Shackled to the Crown

Chapter 3

"What are we going to do?" Nick asked as Michael paced the living room, his eyes kept flickering back to the letter that lay strewn on the coffee table.

"Are you sure they'll recognize you?" he asked as Michael continued to pace.

"I don't know," Michael responded running his hand through his hair.

"It has been a long time," Nick pointed out, "You left when you were very young."

"I know that," Michael sighed, "But what if they do and force me to stay?"

"I - I don't know," he replied, "We have to attend, the letter says -"

"I know what it says!" Michael snapped and then immediately realised what he had done. He took a deep breath and calmed himself, "I know what it says," he repeated in a calmer tone, "I know we must attend, I'm just trying to think how we can make this work."

"How about a disguise?" Harry suggested.

Michael gave him a look.

Harry continued regardless, "I know it sounds stupid, but you're already under a different name and if you looked a little different too then how would they ever know?" he said, "And they haven't seen you since you were a kid, you'll look very different now anyway, a disguise would just cement it," he shrugged.

He had a point.

A valid one at that.

His grandfather hadn't seen him since he was a child and if he covered up some of the Cairnes trademarks, such as his hair colour then it would be less likely for his grandfather to notice him.

"All the packs in the area are attending too," Lucas chimed in, jumping to Harry's defence as they misconstrued his silence as anger, "That's a lot of faces for him to pick yours out of."

Again, fair point.

He could easily stay mingled within the crowd and avoid his grandfather as much as possible.

Michael glanced around at them, it was clear that they were all excited about attending the ball, but obviously they wouldn't go against his wishes. The ball was mandatory after all so they would have to attend or give a damn good reason why not, and he didn't really fancy trying to fake an illness or death within the pack.

He thought a bit longer on it before finally with a sigh, he gave in.

"Fine," and with that the others rejoiced.

"We shall go to the ball!" Darren said, doing his best fairy godmother impression as he slapped Harry on the back excitedly.

"We're going where?" Jemma asked incredulously, she had only just managed to calm herself down from the last argument but she'd arrived back at the pack house to this?

"I am so excited," Tiff squealed, bouncing in place like a school girl, "I get to buy a new dress, new jewellery, oh, and I'll need some new make-up -"

"This is starting to sound very expensive," Nick gave her a look, knowing full well that he would be the one paying for all of this.

Tiff slapped him on the arm, "Well, duh! Balls are the peak of sophistication, they ooze elegance, I can't just turn up in some old rag," she frowned at him.

"Hold on!" Jemma shouted, bring the attention back to her and silencing the room, "Did you even read where it is?" she asked Michael holding up the invitation.

Michael nodded calmly.

"And you think this is okay?" she growled at him, "That's your grandfather's palace! You can't just walk in there!"

Harry and Nick quickly jumped to their Alpha's defence, talking over each other to explain the plan as fast as possible to their agitated Luna.

Jemma listened to the babble, though everything in her mind was telling her this was a bad idea.

No matter what Michael shouldn't go near that Palace.

They could take him away, take him from them forever, take him from her!

"And we -" Harry looked very sheepish, glancing back at the rest of the pack before he spoke, "We really want to go."

Jemma saw the rest of the pack nodding their heads in agreement.

"We want to show the rest of them that we are a recognized and great pack," Teagan added cautiously, also aware that she was speaking out of turn, but from what Jemma could see, the whole pack was feeling the same.

"But we won't go if you don't want to, Luna," Lily whispered, again the pack nodded in agreement.

Well great, now she felt like s**t.

She glanced back to Michael, expecting to see a smug expression or something similar, but he was just sat waiting patiently for her decision.

It really was all on her now.

They were all waiting on her, which was very daunting.

"I -" she stuttered a little, before clearing her throat and composing herself back to her Luna mentality, "It is mandatory, but it just means we will have to be extra careful," she finally said.

They beamed back at her and the excited talks of the ball ensued.

Michael had already arisen and made his way through to the kitchen, Jemma followed him and found him sipping at a glass of water while staring out of the window.

"Hey," she said in a low voice.

He glanced over at her, "Hey," he replied and set his water down as she approached.

As soon as she was close enough he snatched her up and spun them around so she was sat on the countertop with him between her legs.

"I'm sorry," he said solemnly.

Jemma frowned, "For what?"

"For earlier, I didn't mean to snap at you like that, you didn't deserve it," he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer against him, "I just had a lot on my mind and it wasn't fair to take it out on you, I'm sorry."

She melted into him.

Who was she kidding?

She couldn't stay mad at him and he had to balls to admit he was wrong, even as an Alpha.

"I forgive you," she kissed his forehead, but something was still nagging at her.

She sighed and leant her forehead against his, "Are you sure this ball in a good idea?"

"No, not at all," Michael admitted, "But we have to go, it is a royal summons to all packs," he sighed, "And besides, the pack is excited for it, even if we aren't."

"Well then we'll just have to make the best of it," Jemma smiled, she still thought it was a horrible idea but there wasn't really any way around it. Besides the pack could have some fun, it was rare they left the territory, especially with the rogue threat and the fragrant dislike of them by other packs. It would do them good to get out.

"We will get you a big fake moustache," she smiled at him.

Michael pulled back and raised an eyebrow at her.

"What?" she laughed, "It always works in the cartoons."

"That's a good sign that you watch too many cartoons," he laughed, giving her a loving peck on the forehead.

"What can I say? Adult TV is boring," she giggled before leaning in for a kiss.

* * * *

"Come on, Tiff," Jemma groaned as they trailed around the fifth dress shop of the day. It didn't sound like much, but when Tiff was examining every single piece of fabric in the entire shop and even asking to view dresses that weren't yet on sale from the back, then it really was a big deal. At least an hour was spent in every shop and Jemma really disliked shopping.

She enjoyed getting new clothes but didn't like the stress of having to actually walk around and find them, let alone, ugh... try them on.

"I need the perfect dress," Tiff told her flailing her hands to let her know how important it really was, then she locked eyes with her, "And you need the perfect dress too, Luna," she emphasised the word Luna.

Jemma narrowed her gaze at her and Tiff just gave her smug smile and shrug and carried on her browsing.

Jemma dragged her feet as she carried on behind Tiff.

After another gruelling half hour Tiff finally stopped and sighed, "There's nothing in here."

Jemma widened her eyes at her, "There are tonnes of stuff in here!"

Tiff stamped her foot and pouted, "I know that! I mean, the right dresses for us aren't in here!"

"This is the last dress shop in town," Jemma told her, trying to sound disappointed, but really she was rejoicing at the fact that they could now go home and Jemma could do her original plan of buying a dress online. No stress, no fuss and certainly no walking around for hours on end.

"Let's go," Tiff stomped off and Jemma had to jog to keep up with her.

"We can always try onl-" Jemma began but Tiff held a hand up to silence her.

"If you dare say shop online I will flip my s**t, Luna or not," she warned, "You can't shop online for this sort of things, you need to feel the dress, you need to connect with it, much like your wedding dress."

"Well I could always order a few and then - " Jemma tried again but Tiff held her hand up again.

"No, no you can't," she insisted, "You are the Luna of a pack, you need to be dazzling," Tiff told her, "You can't just go comfortable anymore, you have an image to keep."

Jemma hated it but she was right, for Michael's sake as an Alpha she needed to really front her Luna status. Michael personally would probably tell her just to wear something comfortable and not worry, but that's just the way he was.

Regardless, it never set any sort of example and never really proved we were a real pack. All the other Luna's she'd met over the years all had this air of calm and confidence about them, they were kind but firm.

Jemma didn't feel any of those things, she just felt like she was guessing with every move and every order she made.

When it came down to real pack matters she just felt kind of awkward when dishing out orders, she was a lot better at it now after a few years practice, but it still didn't feel any easier.

Tiff had managed to drop into her Beta role pretty easily, which Jemma was kinda jealous of. She did slip up every now and again by talking back at the Alpha or Luna, but Jemma didn't help by allowing it when they were alone.

She and Tiff had been friends since forever and pack ranking wasn't going to influence their friendship. The only thing Jemma wished was that she would watch her mouth around other pack members as it set a really bad example to them.

Tiff suddenly stopped causing Jemma to run straight into her.

"Hey!" Jemma protested, but Tiff was too busy staring up into the shop window to the left of them.

"I've found it," Tiff whispered.

Jemma glanced up and her jaw dropped, "Are you serious right now!" she groaned at Tiff.

She was looking in the window of a Bridal shop.

Staring up at a slinky but elegant deep red bridesmaid dress.

Then an idea popped in Jemma's head, "Why don't you just wear your bridesmaid dress from my wedding?" she asked.

If looks could kill Jemma would have dropped dead on the spot with the glower that Tiff pinned her with.

Jemma held up her hands as a surrender.

She should be happy that she'd at least found a dress, that meant the nightmare was nearly over.

Tiff dragged her inside the shop before jetting off to enquire about the dress.

Jemma was left stood in a sea of white and ivory lace.

Bridal shops were just weird to her, even when she picked a dress for her own wedding, it was just too girly and poofy and bright.

"Jem!" she heard Tiff shout from the other room.

"Yeah?" she called back while she idly played with the soft silky fabric on one of the dresses on the rack.

"I've found my dress!" she squealed.

"Cool!" Jemma called back, thankful this whole drama would now be over.

"I've found yours too!" Jemma's heart dropped at those very words.