Grasping Fate

A little further up Caeleste Bay, a bridge spanned the river, connecting its two banks.

Antoinette and Alessandra were currently cruising across this bridge in a massive white Chevy Tahoe, its windows heavily tinted. They were headed towards what appeared to be the most upscale shopping mall Alessandra had ever heard of.

After about thirty minutes of driving through street after street, Alessandra found herself marveling at the bustling city. So many new faces, all of them stunningly beautiful.

Antoinette was behind the wheel, much to Elijah's chagrin. He'd argued that it wasn't safe, but Antoinette had simply shrugged and climbed into the driver's seat.

“You're going to love it, I promise. There are so many stores and because it's so close to the Palace, it always has the most exquisite clothes and new arrivals,” Antoinette said, her voice filled with excitement. She seemed genuinely happy and couldn't stop talking about Alexander. Alessandra found herself wondering what it must feel like to be so in love that you couldn't think of anyone else.

“We should definitely start at ma cherie to get the more formal stuff and then work our way down from there. It might be a bit tiring as they take your measurements and all that, but the gowns they make there—” She squealed, her eyes lighting up with joy.

Measurements? That meant this stuff was not only expensive but important! She couldn't just drop a ton of money in there only to run off and never wear the gowns!

Just how important were these siblings anyway?

“Uh, actually I'm kind of hungry. Could we maybe eat first?” Alessandra suggested, “You know, to fuel up before we dive in.”

Antoinette's smile widened, “Yes!” she exclaimed, “I know the perfect place! Alexander took me there when we first met! He was so romantic back then, now he's always stressing over work and stuff.”

“Does he work with Elijah?” Alessandra asked, genuinely curious. She knew next to nothing about him other than his name and his sister. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to gather some information—maybe she could use it against him later. A warning twinge of pain tightened around her chest.

“They don't exactly work in the same field... but they're very close business associates. They kind of have to rely on each other to do their jobs right for everything to run smoothly.” Antoinette's voice sounded clipped and rehearsed. This was going to be impossible, Alessandra thought. Elijah's probably told her what to say and what not to say.

“Oh, ok. I was just curious because I don't really know anything about him. Hell, I don't even know his last name!” She joked, trying to lighten the almost tense atmosphere that threatened to take over if she asked any more questions.

“Oh, I can tell you that! It's Lucian. Elijah Lucian.” Antoinette smiled warmly, glancing back at the road, “Look, there it is!”

It was a massive glass building surrounded by perfectly manicured greenery.

The dark glass gave it a regal air, and through its thousands of gleaming windows, you could see the faint glow of shop lights.

Palm trees lined the front, swaying in the wind as cars were being valet parked in the huge parking lot, filled with Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins—you name it, it was probably there.

And behind it was the forest. The Celestial Forest. All she needed to do was get to the other side of those godforsaken trees, find a bus stop, and catch a bus to Creekwood-Celestial.

“Yeah, they like to show off a bit.” Antoinette giggled, referring to the parking lot, “When I first saw it, I couldn't believe it either.”

Once they'd parked the car, they headed towards the restaurant Antoinette had mentioned. It was decorated in gold and brown, with hints of cream.

A bright, crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, scattering little sparkles of light across the table as it reflected the sunlight through the darkened windows.

The entire shopping center was inside the glass building, including a multitude of restaurants. In total, there were around one hundred and twenty-five stores, twenty-five restaurants, all spread across four floors.

Outside the restaurant in the main area of the center was a beautiful indoor fountain that could be viewed from all four floors. The shops were arranged in a nearly square pattern, circling around the main foyer entrance, overlooking the throngs of people moving in and out of shops and snapping aesthetic photos.

A maître d' led them to a table and handed them menus, pouring a glass of ice water before leaving. Alessandra nearly choked on her own tongue when she saw the prices for the dishes.

She'd never seen numbers this high for a single plate of food. Her appetite vanished instantly. If this was the standard for every shop and restaurant, she needed to get out now.

She'd never even owned a new pair of anything. Everything in the compound for regulars were either hand-me-downs or trades. That was it.

If you were lucky, you could find something decent at the thrift shop in the city. That's how she'd lived her life for nearly eleven years.

Even the dress and the shoes she'd worn to the party yesterday were Lizzie's. The jacket was Derek's, but that had been torn to shreds now, so it didn't count.

“Hun, are you ok? If you don't like the look of the food, we can go somewhere else. It doesn't matter.” Antoinette sighed.

“Well, you've got six months until application day, hun. You better start thinking.”

Jess... Lizzie... Renzo...

“I'm so sorry, I really need the bathroom. Wait here. I'll be back in a minute.” Alessandra choked out. No, I won't, a voice in her head stated bitterly, almost disappointed at her actions.

“Excuse me, sorry. Where is the nearest bathroom?” She asked the head waiter at the front, near a desk.

“It's right around that corner, miss.” They pointed out the door, in the direction of the exit. Thank Goddess.

She walked quickly out the door, her heart pounding dangerously, turned the corner and broke into a sprint. She “accidentally” bumped into several people, trying to mask her scent. She'd probably need to find a body of water or a lake before she was safe though, especially with the Lycanthropes' enhanced sense of smell. Many people watched her as she ran out through the front door and towards the forest.

She’d never been so thrilled to see this godforsaken place, but at least it was broad daylight now, so navigating should be a breeze. She pulled her phone from her pocket and tossed it to the ground, wincing at the impact.

Now she felt doubly guilty, not only for ditching Antoinette at the restaurant but also for wrecking the brand-new, pricey phone.

The woods, however, seemed more inviting and easier to traverse. Maybe this side of the woods is different? She pondered, continuing her sprint towards civilization.

Alessandra kept running until she stumbled upon a small river. Perfect.

It was still relatively warm since it was mid-afternoon, but darkness would soon fall, bringing with it fear and chill. She shrugged, hoping she’d be somewhat dry by then.

Alessandra eased herself into the river, taking a deep breath before fully submerging, the cold making her shiver.

She shivered but quickly reveled in the surrounding nature as she emerged from the river, her soaked clothes sticking to her skin.

She cringed inwardly, wishing she could strip them off, but the more she considered it, the more foolish the idea seemed. She couldn’t run around the forest nearly naked, Elijah would lose his shit...

The pain returned, hitting harder this time, making her gasp as she slid to the ground. She pushed her emotions aside and tried to stand, and with great effort, she did.

The pain persisted as she forced one foot in front of the other for what felt like miles. Each step intensified the ache in her body.

Her feet were sore, and her eyes felt heavy and sleepy, the thought of seeing Lizzie, Renzo, and Jess again was subconsciously tucked away in the back of her mind.

Each thought was invaded by images of Elijah's face. His touch. His dangerous presence that made her feel safe and secure. His solid muscles beneath her fingertips.

She wanted to curl up on the floor and cry, longing to be back in his arms again. But she was too far in now, she had no idea where the hell she was going or how to get back to the kingdom.

To Elijah. To his comfortable bed and his warm, secure arms. By the time she saw the edge of the forest, she wanted to weep in agony, every part of her being urging her to turn around and go back.

But she was too exhausted to do anything but keep walking towards what looked like civilization. The sun was setting now. They must have noticed she was gone.

Guilt gnawed at her the more she thought about it. The more she thought of how Antoinette was left at that restaurant.

The fact that she'd been kind enough to lend her clothes and yet Alessandra felt like she'd betrayed her.

In the compound, you got what you were given, often at a price, whether you wanted it or not.

She'd grown up in that environment and then was thrown into the arms of someone who was supposed to cherish her, love her, and accept her for who she was. And she'd thrown it all away.

But so had he at one point. If she'd already met him when she was younger then why didn't he keep her there with him? Was being a faery that much of a disgrace?

That even your own mate would hide everything about themselves because they were so afraid of being labeled an outcast by society. The more she thought, the more it made sense.

The fact that his sister was too afraid to be seen out with her undisguised. She could know nothing about him so if anything did happen, she'd never be able to fully describe him or who he was.

He was protecting his identity. Shielding it from being tarnished by being mated to a faery.

He probably got rid of her as a child so he could continue to fuck without the guilt that his mate was in the next room. That's probably what he was doing right now!

She could almost visualize it, the faceless bimbo clutching his naked chest as he suckled on her breasts, pounding into her.

Him groaning and leaving love bites along her skin as she ran her fingers through his silky, full black hair. His perfect muscles rippling with every thrust.

The more she thought, the more the bimbo slowly morphed into herself. The craving for him between her legs became primal and she growled in frustration when she realized her mistake.

That would never happen. She'd never feel the euphoric sensation of falling apart, writhing beneath him, sucking on the tender skin of his neck as he groaned and gripped onto her.

She lightly touched the temporary mark on her skin but quickly pulled back as if she'd been burned from the sparks that lazily spread across her skin.

But he didn't care. Hell, no one did. Not apart from Jess, Lizzie, and Renzo. The only people who have ever truly been there for her when she felt like a nobody to society.

They are the reason she got out, the reason she ran away. And she was going to make damn sure she got back to them.

Her face was flushed from the cold and her naughty thoughts when she finally reached a bus station and she thanked the goddess for the laws that made public ground transportation free.

The next bus ride to Creekwood-Celestial would leave in an hour and thirty minutes and would take around seven hours to complete.

She stumbled over to a bench, the warm air flowing through the open terminal felt humid against her skin.

She probably looked like a mess with frizzy unkempt hair, puffy red-rimmed eyes, and bags the size of Jupiter under her eyes. Not to mention her ripped muddy clothes and raw feet.

She slouched down in the seat, the warm breeze rustling her greasy dark brown hair.

Hopefully, she'd lost them, she thought absentmindedly rubbing her cheek feeling the skin cold with sweat and an afternoon's worth of dirt.

Her nails were dirty, her hands were practically black, and she felt like she needed a long-ass shower having not showered since before the party at Lizzie's house.

The moon had now fully risen in the sky as she watched the decade-old television broadcasting the daily news.

It seemed like nothing important, all decrease and increase of different taxes blah blah blah and maybe an odd report on why it was dangerous to feed your child peanut butter or some shit and how burnt toast could now cause cancer.

“Breaking news—A young girl named Alessandra Doltone went missing from a party last night after being dared by a friend to try and find the Celestial Palace.” A picture of Alessandra—posing with Lizzie was put on the screen, taken only a few minutes before Derek announced the game of truth or dare—was put on the screen.

Her eyes widened, staring at the screen. She was on TV.

“it—it was just a game and suddenly she was just gone,” Aaron spoke.

“Please—please help! She’s my best friend! My best fucking friend.” Lizzie was a mess of tears in Renzo’s arms, her fingers digging into his shirt as if it were her only lifeline.

Alessandra felt her own eyes well up, her lip trembling as she watched her two best friends on the grainy television screen. They were describing her, detailing what she was wearing when she was last seen, and what kind of person she was.

Every now and then, Lizzie’s tears would flow freely, and she’d suck in a deep breath. Alessandra knew that breath. It was the same one Lizzie took when she was on the verge of a breakdown.

It was the same breath she’d taken when her mom had called to tell her that her grandmother had passed away when they were fifteen. The same one she’d take when they were studying for a WPE (Werewolf Provisional Exam) and nothing seemed to stick. The same one she’d take when the world felt too heavy on her shoulders.

Alessandra felt her own tears start to fall as she sucked in a deep breath, unable to watch her best friend’s pain broadcasted on television.

“But there is something different about this particular case which makes it stick out compared to the other missing reports we receive,” the news anchor explained. “Elijah Lucian, Captain of the Royal Guard, has declared her missing and has ordered that she be brought immediately to authorities and handed to the Royal Guard if seen. The question now is, what has this young girl done to be wanted by the Captain of the Royal Guard?”

What!? Captain of the Royal fucking Guard!!

A video of him flashed on the screen. He looked deadly furious, standing in front of what looked like an army of Lycanthropes. He was behind a podium, and she could practically feel his fury through the television as golden lines slithered around his body like vines, so close to losing control.

“If anyone—” He slammed his fist on the podium, splintering the wood, “If anyone sees or finds her, she is to be brought to me immediately! She is not to escape, or leave your sight once she is in detainment. And if I find out that anyone has disobeyed any one of my commands regarding her safety, it’s your head that’s going to be on a stake. Am I clear?” He stated furiously, his eyes glowing uncontrollably. She almost wanted to float to them, like a moth to a flame. A murmur rippled amongst the men, “I said, am I clear?” He roared, his claws extended, gripping onto the podium in a deadly grasp.

Her picture was once again plastered onto the television screen. Her eyes widened, her head whipping around as she looked for signs of anyone who could have seen her. She couldn’t go back.

Not to... Not to... Him.

He’s the one who most likely carried out the attack on Nightencewood. Who could have possibly had her parents slaughtered and her memories taken away of everything before the compound.

It was his fucking fault she’d been stuck in the compound in the first place, like the fucking asshole he is.

Luckily, the terminal was empty except for a person in a kiosk who seemed to be engrossed in a magazine.

Her picture flashed to a video of Elijah climbing the steps to the Palace, his face looking murderous and his body stiff as he stormed inside, the audio a mass of jumbled up questions and flashes.

“Who is that girl?”

“What has that girl done?”

“Why was she seen with Queen Antoinette earlier today?”

Hold the fuck up!! Queen fucking Antoinette.

Her eyes were practically bulging out of her head. What the actual fuck. How the fuck was he so oblivious to not only not know who the Captain of the R-G was but the fucking King and Queen.

She must've really fucking fucked up. She didn't bow. She didn't pay respect. She fucking abandoned the Queen in a fucking restaurant. Let's just say she wasn't the calmest of beings right now.

She sat, curled into a ball on the seat, staring numbly into space as the clock struck twelve o’clock pm and the bus pulled into the station.

She jumped on, sat at the very back, back against the glass, feet perched on the seat next to her, hugging her knees to her chest.

No wonder he wanted to get rid of her. He’d probably have had his title taken away from him had he mated with her.

Maybe that’s why he practically ran away every time he caught scent of her want for him. Even being the King’s brother-in-law probably couldn’t save you from that.

Even though her eyes stung, desperate to be shut and done with what the world was throwing at her, she kept them open as the bus began to pull away from the station, herself being the only passenger.

She couldn’t risk being seen, even in the back of a bus, curled into a ball, in the middle of the night. She was fucking terrified.