Lycan Princess

Preperation

~Lilly~

Taking a deep breath, I tried to settle my nerves as I looked at myself in the mirror. I was dressed in a floor length pink gown with flowers hand embroidered into every inch of the thule skirt. Running my hands along the flowers, I tried to feel like myself in the dress, but I felt like an alien. All I wanted to do was peal it off and put my yoga pants back on. Lifting the dress, I smiled as my combat boots peaked out. Luckily, with the length of the dress, I could wear the shoes I wanted.

"Do you like it?" My mother asked as she entered my room.

"I love it," I smiled sweetly before doing a little twirl.

"You hate it that much?" Lillith laughed, sitting down on my couch.

"Is it that obvious?" Sighing softly, I floped down beside her.

"If you keep that smile on your face like before, your father will never know." Mom smiled softly, taking my hand. "However, a mother can tell and that smile did not reach your eyes. Is it the dress... or is something else going on?"

My mind went to Evan but I quickly pushed that out of my mind. "What else could it be?"

"Well, you got to break out of jail last night. Did you party and live it up?"

"Not really. I figured out that the club scene isn't really my thing, so we came home early and watched some movies with Terra."

"That sounds nice," She smiled at me softly. I could tell that she knew I wasn't telling her something, but I loved my mother because she never pushed me into talking if I really didn't want to.

"It was... something that I will never forget," I admitted honestly as I looked at my mother. "Do I really have to go to the party today?"

"Well, since the party is to officially announce you starting your training, I think your father does expect you to attend. I mean how do you have a celebration without the main guest?"

"Magically. I mean you could tell them anyone in the castle is me and no one would know. I've never been allowed to mingle before!"

"You just made a big deal last night about wanting to meet the people. Do you not want to anymore?" Mother challenged me with my own words... I really hate it when she does that. I tried to think of an argument but I knew there wasn't one.

I couldn't tell her that I didn't want to go because I didn't want to be queen. Taking a deep breath, I smiled at her and shook my head, "I want to meet people. Father has just been acting weird and I don't know what he is going to do today."

"You know how your father gets when we throw gatherings for the villages to come to. He goes all OCD and needs everything to be perfect and polished."

"But why. I mean haven't these people been his followers and protected by him for years now?"

"That does not mean that your dad doesn't worry about their time here." My mother smiled softly before giving me a tight hug. "It will be okay love. We will mingle, announce your training, and party with your cousins. There is no cause for concern." Then why couldn't I shake this feeling of dread I had every time I thought about tonight.

My hands remembered Evans... my mouth remembered his kiss and I felt my entire body light up at the idea of possibly seeing him again. I don't know how or when, but mates have a way of running into one another. Right?

"What are you doing lazying around in that dress!" Allison squealed.

“um…lazing around?” I asked, completely confused. I mean, was I not supposed to sit when wearing a dress?

“You cannot laze around in that dress!” I guess not. "What are you thinking?"

"That I am tired?" I smirked evilly until I saw the look on her face. "Nothing, I was just getting ready to stand up," Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself off of the couch, willing myself to stand in the awful toe gilitenes my friends call heels. No one should be six inches off the ground like this!

"You look beautiful!" Allison clapped happily.

"She looks uncomfortable," Avery mumbled in annoyance while rolling her eyes at her sister.

"I agree with Avery," London laughed happily as she skipped into the room. "You look like a little baby deer that is trying to learn how to walk again.

"I feel like a baby deer who just got hit by a car."

"Oh don't even," My mother rolled her eyes at me as she touched my back to help me stand up straight. "You are beautiful and you are going the dance the night away. You never know you might even meet your mate."

Frowning, I closed my eyes trying to stop myself from blushing as I thought about Evan and the way he looked at me last night. "Mom, I am the next queen... I don't think a mate is for me. I need to marry someone that my father approves of and will help me rule the country."

"That is not true!" Lilith snapped at me, making the room go quiet.

"Mom?"

I watched as my mom's eyes filled with tears, "Everyone... EVERYONE deserves to be with their mate. Your father didn't want to accept our bond at first."

"He didn't!" I gasped, looking at her, "But you two are all over each other."

"Now... there was a time when your father was going to marry the person your grandfather picked and broke our bond. However, I fought for us and I know if you find your mate they will do the same thing. The moongodess chooses our mates for a reason."

"Then why did she make Chase's mate her r****t!" I snapped before realizing it.

"So we could have Cam," I heard my aunt say as she entered the room. Frowning deeper, I looked at her and felt guilt. "It is okay Lilly, I've heard and thought it myself. However, wolves cannot have babies with someone who is not their mate... Cam was my reason for staying alive, so that is the reason she chose Grayson... I have to believe that. Your mate is out there Lilly... Just don't push them away before giving them a change."

Sighing, I shook my head, "I don't have the same luxury as all of you. Father will not allow me to choose and if you all think that he hasn't already picked out my future husband, then you are all blind. I saw the folders on his desk. This may be my coming of age ceremony... but it is really a suitor meeting." I saw my mother's face drop and I could tell that she had been fighting my father about this, which only confirmed what I had suspected. "Lets all get going... staying up here won't make this party disappear."