Lycan Princess

Meeting again

~Lilly~

I tried as hard as I could, but I could not get my body to stop shaking. I tried to think of calm rivers, and the first breeze in the morning, but the idea of meeting the men my dad had chosen for me made me want to vomit. Then Evan's face flashed in my mind. He calmed me, and I hated it... and craved it at the same time. I now know why others say that the mate bond is powerful, but I didn't get to choose my mate. I was the next Lycan Queen and my father clearly didn't have faith in my ability to choose my own mate.

Taking a deep breath, I walked out of the elevator with my cousins and into our grand ballroom. The walls were lined with pale pink drapery and hot pink flowers. Allison would no doubt be taking notes for her wedding... but there was nothing about this that screamed me. I looked around at all of the men and women dressed in their finest wearing masks to hide their identities and I could smell the stench of wealth flowing in the air. I could feel all of those around me judging those beneath them and I wanted to punch them all. The room smelled of entitlement and I hated it here. Why did so many think that money and status gave them the world?

'Not all are like that,' Zion sighed softly, pacing in our mindspace.

'You are talking about Evan, aren't you?'

'He is nice Lilly, I think you are being too cautious.'

'We met him for an hour... why should I tie myself to someone I just met?'

'He is our mate! Is that not enough of a reason?'

'NO!' I snapped silencing her. Why couldn't anyone, even my wolf, understand that I wanted to be loved for who I am, not for what they can gain from me? I know that Evan seemed like a nice man... but he could be a wolf in sheep's clothing. You all know what I mean!

Then the scent of mint chocolate chip icecream filled the air and my gaze frantically looked around the room. I looked at all of the nobles and their children but none of them called to me. Then I found a group of staff by the banquet tables and that's when Zion howled.

"Lilly you okay?" London asked, looking at me with worry.

"Um yeah... I thought I recognized someone but I must have been mistaken." Frowning, I tried to stay in place but my feet moved without my consent. Before long, I was at the banquet table and I knew instantly that the waiter in front of me was Evan. His scent filled my body with bliss and I couldn't help myself from smiling.

"I didn't expect to see..." Evan started to say with a smile until he turned to look at me, "you here..." A look of horror covered his face and I wanted to flee at that moment. I had been filled with glee at the prospect of seeing him and he looked horrified at seeing me.

"EVAN!" London squealed, jumping between us and into his arms. "I didn't know you were going to be working at the party!"

"One of our servers called in sick Londy." Evan smiled, spinning my sister around. "Since your still young I can't make you help, so I decided to step in."

"That's awesome! Have you met my sister Lilly?" London beamed happily, unaware of the tension that had suddenly developed between us.

"Sister?" Evan frowned, looking at me again. "You're the princess... who's party this is?"

"You know my sister?" I whispered softly, not sure what to say. Nervously, I started to fiddle with my dress.

"Evan's the chef in the kitchen that helps me sneak junk food upstairs. I'm his official taste tester," London said proudly.

"So you're the one who gave London my mint chocolate ice cream? Thank you for that."

"We only ever have vanilla in the castle," Evan said, confused. Then it hit me that Zion had been calling for him even without knowing it. His scent was over all of the treats London brought me. "Why... Why didn't you tell me?" Even asked harshly, breaking my train of thought.

"You... didn't ask?" I whispered, looking at the ground.

"I don't tend to walk up to girls and ask if they are the next queen."

"Why does it matter!" I snapped, finally looking at him.

"Because it changes everything," Evan sighed, putting London on the ground.

"Why does it have to? I mean what is there to change..."

"Are you serious Lilly?!?" Even growled, making me flinch. "I'm just a chef... staff here."

"So..." Frowning, I reached out for him but he dodged my touch. "E...evan..."

"I know what this party is, Lilly. Do you?" He asked harshly, ice filling his words. Slowly, I nodded my head and he laughed, shaking his. "And you still went around with me last night. You still strung me along."

"I didn't string you along," Whimpering, I fisted my dress in my hands.

"What would you call it?" Evan growled again, causing Zion to howl in remorse.

"Freedom..." I whispered sadly, mussling up my courage to look at him. "I call it the ONLY moment in my life that I chose to experience myself. The ONLY time I thought... thought I was seen as a person and not the next queen. Foolishly, I thought I was choosing to be free. Turns out I was wrong again." Forcing myself to, I smiled sadly at him. "I must go do my rounds, if you'll excuse me." Quickly I turned away from him and dashed back to my cousins. I wanted to leave the room, but knew I wouldn't make it.

Without a second thought they all created a barrier around me and I fell into cameron's arms and he concealed me as I cried.