Chapter 2

Chapter 2 ~Valeria~ “Where are we going?” I sit in the car with my family on the road to who knows where. “Do you not pay attention?!” Mother shouts at me, while Father calmly explains, “Plans have changed, Valeria. One of the royal packs was attacked. Someone called for war. All of the royal packs have been called to arms.” “Who attacked?” “Alpha Astaroth. The king’s brother.” I remember there was a feud between the royal family, but I never cared enough to pay it any mind. “So we’re at war now?” “Yes.” Should I be concerned? I have to admit, even though I’ve experienced abuse through my family, I’ve lived a sheltered life. All I know is my pack. Jade claps her hands together. “I can’t believe we’re going to stay in the Royal Palace!” She gasps, “Maybe the legitimate royal princes will be there too!” Father nods. “They will. The Alpha King has called for everyone.” Jade gasps again. “I could be mated to one of them!” “It’s a possibility,” Mother says. “A legitimate prince would be so much better than a bastard. I’m sure they’ll love you.” They can’t ever be satisfied. I couldn’t care less what position my mate had, as long as he loved me, cared for me, and took me away from here. My eyes water, remembering my own mate—remembering that I wasn’t wanted. I wipe my eyes and return to the conversation. “How long will we be staying in the palace?” “Depends on how long the war takes,” Father says. “Who cares!” Jade says. “We’ll be living in a castle! Surrounded by princes.” Father grunts, and so do I. She doesn’t seem to see the gravity of this, but when does she? “For the goddess’s sake, Valeria!” Mother shouts, pinching her nose. “You really couldn’t clean up before leaving?” “I don’t smell anything,” I mutter. Her eyes linger on me with warning and shock that I talked back. I’ll admit, I do feel uncomfortable. At this point, I do want to take a shower. I’m itching in places I shouldn’t be. But now I have to wait. “How long will it take us to get to the castle?” I ask. “Four hours.” Ah… crap. *** Four hours later, we finally see the castle. Its high stone walls stand strong, with towers shining in the sunlight. The gates are open, and banners wave in the wind, making it look like something from a fairy tale. In the distance, three large manors stretch across the land—pack houses. When I step out of the car, I take in the surroundings. The palace sits in the heart of a vast forest. I narrow my eyes and spot dark shapes above the trees—flying demons, ravens. They’re everywhere. Ugh! Our family is greeted by a man with neat, slicked‑back hair, dressed in a butler’s uniform. He wears a gray waistcoat over a white shirt, with a tie tucked neatly inside. A white handkerchief bearing the royal insignia—a golden wolf howling at the moon—rests in his chest pocket. He also wears white gloves, gray pants, and polished black shoes. The man bows. “Alpha High General Albert of the Howlite Pack, I am Nolan. I’ll be your family’s personal royal butler.” A royal butler? The man motions to the castle. “Please follow. I’ll show you to your quarters.” We let Nolan lead the way as he speaks. “Aside from the royal family, only the generals will reside in the castle. Today, the royal packs and the generals’ packs will arrive. The rest will come in two days, and soon after, there will be a ball.” He moves forward, stepping through the massive ornate doors. “Tonight, we’ll hold the Grand Royal Summoning Banquet, where all guests will pay their respects to the royals.” All this royal talk is giving me a headache, but it all fades when we behold the magnificence of the foyer. White marble floors, pearl‑colored walls, a golden veranda, and two staircases snake around the side walls leading to a podium‑like structure in the middle of the second floor. “Just as I remember,” Mother whispers. A man suddenly approaches us. “Alpha Albert! Good to see you.” The man goes in for a hug, and my father embraces him. As they begin to speak, Jade elbows me. “Look.” She motions to two maids dusting expensive‑looking items. “That would be you if you weren’t part of our Alpha family.” “—And this is Jade,” Father interrupts, introducing Jade to the man he’s speaking to. Jade straightens and slips on her mask of innocence. As they speak, I move closer to the walls, studying the details carved into the pearl‑colored stone, slowly making my way around the room. “Who… is that?” If he hadn’t spoken, I wouldn’t have noticed the man standing beside me. He’s tall, with jet‑black hair that mirrors mine and dark, watchful eyes. Broad shoulders give him a commanding presence. His uniform is far more casual than the others—black pants, worn dress shoes, and a white shirt with the top buttons undone. He’s handsome in a quiet way, and I can tell immediately that he’s wolfless. His eyes are fixated on someone. My surprise disappears when I see that it’s Jade. I roll my eyes. “That’s Jade. And I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but she’s to be mated to one of the princes.” I look back at the wall. His presence lingers. When I look at him, his eyes slowly fall, then he closes them and presses them together. After a deep breath, he looks at me. “You smell.” I narrow my eyes. “I know.” “Then why aren’t you doing anything about it?” “Because I just got here.” I release a quick breath. “I’m rebelling.” “Rebelling?” “Yep. It upsets my mother.” He lifts a brow. “You’re no teenager. Aren’t you a little old for that?” “My parents still treat me as a child, so… yeah. Plus, it’s pent‑up anger. I never misbehaved as a child or teenager. I’m getting it all out now.” He gives a quick smile, but it soon disappears. He seems… sad. Who is this man? “Miss Valeria, please come,” Ronan says. The strange man seems surprised. “Miss? Oh… you’re not one of the maids, are you?” I squint my eyes at him. Is that what he thought? I guess I am wolfless, so it makes a bit of sense. Ronan huffs as if insulted, but he seems upset on my behalf. “Miss Valeria is the daughter of the High General, Alpha Albert. Not a mere servant.” “Oh, I apologize. I didn’t intend to offend.” The man bends and picks up a crate from the floor. A younger woman wearing similar attire pats the man on the back as he walks away. “Grimm! Olga needs help changing the curtains in the small dining room.” “All right,” Grimm says. “Come, Miss.” Ronan leads me back to my family, who begin to follow Nolan up the stairs. When we arrive at our rooms, we’re all in awe. Jade’s face hardens the moment she sees my room. “Her room looks the same as mine.” “Yes, it seems it is,” Mother mutters, clearly disapproving. Nolan nods and explains, “Well… yes. You’re both daughters of a royal general.” I can see Jade about to whine. “But—” “Jade! Enough,” Father warns her. Back at home, my room was smaller and modest compared to Jade’s. Hers was big and extravagant. She had a walk‑in closet that would put a lavish store to shame, and her bathroom was like a luxurious spa. These rooms are even better than hers, but she can’t be happy, all because I get to share the same experience. I don’t know why she dislikes me so much. I’ve never had anything better than her. Everyone likes her more than me. I have no wolf. So why is she like this with me? My eyes are drawn to my mother, who glares at me. It makes me realize Jade is this way because of her. Mother has always treated me like this, so Jade has done the same. Even now, Mother can’t stand to see me have just a bit of happiness. Why? What have I done to her? “Your pet and your belongings have been brought up,” Nolan says. “The Grand Royal Summoning Banquet will begin in three hours.” When he turns, I rush inside my room and close the door. The biggest smile I’ve ever had in my life forms on my lips as I take the room in. Max is here, lazily lying on a magnificent carpet. For the first time ever, I feel special—like a princess. My eyes are drawn to two black gift boxes on the bed with golden ribbons. I open one and find a beautiful golden dress and shoes. The other box contains jewelry to match the dress. For a moment, I almost believe this isn’t real. Jade’s shout breaks through the illusion. I immediately hide my boxes under the bed. It’s mostly out of habit—if she likes what I have, she’ll end up taking it one way or another. I walk to the door at the side of the room, where Jade’s shout echoes. Opening it, I find a bathroom. On the far side, Jade stands by another door, glaring at me, her anger ready to burst. “We’re sharing bathrooms! No! No, no, no!” She stomps the floor. Father hears the commotion and comes to check on us. “Dad! I can’t share a bathroom with her!” “Stop acting like this!” he shouts, surprising us both. He does seem more stressed than usual. “We’re not at home anymore. You can’t just get what you want here! Share! And stop complaining. Now, get ready, both of you.” He leaves Jade standing there, mouth wide open. I shut the door behind me and laugh—this is perfect. Elated, I start getting ready, hurrying to claim the bathroom first. That only makes Jade even angrier. After my nice hot bath, I begin to get ready. Finishing my hair, I stand in front of the mirror. “What do you think, Max?” His ears perk up at the mention of his name, but then he goes back to sleep. “I look great, right?” Elegant and sophisticated with a sprinkle of sexy. Whoever chose this dress for me knew what they were doing. I really look amazing—just like that night… the Mating Banquet. Before I can sink into despair, the window bursts open, startling me so badly I nearly stumble. A raven perches on the ledge, balancing on its thin, crooked legs, its dark eyes fixed on me. Watching. “You little…!” Max doesn’t even bat an eye, and I squint at him. “You’re no guard dog.” I shoo the bird away and close the window. Ronan gathers Jade and me when it’s time to go downstairs. Jade is enraged when she sees me. “Why is her dress gold and mine black?” Mother rolls her eyes. “Gold isn’t her color, Jade. Why are you upset?” She’s wrong. Gold looks perfect on me, contrasting with my black hair. I won’t let her take that away from me. With a smile, I follow Father down the stairs of the foyer, but we have to stop because so many people are gathered here. “What’s going on?” Mother asks. “The princes are about to arrive,” a woman whispers. Jade gasps and pushes people aside to get to the front. I stand in the back at the top of the stairs, where it’s only me. I can see perfectly fine from here. The crowd near the doors backs away, giving way to a man in a black suit. He has dusty blond hair and brown eyes. He smiles at people and waves. Girls around swoon over him. His smile invites you in, making him look friendly. Two young ladies run up and stand behind me to see better. “Who’s that?” one of the girls asks. They squeal when the man waves in our direction. The other girl answers. “That’s Alpha Finn, third‑born prince. He’s so handsome and always so nice.” Suddenly, people start murmuring when another man enters—imposing, tall, with brown hair and stormy blue eyes. The girls continue to whisper. “Crown Alpha Prince Tobias, firstborn. Not friendly, but nothing like the second.” The man walks past people in a rush with a woman by his side. “And that’s his mate,” the girl mutters. After him, three more men appear, and I’ve seen one of them before. It’s Prince Emmet. “Alpha Prince Dorian, the fourth prince, Antonio the fifth, and Emmet the sixth—all of them illegitimate.” All three men wave with broad smiles. Suddenly, another man hurries past them. “That’s Alpha Prince Raphael! Second born to a true royal‑blooded Luna.” The stunning blond man—his hair lighter than even my mother’s or sister’s—strides forward with an imposing pace. His bright blue eyes gleam beneath the black suit and satin shirt, half‑unbuttoned to reveal the edge of his tattoos. I freeze as his gaze locks onto mine. Time itself seems to stop, because that man… is him. The one who broke my heart. The one who rejected me. The one who shattered our bond. My fated mate.