Chapter two

Isla POV

Ang and Lill are nearly in the middle of the stage when my mate suddenly stops, his eyes glazing over at the same time as some of the pack warriors and guards, oh shit this can’t be good ‘Blaine says not to worry Isla, there’s a bit of commotion at the front gate, Derrick’s going to see what’s going on’ Ruby, my wolf tells me. Derrick has been Angus’ best friend since childhood, which is why he was chosen to be beta, his gamma Grant also being their friend, it was a hard decision for Angus to make.

Angus met Lillias in the middle of the stage as planned, I can tell by the look in his eyes that he’s worried, we have the whole United Kingdoms Alpha’s here under this marquee except one, the silver sun pack’s Alpha nor Luna was invited. I would be dammed if I let my daughter be with their son, true mate or not, it just wouldn’t happen.

‘Can you take over for me with Lillias my love’ Angus’ voice filters in my head, ‘its worse at the gate then originally thought’, this cant be good, ‘Canny Derrick handle this one Ang? it’s our daughter’s birthday’,

‘sadly not Isla, Alpha Anton heard down the grape vine about our celebrations and brought his two eldest sons, his beta and a couple of warriors with him’, oh shit, so the silver sun pack decided to come anyway, typical!

I get up and start walking to the stage, quicker then I normally would as Angus kisses my daughters cheek, as I reach them centre stage, Angus puts Lillias hand in mine, nods at me and rushes away, I hear his clothes shred as he shifts, great, that’s another tux I need to replace! The master of ceremonies hands me a mic, shit I forgot about this bit, Angus had a speech wrote to present our daughter to the wolf community as it was his role as Alpha, I didn’t, what the hell am I going to do, help me I pray to the moon goddess.

Lillias nudges me, I turn to her as she looks down to her hand, there is a piece of paper, oh Ang you bloody life saver! ‘Mama, I think that’s for you, Papa put it in my hand as he was placing my hand in yours’ she mind-links me ‘is everything okay?’, ‘just some trouble at the gate sweetheart, nothing to worry about’ I wink at her, lets get this speech done.

“Good evening everyone, it is a pleasure to see you all here for my beautiful daughters eighteenth birthday, Alpha Angus and my self are very proud to show her to you all tonight” I turn to smile at Lill, suddenly seeing a deep purple flash cross her eyes, never before have I seen a wolf with such eyes. As a Alphas heir, Lill is going to have to shift in front of everyone. “Lillias has done us proud over the years and accomplished so much, as much as I know you will agree, she is absolutely beautiful”

Lillias span around on the spot, she must be feeling a little more confident then normal. Alpha Dominic and his Luna Elidth from the medlock valley pack, stood up and started applauding which lead to the rest of the marquee giving my daughter a standing ovation. I can see Lillias cheeks start to go a slight pink colour as she blushes from the corner of my eye.

I quickly look at the paper from Ang, he was asking each alpha to bring forward their sons to meet our daughter. We are classed as werewolf royalty as Ang is a direct descendant of Selene and Helios, I clear my throat, not liking this part of the ceremony. “I ask for the Alphas to bring forth their eldest son to meet Lillias”, Lill looked at me knowing this was coming but I’m sure she wished with her father occupied that this could be avoided, honestly so did I but its tradition for the child of the king of alphas to dance with each alphas heir before they meet their wolf and shift for the first time.

Alpha Dominic was the first to stand, bringing Hamish forward to meet Lill, Hamish was a very fine-looking man, with his short brown hair, dark brown eyes that looked more black then brown and refined jaw. He made his distaste in my daughter’s appearance very clear, she looked like an albino which in past made people question me on her heritage. To the point Ang got mighty annoyed and destroyed a couple of packs, splitting the land between other packs that bordered with them. Feeling how upset I was through the mate bond made him even worse, not even I could calm him.

Lillias POV

Hamish made no attempt to hide his distaste in me, we bowed as the music started, his father must of pushed him into this as there was no way he wanted to be here, an alpha in his own right. From what I had heard, his father refused to pass the pack to him until he found his mate. Hamish put his left hand just under my shoulder blades, holding my left hand in his right. I foolishly tried to start a conversation to get to know him as was my duty.

“Hello Hamish, how are you?” I smiled sweetly as I spoke, “I mean no disrespect your highness, but you are not my mate, I’m here out of duty to my pack and if you do choose me as a chosen mate, I will decline” the harshness behind his reply was clear, again making me feel like the abomination that I am.

We danced until the song had ended, another alpha approached me with their son, out of respect they had to approach the Alpha king first but since he was preoccupied they approach my mother. Alpha James bowed to me, “Lillias, this is Samuel, my second born son” I must of looked shocked that he would offer his second born, “my eldest sadly died a couple of years ago in a rogue attack”, I nodded my head in understanding. Samuel bowed his head at me, his scent was alluring, but I could tell he wasn’t my mate, still we danced but this time I decided against making small talk. At the end of the dance we bowed and I look round for the next alpha to offer their son silently hoping that none of these was my mate.

Angus POV

As soon as I left the ceremony I shifted into Blaine, my midnight blue wolf, moving slightly to the back of my mind. I can still see everything Blaine sees but this way it would be faster to get to the front gate. When I get there 10 minutes later, Alpha Anton, his Luna Sophie, their eldest son Rupert and around fifteen warriors including his beta who I will admit I never learnt the name off, stood arguing at my boarder with my guards. Using my Alpha aura which is stronger then the average Alphas as I am King I bellowed “Alpha Anton what is the meaning of this? How dare you try to force entry onto my lands!” The bastard dared to smirk at me, “Your highness Alpha Angus, I hear your daughter has turned eighteen this very day and you know the law, every Alpha may present his son to be considered a mate to the princess. I don’t see why Rupert would be any different, or are you breaking your own laws?” who did this arsehole think he was? But none the less he is correct. “you may enter but your warriors go home” was my only reply. As I turned my back to go back to the festivities this foolish man bulked up to me. “no disrespect intended your highness but I would rather my men stay”, is this man really this foolish, do I really have to command him to send his men home? “what do you think is going to happen at the princess’ birthday party? You’ll get attacked? Alpha Angus would never allow anything to ruin this day for his daughter” my beta Derrick cuts in, “are you honestly that foolish to go against an order from your king?” Anton looked a little shocked that I would let Derrick speak for me but my patience was growing thin, I have already missed so much of the celebrations.

‘My love, how is Lill getting on? Any reasonable suiters?’ I ask Isla over mind-link, ‘I don’t think she is taken with anyone up to yet but she is only on the second dance, Hamish made it clear he didn’t want her as a mate and Samuel hasn’t said a word to her, I think she maybe now refusing to make conversation with them’ my Lunas words worried me, Lill has always been a chatty girl, the trick was getting her to shut up. ‘my dear, Alpha Anton, his luna, beta and son will becoming back with me, can you ask one of the maids to met me with a new set of clothes please’ I could feel Isla’s worry through our bond, she knew of the law but still refused to send a invite to the Alpha that has been after my throne since taking over from his father.

Alpha Anton finally agrees to send his warriors home keeping his beta with him, I don’t think he’s actually sent them home, I think he’s just sent them away to wait, this sly son of a bitch will do anything for power, what he must not realise is that every Alpha in the land is a ten minute run away!

Lillias POV

Alpha Stuart’s son Mallack was next for a dance which was soon followed by Adam, Alpha Grayson’s son. Jasper, Alpha Augustus’ son had two left feet as the clumsy oaf kept standing on my feet. Nathaniel, Alpha Maynard’s son kept trying to whisper sweet nothings in my ear, when we finished dancing I noticed my father was back, he looked annoyed, borderline angry. I gave him a concerned look and he smiled at me, this smile didn’t reach his eyes, something was defiantly wrong.

Alpha Simon introduced his son Romeo who was the same age as me but yet to come of age, but I still danced with him, the poor pup didn’t have a clue what he was doing. I was starting to get tired of this whole event, but had a couple more to meet, I was particularly interested in the red waterfall pack as their Alpha hadn’t found his mate yet, Silas was apparently ruthless, he showed no mercy to his enemies. He was also loyal from what I heard, he was saving his self for his Luna, his soul mate.

Alpha Alan was about to introduce his son Niclaus to me when an Alpha I hadn’t met before cut in to introduce himself and his son. “Hello Princess Lillias, I am Alpha Anton from silver sun”, shit! I thought these idiots wasn’t invited. “I’m sure you can finish your dance after you see Rupert, my son, as I am sure he is your goddess given mate” he winked at me, I could feel the bile raise in my throat, Rupert looked at me as if I was an accomplishment, a meal ticket. I bowed my head and started to dance with him, when his head snapped up and he sniffed the air around us, his head started looking around until he stopped moving completely at the sight of another she-wolf.

“Mate”

He said this audibly enough so the whole of the guests could hear, his Father didn’t look the slightest bit impressed and stood between him and the she-wolf. In one swift move Rupert pushed his father on his arse and walked towards his mate, Violet from the Clumber pack, Alpha James’ daughter.

Relief washed over me as now I knew for sure his mate wasn’t me, I do feel sorry for Violet as this would mean she would have to move to Silver Sun if Rupert doesn’t reject her.

“Mate”

Violet gasped, I wonder what they both was thinking, I was left in the middle of the floor on my own when Niclaus came up behind me making me audibly gasp. “I apologise princess, may I have this dance?” the band starts playing again. Niclaus twirls me when suddenly a scent hits me, vanilla, chocolate and something that you wouldn’t normally put with the two, freshly cut grass.