Chapter 3 - An unknown future.
2375 Words
Emma was busy checking every detail all through the night, moving through the back passages to make sure nobody noticed her. She put her gown safely back in the pink bag, but her mind kept drifting back to the tear in the dress.
She would have to fix it or confess to it. If she told the queen, she just knew that she was going to be bombarded about how it happened and why she jumped out of a window of all things to save a wolf she didn’t know. A WOLF!
The moon goddess had a very cruel sense of humor to pair her up with a werewolf! To pair her up at all! Couldn’t she just leave her alone to live her life in peace in the castle? She was just praying that the patrols wouldn’t tell the king about the wolf that almost crossed his border! Oh, hell! Why did this have to happen to her? Why now? Why this week? She checked the dining room for the third time when Edgar walked in.
“I was looking for you.” His smooth voice frightened her. “Sorry, my dear, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“Sorry, I’m just a little stressed about everything. I just want everything to be perfect.” Walking around the enormous table, checking each setting's measurements.
“Emma, stop.” He took her by her shoulders. “Everything IS perfect. I don’t think this castle has ever seen an event this perfect. When are you going to relax? When did you last feed? I didn’t see you drinking at all last night.” Concern filled his eyes.
“I… I… My stomach is in a knot! I can’t get anything in.” Her eyes pleaded for help.
“That’s it! You are coming to the kitchens with me right now. We can’t have you hungry around our guests.” He put his arm around her shoulders, guiding her out of the dining room and to the kitchens.
AS THE SUN ROSE, THERE WAS A KNOCK on Christiaan’s door, but he hadn’t stopped pacing the length of his room all night.
“Come!” He shouted without looking up.
“Well, good morning to you too.” Erik walked in with excitement radiating off his entire being.
“Oh, shut up! Why are you so happy anyway?” Christiaan frowned.
“Why aren’t you? We are in a castle, dude. There are gorgeous women around us, literally of every flavor you can dream of. They have sports planned for today, apparently, which I’m looking forward to. What more can a guy ask for? Oh, and they are feeding us as if we were royalty. Why AREN’T you happy?” Erik sighed deeply as he flopped onto the couch.
“You know why. I have better things to do than hang around here playing.” Christiaan rubbed his forehead in frustration.
“I don’t know what ate your breakfast,” Erik grinned at his frustrated friend. “But you need to check your priorities.”
“Don’t be stupid. You know my mother made me come to this damn thing, and who are you to talk, huh? You like our single life, if I’m not mistaken. What if you meet your mate here? Then that fun single life is a goner!” Christiaan smiled with one eyebrow raised.
“Hey! Don’t you go and burst my bubble? I was having fun here. I don’t want to join your miserable party. Did you hear that Elizabeth is getting hitched?” Erik grinned.
“What? Already?” Christiaan was stunned.
“Yup, some rich Alpha from the city.” Erik sighed. “You Alpha’s get all the good ones.”
“Well, I don’t want a good one. I don’t want one. Got it?” Christiaan glared at his best friend.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m here to find out if you felt like going for a run with the rest of us before breakfast?” Erik waved Christiaan’s words away.
“Why didn’t you start with that, i***t?” Christiaan sighed before grinning at his friend.
“You were just a great target to joke with first.” Erik got up and ran for the door. “Front gates in an hour?”
“Yes, but we have to stick to the castle grounds, apparently, or get permission from the King to run in his territory.” Christiaan rolled his eyes, and Erik’s expression has a huge question mark on his face. “Don’t ask. I’ll see you in an hour, and then we will figure it out.”
EMMA HATED BEING OUTSIDE. She used to love sitting in the sun and feeling its rays baking her skin, but since she was turned, she couldn’t feel them anymore, and it was just a bad reminder of what happened to her. But today, she had to spend time on the training grounds with their guests. She was busy setting up the running track when she smelled a wolf nearby.
“May I help you?” She asked without turning around to see who it was.
“I thought your kind didn’t walk around in the sunlight.” His voice sounded amused, and she turned around and looked into those green eyes she was hoping to avoid.
“There seems to be a lot you don’t know, like where your place is. What do you want?” She frowned.
“My pack and I want to know where we are allowed to train. Your Highness.” He added the last bit in a sarcastic tone.
“You are standing on it. This is the training grounds and also where most of the events will be taking place. I’m setting up the starting point for the track. If you have trouble reading. Do you see those little boards all along there,” She pointed at little red boards marking the distance around the track from the start all the way around the training grounds back to where they were standing. “Those mark the track.” Smiling when she looked at him again. Picking up some paperwork, she walked away without another word.
“SO, WHAT DID SHE SAY?” Erik walked up to Christiaan.
“Follow the red boards.” He growled, not taking his eyes off the pale girl who was making her way back to the castle.
“Are you sure that’s all she said?” Erik looked amused when Christiaan glared at him. “Okay, okay, I won’t ask any more questions…” He backed off, seeing the anger in his friend’s eyes. “This way, guys.” Erik waved at the others and looked back to where Christiaan was still standing looking at the young girl who entered the castle, before turning his attention to the task at hand. He didn’t waste time and shifted running in his Lycan form, taking the lead.
EMMA FELT LIKE SHE COULD BREATHE for the first time when she was inside the castle walls. How was she going to survive this week with that… That thing breathing down her neck each time she turned around?
“There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Queen Lucille needs you.” Edgar came walking down the main staircase just before she could disappear into one of the secret passageways.
“I was outside setting everything up for the morning. What’s wrong?” She looked panicked.
“Oh, sweetie. Why would something be wrong?” They appeared in front of Lucille’s bedroom door and he knocked, disappearing.
“Come in, Emma.” Queen Lucille shouted and Emma walked in giving her a quick curtsy. “Where were you hiding? Poor Edgar was looking all over for you.” Lucille laughed.
“I wasn’t hiding.” Emma gasped. “I explained, I was preparing things outside…” Lucille held up her hand for Emma to stop talking.
“Emma, you are going to be the princess. Will you please start delegating those tasks to some of the others? I know you are a perfectionist, but will it make such a difference if it isn’t perfect?” Lucille rolled her eyes.
“Apparently, it will.” Pearl appeared at the door, laughing. “Do you know what our girl did last night when she disappeared?”
“No, but I hope you are going to tell me because I’m quite curious.” Lucille grinned.
“The border patrol saw her with the Lycan boy. She apparently told him he wasn’t allowed to cross into our territory without Magnus’ permission.” Pearl burst out laughing.
“GREAT! Bunch of traitors!” Emma thought to herself. The guys probably couldn’t wait to tell Magnus about seeing her with that damn wolf!
“WHAT? The Lycan?” Lucille’s wide-eyed expression forced Emma to say something.
“I just thought it would be disrespectful to cross the border without asking permission. It didn’t mean anything. I wasn’t following him or anything. I saw him while I was on my way to my room. So don’t you two get any ideas.” She pointed her finger at the two of them.
“Wow, she is definitely princess material if she could change from shy personal assistant to bossy princess that quickly!” Lucille laughed. Emma realized that her quick response might have been too quick and probably too much.
“No, nothing of the sort, Your… Lucille. I’m just saying. I was simply trying to help a guest.” Emma shrugged it off.
“What was he doing out there in the first place?” Pearl frowned. This was the point where Emma was glad that she was classified as undead because if her heart was beating, it would stop right then and there.
“He, uhm, wanted some fresh air, I think. I’m not sure, I can’t really remember. You were looking for me, Your Highness.” She tried to change the subject.
“Lucille, and yes. Your outfit for today. I was thinking of something sporty.” Lucille grinned, and there were some outfits packed out on the bed. They were all yoga pants and tight-fitting sports tops! There was nothing Emma hated more than something tight-fitting and figure-hugging! But these two weren’t going to let her get out of anything this week! She had a choice between bright red, blue, or black.
“Black please.” Emma sighed.
“Perfect, because the red one is Pearl’s size and the blue one is mine.” Lucille laughed. “I told you black is her color!” Lucille walked over to her cupboard and pulled out a jacket bag. “I have another surprise for you.”
“Oh, dear moon goddess, what now?” It slipped out, and they both looked at her in surprise, then burst out laughing. Lucille opened the zipper and took out a black hoodie.
“I know you don’t like showing the bite marks on your arms, so I got you this.” She grinned, and when she turned it around, the clan emblem was embroidered on the back in silver.
“It’s beautiful!” Emma gasped. “Thank you.”
“I thought you would like it.” Lucille winked. “Now go get dressed, we have guests to entertain.”
FRESHLY SHOWERED AND DRESSED, Christiaan joined his pack on the training grounds. That morning was all about “getting endorphins flowing” according to the schedule Erik told him about and from what he could see… They needed less of that!
More and more couples were forming as people came across their mates, and it was making him seriously uncomfortable. The loudspeaker was screaming for a second, making most of them cover their ears.
“Sorry about that!” King Magnus put it down. “I don’t think we will need that. I’m sure all you young people can hear me just fine. Welcome to our own small Olympics. Today is not about testing your strength against your friends. It’s about making new friends or maybe finding that special someone. Your chaperons are all over the course, as you can see, and will be there to help guide the different groups through the events if there is something you would like to try that you haven’t done before. This is also designed for people who have found new mates. We want you to take this time to get to know each other. Don’t think, because you have found your mate, you can’t take part in the festivities. So, let the games begin!” Matt waved them over to the track event.
“Hi, guys and girls, you have been grouped with the vampires from the royals for the first hour. You are on the track over there.” He grinned as if he was enjoying it. “Let’s start with… Erik and… Amber.” Erik eagerly greeted the girl and Christiaan folded his arms across his chest, rolling his eyes. Then he felt her presence nearby.
“Let me guess, the future Alpha of the Shadow pack is too good to take part in peasant games.” She whispered near his ear, and when he looked at her to say something, she was gone.
“Next up… Christiaan and Emma,” Matt called their names.
“I’m sorry, I…” Emma started to protest.
“What? Don’t princesses know how to run?” Christiaan challenged her, smiling.
“No, it’s not that, I just don’t want to hurt your ego when I beat you.” She sighed.
“Now, you two, remember the rules! No super speed, Your Highness, and NO biting Christiaan!” Matt looked at the two of them, feeling concerned about the energy they were giving off. The entire course fell silent, wanting to watch the princess taking on the Lycan. Lucille and Pearl were watching from their vantage point in the middle of the field.
“I hope we are doing the right thing.” Pearl held her thumbs.
“Honey, it’s the only way to get that soon-to-be daughter of mine out of her shell.” Lucille frowned.
“On your marks… Get set… GO!!!”
- Writer
