Chapter 3

-Hazel-

Asis gave me a glare as if to remind me to behave. His eyes remained on me and I feel a cold bead of sweat run down my back.

Something really unpleasant was about to happen and my freedom could be at steak. But before I let these thoughts plague my mind, I softly smile and slowly place my hand in the crown prince's hand and Asis gives me a look of approval.

The crown prince smirks and gives me a soft kiss at the back of my hand. Any other female would have been gushing at the sight of the crown prince fawning over them but I just feel sick.

With that, I am escorted down the stairs to the ball room. It may seem like an ordinary grand party but underneath, it is a battle ground for the nobles.

Everyone is just looking for the right time to bare their claws and canines. It is a place where the strong prey on the weak.

As the crown prince leads me to our table, he puts his left hand on the small of my back. This makes me flinch and a shudder runs through my spine.

His touch disgusts me. The gist of the crown prince's ventures are nothing new in the kingdom. He has laid with numerous maidens be it noblewomen or commoners.

He was known to also dabble in drugs and was drunk on power. Men like him irritate me. He has absolutely nothing to show for himself apart from being the alpha king's son of course.

He lacks even the skills needed to rule the kingdom. This makes me calm down a little. There is no way this foolish prince will agree to be tied down by marriage. He must just be doing this to show that the royal family is on good terms with the aristocratic faction.

Yes. After all, he is the representative sent by the royal family but what was the reason for this ball?

We finally reach our seats and he pulls out mine just like a gentleman would.

To be honest, the crown prince was quite handsome. Even as a child, he was very beautiful. He inherited his golden locks from his mother, the Luna and his clear green eyes from his father, the alpha king.

I guess this must be the reason why many females were very quick to warm his bed but that did not work on me. There was something about the crown prince that scared me and I hoped I will never one day find out why I felt this way.

I look at the head of the table to see my father smiling deeply and my mother is beside him at the head of the table. My brother's seats are empty as it important for them to mingle with the other noble werewolves and build meaningful connections.

Normally, I would be required to mingle with the female but seeing as the crown prince was my chosen escort for the event, I would need to remain by his side.

Apart from the crown prince's sudden appearance, there is nothing new going on. The ball is proceeding like other balls have. Soft music is playing in the background, drinks and food were beautifully displayed in the corner, nobles were mingling and in the middle of the ball room, there were some couples who were dancing gracefully.

Right.

I might as well have a glass of wine and enjoy the ball. I proceed to call a servant over but before I could do so, I am interrupted by the shameless crown prince himself.

He has a broad smile on his face.

Uck.

If only I could land a punch on his face but that would definitely earn me a night in a prison cell.

"Would the lady be nice enough to grant me a dance?" he asks in a sickly sweet tone.

I was about to decline but I felt the sharp gaze of my father. His eyes told me that I will be in serious trouble if I were to refuse. His gaze causes my back to sting.

With the help of an expert healer, my wounds were able to heal with no scars. My father does cherish my existence as I was a key for him to gain even more power but....... I learnt the hard way that disobeying his orders could be deadly.

My body may show no evidence but it clearly remembers the pain and sensations of the abuses. I never want to go through that again.

Looking over to me mother, she still has her head down and evades my eyes. She has never been able to save me from the clutches of my family but I do not hate or despise her.

She was sold at sixteen by her own family and forced to become the mate of the duke at a very tender age. Lord only knows what she has been through for her to become so subservient.

"Of course your highness" I reply with a sweet smile.

"Please my lady, call me Lenon" he says and leads me to the centre of the ball room.

This causes me to flinch. The people that could call any member of the royal family by their birth names were their mates. I was not even aware Lenon was his name until today.

I feel my heart beat faster and my hands tremble. No! Calm down Hazel. It could just be that it was a means to woo females. Yes calm down. There was no special meaning to this. The fool is probably hoping I would fall for his charms and warm his bed tonight.

I calm down and get my self under control. I allow the crown prince to lead me to the dance floor.

In the higher society it is a rule that no one else can dance once once a member of the royal family is dancing.

As we near the dance floor, everyone else vacates and soon we are the only couple left.

I grip the side of my ball gown and hesitate. I have a really bad feeling about this. Do I just pretend I can't dance and step on his feet a couple of times? I was wearing really dangerous shoes today. but this will definitely earn me a beating from father.

I really do not want to this. I look up and see Asis over the crown prince's shoulders. He glares at me as if to dare me.

I have been meticulously trained In different arts and dances. The excuse of knowing the dance is sure to be a stupid one.

Soft music begins to play and the crown prince leads me. He was quite a good dancer for a bum.

Everyone's eyes are in us as we sway our bodies to the sound of music.

As the last note ends, we give a deep bow and everyone claps.

My father stands from his table and gathers the attention of all the guests by hitting his utensil against his glass.

"I want to thank you all for agreeing to attend the ball in such a short notice. The reason the ducal house decided to hold this ball is to announce the engagement between the crown prince and my daughter Hazel".

The moment he announced this, my heart dropped to my stomach. I control the tears that threaten to escape my eyes. I knew it!!!! My father was a very selfish man that was willing to sell to anyone if it meant he would grow in power. I was now his one way ticket into the royal family.

Just when I thought he was finished, he continued with a wide smile on face.

"As you all know, it is a known fact that my daughter is an omega and omegas are the species of our distinguished race of werewolves that are able to birth strong and exceptional alphas. I thank the moon goddess everyday for blessing me with a beautiful OMEGA wife and daughter".

I feel sick to my bones. The way he exaggerated the word omega was just him showing off to the other nobles that he has two if the rarest species in his control and possession. This man never cared about me. Not even a little bit.

I need to run away but me causing a scene here would be bad for me. I need to calm down and plan my escape.

"I Crown Prince Lenon accept the engagement with Lady Hazel of the ducal house and accept to take her as my future mate and my future Luna" I look down to see the foolish crown prince on his knees before me.

Something is incredibly wrong. I have heard the way he talks about women. There is no way that this highly promiscuous fellow is willing to get married. There is a deeper plot to all of this.

Maintaining my indifferent expression, I answer as not to arouse the suspicion of the other nobles.

"I accept the engagement of prince Lenon of the royal family. I accept to be his future mate and Luna".

Even I am surprised at myself. There is no way any one would be able to tell that this engagement came as a surprise.

I feel wetness on the back of my hand and shudder at the face the crown prince was wearing.

This was the werewolf I knew. His eyes seemed deluded and he had a nasty smirk on his face . If I get married to him, I will be nothing more than a child rearing tool for the royal family.

This is dangerous! I need to escape.