In the Hands of the Perverse Prince

ANNA: I am here only because Grandma Nadia asked me to be here, for her it is of utmost importance to celebrate her birthday... what do I know, I've lost count. To her I owe, not only my life, but her support. I am a simple Omega, a young girl already 20 years old that everyone despises, they want me to disappear from their lives or simply serve as a hobby for young wolves who want to learn and frolic with an insignificant wolf, but they do not want me to be the bearer of their puppies and much less their companion. In addition to being Omega, according to the oracle, I was born under a weak sign that will not allow me to know my Mate, I will never have a partner, no one will ever take me into account, Nadia, my beloved grandmother, has invested in me as many sorcerers she knows and has subjected me to rituals and prayers in order to remove this curse that falls on me, all to no avail, of course. Every year I lie on the wet grass under the moon, waiting for my destiny to change, at least that's what Amir, the eldest sorcerer of our herd, assures me, but it doesn't happen. I think that on those nights, hidden among the tall oaks and linden trees, Armet also remains silently watching, hoping that things will change for me, but it is always the same, neither the howling of the wolves nor the hooting of the owls give any sign of that change. Now I am in the middle of the hall full of guests, all of them important people, I feel ridiculous with this black dress with pink flowers, they all look at me, they try to be nice and smile at me, but I know it is only out of respect for my grandmother Nadia and why not to say it, out of pity for me. They are also here because they know that Armet will come, we don't know if alone or with his father the Alpha. Armet, just thinking about him I feel thousands of butterflies fluttering in my stomach and my heart is racing. I have always been attracted to him, since I was a little girl. Armet had promised to be at the party, he promised me and my grandmother, he was supposed to sit with us at dinner time, with Amir and the other important wolves of the pack, his father, naturally presiding the table, but neither he nor his father have arrived, surely his father the Alpha has persuaded him not to come knowing that I am waiting for him, that fills me with sadness and anger at the same time. I must stop thinking about him and my misfortunes, I must be a little more positive and enjoy the party. I'm going to serve myself an iced soda, eat some snacks and walk around the room. I feel stupid in this dress and walking in circles without a wolf to accompany me. -Anna. My name is Catherine, one of the most influential and powerful wolves in our pack. -Do you know anything about Armet? -He's supposed to be one of your grandmother Nadia's main guests, or am I wrong? -Have you seen him? -I'm sorry Catherine, I'm looking for him too but I don't know.... She turns around and doesn't let me finish the stupid apology I want to give her. As time goes by I feel more disappointed in Armet, that he didn't keep his promise to come has me disappointed, I start to notice that everyone is asking about him, everyone wants to see him, especially the women, all of them of high rank, some of them daughters or nieces of Alphas to whom I owe respect and submission. His friends are here too, they look at me sideways or roll their eyes. The time has come to break the cake, everyone gathers around grandma to sing and give her their gifts. I am the one in charge of standing next to her and receiving the presents. I must smile at each one of them and thank them for their kindness and goodness. Now I am the center of attention, that is what Nadia, my grandmother pretends, that everyone sees me and takes me into account as part of her family, but I feel diminished and silly, besides, my role has always been submissive and obedient for the simple fact of being an Omega, and while my destiny or Amir's spells do not change that condition, I will never be seen as one more of grandmother's clan. The temperature is high and I begin to sweat copiously, I eat my slice of cake slowly, I savor it slowly, it is vanilla, my favorite flavor, I drink some wine hoping it does not go to my head and I imagine Armet, coming towards me directly and greeting me with a loud kiss on the mouth and the women watching with envy, for having conquered the most important man, after his father. The time has come to sit at the table, the seat reserved for Armet and his father Inov are empty, the grandmother sits on the right and I sit next to her, Amir the sorcerer in front of us, next to him Catherine, the arrogant and hateful wolf that whenever she can humiliates and despises me, I feel hatred for her. The other guests in their respective positions, each one talking with their partner or among the closest ones, they laugh, make jokes and savor each one of the exquisite dishes they are served, I just look at them, smile and pretend I am having a great time, I do it for her, for the celebrated, for my beloved grandmother. At midnight Amir proposes a toast, we all stand up and take our glasses to wish grandma many more years of happiness and good health, at that moment Ivor enters, the great Alpha, Armet's father, I then have the feeling that he comes behind his father, I smiled happily and raised my glass with more excitement, but no, Ivor comes alone. When I finished dinner, I had hardly eaten anything. I don't feel like it. The heat, the discomfort of wearing this dress and the disappointment have left me desperate, a disastrous night for me, very happy for the others. I get up from the table and go to the powder room on the second floor to freshen my face. When I leave I meet Catherine and her friends, I try to go back so I don't have to be with them, but Mary stops me and forces me to stay with them.