Mated to the Wrong Alpha Prince

Back to school

I woke up early the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. I got dressed in my usual attire of jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers and headed out to school. As I walked down the hallway, I saw my girl best friend, Riley, standing with her long-time girlfriend, Felicity.

I couldn't help but let my mind wander. It had been two months since the ball, two months since I had last seen Damien and Aurelius. I had tried to move on, to focus on the present and not the past, but it was hard. They had both left such an impression on me, in different ways. And Aurelius. I have never seen Aurelius ever since then..

"Hey Astrid!" Riley called out as I approached them. "The Cinderella who danced with the Lycan Prince, her highness must be very bored having to get back to her mediocre daily routine!"

"You’re an ass, Riley," I replied. "Never understood why such a intelligent and gorgeous being like Feli would ever lay eyes on you."

Felicity rolled her eyes and gave Riley a playful punch on the arm. "Ignore her, Astrid. She's just jealous that she doesn't have a Lycan Prince of her own."

"I wouldn’t say I was jealous.” Riley had her eyes on Felicity, her hands reach for girl’s waist and pull her closer. “I have a princess of my own anyway.”

Felicity blushed at the notion.

"And speaking of graduation," Riley said. turning to me. "I'm thinking about hosting a party at my house after we graduate. You should help me plan it!"

I grinned. "Nobody ever spoke of it."

"In a couple of weeks, after our finals are over. It's going to be epic," Riley said, grinning.

Riley is one year older than me, and she’s turned eighteen. She is going to graduate from Hall Mark this year.

“I’ll help Astrid with the planning, my hopeless girlfriend finally make it out of this school, we could really use some celebration.” Said Felicity, her hands over my shoulder.

After chatting for a few more minutes, we parted ways and I headed to my Literature class. We were currently reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. As I took my seat, my teacher, Ms. Johnson, asked us about the main character, Holden Caulfield.

"What do you all think of Holden?" Ms. Johnson asked the class.

Fleeing the crooks at Pencey Prep, he pinballs around New York City seeking solace in fleeting encounters—shooting the bull with strangers in dive hotels, wandering alone round Central Park, getting beaten up by pimps and cut down by erstwhile girlfriends.The city is beautiful and terrible, in all its neon loneliness and seedy glamour, its mingled sense of possibility and emptiness. Holden passes through it like a ghost, thinking always of his kid sister Phoebe, the only person who really understands him, and his determination to escape the phonies and find a life of true meaning.

Something about Holden reminds me of Aurelius.There are things that i could read, things that goes on in his undertone. The way he approaches people with confidence and grace, yet lacks the intimacy and vulnerability needed. The way he seemed to enjoy life like tasting a glass of wine. But he always took a sip and left the rest of them untouched. Like the wine is borrowed, and not his…

Layla raised her hand and Ms. Johnson called for her.

“I think Holden is a complex character," Layla spoke up. "He's lost, trying to find his place in the world and struggling with his own feelings of loneliness and isolation.”

“Very good. How about you, Astrid?”

She must have sensed that I zoned out for a while. But I did hear what Layla said, and I answered:

“Holden's trying to hold on to his innocence and purity in a world that's corrupt and flawed. But at the same time, he's also hypocritical and self-centered.”

Ms. Johnson must have been pretty surprised at my answer. It took her a while to nod in agreement and move on to the next part of the lesson.

As the class continued, I found myself getting more engaged in the discussion, enjoying the intellectual stimulation. It was a welcome distraction from my personal thoughts and feelings.

After class, I headed towards my locker when I saw a familiar figure leaning against the wall. It was Riley, looking excited and giddy.

"What's up, Riley?" I asked, curious.

"I've heard some news, Ash."

"Katherina and her cheerleading squad finally got suspended for their bullying antics?" I replied, trying to suppress a smirk.

"No, better than that. Damien openly opposes his marriage to Katherina and the entire pack is in chaos."

My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

"Well, word is that Damien has been against the arranged marriage for a while now, but he finally spoke up about it to the pack. Apparently, he's in love with someone else."

"Do you know who it is?"

Riley shrugged. "Not sure. That's why there's so much uproar. The Elders aren't happy about it and are demanding Damien to stick to tradition.

By the Elders, she meant Dominic. There no way our greedy and power-hungry Alpha would ever let a chance of uniting Esclipe and Silvester going down drain just because his impulsive son likes someone else.

I have known Damien ever since he was a kid, and honestly, I would not say growing up with Alpha Dominic as your father is a blessing.

We used to be very close friends when we were younger, and often if not always, Damien would come to hang at my house with wounds. Reds on his cheeks, bruises on his eyes, and sometimes, his father left him some slices through his back that I assume could only be from a whip.

He has been a really patient son, he listened and obeyed his father like a slave to his master. That has been going on for 18 years. What has changed?