiming. Don’t come back until you’ve greeted each man here. Now, go.”

I turn away, mentally cursing my mother, only to see Ruben scanning the room for me again. That’s when I spot Prince Christopher watching me, too.

Please, don’t be an ass.

I slip through the crowd enough to lose both princes and skirt around the hall to approach Christopher from behind. I lightly touch his back.

“Don’t move, don’t speak, okay?” I whisper, feeling his muscles tense up beneath his suit jacket. When he remains silent, I continue, “I’ve lost track of my friend, your brother is a pain in my ass, and I don’t want to lose a bet to my own idiot brother.

“You’re just big enough that I can hide next to you and get to the other side of the room. Can you pretend you’re going to the bathroom so I can find Jenna?”

His deep voice rumbles with amusement. “How much are you betting?”

I blush, answering honestly, “Ten dollars. He doesn’t have a lot of faith in me, considering who your brother is.”

“A pain in the ass?”

I bite my lip to stifle a laugh. “That’s the one,” I reply, guiding him to block Ruben’s line of sight. Once we’re clear, I tug on his arm, signaling for him to move with me.

“So, what’s the bet?” he asks, keeping his voice low. I feel his gaze on me; it makes my skin tingle.

“If I can avoid him the entire night,” I answer, watching Ruben near the pillar I just took his brother from. “So far, he’s been more persistent than the past men I’ve had to do this with.”

“I’ve noticed three others tonight. One of them seems to be your beta,” he comments, his voice suddenly controlled.

“Close, but not counting your brother, the answer is five—including you.”

“And how did you know I’m watching you?”

“Tall, angry loner in the back? You weren’t fooling anyone with that disguise. I assume these orders come from your father, but your brother is taking it up a notch. I’ve got to say…it’s a lot of effort for some lowly she-wolf.”

He tenses in my hand, which makes me chuckle. “For future reference,” I whisper menacingly, “I recommend closing the door if you intend on insulting your host’s daughter.”

“Duly noted,” he says stiffly, then remains silent for a moment. When he speaks again, his tone is gentler. “And…I apologize. It’s no excuse, but I’ve had a rough couple of days, and my brother is, as you put it, a pain in the ass.”

Suddenly, I feel guilty. Jenna did hint that he’s dealing with a breakup. Seems like this Claiming is the season of heartbreak.

I pull a face as I nod. “Apology accepted,” I say and pause. “Actually, I heard about your split with your long-time girlfriend.”

I lift my gaze to show him I mean what I’m about to say. “I can’t claim to know your pain, but I do hope you find your peace. This is the worst place to try to mend a broken heart, so you might as well let loose.”

His eyes stay on me, so I offer him a small, teasing smile to cheer him up.

At last, he responds with a smile of his own and addresses me in a playful tone. “I think that’s something I can attempt. Maybe you can guide me on how to enjoy this party—as long as I keep you away from my brother.”

I let out a genuine laugh, both relieved and surprised that I’m actually having a good time. “That sounds like a deal.”

The words are barely out of my mouth before I tense at a tingle in my head; Jenna’s voice comes through our pack link, connecting only to me.

“Cel, I need help! Your bathroom—please come quick!”