Shackled to the Crown

Chapter 4

"Ouch," Jemma cried as Tiff drove another pin into her hair, taking half of her scalp with it.

"Don't be such a baby," Tiff scoffed, grabbing another bonny pin, "Keep still."

After a few more minutes of torture Tiff finally stepped away looking very pleased with herself.

"Pretty as a picture," she smiled, turning Jemma around to look in the mirror.

Wow.

She looked so elegant; it reminded her so much of her first look in the mirror on her wedding day. She didn't look anything like herself; the woman in the mirror looked sophisticated, beautiful and confident.

The slim fitting Emerald coloured gown that Tiff had loving picked out for her matched her eyes perfectly. Her makeup was so professional, and though it felt like she was caked in it, it actually looked very subtle the heaviest part being the smoky eyes that Tiff had done.

The matching heels Tiff had picked out were obviously hidden by the bottom of the mermaid style gown, but they gave her enough height that the bottom of the dress only grazed the floor, making it easier to walk.

Her hair was up in a stylish up do and her mother's tiara sat front and centre.

"Are you sure this isn't too much?" Jemma questioned, turning around and around in the mirror, amazed at how good she looked.

The dress had no straps so her scars were clearly on display but she had grown to accept them for what they were now. She still felt a little self conscious when people stared at them but nothing like she used to feel.

"It's a ball," Tiff said matter-of-factly, "Trust you are dressed perfectly."

Tiff grabbed their clutch bags off of the bed and gestured towards the door, "Time to go," she chimed, quickly smoothing out her slinky red ball gown and double checking her hair and makeup in the mirror.

Downstairs the whole pack was waiting on them. All the men looked smart in their suits and Teagan and Lily had picked out matching pale pink gowns for themselves.

Everyone looked so elegant, so much so that it made Jemma a bit nervous. She had never been to an event like this.

"You look stunning," Michael said as he snaked an arm around her waist and kissed her on the cheek.

"Lips off, Alpha," Tiff warned, "That make up took two hours to do."

Jemma stared at him for a long moment, "Is that dye?" she asked, horrified. Michael beautiful golden hair was now Jet black.

"Yes but its only temporary," Nick jumped in seeing Jemma's concern, no doubt he was the one who dyed it, "It's more of a hair spray."

Then she noticed that his usual golden eyes were a deep blue, but that was explained away when she noticed just a hint of the edge of a contact lens.

"I did a bit of work on him too," Tiff admitted as Jemma examined his face.

His face somehow looked a different shape, it was subtle but noticeable.

"The art of contouring," Tiff smiled.

"I don't look too bad, do I?" Michael whispered playfully to her, knowing full well Tiff could hear him.

"No," Jemma floundered, "No - its uh, just - different."

"It's just for one night," he assured her, squeezing her against him.

"One night," she repeated, reassuring herself.

Michael nodded with an amused smirk, "Shall we go?" he asked her.

After a moment’s hesitation she nodded, "Yes."

Michael nodded and led the way outside to the cars.

The drive was a long one, so it was lucky that they gave plenty of time. Jemma's jaw dropped from the front seat as the Palace came into view. It was huge and magnificent. Looking more like a grand mansion that the Disney-esque Palace she was expecting, but no less impressive.

"You used to live here?" she breathed as she stared on. It was lit up brightly like a beacon within the forest.

Michael nodded looking less than impressed with the sight of the place. Then again, he has run away so it can't have been as grand and magnificent to live there.

As they approached they were suddenly stuck in a long line of vehicles waiting to enter through the imposing gates.

"Every single pack must be here," Nick commented from the driver’s seat, staring down at the long line of traffic.

"It is mandatory," Tiff shot back, "Besides, that's more faces for you to hide in," she said turning to Michael.

He nodded but still didn't look sure.

He stayed silent as he stared ahead, his face was blank but there was concern in his eyes.

Jemma took his hand in hers; he glanced at her, the touch making his jump a little.

She smiled reassuringly, letting him know it'll be okay. He gave a half-smile back and looked back ahead.

As they got closer Jemma started to see people walking in.

Tiff had been right; she was definitely NOT overdressed for this occasion. Everyone looked so amazing that she even started to wonder if she was a little under dressed now.

"Oh, look at her shoes! Look at that dress! I love her hair!" Tiff gushed as she unashamedly people-watched as they crawled through the traffic queue. Nick just smiled at his mate as he kept his eyes ahead.

"Look at that Palace," Jemma breathed, it more amazing up close, the amazing architecture all coming into view, though it did look somewhat more daunting, looming above them.

"It's just one night," Michael assured her seeing the concern furrowing her brow.

He didn't look too convinced of the situation either, but tried to calm her worry none the less.

Jemma nodded and stared back out the window, too mesmerised by everything going on around them.

She had never seen so many werewolves in one place before. It was strange to think that just a few years ago she didn't even have a clue that they existed.

Now here she was, Luna of her own pack, attending a grand ball at a Royal werewolf family's Palace.

Finally they pulled up to the gates where three guards were waiting.

Nick rolled down his window.

"Pack?" the guard demanded.

"Wolfsbane," Nick responded promptly.

The guard checked down his list and scribbled something once he found the name.

"Number of cars and attendees?" he then asked.

"Three cars, ten members," Nick replied without a moment’s hesitation. He was good at this Jemma noted, she would've probably just panicked of she'd have been asked.

The guard scribbled something down again and then gestured Nick to drive on.

Inside the Palace was more magnificent than the outside. Jemma stared around as they waited patiently in yet another queue to enter the ball room. Jemma admired the gold, white and emerald decor, noticing that above each arch and doorway was the Cairnes family seal.

She could hear beyond the doors that they were announcing Alphas, Lunas and Pack names as they entered.

Michael was shuffling uncomfortably next to her, turning his face away from each guard that they passed along the way.

Jemma kept glancing back to Tristan who was surrounded by the other pack members in a tight wall.

She couldn't help but notice the filthy looks he was getting from others as the smelled and noticed his presence among them.

A few guards had approached, but Nick had calmly told them to back off as he was a pack member. Thankfully they had backed off, though they were gathering a lot of attention because of it which was a bad thing.

"Maybe I should just go back to the pack house," she heard Tristan whisper to Nick.

She swung around and hissed, "We will not let them win," she wasn't angry at Tristan, she was angry at everyone else for being so judgemental.

Tristan nodded, though still looked nervous. Rightfully so, as he was in a Palace teeming with werewolves and he was the lone vampire that they hated.

He was outrageously outnumbered, even with the pack as backup.

Michael took her hand as she turned back around.

'If he feels too uncomfortable then you should let him leave,' he mind linked her, 'For his sake, not theirs.'

She glanced back at Tristan one more time. The fear in his eyes as the queue shuffled slowly forward. He was surrounded by wolves and boxed into the packed entrance hall.

It wasn't fair on him just for the sake of proving a point.

She quickly mind-linked Tiff to let him know he could leave when he wanted and just to get one of the pack to escort him out.

Finally they reached the front and one of the guards took their details, checking them off the list and scribbling down some last minute details.

He asked why they were harbouring a vampire and Michael dealt with the conversation like a true Alpha and would not back down.

Finally the guard caved, he gave Tristan a venomous look before jotting something down on the paper.

They stepped forward to the balcony of the grand staircase.

The ball was already in full swing below, though people were paying attention to who was announced as they arrived.

The grand ballroom was breathtaking and Jemma couldn't help but feel she was in some sort of fairytale.

"Announcing, Alpha and Luna Collins and the Wolfsbane pack," one of the guards bellowed. Once they were announced they quickly made their way downstairs as Michael had tensed up from being in the spotlight.

"It's okay," Jemma comforted him, "We're here now, look how many people there are."

He didn't respond, just nodded looking nervously around, presumably trying to spot his grandfather.

"Me and Harry will go grab some drinks," Nick suggests as they clustered in their own space as a pack. It seemed to be what all the other packs were doing.

"I'll come with you," Michael pushed through, then suddenly they were gone and Lucas and Darren had disappeared with them, leaving only the girls and Tristan.

"Rude," Tiff noted as they stood awkwardly near the buffet table.

"At least we get first dibs on the food," Lily shrugged eyeing up the gargantuan table, her mind probably racing with all the delicious food it could possibly be filled with.

"Are you ever not hungry?" Tiff frowned at her.

Lily shook her head with an unashamed smile, "I could eat all day, every day," she boasted rubbing her stomach.

"That's how you get fat," Tiff pointed out.

Lily gave a mock frown down to her tiny waistline, running her hand across it before smiling back up at Tiff, "Somehow I don't think so."

"Hi ladies," they were interrupted by a deep powerful voice.

They all glanced to see a towering, hulk of a man standing before them, flanked by two equally tall but not as buff men.

He was looking over Jemma with hunger in his blue eyes. She tensed as she noticed and she felt her pack members behind her get into an offensive stance, ready to take the creep down.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Jemma responded, trying to sound confident and sure of herself as any good Luna would, "How can we help you?" she made the last part a little sarcastic, hoping she would get the jist that she actually meant piss off.

"We saw a group of lovely ladies stood alone and thought we would come over for a chat," he smirked, "It is strange to see an all female pack around here," she could tell it was a probe.

"We aren't an all female pack," she said bluntly, "And I'm afraid we don't really have time for a chat."

"Come now, it's a ball, loosen up, Luna," he laughed, "Live a little."

The humour drained from his face when he finally spotted Tristan stood among them. His face turned to one of pure hatred.

"What is that?" he pointed accusingly at Tristan.

All Jemma's fears and reservations about being a Luna drained away in that moment.

"How dare you!" she spat, marching forward to get up in the guys face. He was clearly an Alpha by the power that radiated off of him but she didn't care, "He is one of my pack and I don't take kindly to those who speak ill of my pack!"

"Are you blind, lady?" one of his flanking men spoke up now, "He's a f*****g vampire!"

"Vampires have no business being here!" the Alpha roared, "Get him out of here, better yet, kill him!"

They started to advance trying to push Jemma out of the way but she stood strong. Tiff, Lily and Teagan leapt forward backing her up and creating a wall between them and Tristan.

"Don't you dare take another step!" Jemma roared back now.

"Or what?" he growled, baring his sharp canine at her threateningly.

"Or you will have me to deal with," yet another voice cut in, taking all their attention over to where it came from.

It was the king.