The Fae King's Darling

Ceremony

Willa’s POV

The two suns were close to be high in the sky by the time I woke up the next day. I didn’t sleep well at all from the night before. I was too bothered by the feeling I was being watched at the lake. Then there was the constant calling of “your highness!” that was coming from the far end of the court yard. I didn’t want to be caught outside at night and being a ‘defenseless human,’ it was best if I  high tailed it out of there. 

There was a loud knock at the door, I had an inkling I knew who it was but was trying my best to ignore it. “Willa!!!” The voice shreeked and I put the pillow over my head. The last thing I wanted to do was get breakfast or lunch in the dining hall. There were too many eyes on me yesterday and I would rather starve myself than deal with that social awkwardness again. Before I could mutter a, “go away,” response Violet burst into the room and jumped on the bed. 

“Goddess woman, get off me!” I wasn’t the most wonderful person to wake up to. “You have to get up, Mom, me and you and even Luna are going to get manis and pedis and do the whole spa thing! They have their own room dedicated to it! Hurry up and shower and meet me in 5!” Willa patted my butt and threw the blankets off my bed. I quickly curled up to warm myself and then I heard another light knocking on the door.

Surprise, surprise, Carlos. “I could get used to that view,” Carlos licked his lips as he walked in the room. I sat up and gave him an evil glare as I picked up the fluffy duvet and wrapped myself up. “Now, I’m a burrito, not cute at all.” 

“Ah, yes you are still a cute burrito,” he purred. “Are you finally up, everyone was wondering where you were this morning? You aren’t sick are you?” Carlos asked concerned. 

“Uh, no. I didn’t sleep well last night and I didn’t want to subject myself to another brawl in the dining room so I decided to sleep instead.” I hobbled over to my suitcase to pick out a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. 

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Carlos rubbed the back of his head. “I kind of lost it there.” 

“We are just friends Carlos, nothing more. You can’t stake your wolfie claim on me alright?” I shook my head as I walked to the ensuite bathroom. 

“But what if I wanted to be possessive of you, Willa? I really do like you whether you think so or not. Why do you think I keep coming for you, pursuing you and wanting to protect you from those damn mutts downstairs?” Carlos started to grit his teeth. I held onto my clothes tightly and looked at him warely. 

“What’s wrong, why are you getting angry with me?” Carlos took a step closer and I took a step back. 

“I just want you to know, I do care about you. I do have feelings for you, I haven’t experienced these feelings before so it is all quite new. Just give me a chance, Willa. I promise you won’t regret it. Please.”  The begging Carlos was back, he seemed honest in his tone but his eyes held something else. I knew the wolves could get possessive in the little time I’ve been around them but this was something different. 

“Alright Carlos, I’ll give you a chance. Now, I have to get ready, I’ll see you tonight?” Carlos nodded and gave me a kiss on the side of my head. It felt unnatural to me, almost scary. 

Once I was downstairs, the girls were already having their pedicures, several omegas quickly led me into the room giggling and laughing as they picked out the colors that would match my dress. “Teal you say?” one of the girls asked as she scrubbed my feet. “Yes, a light colored teal.” 

Luna Sadie started shaking her head, “Oh no dear, I have a special dress for you!” Her eyes beamed. Both Violet and her Mother looked at her questioningly. “I have this dress that would look beautiful against your skin and I have been waiting for someone to wear it. Please, do it for me, please!” Sadie was pleading with me to wear this dress and I couldn’t help but smile. 

“I’d love to Luna, thank you.” Sadie clapped excitedly as she told one of the omegas to have it prepared and sent to my room. 

“Are you excited Violet?” I asked changing the subject. 

“Very much! I mean, we have already taken care of the mating part, now it is just for show!” I shivered listening to that. Who in the heck wants to get bit like that?

“How are you and Carlos?” Violet wiggled her eyes while Sadie and Ivy stopped speaking, now glancing at me. I pursed my lips together and held my hands tightly. Mom came over and put her hands over my clenched fists. 

“Did something happen dear? What’s wrong?” 

“Just some things he said today, it just put me off a little,” I said quietly.

“What sorts of things?” Sadie demanded. Looking at both Violet and Mother I told them what happened in my room and what he had told me back home. He thought I was his mate, he wanted to court me and take things slow but doesn’t like it when I deny him. The way he would grind his teeth and hold his fists tight frightened me and it didn’t bring me comfort at all. I had no feelings for Carlos, they just weren’t there for me. However it was very real to him. 

Sadie sat back in her massage chair. Her eyes were glazed, meaning she was speaking to someone. “I don’t want to get him in trouble. I just don’t think I am anyone’s mate. I’ve got emotional problems, I’m used to being alone. Even if I was Carlos’s mate I think I would just push the thought away.”

Sadie’s eyes softened and stepped out of the foot tub to sit with me. “Willa, what Carlos is doing to you is wrong. A mate shouldn’t feel that way, if he was really your mate you would like the possessiveness. Obviously he is not your mate,” she growled. “I want you to trust me, come tonight and I will be sure to have Carlos busy. He won’t bother you.” I smiled and let out a sigh that I didn’t know I was holding.

A large burden was lifted from me, knowing I wouldn’t have to deal with Carlos. 

***

Violet was having the final preparations done to her dress and could not be seen until she walked down the aisle with her parents. I had just left my room, completely in awe of my dress. It was a lightly glittered gold dress that fit my body like a glove. It did drag on the back a bit, but the high gold heeled shoes kept it off the floor mostly. If I was ever asked to dance it would still be alright. My dark hair was done up in loose curls and small gold pins with small diamonds were placed in my hair. I kept telling Sadie I couldn’t out do Violet but she shushed me anyway.

I walked slowly to the back of the pack house, the back courtyard was filled with white chairs and at the end of the walkway there where they would be giving each other vows was a massive archway filled with white and yellow flowers. I smiled looking at the flowers decorating each chair. 

Still holding onto the doorway, a hand came to pull it away. Turning my head quickly, I saw Alanso and his friends. All three were wearing lightly colored suits with different colored roses in each of their pockets. “Ya’ll clean up nicely.” I joked. 

“We could say the same for you, Willa.” All three looked me up and down and I folded my arms across my chest. “Hmhmm, horn dogs.” They all chucked and Alanso held out his arm for me to take. “Luna has instructed us to escort you tonight, if that is alright with you.” The three of them bowed and I giggled. 

“I’d be honored.” Alonso held out his arm and I took it willingly and they led me to the front row, reserved for the head Alpha families as well as close family. I smiled, realizing I was sitting in the sibling section. My three bodyguards sat behind me and told me the high ranking warriors and leaders that were being escorted in and put into their seats.

“That’s Elder Maxum. He is old, and a bit of a perv. His wife likes it though, one time I caught them in the pack house doing the deed in the laundry room,” Caleb smirked while Sammy rolled his eyes. Sammy still didn’t talk much but he was a comfortable soul to have around.

“What about the Fae King? I’ve never seen a Fae before.” Alanso stuck his nose up and grumbled. “Yeah King Orion is a trip that’s for sure. They say he sleeps with anything with two legs and tosses them out of his palace once he’s done. He’s a trickster and his own court can’t stand him.” 

“Well, you wolves do the same and you know you have mates out there?” The boys sat back and gave a sigh.  “Sadie talks so highly of him though?” All day today she talked about how wonderful the Fae King was and how much she respected him. 

“I don’t know why they have such a good relationship, but the word around here is that the shifters should stay away. He’ll use his fae powers to bewitch any woman to his bed.” My heart sank a little, Sadie didn’t mention that at all about him. 

Things then got quiet. The only thing you could hear was the playing of the string instruments. Many were mumbling softly, I continued to stare straight ahead listening to the music until Alanso tapped my shoulder. “That, over there, is the Fae King.” Looking to my left on the other side of the Aisle from me was the epitome of a Fae King.  

His hair was long and white with a few braids that were longer than his actual free-flowing hair. His robes were white with small amounts of green leaves embroidered into the material. Gold threading was easily seen throughout his tunic and trousers. His cape matched his royal clothing, pristine white. He wasn’t a Fae, he looked like an angel. His features were sharp and even just from sitting down he looked tall, if I stood next to him, I’m sure I would see him eye to eye. I was holding my breath as I took in this beautiful creature. Not once in my life had my heart skipped a beat for a man but there he was. 

Alanso shook my shoulder and I blinked a few times and turned to him. “Are you alright? You’ve spaced out there.” I nodded my head and realized that Violet was getting ready to walk down the aisle. Everyone stood up and when I turned my body to face Violet as she passed between the Fae King and myself, my eyes looked directly into his. 

His face was perfect, there was no other way to describe him. The sharp jawline, his unwavering stare and his beautiful golden eyes felt like they reached to the depths of my soul. My heart fluttered as he stood there, unmoving and unemotional. I swore I saw a faint curl of his lip but Alanso grabbed my hand quickly and had me sit down. “Willa, what is wrong?” Alonso whispered yelled at me. Caleb and Sammy were looking around and staring down the Fae King. I was too embarrassed to see what was going on so I stayed in my seat and continued to look forward.

Sadie stood up at the front as Violet and Alexso were saying their vows. A few times she would glance at me and give me a wink. 

I could see why so many women fell for him. He was breathtaking. An angel, not a fae. If I could hear his voice it would make it all the better. My heart felt tight thinking that I couldn’t pursue any of it. He was just a player, like the rest of them. All men were, they just wanted one thing. My heart was already broken enough to be used and thrown away like that. I wasn’t one to give away their love so quickly. 

As the ceremony continued on, I could feel the warriors behind me on the edge of their seats. Their body language showed they were upset and the constant whisperings behind me couldn’t help me concentrate on the ceremony.  I was just a human, the Fae King was just curious as to what I was, just like Alonso, Caleb and Sammy were. I’d do my best to stay away from the god beside me because I wasn’t going to become just another one of his bed mates.