Chapter 1-Rejected

AURORA’S POV

“Eww, not that dress. Come on, Sammy, he would never drool over me if I wore that!” I scoffed, crunching my nose in disgust.

“But it’s a cute short dress. You wear plain clothes all the time. Let me dress you for once,” Samantha pleaded as she searched through my wardrobe, looking for an outfit.

“You always dress like a boy.” I threw my body on the bed. Opening a candy bar.

“Ooh, pink! Look at this pink one,” Samantha cheered, her high-pitched voice echoing in the room.

Tonight is going to be amazing. Alpha Prince Caleb Knight will claim me as his mate at the Full Blood Moon Ball.

Oh gosh, I can imagine the look on his face when our eyes meet under the moon. His short, silky blonde hair glittering in the moonlight, ocean-blue eyes that melt my insides, a sharp chiseled jaw, and that well-built body like he was carved by the gods themselves. Gosh, he is freaking handsome.

Just thinking about him made my core excited.

I felt a sudden sting and winced.

“Ouch, that hurts, Sammy. You know I don’t like being pinched.”

“Uhm, when you’re busy drooling over my brother, don’t forget to choose which dress you’ll wear tonight,” Sammy teased.

“All right, Your Royal Highness—” I batted my eyes while grabbing the red silky dress from her hands.

“Shiii….you know I don’t like being called that.” Sammy grabbed a pillow and threw it at me.

We giggled for what felt like a lifetime while having a pillow fight.

“Maybe he’ll even pop the cherry tonight,” I laughed, Sammy launching at me with a huge pillow, almost tripping on her blood-red hair.

Gosh, it was some long hair. It reached her calf.

“Aurora!” A manly voice echoed from downstairs.

“Uncle Dexter!” Sammy panicked. “Shit, I gotta go. If he sees me here, he’ll tell my father I left the castle without an escort.”

I nodded. “Don’t forget to wait for me outside the gates. We are definitely sneaking out to the party. It’s my 19th birthday, after all.”

Sammy winked and smiled. She opened the window and the cold air rushed in before she closed it shut.

The door swung open. Uncle Dexter stood there, his nose flaring.

What’s wrong this time? Oh gosh, is this man ever in a good mood?

“Yes, sir— I mean, Uncle,” I stammered.

“I need you to clean my horse. I will be going out of the kingdom this evening with the king. There will be a meeting. I expect everything to be in perfect shape while I’m gone.” His eyes glared at me, then flicked to the window.

“Okay,” I simply nodded.

“Oh, and Aurora, don't do anything foolish."

He left the room and banged the door shut.

My Uncle Dexter is such a grumpy man, but hey… he raised me. I am still grateful.

The ride to the ball was a short one. Samantha managed to send a ride for me so we could meet by the gates. The castle was huge. Nothing compared to it, not that I have ever seen many castles before. Just this one.

my Uncle Dexter had gone far by now. and we held our party in the north wing.

The north wing is where every cool wolf hangs out. Mostly royal Wolf Warriors. If you ever get an invitation to hang out there, you will automatically be one of the cool werewolves.

The cold air brushed against my skin, sparkling lights shimmering. Each decoration hung neatly on the walls and ceiling. Chandeliers hung elegantly.

I took a deep breath. Each step I took inside the castle gave me goosebumps.

I constantly touched my necklace, it made me feel safe for some reason.

Wow, how I wish I lived here. The house Uncle Dexter and I live in isn’t so big. He is the Chairman Council of the Velmoria Kingdom, but we live in a tiny space.

Sammy popped up from the castle doors holding a flower in her hands, her red hair flowing with the wind. Gosh, she was beautiful. I wished I was as beautiful as her. Maybe then I would be noticed.

She jogged towards me and tucked a strand of my white-blonde hair behind my ear.

“Let’s go before it’s late.” Sammy wrapped her arm around mine and walked me towards the north wing.

Will Caleb like my red dress? I haven’t felt so exposed before…maybe I should tuck my dress up a little more.

Oh gosh, Aurora, you’re toast.

We reached the doors. I felt my palms grow sweaty. Sammy was surprisingly silent. I was the one who was anxious, yet she acted like she felt it too.

“Is everything okay? You seem tense,” I remarked.

I kept my expression firm because I didn’t want my best friend getting worried.

“Uhm, yes…” Sammy sighed heavily before plastering a fake smile on her face.

“Are you sure?” I glanced at her. “Your dream man didn't show up yet?” I half giggled.

Her eyes held so much emotion that I could tell something was definitely not right.

“Ew no, I am a lone wolf, Aurora.” Sammy chuckled.

She swiftly opened the doors, revealing a well-decorated ballroom. Werewolves in stunning, luxurious suits. Some were half naked with no shirts. There were so many naked chests to gaze at.

Oh my poor virgin eyes.

The witches in ravishing clothes and costumes.

I stared at my dress and felt so plain.

What was I thinking? I could not fit in here. This is ridiculous, Aurora.

These are the moments I wish I had a wolf.

Hello Wolfy? Are you there…yet?

I let out a loud sigh, as I adjusted my glasses so that I could see better.

I would be able to know so much more about what’s going on. Werewolves have special mind-reading abilities, but I hear someone can block others from reading their thoughts.

I made my way inside the ballroom as Sammy disappeared into the crowd. As a princess of Velmoria, this was normal for her. Nobody even noticed my presence near her. I was the invisible friend.

Some pushed and tugged me as I made my way to the nearest available seat.

I let out a heavy sigh.

Shouldn’t these people have some class? Some were openly smoking, while others were drunk—but it still held its royalty theme.

I heard a manly voice clear his throat. Everyone’s attention was drawn toward him.

There he was, in all his glory—Caleb Knight, the alpha prince.

He stared at me and winked. I felt my cheeks heat and blushed.

Such a naughty wolf.

He began to speak, his deep voice echoing through the walls like a male siren luring sailors into the water.

I didn’t realize I was drooling over him while he spoke until I felt someone sit next to me and poke my shoulder.

“If you keep staring at him like that, you might hex him with your misfortune. He may not wolf out too,” the girl mocked, her voice high and annoying.