“Kara was talking about him during class today,” I finally said, “And I figured he’ll probably be at the diplomatic meeting. The guy’s a literal prince, so I guess I just don’t want to embarrass myself or give him a reason to tear my throat out.”
That explanation seemed to satisfy Sebastian.
“Well, I know he’s twenty-five,” Sebastian told me, “He’s next in line to be the Alpha King, but probably not for a few years. From what I’ve heard, he’s done a lot of military and diplomatic stuff, fought in pack disputes, and helped settle pack conflicts. Apparently, he’s pretty ruthless. I heard he took off some guy’s head just for looking at him wrong once.”
“Wow, sounds like a charmer.”
“That’s just a rumor, of course,” Sebastian clarified, “But it wouldn’t surprise me if it were true. He is next in line to be Alpha King and he can’t look weak, otherwise, someone might challenge him for the throne. And he hasn’t found his mate either so that probably has something to do with it.”
“What do you mean?”
“You might not have learned this in school, but the longer a wolf goes without. their mate, the more hostile and aggressive they become. The guy has spent nine years without his, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got plenty of pent-up aggression.”@
Great. I’m going to spend next week in the same room as a guy who tears people’s heads off for looking at him the wrong way.
Might as well tell my dad about college now, because who knows if I’ll be coming home next week?
The fear must’ve shown on my face because Sebastian quickly back-tracked. “Sorry, I don’t mean to scare you, but you did ask. There is a good chance we’ll meet him next week, but nothing’s going to happen to you. If dad’s theory is right, he’s going to spend the entire time scouting the place for his mate. He won’t care about anything else. So, don’t worry about it.”
I nodded and mustered up a smile before Sebastian walked off.
His words should’ve reassured me, so why was there still a pit in my stomach? *
“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”
Jean de La Fontaine
You know that old saying about how time speeds up when you’re dreading the future?
Yeah, there’s definitely some truth to that.
The final week before Seb, Lily, and I’s trip seemed to sl*p through my fingers until it was the morning of our flight and I was trying to zip up my overloaded backpack.
Maybe I should’ve just caved and used an actual suitcase instead.
We were only supposed to be gone for three days today was the day we were flying out, tomorrow would be the meeting, and then we’d come back the next morning. Easy. Simple. Just three days and then I’d be back home and able to resume my life, free of warring Alphas and mateless Princes. Q@
“Clark!”
I turned at the sound of Lily’s voice. She was standing in my doorway, clutching two sundresses in her hands. “Which one looks more appropriate for an Alpha meeting?” She asked.
“Are you really asking me about werewolf dress code at a diplomatic meeting?”
“Hm, good point.”
“I like the blue one though,” I said, “It brings out your eyes.”
She smirked as if she’d been expecting the compliment and folded the dress over her arms. “What did you pack? What are you going to wear to this shin-dig?”
“Nothing too crazy, I’m dressing comfy. We are going to Canada after all.”
“Whatever,” Lily rolled her eyes, “Please tell me you have an outfit for this meeting. You should wear that mint green romper you have, it goes with your skin.”
“Oh, I hadn’t picked anything specific” I scratched the back of my head, “I kinda. just figured I’d sort through my options when I got there.”
“You are so unprepared, Clark,” she scoffed, “Just because you don’t know what the dress code is doesn’t mean there won’t be one.” Before I could drum up a reply, she turned on her heel and stomped out of the room.
I knew she was right. I didn’t have to pack alone. I could’ve asked for help from Lily, Grace, or even my dad. But the thought of Grace or my dad sorting through my clothes, lecturing me on which items would make me look like a presentable Alpha daughter it made me cringe.
Trying to look the part wouldn’t change the fact that I wouldn’t belong, and the minute I walked into the room, every wolf would know it. They’d be able to smell.
the fact that I was only human.
Look at you getting all angsty again, a voice in my head (which sounded suspiciously like Lily) piped up.
I walked over to my dresser. With a final sigh, I pulled out the mint green romper and shoved it into my backpack.
“Lily! Clark! You’re going to be late for the plane if you don’t get your asses in gear,” Dad shouted from downstairs. Almost immediately, I heard Grace’s soft voice scold him for his language.
“Coming!” I shouted back, heaving my backpack over my shoulder. Given that we were only traveling today, I had kept my attire simple: a plain pair of jeans, a faded band t-shirt, and a thick green army jacket.
Although the leaves were only starting to change here, I didn’t doubt that the weather would be much colder in Canada. That was where the Alpha King and his pack lived – southern Canada. According to Lily, the King, his family, and their pack lived in some sort of fancy castle or palace in the mountains.
The whole thing seemed ridiculous at first, but then again, the guy was a literal monarch. Why wouldn’t he have his own palace to rule from? Alphas did love power, and nothing symbolized power more than a throne.
I adjusted my backpack on my shoulders a final time and stepped out into the hallway. Lily was positioned at the top of the stairs, trying to manage all three of her suitcases. “Come help me,” she hissed.
I wrangled one of the suitcases out of her hands, but not without grinning.
“Where’s all that crazy wolf strength when you need it, huh?” I teased her.
She glared at me, and her blue eyes could’ve cut glass. “It’s not that I can’t lift them, they’re just too large to carry at once.”
“We’re only going for three days, why all the luggage?”
“I need options. Not all of us can fit our entire lives in fanny pack.”?
“It’s a backpack, not a fanny pack.”
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