1) Welcome to my Life

What a pathetic little life I’ve got here. I can’t help but reflect as I stand on the edge of the balcony and look out over the forest. 

My life wasn’t always bad. I had a whole little family until I was about 13. That’s when my human mom cheated on her werewolf mate, my dad. My dad left her, taking me with, to his pack which I never knew existed until then. I was taken from my friends, my life, and dropped into a wolf pack as a human hybrid. Everyone hates me. I was too human to be a real wolf and they didn’t like that, I was always less than them. I wasn’t just looked down on but also bullied, badly. The only friends I have are the Alpha’s youngest child. One of The Twins, Angie, who is a year older than me. When I went into university, her oldest brother and I become friends too. To be Alpha, Aaron who is 5 years older than me but we’re close.

And to make matters worse, I have a mate. The person who hates me most, tormented me, bullied me and made my life a complete misery, the to be Beta Ben.

He rejected me on his 18th birthday of course. Not only that but he chose Angie as his new mate. Angie had no choice in the matter because a high ranking wolf laid claim to her. So not only did I have my heart ripped out of my chest, lost the supposed love of my life but I had to watch him be in love with my best friend for 3 years. That was his worst torment of all. Oh no. The worst tormenting of all is he won’t let the mating bond die. He corners me in quite halls to inhale my scent or kiss me or grope me. I suppose I don’t mind too much. It’s like a single moment. A moment where everything is white picket fence perfect. Like I have a perfect life with a perfect mate. But it’s not. Nothing about any of it is perfect. He’s not mine. Him and Angie get the happily ever after and I’m left with stolen kisses. But Maybe one day I’ll get married; have kids; and dare I say, be happy? Maybe Ben will loose interest in me when he has children of his own. Maybe that’s wishful thinking.

People start going back inside for the start of the ceremony. It’s the initiation ceremony for the future Alpha, Beta, Gamma and their mates to take over the running of the pack. I know I should go downstairs, go support them but it’s hard. It’s hard watching everyone grow up while I’m still stuck, still the same old me.

I turn at the soft steps walking towards me. Ben stops and leans against the door that leads out to the veranda. He looks so good in his suit and perfectly stiles hair.

“You look beautiful tonight.” He says. He rakes his eyes up my body starting at me black strappy heels that wind up my calf like a snake and have two snake heads that look as if they are biting me. Then at my ankle length emerald green dress that hugs my curves and has 2 slits that stop mid thigh. Then further up to the very deep cut neckline. The deep v starts at my belly button and shows a lot of cleavage. Then he looks along my arms at the black mesh covering my arms. If he could see my back, the mesh covers my back from the top of my butt to just below my shoulder blades with green buttons going up. Then to my hair which is curled and cascades down my side. There is a braid across the back of my head and green emerald flower pins in my hair. Then up to my face which has dark makeup and blood red lips. I look hot never mind beautiful.

“I know.” I smile at him.

He takes a deep breath, looking at me intently.

“I think I made a mistake.” He looks deeply at me. “I need you with me tonight.” He looks me dead in the eye.

“As your mistress?” I ask with a chuckle. He made that offer to me last week when he almost marked me.

“No. As my mate. I fucked up. I need you. My wolf wants you. Please Kimmy. Please.” He begs me but doesn’t apologise. He never apologises.

I sigh. “They’re waiting for you downstairs. Angie is waiting for you downstairs.”

“This isn’t about Angie. This is about us.” He grits out.

“There is no us. You made that choice.”

“And it was the wrong one.” He starts walking towards me but Angie’s twin brother, Michael, calls him from the top of the stairs. Ben looks at my and stretches his hand out to me.

“Every choice has their consequences.” I say slightly above a whisper.

This feels very final, not like the other times. This is it. No more bumping in the hall just to feel the sparks. No more letting him bury his nose in my neck and breathe in my scent. No more stolen kisses. No more perfect escapes.

Ben looks disappointed and upset. Maybe even angry as he nods his head once and walks downstairs. He doesn’t love me, he doesn’t even like me, but I think he craves that perfect moment too.

Once he’s gone, I walk over to the table I left my things on and pull a cigarette out of the pack. I light it and flop onto the wicker couch with my lower legs dangling off the edge. Most people think it’s revolting that I smoke but I don’t care. They’re human cigarettes so will do no damage to my part wolf body. Being part wolf means my body is the same as a wolf in human form. I have the strength, heightened senses, healing ability. I just can’t shift and in the wolf community that makes me weak. But back to the point, smoking human cigarettes has no negative affect on my body. I only smoke when Ben does something like that. It makes me feel less shitty when he leaves me feeling empty and alone. I’ve been smoking a lot lately. I look at the glass balcony and the neat lawns below while taking a puff of the cigarette. I wonder what would happen if I jumped? Would anyone anyone miss me?

Oh don’t be ridiculous, you can’t jump. It’s only 6 storeys high so unless I dove head first into the ground I would just be seriously injured not dead.

I pick up my small note book and pen. I open to a blank page but have nothing. My brain is dead. So instead I write the lyrics to Bonnie Tyler’s Waiting for a Hero. Maybe one of the warriors from another pack will think I’m attractive enough to lay claim to me and take me away. Seeing as the most eligible she-wolves are trying to get the Princes attention, the warriors will settle. And like I said, I look hot. No one would settle because of my looks, they would settle because I’m not a wolf. Maybe I would even have sex tonight but I’m not counting on it.

I sigh deeply, the song replaying in my head. All I can think about is the scene in Shrek with Fiona and Prince Charming and Shrek.

I stand as I hum the tune. Closing my eyes, I lift my arms to rest on my imaginary dance partner, and slip to a grande ball in an ancient hall with my Prince Charming. I twirl around the balcony.

I’m so caught up in my make believe world that I jump slightly as a warm hand is placed in mine and a muscular arm wrapped around my waist.

I open my eyes to stare into diamond blue eyes and inhale sharply.

“Don’t stop.” He says softly as he sweeps me around the balcony. So I don’t. I keep humming and gliding, never breaking contact with those diamond eyes.

Once I finish the song, I take a step back from the stranger. He does not seem pleased because he reaches for me but I’m out of reach.

From a bit of a distance I notice more about him. He’s very tall and built, like most males, he is clean shaven, those eyes capture me for a moment, then his perfect dusty blonde hair. But more importantly the crown that sits atop that dusty brown hair. This is the Prince.

I can feel realisation hit as my breathing speeds up and I drop into a deep bow.

“Your Majesty.” My voice barley audible.

I’ve heard stories of The Prince, we all have. Stories of his ruthlessness, violence, cruelty. Stories of his love of females as nightly companions. Bad, horrible stories.

My eyes catch his outstretched hand.

“Please stand. I don’t wish for my mate to bow before me.”