The Pack Princess

Good Morning

“Good morning Princess!”

Mia rubbed her eyes and squinted, as a familiar silhouette opened her curtains, the sunlight hit her and she buried herself deeper into her pink satin sheets with a groan.

“Caleb - no. Stop. No one is supposed to be this chipper in the morning! And close the curtains. This princess needs more beauty sleep!” Mia buried herself under her big fluffy duvet as one of her best friends, Caleb, laughed and stood at the window looking out.

“No can do, beautiful!” He laughed and took a seat on the white couch in her room and started. typing away on his phone.

Mia sighs. She knows he’s not going anywhere. “Caleb - don’t make me kick your a**” she warns. Caleb laughs again, however more cautiously this time. He is aware of Mia’s strength. While the Princess is known for her kind heart and breath taking beauty, she is also known for her strength. At 18 Mia is by far one of the strongest, most respected warriors. She may be a Princess, but she can pack a mean punch and had taken him down multiple times in training. He didn’t even go easy on her either. He was large and muscular. When he took his shirt off during trainings, the young she-wolves wound swoon and some males would back away. But even he wouldn’t mess with Mia. She was more petite. A stunning, brown eyed beauty. Her long wavy brown hair reached her waist. Her skin was perfectly sunkissed. Many of the male wolves in the kingdom longed to be mated to her - not just because of her position in the royal family - but because she was exquisite. She was slender but strong. She was only 5’5 but she was a force to be reckoned with. Her father, King Jake, had been ruling over the North American Packs for decades. He raised his daughter to be strong, fearless and unforgiving in battle. Her mother, Queen Amanda, was where her beauty came from. Her mother was stunning though very petite. She was known for her kindness and passion for helping and loving others, but she was also ruthless in battle - especially when protecting those she loved.

Mia sat up and looked over at Caleb who was still scrolling on his phone. “So… who do I have to thank for letting you in here anyways?” She asked her handsome friend.

Caleb smiles, flashing his perfect white teeth in his dorkiest smile. “Queen Amanda of course. You know your mom loves me” he chuckled. Mia sighed, knowing this was true. Caleb came from strong bloodlines and Queen Amanda had hoped that they would be mated when they turned 18, and didn’t hide her disappointment when the mate bond didn’t appear for them. Mia, on the other hand, wasn’t disappointed. She loved Caleb like a brother. They were raised together since they were babies. And aside from some awkward teenage moments, it only took dating for 5 minutes to realize they were meant to be friends. She was mostly relieved that Caleb felt the same.

Mia had turned 18, 6 months ago. She remembered wearing her tiara and light pink satin dress with the spaghetti straps. Looking at her friends and pack members around the yard. The entire kingdom had shown up for her birthday. Mia recalled hearing her wolf, Aria, speak to her for the first time.

“Mia? I’m Aria, your wolf. Together we are fierce. We are strong. We are meant to rule girl”

Mia had giggled. Then paused in a moment of fear. “Aria, I’m so excited to meet you. And can’t wait to see you! But I need to know one thing…”

Before she could finish Aria interrupted her. “No mate here, Princess. But he’s out there. I can feel him.”

Mia had sighed in relief. She was definitely not in a hurry to find a mate, even if he was chosen for her by the Moon Goddess herself. Mia believed in love. But she wanted it to be on her terms. If she was ready. If she chose. She was quite happy just sharing her love with her friends and finally and kingdom. She knew that Aria felt differently. That wolves felt the draw to the mate bond in a much different way. The pull was undeniable and knowing that another soul was out there - to make one complete - was the natural instinct for the wolf.

“Now let’s shift baby girl” Aria interrupted Mia’s thoughts. “Let’s show them - Me!”

The first shift was everything nightmares were made of. Caleb had turned 18 a month before her and had warned her that the rumours were in fact true. The first shift hurt. But after the snapping of her bones and cracking within her body and screams from Mia, she stood there as Aria and the kingdom had shared in a collective gasp. She stood nearly 5 feet tall while on all 4s. Nearly as large as some of the male warriors. Her eyes were a steel grey colour - the opposite of Mia’s normal brown ones. But it was her fur that caused the gasps. She was pure white as she knew she would be - but she also had pale pink shimmer to her coat. It was unique. It was exquisite and it was exactly Mia. It was the perfect soft, shimmery pink/white of a princess. Mia remembered turning to her parents as Aria proudly. They had been part of the collective in the gasps of her beauty. But the part Mia had noticed was the concern in their eyes. She knew why though. She knew that it would be harder to hide her as a princess in battle. That the shimmery pink combined with the white Alpha lines, would put a larger target on her than there already was. Mia and Aria shook it off. They knew she could take care of themselves.

“Earth to Mia!!!!” Caleb’s voice brought Mia back to present.

Mia shook her head to regroup her thoughts.

“I asked what the plans are for today!” Caleb pretended to be annoyed.

“I was planning on going to CrossFit this afternoon” Mia answered.

Caleb threw back his head and howled, laughing so hard he nearly fell over. Mia threw her pillow at him but she knew why he was laughing. Caleb knew that she liked going to CrossFit in the nearby human town because she had a little crush on a human guy. He didn’t know she was a princess or even a wolf. He was always impressed with her athletic ability and the amount of weight she could lift (though she never lifted what she really could - just enough to impress him). Mia shrugged off Caleb’s laughing and pretended to ignore him. Mia had no desire for a mate. But that didn’t mean she lacked desire completely…

“Alright - enough” she said, blush creeping up her perfect cheeks. She pulled her knees into her chest, slightly self consciously. “What are your plans for the day?” She asked him.

“I thought we could train with the actual warriors and then maybe hit the kingdom club Mated tonight” Caleb responded. Mia thought for a moment. Maybe going out dancing would be fun. It was summer time. There was no studies or school - though she had just graduated high school and would be starting university in the fall.

As if on cue, Mia’s cell phone rang on her bedside table. She answered it seeing her other best friend Emily’s name come up.

“Mia! Are you up??? Wanna go dancing tonight at “Mated”? Emily’s excited voice came through the line.

Mia laughed. “Caleb is here and was just asking the same thing” she told her best friend on the phone - looking over at Caleb who had stopped typing on his phone for a brief moment - only to go back to his phone.

“Ugh Caleb” Emily’s annoyed voice brought Mia back to the present. Caleb and Emily were always bickering, though they also loved each other like brother and sister. What they thought Mia didn’t know, was that when they were 17 they had a brief fling that ended awkwardly and they were still somewhat recovering from that and rebuilding their friendship. Mia was secretly pleased that they didn’t seem to be mates. Both were 18 now, and neither had found their mate either. Mia was also pleased that they seemed to be over the little s*x thing they had going on previously because that had made things so, so awkward.

“Ok Em, I’m putting you on speaker phone so behave” Mia said with a laugh. Caleb’s ears perked up but he continued on his phone. Mia pressed the speaker button “ so we are going dancing tonight at “Mated” after some CrossFit this morning - Caleb stop laughing” - Mia shot him daggers with her brown eyes and a pointy finger that made him raise his hands as if to give up - “ then warriors training and then dancing”. Mia loved giving orders.

“Sounds great Princess!” Caleb bounced up from his chair, preparing to leave the room to give Mia some privacy to get dressed.

“I will pick you up at 9 for CrossFit” Emily’s voice responded over the phone.

Mia smiled. It was shaping up to be a nice, normal, Saturday morning.

*************

“Like hell you are!” The Kings voice boomed. Mia and Caleb stepped back from the King with their mouths slightly opened.

“Oh come on Daddy” Mia massaged her dads shoulders as he put down his coffee. Queen Amanda smirked from across the table and continued to sip her coffee, taking in the scene.

“You’re not going dancing like some kind of trampy commoner!” The King was not having it today.

Mia looked to her mom

“A little help, please mom!?” Mia asked her Mom through their mind link.

Queen Amanda sighed with a smile. She was always mediating the hot headed tempers of her husband and her daughter.

“Babe” she addressed her husband. “Is that really necessary? You know that Mia is responsible. And she will be with Caleb and Emily” (the King snorted at Emily’s name - he wasn’t the biggest fan of his daughters wise cracking, sassy, bold best friend - even though he was aware that she would be his daughters Beta when she turned 21). “They will be fine sweetheart” Queen Amanda, cooed in his ear, giving him a smile. The King softened a little but wasn’t willing to give in that quickly.

“There are rogues out there attacking…” he began but trailed off knowing that this wouldn’t work on his wife. Queen Amanda stiffened at the word “rogues”. She didn’t like the term. In her humanitarian work she had done before, she had worked as an outreach worker supporting rogues, providing them with meals, support, listening and options to join other packs. Queen Amanda wanted to support rogues. Her husband wanted to kill them all as he felt that they were a direct threat on the royal family.

“Honey. Rogues are wolves too,” Queen Amanda began her speech.

But King Jake just raised his hand to silence her. He knew he wouldn’t win this argument with his wife. He had heard it before. As his Queen, Luna, and an Alpha herself - he knew she didn’t approve of his hatred towards rogues.

“Daddy. It’s safe. It’s all wolves from the kingdom and other packs in the area. Besides - I can take care of myself” Mia flexed her bicep and gave her dad her sweetest smile.

King Jake relented slightly. “Fine” Mia and her mother smiled triumphantly at each other and Caleb slowly began to re-enter the kitchen. But the King wasn’t done “But Alex is going with you”. Mia and Caleb both groaned in defeat. Alex was her Dads Beta. His second in command. And a massive c*** block. As if on cue he popped into the palace kitchen. “Where am I going? Rogue hunting? Or Vamp killing?” Alex was always up for a battle. But stopped in his tracks when he saw Queen Amanda shooting daggers from her eyes at him.

“Mia wants to go to the club tonight so I said she could go - as long as you were there too”. The King responded, placing his hand on his best friends shoulder. The 2 had been best friends since childhood. Alex had always stood up for the King before he knew he would be a king when other would pick on him for being small. He was just a late bloomer and now stood taller and larger at age 40. Alex c**** his head to the side. He was prankster and always good for a laugh. He admired the princess and respected the King and Queen with all that he had. But Alex had a hard side. His mate, Amber, had been killed by rogues who had wandered onto kingdom territory while she was out for a morning jog 10 years back. He had been a shell of himself for many years after suffering the loss of half of his soul. The King and Queen had moved him and his young daughter Jade into the palace immediately. Jade had since found her mate and had moved out into one of the houses to start a family of her own. Alex was a top warrior and had assisted in much of Mia’s training. He knew she could take care of herself but also didn’t mind watching out for her as he saw her as another daughter himself.

Just then, a car horn beeped from outside.

“that’s our cue Caleb!” Princess Mia planted a kiss on her parents and Alex’s cheeks.

“Where are you going now?” The Queen asked. It was only 830am.

“CrossFit mom” Mia smiled as she headed out the door, pulling Caleb along with her. “Emily’s driving”

“Mia!” Her fathers voice boomed which stopped her and Caleb in their tracks as they were halfway out the door. “Training is at 1pm. All 3 of you better be there! Do NOT be late!” Her father warned.

“Love you daddy!” She gave her dad a quick peck on the cheek and they headed out the door before any more questions could be asked.

******

Emily was sitting out front in her silver jeep. Her shoulder length curly blonde hair was wild and her icy blue eyes were hidden behind sunglasses.

Mia hopped in the front and Caleb awkwardly took the back seat. His long legs barely fitting back there. Emily was chomping her gum like always. She gave her friends a smile before they started driving off.

Mia put on her sunglasses back and relaxed. Feeling the wind on her face from the top being down. They drove listening to music and singing and laughing all the way to the CrossFit box, a few towns over.

Once they arrived, Mia broke the news to Emily that her father was insisting that Alex chaperone them tonight. Emily was slightly annoyed but then laughed. “I guess that’s what I get for befriending the Princess in preschool” she shrugged and Mia smiled apologetically. Secretly, she didn’t mind much. Alex was old but he was hot. Plus, it was nice to be cared for. Her own father struggled with depression and alcoholism since her mother had left them for a vampire. Emily rarely spoke to her mother though she received cards and emails occasionally from her. Sometimes Emily questioned whether anyone would notice if she was gone or if something had happened to her. She loved being Mia’s second in command and knowing that to her and the rest of the Royal family - she mattered.

“New workout gear, Mia?” Emily took in Mia’s outfit. A light pink sports bra with a zippered front and skin tight black leggings.

Mia smiled. “Doesn’t hurt to look good while you’re kicking ass right?” She smiled at Emily’s own ensemble of a black push up sports bra and leopard print leggings.

Caleb rolled his eyes. Sometimes being the boring boy who gave zero f**** about fashion made him feel like the 3rd wheel for these 2. The girls linked arms with him and they walked into the CrossFit gym together.

Princess Mia looked around. Taking in the gym. She loves everything about it. The smell of sweat and hard work. Seeing humans push their body’s to the limit and collapse on something that at warrior training would be a silly warm up. But to Mia it was the community. The love. The sharing in others successes. The hard work. She admired the passion and seeing how hard these humans worked for themselves. Not to be warriors. Not because they were royalty. Mia also longed sometimes to just be human herself. And this was a place where she could just be her. Just Mia. Not a Princess. Not a warrior. Just herself.

There were a few humans already claiming spots and stretching. Mia, Emily and Caleb found their spots and started loading up their barbells with weights, trying to match the humans with appropriate amounts. Mia made eye contact with her crush Mike. He was nearly 6’, had dark hair and blue eyes. His body was sculpted and he was clearly an athlete. He had once told Mia that he also played soccer and hockey. He caught her eye and gave her a wink, making her heart flutter.

“Easy Princess” Emily mind linked her. “You could break him in 2”. Caleb’s laugh sounded more like his usual howl in the mind link.

“He’s just so pretty to look at” Mia whined in response.

Coach Dan walked in and smiled at them all, making pleasantries and greeting them. There was a dozen or so of them there for class. He smiled at his prized pupils - not knowing that they were were wolves - they left him impressed after every class.

“Whatcha got planned for us today Danny?” Caleb asked.

Dan looked up at Caleb. “Hopefully enough to make you sweat a little big guy” he laughed in response. But really he was in awe of Caleb. The man rarely dropped a bead of sweat in the hardest of workouts. He had made it his own personal goal to make the big guy sweat or gasp or anything. His strength was unreal to him. The 2 young beautiful women with always amazed him too. Especially the dark haired one. Dan smiled at Mia. There was just something about her that made him think “sparkly”or “royalty” yet at the same time she was far from a Princess or a girly girl. She kept up with the men in class and also rarely broke a sweat. Yet she was always polite and thanked him for a great workout after each class.

Class was about to start and Mia surveyed the room. A few faces she recognized (like Mike and his dazzling deep blue eyes) and a few newer faces. She took in a whiff of air as Coach Dan began to explain the days workout. She thought for a moment, that she had smelt something new. Like the scent of a wolf. But as she looked around she didn’t recognize any of the others as wolves and none appeared to be. Mia shrugged it off. Still unsure as to what she thought she smelt.

The music began and the warm up started. They were all moving and some were starting to sweat. Weights were being lifted and dropped to the ground followed by loud grunts. That’s when Mia heard it. A voice from within.

“Mate”.