Prologue
POV Natalina
Six years ago…
"Natie." Someone whispers, and I feel a poke on my shoulder. I stir, rolling away from the voice. "Nattie." Someone says again, this time shaking me. I grumble, opening my eyes to find a pair of jade-green eyes. I look over at my alarm clock, the red numbers read 3:00 am.
Violet, what are you doing awake? It's 3 in the morning." I whine. I sit up, rubbing the sleep away from my eyes. I grow serious, reading the expression on her face. Her eyes are red and glassy, as if she were crying. "What is going on, Vi?" Her gaze leaves mine, and she picks at her fingernails.
"Not here, Nat. Can we go for a run?" She whispers, her blonde hair covering her face.
"Of course, you know I am always up for a run!" I give her a soft smile. She returns it, but her eyes remain sad. Swinging my legs over and stand up. "Let's go, Vi!" We quietly leave our wing. The palace is mostly dark with some light. Which tells me that the night staff is working. Violet grabs my arm, guiding us out the door and into the woods. Letting go, she shifts into her wolf.
Her jade green eyes grow as fur sprouts along her body. She whimpers slightly as her canines replace her human ones. As her limbs readjust, she fell on all fours. Her claws dig into the grass as she shifts. Moments later, a golden blonde wolf yelps at me. Her tongue slips out as she pants. She cocks her head to the side waiting for me.
My wolf takes over happily. My skin starts to feel tight as my bones begin to reposition. As my limbs begin to readjust, I fall to the ground. My claws dig into the ground, and canines replace my human teeth. Finally, I am in my wolf form.
Violet yelps as she runs into the woods, leaving me behind. I chase after her, and we race around a couple of trees. We find our trees; they lean towards each other, making a canopy. As we trot through it, our pond comes into view. The crickets chirp, and fish jump in and out of the water. After taking in the scenery, we shift into our human forms.
Once back into human form, she sat on a big rock, and I found one across from her to sit on. Violet is watching the pond, and her face is at peace. This place does that, were at peace here. No duties, no parents, just us.
"So Vi, what's up?" I grin.
Her peaceful gaze changes to a serious one. Her eyes look sad again, "Natie… I am leaving." She sniffles, looking at her hands.
"Vi, please tell me you're joking." I chuckle, but it falls short when her expression doesn't change. "You're leaving?" I ask, gazing at the pond. "Why are you leaving, Vi?"
She sniffles, "I found my mate, Nat." Her smile cracks open at that. I looked over at her, shocked.
"Oh, Vi! That's amazing. I am so happy to hear that." I cheered, returning her smile. I continued, "Why can't you stay and tell Mom and Dad?"
She scoffs, "They'd never let me, Nat. They are so dead set on having Kellen and I marry. They don't care about my feelings. So I am leaving to be with my mate," Tears roll down her cheeks. She continues
"Natie." She says, her jade green eyes looking into mine. "Please don't tell them. Don't tell mom and dad anything about this."
"I cross my heart, Vi," I promise her. She softens at that a little. You deserve to be with your mate," I smile. Her smile grows, showing the dimple on her left cheek.
"When are you leaving?" I ask her.
"When we return to the palace, I just couldn't leave without seeing you one last time." She tears up. "Remember, Natie, you are my best friend, and I will always love you."
POV Natalina
Six years later…
Since the day my sister, Violet, ran away six years ago, my life has been flipped upside down. My parents have made it crystal clear that my life is no longer mine. I always have to look perfect, so I always have to wear dresses and keep my hair nice. They even control the way I talk.
Apparently, cursing is not ladylike. Since I am now the crowned princess, I was forced to quit warrior training because I had to attend Queen training. Which broke my heart. I was on track to becoming the head warrior of the kingdom.
When Violet left to be with her mate, her arranged marriage became my arranged marriage. My soon to be in-laws and my parents are obsessed with making the entire U.S Kingdoms one. My sister had met him multiple times before she ran. From what she says, he was a complete douchebag. He was always rude towards her and acted like a spoiled little rich kid.
On top of it all, he is a man slut, having girls coming in and out of his room. We determined that he is a royal pain in the ass. No matter how many times I convince my parents to let me wait for my mate, I get told, "A queen has to do what is best for the kingdom." Eye roll.
My parents will never admit to me, but they are trying to turn me into Violet. Even though we are sisters, we're so different. She is a complete girly girl, she loves dresses and ball dances. She is nice and sweet, the perfect heir.
Everyone lights up when she is around. While I may look girly, I keep to myself, I play on my xbox, watch supernatural shows and keep up with my book boyfriends. Like my sister I am nice, but I am more on the sassy side. I can tell right away by the awkward expressions that she is the favorite.
Before my sister was born, the Alpha King of the Northern Werewolf Kingdom, my father, and the Alpha King of the Southern Werewolf Kingdom agreed to marry their heirs to unite the Kingdoms.
My parents were devastated when my sister left. In their heads, she is missing, but my sister and I never keep secrets. I actually pushed her to go because everyone deserves to be with their fated mate. Little did I know what was in store, her duties became mine.
So when I didn't find my mate, my parents faked their sympathy when I didn't find my fated mate at 18. I remember hearing them talk happily when they thought I wasn't lurking around in the corners. They make sure to keep me on palace lands by having guards and warriors in the palace and on all territory lines. To prevent me from finding my mate. I despised my parents for not letting me wait for my fated mate.
Unfortunately, I am 24, and the chances of finding my mate are very slim. Some say that my mate is dead, but when I turned 18, I get random excruciating pains in my stomach.
Which means my mate is out there somewhere having sex with other women. It is in the nature of a wolf to yearn for their mate, it makes a werewolf stronger. At the same time, I am relieved, because once I am marked and mated by my arranged fiance, the random pains will stop. My only connection to my mate will be broken. Which breaks my heart, all I ever dreamed about was finding my mate.
Tomorrow is my engagement ball. I will be meeting my fiance, Kellen, for the first time. Kellen has refused to meet with me until now. I am so anxious, it just gets worse as the minutes go by.
If the queen training has taught me anything, it is how to hide my emotions. My sister and my best friend are the only ones who are able to look pass it.
Currently, I am in my wing of the palace with my handmaid, Sara. My mother wanted me to do a final gown fitting to make sure that it is perfect.
"Princess," She says, her long dirty blonde hair shielding her face as she looks down at the list that my mother prepared.
"Yes?" I ask politely, giving her my full attention. Sara glances at my dress and then at the list on her lap. She smiles up at me brightly.
"From this list, the gown is perfect for tomorrow!" She exclaims.
"Thank the Moon Goddess!" I sigh in relief. Over the past week, I have been preparing for the ball. My wolf has been desperate and in need of a run. In general, werewolves enjoy running, but I have royal blood, so the need to run is much stronger.
At times, it can be overbearing. My wolf can force my shifts. Personally, I love to run, so I don't complain much about it.
As if Sara had read my mind, she walks up behind me. She moves my hair before she unties the back of my dress. One by one, the dress goes slack. I step out and hand her the dress. I walk over to one of the racks, I grab a black romper and put it on. Then, slip on a pair of black sandals.
"Unless you need anything else, princess, I better hand this to the Queen," Sara says, I turn around to see her in a deep curtsy.
"No thanks, Sara. You are good to go." I dismiss her, walking out of my giant walk-in closet with her, and watch her exit my double doors.
I let out a relieved sigh as I plop on my white sofa. I am grateful to be alone. As much as I love my handmaid and think of her as a friend, I enjoy keeping to myself. Sara has been my handmaid since I saved her many years ago.
I remember running in the woods, and I smelled rogue wolves. I followed the scent to see three big wolves circling Sara. Her mother was lying on the ground, torn to shreds. I jumped to save her, killing all three wolves. When Sara told me she had no other family, I invited her to live in the palace. My parents were gonna say no because of her being an omega until I offered her a job as my handmaid.
Suddenly, my skin becomes tight and itchy. Which tells me that my wolf is no longer waiting, I will be shifting in a matter of five minutes. Rather, if I want to or not. I get up from the couch and grab my book off of my nightstand. I find my purse and place the book inside. As I make my way out of my room, I feel my bones start to shift under my skin. Damn it. If I don't hurry. My parents will be pissed to see a red wolf in the palace.
As I rush down the hall, I give anyone who passes by a polite "hello" and a nod. I can feel my canines lengthen and my fingernails grow into claws. I climb down the stairs as fur begins to sprout from my skin. Once I reach the back door, I drop to my knees as they break and reposition. My sweaty hands clasp on the handle and twist it open. On my hands and knees, I crawl out the door. I feel the cool air on my sweaty skin. The shifting picks up as my arms break and reposition.
I groan as I hear my romper rip as the rest of my body shifts.
