The Female Prince

KAELYN

It had been three months and two days since anyone heard anything from Kaiven. They said he was missing.

The council did.

I stepped through the large doors leading my father's chambers. His quill stopped as he raised his head to stare at me and then he looked away, before dipping the pen into ink.

"What do you want, Kaelyn?" He asked.

I straightened my spine, "Let me go to Storm Academy."

He scoffed, without looking up. "What for?"

"To find Kaiven."

His eyes flicked towards me. "Storm Academy is an academy for boys. What would you do there?"

"What Kaiven would have done....if I had been the one missing."

My father remained silent for a beat and and the ink dropped on the white clean paper. He frowned, "Go back to your room, Kaelyn."

"I've already signed the papers. I've been accepted into Storm Academy."

He threw the pen on the table and crossed the room in three long strides, "Are you trying to make me angry, Kaelyn?"

"You promised to find him." I shot as I looked at my father in the eyes.

"I'm working on it,"

"You've been saying that for three months, father. The council is doing nothing about it. They just watch and whisper. Isn't Kaiven the Alpha Prince? If he is, then why is nothing being done?!"

"Kaelyn–"

"I'm not here to ask for your blessings, father, neither do I seek your permission. Just....when I leave, don't let the guards come after me." I turned to leave.

"You think they won't find out?" His voice stopped me as I crossed the threshold. "Storm Academy has been built over the years. If they cannot detect a girl sneaking in like a boy, then they don't deserve the title, don't you think?"

"I'll at least try–"

"No, you are going to die, Kaelyn."

I swallowed, but my resolve would not be brought down, "I'll die trying."

"You think I want to lose two of my kids?!"

I scoffed lightly as I turned to look back at him, "Since when did you consider me as a child?"

His eyes dimmed.

"It had always been about Kaiven. But now that he is missing, you want to abandon him?" I shook my head slowly, "Not on my watch."

He gulped as he looked away and walked back to his seat. "You'll be caught.....change your name."

"I'm changing my surname."

His brows shifted, "What?"

"I'm not changing my name. I'm changing....my surname. It shouldn't bother you, right?"

He released an heavy breath, "And what is it?"

"Altair." I replied. "Kaelyn Altair."

He nodded his head slowly. "I hope you find Kaiven. And when you do, bring him home."

"I will."

"The council will communicate with you while you are in Storm Academy. And we would have to take you out of your own school."

"It's simple for you to do." I said flatly.

He scoffed lightly as he throws the stained parchment away and picks a new paper, "I'll take care of it."

"Goodnight, father."

"Kaelyn." He called as he wrote with the quill without looking at me, "Storm Academy is not for girls."

It was a warning, telling me to be smart.

"I understand."

With that, I walked out of his chambers and straight to my room.

"Lady Kaelyn," my maid, Esme, rushed after me as I got in.

"Get me scissors, Esme."

Her face turned pale, "What are you doing? Don't tell me your father agreed to your absurd request."

"Absurd?" I turned to look at her sharply, "We are talking about my Kaiven. My twin brother and the alpha prince here!"

She stepped backwards, fear clouding her face, "I–I know, b–but it's not safe. Storm Academy is not–"

"Esme." I called lightly as I stared at her seriously, "I have to find Kaiven. I don't... don't have a purpose if he's not here. If he's...not safe." Tears clouded my eyes as my heart beat tripled from the pain.

"Get me the scissors."

She rushed out and brought the scissors back a minute later. I stared at myself in the mirror.

My identity had always been twisted and now, it was finally gone.

I am no longer a girl.

The scissors went through my hair.

•

The academy gates were taller than I imagined, iron forged like prison bars with sharp tips. No one could even dream of climbing in without dying.

The gates opened with a loud sound, like it was announcing my arrival into the school. The black car carrying me drove into the school and I hopped down from it as soon as it came to a stop.

My boots scrunched against gravel. My chest felt tighter than usual. Too tight. It was as a result of the bandage wrapped around it. I couldn't risk loosening it to adjust it, not here.

"Move it," someone muttered behind me.

I stepped aside just in time for a guy to shoulder past me. I fight the urge to snarl at him. Boys didn't flinch.

"New one?" a voice asked–behind me.

I turned.

His eyes stared at me boldly, taking me in with one smooth look. He stretched his hand.

"Student Committee President, Evren."

Evren.

The name rang a bell in my head.

*Evren is my best friend. He's the son of Alpha Alaric Vale.*

*Alpha Alaric? The prime alpha? Why would you speak with his son?*

"You are....Evren?" My voice went low as I stared at him.

He cocked his head, calmly, "Do you know me?"

I flattened my lips, "Of course not."

"What's your name?"

It was the first time.

I swallowed.

It was the first time anyone had ever asked me for my name.

They just called me 'the Alpha's daughter' or 'the Alpha's prince twin sister.'

"Kaelyn Am–" I stopped.

"Kaelyn...Altair. Kaelyn Altair, that's my name."

"Kaelyn Altair," He pronounced my name slowly, like he could taste the lie that accompanied it.

My chest tightened more.

But then his lips curved slightly,

"Welcome to Storm Academy, Kaelyn.”