I’m lost in the familiar amber eyes that I’ve grown to love. We’re in our special place, perched atop one of the many waterfalls hidden in the woods. This one is ours. We’ve never seen another soul here. It’s our private sanctuary.
Wisteria drapes from the trees, creating a natural curtain that shields us from the world.
“I love you so much,” Rex murmurs, brushing my chestnut hair from my face and tracing my cheek. His touch sends a shiver of delight down my spine.
“I love you too. Four more years and you’ll be mine…forever,” I reply, grinning up at him.
Rex leans in, our noses brushing as he breathes in my scent.
“I already am,” he whispers, his lips brushing against mine. He pulls back a bit, watching my reaction, waiting for my go-ahead.
I smile at him, giving a small nod. His lips crash into mine. His tongue teases my lower lip, asking for entrance, which I happily grant.
Our tongues move together, dancing to a rhythm only they know.
My heart is pounding wildly. As it fills with love, my body heats up. I’m panting…hard. I want so much more…but he pulls away.
Rex looks at me like I’m his next meal, and I’d gladly let him devour me!
Suddenly, his body jerks. He gasps, his expression shifting to one of apology, but I don’t understand why.
His emotions are a whirlwind—sorrow, anger, despair.
All I see is red…red everywhere.
I wake up screaming for Rex, as I’ve done countless times before. My body is drenched in a cold sweat.
This nightmare couldn’t have come at a worse time. I’m already feeling low and vulnerable after the bonfire.
I tried to have a good time last night, I really did. But then some jerk tried to force himself on me.
Thank goodness my brothers were there, right when I needed them.
Once they got me home, they tucked me into bed with a hot water bottle and comfort food. They stayed with me, watching a movie to lift my spirits before heading back to their rooms.
The hellhounds were whining and howling, missing their master. Ozzy had ordered them to stay outside my room—they weren’t happy.
My room is a book lover’s paradise. It’s practically a library, filled from floor to ceiling with books of all genres—fiction, nonfiction, you name it, I probably have it.
To reach my bed, you have to climb a ladder to a small, hidden balcony. There’s a cozy nook in the wall that houses my bed, a TV, and a small chaise longue near the balcony.
The lower part of my room has another seating area in the middle, along with more reading nooks.
I have nooks by the windows, in the corners of the room...even some hammocks hanging from the ceiling.
Large bean bags and knitted blankets are tucked into the corners, inviting you to dive in and get lost.
I’m not looking forward to leaving my safe haven this morning, but I promised Dinah I’d help her with the ball preparations.
I groan as I roll out of bed, not even trying to stop myself from falling. I land with a thud on the floor next to my bed.
From the floor, I grab some clothes. Luckily, my comfy loungewear is within reach. I throw them on, not even bothering to brush my hair.
I scowl at my reflection in the mirror. This is as much effort as anyone’s getting from me today.
After grabbing a quick piece of toast from the kitchen, I head to the hall, bedhead and all, to meet Dinah.
She’s already busy, making notes and checking things off her list, which is clipped to a clipboard.
I approach her. Just as I’m about to speak, she interrupts.
“Hey, hun. Grab that clipboard over there,” she points without looking up, “check what’s left and see what you can do.”
As I pick up the clipboard and start going through the list, Dinah looks up, studying me with her all-knowing witchy eyes.
“Are you okay?” she asks, concern in her voice.
“Me? Yeah...of course,” I reply, not looking up from the clipboard.
Dinah sighs, taking the clipboard from me.
“By ‘are you okay’...I mean, what happened? You look like a mess, Mae. I know something’s wrong.”
With a pained look, I tell her everything about last night—about Jasper, what he tried to do, how he made me feel.
There’s no point in lying to Dinah. She always finds out the truth.
“Please, don’t tell anyone!” I plead. “Hunter and Ozzy already dealt with him...he won’t bother me again, I’m sure!”
“Mae...”
Reluctantly, she agrees, promising not to tell anyone.
There’s a lot I can help with. The most important task is to personally call each pack, charm them, and tell them how excited we are to host them.
They all appreciate a personal touch. I can fake a smile for a few phone calls. With a list of attendees in hand, I get to work.
“Hello, Alpha Oliver. This is Princess Mae from the Royal Pack. I trust you’re doing well? I just wanted to reach out and express how thrilled we are to have you at the ball. I’m eager to see the stunning outfit your gifted luna will put together. See you soon.”
Alpha Oliver’s luna has a knack for fashion. She designs and crafts gowns for human celebrities and high-ranking wolves alike.
Once I’m done with the calls, I return to the ballroom to find the flowers have arrived. I quickly assist Dinah in arranging them.
“Soooo…,” Dinah begins, stealing a quick glance at me. “Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your mate at the ball,” she suggests, trying to sound nonchalant.
I let out a sigh. “I think we both know that’s unlikely.” I offer her a sad smile. She nods, understanding.
“You know…you could choose a mate, Mae…please don’t think I would ever hold it against you,” she says sincerely, though I can see the pain in her eyes.
“I know, I know. It’s just…no one…” I struggle to find the right words to express my feelings about choosing a mate.
“No one makes me feel alive like Rex did,” I confess.
“His smile could light up the gloomiest of days, and with just a quick wink, he could convince me to follow him anywhere. No one else will ever make me feel that way.
“I feel lost without him. I’m exhausted without him. I barely manage to get through each day. It’s like a part of me is missing, and that part held the key to my soul.”
“I feel the same way, but I think you suffer more because you don’t have your mate to help you through each day. I’m sorry this has happened to you, Mae,” Dinah says, her voice filled with sorrow.
“Why would you be sorry? You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s those bastards who took him…they’re the ones who will be sorry.
“We will find him one day…we have to, Dinah. If not…I can just be a little spinster princess,” I joke, though my heart isn’t in it.
“There’s nothing small about you.” She laughs before quickly becoming serious again.
She’s right. I tower over petite five-foot-two Dinah at five foot eleven.
I was the tallest girl in my class at school and college, but I never felt tall when I was with Rex. At fifteen, he was six foot five, and he made me feel delicate and small, but in the best possible way.
“Anyway, I can handle things from here.” She nods toward the door. “You go and enjoy the rest of your day.”
She smiles, giving my hand a gentle tap. I hesitate, unsure whether to stay or go…I can see the pain in her eyes.
I want to help, but I’m not sure how.
“Go on, off you go!” she insists, waving me off with her hands.
I nod in acknowledgment and hurry out without looking back.
As I open the doors to my room, I hear voices. One of them is my mom, cooing and exclaiming over something.
I push the large wooden doors wide open, my eyes landing on something breathtaking. My jaw drops.
In the middle of the room, displayed on a mannequin, is the most stunning dress I’ve ever seen.
The chest is gold plated, like armor for a warrior. The plate crosses over the breast area before spreading out over the shoulders.
It ends with a few spikes that flare away from the shoulders. The bottom of the dress flows out, but it’s softer than a princess dress, without any poof.
It’s adorned with tiny, sparkling golden stones. A long slit runs up one leg all the way to the top of the thigh. It’s the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen.
My mom pops her head out from behind the mannequin. “SURPRISE!” she yells, adding some jazz hands for effect.
“What do you think?” she asks, her eyes sparkling with hope.
“What do I think!? Mom, this is the most incredible dress I’ve ever seen!” I exclaim, awestruck.
“Well, good, because I wanted it to be perfect for you. And what better way to show the world who you really are…a warrior.” She smiles at me proudly.
“Ha! Good one, Mom, I’m not a warrior. I can’t even beat a little Fairy.”
“Oh, but you are, Mae, even if you don’t feel like one, even if all you’ve done is get up in the morning…
She continues, “Even if we don’t get to see that big, beaming smile of yours, we get to see you fighting every day. And that, my beautiful girl, makes you the strongest warrior I know.”
“Mom…,” I say, my lip trembling, tears welling up in my eyes.
She might not realize it, but that’s one of the kindest things anyone has ever said to me. I hadn’t noticed that she saw through me, that she knew about my pain.
Of course, I know she’s aware I’m hurting since Rex has been gone, but this is the first time she’s acknowledged that she recognizes the extent of it.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. “Thank you, Mom,” I whisper, my voice choked with emotion.
I’m sprawled out on my bed, tossing and turning. Normally, exhaustion would have me out like a light, but tonight, a sense of unease is gnawing at my insides. I glance at my clock and let out a groan.
Slowly, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stand up. There’s no point in lying awake all night, right?
I wander outside into the palace gardens. The grounds are vast—acres of land stretch out around the palace.
There are rose gardens, a large greenhouse filled with exotic flowers, and fountains, lakes, and ponds scattered here and there.
First stop on my late-night tour is the rose gardens. I sit among the flowers for a while, inhaling their sweet scent and gazing up at the stars.
I continue my walk through the gardens, the crunch of gravel under my slip-on shoes echoing in the quiet night.
I startle when I see movement in the greenhouse… There’s a figure pacing back and forth.
As I approach the grassy area, I hesitate, nerves starting to kick in.
I slow my pace, trying to be as quiet as possible. I crouch behind a bush and try to get a better look at the large, shadowy figure.
I can’t make out their features. The greenhouse is dark, and they have their back to me. The figure’s voice is starting to rise.
“Get everything you’ve collected and get out of there as soon as possible. He can’t find out what we’re planning!” the familiar male voice sounds tense.
There’s a pause, and I realize he must be on the phone.
“No, you don’t understand! We’ll never get another chance like this. Do as I’ve told you. Goodbye,” he snaps, ending the call abruptly.
“Fucking idiot!” he mutters.
The figure steps out of the greenhouse and into a patch of moonlight.
Idris.
I let out a soft gasp of surprise. His eyes dart to where I’m hiding.
I freeze, holding my breath, hoping that will be enough to fool the lycan’s keen hearing. My heart is pounding in my chest, fear of the unknown making it race.
I don’t know what Idris was talking about, or who he was talking to, but I have a feeling he’s gone to great lengths to keep this conversation secret.
And I don’t want to get caught eavesdropping.
He continues to stare at the area around me…just staring…for what feels like an eternity.
He takes a cautious step forward, sniffing the night air, his eyes locked on me as if he can see me—before he turns and strides off, heading back toward the palace.
I don’t know, but I intend to find out.
