Chapter Two: Oops!

Evelyn's POV

(Two weeks ago)

I am nervous.

Oh! I am so nervous indeed. And when I am nervous, I pace, and I probably do stupid things.

I let out a groan, pulling at my hair. What does the universe want from me?! I flop down on my bed with a sigh.

“Are you done trying to bore a hole in the gris ound?” a soft voice asks me.

I snap my head to the side. A woman stood by the side of the bed. Her tan skin shone in the sunlight, causing her to glow like an angel. Her midnight hair with little streaks of silver was pulled into a high bun. She wore a loose-fitting purple tunic. Purple, signifying her direct service to royalty.

"How the hell are you not shocked?!" I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air "I haven't been in the same room with my father in over ten years, Laudia, and suddenly I am being summoned to a ‘family breakfast’. Hell, the majority of the people going to be in that 'family breakfast' haven't spoken to me in a long while. So, what changed, Laudia?"

What changed? And why?

"I don't know," Laudia sighs, sitting on the bed "And so would you if you don't go out there.” She gives me a comforting pat “Oh and stop pulling your hair. I have spent a lot of time on that shit.

I let out a sound of irritation, running my hand through my hair. I can’t lie, I am extremely nervous but also filled with caution. What exactly did they want? After ignoring my existence for this long, why the sudden interest?

Hell, my sister has never talked to me unless she was in dire need of something and unfortunately, I had it. That’s as far as our sister-sister-best friend shit went. Don’t get me started on my brothers, one despises me, the other ignores me. The perfect family! Emulate us, Please!

Don't!

“I mean, it’s going to be fun,” Laudia began “You get to have a family reunion."

“Oh! What joy!” I deadpan “My family is crazy. My brothers hate me, my sister ignores my existence and my father has tried to kill me!”

“That happened only once.”

“Oh, wow. What an amazing father figure.” I mutter dryly.

“What about your cousin, Astrid? I thought she was a sweetheart?”

I give her a wtf look. Is she serious?! Everyone knows that Astrid's main aim for still breathing is to make my existence a nightmare.

“Fine.” She huffs “I can’t even stick up for her. She is so fucking annoying and sounds so preppy.”

She does sound preppy. Sometimes, she sounds so nasal that I want to bash her head into a wall.

“See?! Everyone….”

A sharp knock interrupts me, and we both freeze, meeting each other’s gaze in panic. It is time. It is so soon. I am most definitely not ready.

Pass out! I am going to pass out.

"Come in!"

The door swings open with a creak and an intimidating guard marches in.

"Your Highness," He bows

"Felix!" Laudia breathes in relief, clutching her chest at the sight of her mate.

Dressed in a black tunic with a black breastplate, his broad shoulders stretch the fabric, a salivating sight to every female. Engraved on it is a purple cross with vines wound around it, the kingdom's logo. But what drew immediate attention to him was not his striking build but his flaming red hair, each strand like embers of a dying flame.

"Good morning, Felix." I breathe out, trying to calm my racing heart.

Climbing down from my bed, a large grin coats my face as I run into the beefy giant’s awaiting arm. Most people might consider this inappropriate, a princess hugging a guard, but this man has been there since my childhood chasing the bullies away. He is a mountain of muscle, but he is a softie for me.

“You know,” I mumble into his chest “You can call me Evie.”

Felix wraps his around me, laughter bursting from him. "No can do, princess."

“Oh, come on!” I pout untangling myself from him “It’s simple, E-V-I-E.” I mouth the letters.

He smiles shaking his head.

“But your crazy ass mate calls me by my name.” I point to Laudia.

A hand smacks my butt as the woman comes to stand beside her mate.

“OW!” I rub the spot. Even wearing a dress, it hurts.

“That’s because I have to deal with your shit every morning. My pay does not cover your shit.” She scowls at me.

“But you love it.” I roll my eyes. Dramatic Laudia.

“I am barely making it through!”

"But you are surviving, love," Felix chuckles, wrapping a loving hand around her.

Laudia smacks his hands softly with a pout. She looks so tiny in his hands. A big, bad Lycan with his tiny mate through the years, squeal! Any author would have a field day writing this shit.

I, on the other hand, have a lot of mixed feelings at the cute and cuddly sight. Fawning over them? Definitely. A bit jealous? OH, so much! Nauseous? Like a pregnant woman.

I clear my throat, cutting the couple from their moment. We don’t want a make-out session, do we?

Felix shakes his head a bit "Ready to go into the lion's den, princess?"

Laudia snickers "Seems you have been sent on collection duty."

"Yep," he grins at her "I'm here to collect the fattened cow for the feast."

"I have a feeling that I am the cow." I groan.

"Don't take it to heart, dollface." Laudia mocks.

I scrunch my face in disdain "Meanies." I stick my tongue out at them, leaving the room.

"I have a feeling you have teased her about this?" Felix whispers to Laudia, both of them chuckling.

"I heard that!" I mumble, earning a snicker.

Meanies, the both of them.

Walking through the sunlit halls of the castle, I tune into the sounds floating around the castle.

I can hear every sound, the castle rousing from its slumber. My sharp hearing picks up the various sounds of the waking inhabitants; the rushing footstep of servants hurrying to their various duties, the melodic shrills and chirping of birds, and the bustling of the kitchen staff as they go about their activities. It distracts me. A bit.

Why the hell would my brother set breakfast this early?

"Nervous?" Felix nudges my shoulder "You are going to be fine."

"What do you think they want from me?"

"I don't know, but we are about to find out."

We pause in front of a large double door. Flanking the entrance are two guards, clad in the same uniform as Felix. They stand, stoic, disregarding us.

I chew on my lips, picking at the flesh of my thumb, a terrible childhood habit.

Is it me or have my palms always been this sweaty?

"Come on, Evelyn, " Laudia whispers to me in encouragement "You can do this."

"Yeah!" I mumble to myself "I can do this."

I take deep breaths, steeling myself. The longer I stand there, the more my apparent sturdy resolve seems to crumble like sand. The doors seem to enlarge before me, making me feel tiny before their imposing presence.

"I so can't do this." I squirm, turning back.

Two pairs of hands grab my shoulders, twirling me around.

"You can't quit now!" Laudia whisper-yells.

"Oh! I so can." I nod fervently, eyes wide " Forget that shit, I don't got this."

"Your Highness!" Felix gave me a steel look "Your family is waiting for you." he gestures to the door before us.

I glance at the door and then at the two guards who seem invested in the scene before them. I turn back to Felix "Go tell them that I am sick or even, that I committed suicide," nodding to myself "They will love that shit."

"Evelyn...." Laudia sigh.

"I am so sorry, but I can't do...."

"I'm so sorry." Lydia grimace, cutting me off.

"Why the fuck are you sorry?"

"For this...."

Laudia shoves me........