KATOMI - RISE OF THE FAE QUEEN

CHAPTER 4 – SILVER REMI

KATOMI’S POV

I nervously patted down my pale purple and silver strapless party dress that fell to my mid-thigh as I waited for my dad to get out of his car. He’d refused to let me drive my car to the party in the great hall where myself and nine others would be celebrating our 17th birthday party before we’d shift for the first time and run with the pack.

My dad finally got out of the driver’s side, dressed in a suit and tie. The Queen mother always threw the shifting parties and they were always a formal event. I thought it was pointless seeing that everyone would shift and ruin their clothes.

The wind picked up, and my straight hair fluttered around my face, I pushed it back behind my ear and looked up at the crowd. The Queen mother was standing by the entrance in a long black gown, looking every bit the Luna, all beauty and elegance, but my eyes landed on Alpha Wyatt who was looking directly at me.

He was wearing a black suit like my dad, only it was tighter due to his muscular form, his hair was brushed back neatly and even though he still looked every bit as much of a god as usual, I still preferred it when his hair was messed.

‘We could always run our fingers through it and mess it up’ Remi giggled, and I blushed and looked down at my feet.

‘Shall we’ My dad offered his arm. I took it and let him lead me through the crowd of pack members and towards the hall where music and loud conversation was coming from. There was a nervous but exciting buzz in the air, or perhaps I was just imaging it.

‘Oh Katomi’ The Queen mother gushed ‘Don’t you look absolutely stunning’

‘She most certainly does’ Alpha Wyatt smiled at me.

‘Thank you, Alpha’ I said quietly, blushing lightly ‘Thank you, Luna Charlotte, you look as beautiful as ever’

‘Aren’t you lovely Kat’ Luna Charlotte said ‘Thank you’

I looked up and smiled at her before my eyes landed once more on Wyatt. This close up I could tell he needed to shave, his whiskers were a little long, but he looked very sexy this way.

‘Kat’ My dad said to gain my attention ‘We’re holding everyone up’

I blushed again when I realized Alpha Wyatt and I were standing there looking into each other’s eyes, I cleared my throat

‘Right’ I said quickly and bit my lower lip ‘Excuse us please’

‘Smooth’ Remi laughed.

‘Shut up’ I snapped at her, this whole second person living in my body thing was going to get old.

The party was in full swing, already over a hundred pack members were in attendance already, they all looked so glamorous in their gowns and suits, I was never one for pomp and circumstance, I’d have much rather shift at home with my family and only my family.

Speaking of my family, I saw them all gathered around a group of others, one being Beta Beau, my dad lead the way towards them. We’d had to come separately to them as I needed more time to decide on an outfit, having changed at least 11 times before I decided on this one.

‘About time’ Jerome rolled his eyes at me.

‘Don’t upset your sister on her big night’ Shay reprimanded him ‘You look lovely sweetheart’

‘Thanks Shay’ I smiled, she’d offered to help me get ready, but I told her I was just going to leave my hair down because I’d be shifting

‘Yes, Shay she does’ Beta Beau smiled at me ‘Like a Queen’

I blushed ‘Thank you, Beta’ I said nervously. Did he know who I was?

‘You’ll have to save a dance for me later’ Beta Beau said ‘Once you’ve shifted’

A loud growl made us all jump, and we looked around to see Alpha Wyatt looking at us furiously, his eyes glowing black, a clear sign that his Lycan was trying to take control. He spun around quickly and marched off.

‘What was that about?’ My dad asked the Beta who smiled and looked at me for a second.

‘Anyone’s guess’ Beau smirked ‘I’ll be off, lots to see’

I watched Beta Beau leave, flirting with a few women on the way. Why had Alpha Wyatt reacted that way to Beau asking me to dance? Was he jealous or did he just not approve of Beau flirting with me? He probably didn’t think I was good enough for his Beta.

‘AHHH!!’ A girl squealed behind me, I spun around again, this time knowing who it was.

Bronwyn was standing there in a lovely black dress, it was low cut, showing off her chest, she rushed over to me, pulling me into a hug.

‘I can’t believe it!’ She shouted excitedly ‘You’re going to shift soon!’

‘Would you get off’ I laughed and gently pushed her away, we’d already had this conversation today when I showed her my car.

Bronwyn had shifted two months ago in February and couldn’t wait for me to join her so we could run together, she didn’t know my secret, she didn’t know that I was terrified that I mightn’t be able to shift, I was so glad I could hear my Lycan.

‘Come with me’ She grabbed my hand ‘There's loads of cute guys over here we haven’t met, they go to a different pack school close to the human border’

‘Excuse me Bronwyn’ My dad glared at her

‘Did I say boys’ She smirked at my dad ‘I meant, there’s a lot of cute puppies and we should go play with them’

We laughed and Bronwyn quickly pulled me away from my family, for the next hour Bronwyn and I flirted with the pack boys, well she flirted. I was never really any good at this kind of thing, plus I had only ever been interested in one man, our Alpha, who I noticed glaring at me whenever I caught his eye, I was really confused by his behaviour today.

In truth, he’d been acting strangely towards me since last year, but I didn’t know what I’d done

to upset him.

‘Are you nervous about shifting?’ One of the boys, Logan asked me.

He was very attractive, very tall and built, he had very kind blue eyes and shaved blond hair, he was shifting for the first time tonight as well, although he seemed older than 17 to me.

He also gave me the strangest feelings. His face seemed a little familiar to me, had we met before?

‘Not nervous’ I answered and shrugged ‘Just eager to have it over with, I’m not much for being the centre of attention’

‘I figured you’d be used to it’ He said casually, and took a sip of his drink.

We were standing a little way away from everyone near a window, the cool breeze was helping me, my skin was heating up because the shift was getting closer.

‘What do you mean?’

Logan looked at me as if it was obvious ‘Katomi’ He smiled and stepped closer to me ‘You do realize that every un-mated man in the pack has had their eyes on you from the second you stepped inside tonight, you’re the most beautiful girl any of them have ever seen, you’re the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen’

I was completely lost for words, I just stared at him, my mouth open in shock ‘Um’ I felt myself blush ‘I.. I don’t know what to say but I think you must be blind’

‘Trust me I can see just fine’ He told me, he reached over, and pinches a few loose strands of my hair and tucked them behind my ear, but I felt uncomfortable with his proximity and Remi began to growl angrily, she wanted him away from us ‘And I like what I see’

‘KATOMI!’ Alpha Wyatt came marching over to us and Logan quickly stepped away from me and showed his throat, it was strange, but I didn’t feel the urge to submit to him right now, in fact, I felt my heart begin to race in excitement.

Alpha Wyatt looked furious, and his eyes were darkening ‘It’s time for the shift, both of you, go line up’

I frowned at him, why was he being such a jerk ‘Yes Alpha’ Logan said and took off

‘You could have asked nicely, you know’ I snapped before I could stop myself ‘It wouldn’t kill you’

I went to walk off, but Alpha Wyatt grabbed my arm and pulled me in but I gasped, he smelt so good, he always did.

I couldn’t help remembering the day Shay had gone into labor with the twins, I’d admitted to the Alpha that I liked his scent and he’d gotten up me, and told me I wasn’t allowed to speak about things like that.

‘There are very few people who can get away with speaking to me like that Kat’ His breath washed down my neck, making me shiver ‘Be very careful and stay away from Logan, all he wants is to f*ck you, don’t fall for his lines, he is full of sh*t’

I looked at Alpha Wyatt, I hated myself for having tears prick my eyes ‘So you disagree with him’ I pulled my arm free, I wouldn’t have been able to if he hadn’t let me, he was 10 times stronger than me ‘You don’t think I’m beautiful? Because you said last year at the prom that I was or were you lying?’

Alpha Wyatt looked at me with a guilty expression ‘That isn’t what I meant’ His tone was gentler now, and he stepped closer to me, making my heart race in response ‘I never said he wasn’t telling the truth, simply that he was using it as an excuse to f*ck you, so stay away from him’

I got lost in his eyes again for a moment and I wished more than anything for him to lean in and kiss me, but then I noticed a woman glaring at us. It was a woman Alpha Wyatt had once slept with.

Her name was Morgan and when Beta Mich found out, she lost it and attacked her and the Alpha had to rip her off of Morgan to save her.

Seeing a woman the Alpha had slept with made me beyond jealous and angry. How dare he tell me who to sleep with when he’d slept with every woman on the planet!

‘It’s none of your business who I f*ck’ I snapped again, Alpha Wyatt’s eyes darkened again in anger, and I stepped back, sh*t… ‘Excuse me Alpha, I have to go line up’

I rushed away from him. What the hell is wrong with me? Did I just yell at my Alpha, did I just tell him it was none of his business who I f*ck, was I trying to make him jealous like I was jealous of every woman he’d been with.

‘Oh good, Kat!’ My dad called out when he saw me rushing down the back steps of hall ‘Go line up with the others, you each get a privacy screen’

‘Really’ I was confused ‘Since when did they give us privacy screens?’

‘Alpha Wyatt insisted on it this time, apparently’ Bronwyn whispered to me as Alpha Wyatt marched over towards the screens, standing close to the only empty one left ‘Would have been nice if he’d changed the rules when I shifted’

‘Kat you should go’ Shay ushered me towards the empty screen.

‘Daddy’ I whispered, no one could link until after their first shift ‘I’m scared’ I admitted, hating that most of the pack could hear me

My dad pulled me into his arms ‘It will be over quickly’ He promised ‘You’ve had worse pain’

He pointed to my chest where my scar was hidden, the memory of the stabbing still haunted me, the pain of a silver dagger piecing your heart was a pain you could never forget.

I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest. I gasped, and my dad pulled away. He was looking at me with excitement and concern.

‘Go, quickly’ He said ‘It’s starting’

I rushed over to the screen and went behind it and I began taking off my clothes. Whatever the reason, I was so happy that Alpha Wyatt had given us screens for our shift, I didn’t like the idea of getting naked in front of everyone.

‘Are you alright Kat?’ Alpha Wyatt asked me quietly, his voice sounding strained

‘Do you care?’

‘I asked didn’t I!’ He growled.

I screamed in pain and fell to my knees as another sharp pain shot through my body.

‘Kat?’ Wyatt’s voice sounded even more concerned now ‘Just take deep breaths, don’t fight the pain, that will be your instinct, but don’t fight, just let it happen’

‘Why are you helping me’ I growled in agony ‘I thought the law says, we have to do this alone’

I screamed again.

My whole body felt like it was on fire and my skull felt like it was being crushed.

‘I’m sorry’ Remi said, her voice was excited but sincere ‘I wish the shift didn’t have to hurt you Kat’

‘It’s ok’ I was breathing hard ‘It’s not your fault’

‘I’m the f*cking King’ Alpha Wyatt reminded me ‘I decide what laws I follow, If I want to help my ma.. my pack, then I will’

I could hear the others screaming in pain, behind their screens ‘So go help your pack and leave me alone’ I groaned as tears washed down my face.

I heard Wyatt laugh ‘That mouth of yours Kat’ Even in pure agony, I loved hearing him call me Kat ‘What I’d love to do to it’

‘What?’ I asked, but then I began screaming again ‘F*ck!’ I cried, gripping the grass beneath me as my claws came forth, I could smell the blood as they cut through my flesh.

‘It will be over soon’ Wyatt reassured me ‘I promise, just breath’

‘It hurts’ I wept as my bones began to break and shift

‘I know baby’ He whispered softly, so only I could hear, and I saw him touch my screen ‘Just a few more seconds, and it’s all over, you are strong, you’ll get through this’

Did he just call me baby? What was going on with him, I wondered again, but then pain lanced through me again, and I screamed as my whole body felt like it was being pulled inside out.

I felt Remi push forward, and finally it was all over, I was a passenger in my own body. No, it wasn’t my body, it was Remi’s.

She looked down at her paws and I gasped, her fur was a glimmering silver, I’d never heard of silver Lycan or even a silver werewolf, was Remi the first? Did my Fae blood have something to do with this, what would the pack think, what would Alpha Wyatt think, would they find out my secret, should I run?.

‘You’re beautiful’ Alpha Wyatt had pushed the screen back and he was looking at me in wonder and awe

Remi shook out her fur and started jumping around Alpha Wyatt, showing off.

‘Stop it’ I growled at her ‘You can’t play with the Alpha like that’

‘What’s your name?’

‘Alpha?’ I gasped in shock when I heard Alpha Wyatt’s soothing voice in my mind for the first time.

‘I’m Remi’ Remi giggled playfully ‘What’s your Lycan’s name?’

‘Remi!’ I shouted at her privately, so Alpha Wyatt couldn’t hear us

‘I’m Kaimbe or Kai if you prefer’ A strong male voice joined the conversation. For some reason, I felt completely at ease ‘It’s nice to meet you Remi, how are you feeling Katomi?’

‘I’m alright, Alpha Kaimbe’ I answered, as I breathed in relief. The pain was subsiding.

‘No’ He growled ‘Call me Kai or Kaimbe, not Alpha’

I felt Wyatt cut the link, he began taking off his shirt and I took control of Remi and made her turn around. I heard Wyatt laugh before he turned towards the pack.

‘Everyone’ He spoke in his Alpha tone ‘I’d like to introduce you to our newest pack members, everyone step forward’

Everyone stepped forward, all nervous but none more than me, I hid behind the screen until Alpha Wyatt turned and called me out.

‘Katomi, Remi’ He said firmly ‘Come out’

‘We should run’ I said to Remi, but she shook her head.

‘Remi?’ Alpha said again.

‘It will be alright’ She responded and walked out towards the crowd.

Everyone gasped as they took in my color. Remi and I looked at our family. My dad was looking terrified, and he whispered something to my stepmother, who grabbed the twins before he looked back at me.

‘Just act normal Katomi’ My dad linked me for the first time

‘But everyone’s looking at us’

‘Pretend like you don’t notice it’ My dad’s Lycan Jax ordered ‘Just get through the run and we’ll get you out’

‘Yes daddy’ I nodded but Remi rolled her eyes, she thought we were being dramatic.

‘I’d like everyone to shift and join our new members for their first run!’ Wyatt continued, oblivious to the private conversation going on between me and my dad’s.