Forbidden Lovers

The Birthday Ball

Arthmael was standing in front of the elves' castle gates and from up here he could clearly hear the waltz playing inside the castle. Obviously, he was late.

Not that he cared anymore.

He had just lost his mate. And maybe, he would never be able to find her again.

He inhaled deeply and entered the ballroom, only to be welcomed by dozens of elves dancing around in their beautiful floaty light color gowns, the whole place shining like nothing he had seen in his entire life. They sure carried themselves with grace and elegance. Yet that wasn't what had his eyes searching everywhere. That scent was. That scent of fresh jasmines and cherry blossoms. That scent that felt home. 

So home.

She was here. His little elf mate was here. A big grin crept in his face when he realized how lucky he was, to be able to find her again in such short period of time. This time she wouldn't be able to escape him. Whatever she was going through that had made her make the decision of ending her life, they'd have to face it together. He'd be there for her, he just knew this.

No matter that she was en elf. No matter that he hated her kind. He wanted her.

Different scents were mixed with each other and Arthmael kept looking around stubbornly. He could distinguish hers, he had only to find where she was.

Then his eyes stopped. His breath got caught on his throat as he saw her. So amazingly beautiful, sat down on a smaller throne on the left of the Queen's throne.

He couldn't get his eyes off her and the thin diamond crown on her forehead.

Then it hit him... The Princess. The rejected Princess.

It was her... His mate.

He had been a fool to not realize it earlier. It made so much sense now. Her out of this world beauty, her unhappiness, her attempting suicide.

Arthmael was left motionless. There was nothing in this world that could describe the shock he was going through.

His Alpha King stood there in the elves' Queen and the two Princesses' company. When his eyes fell on Arthmael and he smiled, Arthmael knew he had no other choice but to go and greet him.

He held his breath as his eyes couldn't leave hers for a second. He knew it was inappropriate, yet what could he do about that? How could he stop admiring his mate?

"Alpha." Arthmael bowed to the man he considered a father.

"It's not like you to get late, Arthmael," King Robert scolded but his voice didn't hold seriousness in it.

Arthmael? She couldn't help but admire him. Even his name was attractive. She could imagine herself saying it over and over again, never she'd be tired of it.

Arthmael bowed down to Queen Antoinette, moved to her daughter and then stopped in front of Evelyn. Her ocean eyes taking him in like she had been missing him her whole life, even though they had never met before tonight.

"This is my Beta and the Commander of my warriors," King Robert introduced him to the royal Ladies. "I consider him no different from my own sons."

Evelyn's eyes widened in shock, as if someone had hit her in the back of her head. 

Arthmael couldn't understand what was going on, why did she look this pale all of the sudden? Elves were always pale, yet she looked sick pale. He couldn't help but worry.

"You have the honors to meet Queen Antoinette of the elves kingdom," he continued the introduction to Arthmael now, "Princess Katy, the Queen's daughter. And the Queen's niece and the only Heiress of the throne, Princess Evelyn."

Having to take her hand in his and kiss her knuckles softly was simply a torture. His lips lingered there a bit more than usual and that touch alone was enough to send shivers all over her body.

"May I wish the happiest birthday for you, your grace?" He squeezed her hand gently as he dared to look her straight in her eyes. 

Evelyn could find herself drown in the immensity of black his eyes were. She forced a smile on her face as she realized he was the first one to wish her a happy birthday in this ballroom. Her mate. Her unlucky wolf mate.

Arthmael knew what to do. He just had to invite her on a dance. He just had to have the courage for it.

"My Princess," King Robert interrupted his thoughts. Arthmael was surprised when his attention was fully at Evelyn. "Can I have this dance with you?"

Arthmael froze. His Alpha was never a fan of dancing. Hell, he hated balls in the first place, let alone invite a young elf princess to dance with him. Something was definitely strange.

He suddenly had an unpleasant feeling about it and his wolf being uneasy in his head and demanding his mate near them wasn't really helping.

Evelyn hesitated and he could see a big amount of hate in her eyes towards his king. 

Could he blame her, though? She was about to dance with the one who murdered her father. No matter it was never proven, no matter that everyone in his kingdom acted like it never happened, Arthmael knew it was true. Everybody knew.

Queen Antoinette flashed her a look that held so much threatening in it. It was so damn hard for Arthmael to stay still and not say a thing as he saw his mate forced to held King Robert's hand who accompanied her to the center of the ballroom.

Everyone stopped dancing, all eyes on them.

Arthmael had to remind himself it was a dance, nothing more than a dance. It would eventually come to an end and he'd have the chance to get Princess Evelyn on a dance and explain to her that he wanted a future with her. It didn't matter their differences, or the fact that mating outside of your specie wasn't allowed for many years now, he'd find a way to be with her.

However, there was no mistake in the way Robert's eyes flashed whenever he saw the beautiful young elf in front of him. The way he gripped Evelyn's waist, eager to hold her closer, it didn't go unnoticed by Arthmael. And he tried his really best to stay calm. It was no use making a mess he wouldn't be able to get out of without hurting her in the process.

When the waltz finished and hopefully the Alpha would let go of his mate, it didn't exactly happen like that. Instead, Robert only flushed Evelyn in his body closer while she looked away, blinking back some tears and trying to get away of his firm hold.

"Dear citizens of the kingdom of elves." King Robert's deep authoritative voice echoed the ballroom's wall, making everyone instantly keep silent and hear out what he had to declare. Which was strange, the power and fear he inflected in almost everyone present, even though he was the very one they had wanted to take revenge from, a few years ago. "We all know the unpleasant events that have separated our kingdoms for such a long time. But I'm really happy to announce to all of you that those dark years are left behind. The alliance we'll create tonight will benefit both kingdoms and will bring us the peace we've craved about for such a long time..."

Arthmael just stopped breathing. If he stopped hearing too, would the king not say the words he was planning to say in a second? Would this be just a bad dream?

"...Me and and your beautiful Princess have finally decided to get married." There were gasps of shock everywhere, but Robert's wicked grin never faded. "I can say there's a bright future ahead of all of us and we have Princess Evelyn to thank for this. The wedding will take place on my kingdom in three days." Other gasps were heard. Only three days? That was too sudden for a royal wedding. "I'll now let you go back to dancing and enjoying the rest of the night, but not before wishing a happy birthday to my beloved future Queen."

Tears ran down Evelyn's cheeks wildly when she saw the dumbstruck look on Arthmael's face. To say he looked in pain would be the understatement of the century. He looked like someone had just ripped the heart out of his body.