The Alpha's Vampire Princess

Chapter 3: Prince Charming

DEMI

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Every little girl dreams of a Prince Charming on a white horse who sweeps her into his arms and rides off into their happily ever after. Or at least of a man of flesh and blood who not only vows love and loyalty but also refuses to look at any other woman because the one destined for him stands before him in a white dress, with a radiant smile, tears in the corners of her eyes, and a heart that pounds with happiness like a great bell in a belfry.

That little girl likely remains dormant inside each of us, where our perfect wedding and dream partner are not mere childhood fantasies but lifelong aspirations. I won't deny that watching Alpha Dominic and Luna Leonore exchange their wedding vows, sealed with a long, cliché, yet romantic dip-kiss that drew applause, brought back that little girl I suppressed a long time ago.

Is there anyone in this world created for me? Do I even have a soul, which, according to the concept of mate creation, is half of one whole?

I shook my head, snapping out of this unnecessary reverie. Now wasn't the time to dwell on what might have been; it was time to celebrate the love of the bride and groom. I needed to ensure that everything I had come here for went according to plan so that I could return home safely and peacefully to enjoy my stack of blood bags like evening cocktails.

By the time the reception began, the worst was supposed to be over. The cake stood intact, the bride was glowing, and no one had discovered that the baker in the gold dress was a vampire lying through her perfect smile.

Leonore loved the cake. Dominic looked at her like he'd tear down the moon if she asked. Guests cheered. Champagne flowed. For one fragile stretch of time, it really felt like I might get through the night.

I watched the guests dance to music. The bride and groom moved from table to table, making sure each guest felt comfortable. The aroma of the food served in a massive buffet spread like an aphrodisiac, tempting more than one to fill their plates to the brim.

From my quiet corner, I had a good view of everything. On the other hand, I could evacuate without arousing suspicion if something went wrong, and my continued presence in the room could have disastrous consequences. With a soft smile and humming to the catchy tune, I savored the champagne spiked with the crushed powder of my suppressants.

Then Hannah dropped into the chair beside me for all ten seconds, exhausted and barefoot, and the entire room went taut. I thought she had forgotten something, but the air in the room suddenly turned heavy, too. Her expression emptied at first. Then Dominic's. Conversations stumbled and faded. Every instinct I had sharpened at once.

What was going on? Did someone decide to make the proverbial dragon's entrance and turn an idyllic party into a scene straight out of a storybook, where the enemy delivers the gift? The front doors opened, letting in a rush of cold air—and a scent so sharp and magnetic that my gums throbbed with sudden hunger.

"Demi, look down," Hannah hissed, shifting in front of me as my vision threatened to flare orange. I forced a breath in through my mouth, grabbed the nearest whiskey bottle, and swallowed hard enough to make my eyes water.

When I looked up, a man was already inside, looming like a storm about to break. He was larger than anyone in the room, the hard lines of his sparse musculature cutting through the hazy atmosphere, embodying a brutal grace that sent a chilling shiver down my spine. His presence swallowed the surrounding space, suffocating the air and making it hard to breathe.

Three long scars, carved deep into the right side of his face, told a story of violence and survival, and I couldn't shake the unease that settled in my gut. One eye glinted a clear, piercing blue, while the other lay clouded and ghost-white, a chilling reminder of the battles he'd fought and the pain he'd endured.

Infamous Alpha Maverick Horwood has just entered the reception area.

Every story I'd ever heard about him rushed back in an unsettling wave—tales whispered in dark corners, warnings shared in hushed tones. They spoke of his merciless reputation and how much he hated vampires, his eyes ablaze with fury whenever my kind crossed his path.

But why was he here? My heart raced as I scanned the unsettling gathering. There was a palpable tension, as if the air itself was charged with electricity. Faces in the room turned pale, eyes darting away from his formidable presence. Conversations halted mid-sentence, laughter abruptly stifled. It felt as though time had slowed, the muffled sound of a conversation in the distance fading to nothing.

"What's he doing here?" I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips. Panic flared in my chest like a flame igniting dry brush.

"He's Dominic's best friend," Hannah murmured back, her voice laced with concern. "He wasn't supposed to come."

As if the world had narrowed to a single point, Alpha Maverick turned and looked straight at me. In that moment, everything else faded away—the chatter of the party, the heartbeats, even the warm glow of the fairy lights strung around the room.

The pull hit me like a physical force—violent, absolute, undeniable. My heart stumbled; I swear I could hear its frantic beat in my ears. Heat flooded my skin, igniting everywhere his eyes lingered. It was as if my body had decided something monumental before my mind could even register it.

Mate.

The word echoed in my mind, a primal declaration that sent shivers down my spine. But terror rushed in a heartbeat later, suffocating the flicker of something that resembled excitement. It wasn't just the bond that terrified me; it was him. A wolf raised to hate my kind—a towering presence that radiated power and danger. He was a man with the strength to annihilate everything I was if he learned the truth.

Panic clawed at me, drowning out every rational thought. What would he do if he found out? Images flooded my mind—scenes of confrontation, of hurt, of betrayal, even bloodshed. The weight of our worlds crashing together felt almost unbearable. The thrill of the mate bond began to twist into something sharp and harrowing.

Hannah's worried eyes darted from me to Maverick and back again, sensing the change, the dread that pulsed through me like an electric current, and she cursed, realizing the impasse I was in. I could feel the walls of the room closing in, pressing me against the very reality I dreaded.

I averted my gaze, desperate to catch my breath as the realization sank deeper—this was not a bond forged in bliss but one forged in chaos. The very essence of who I was threatened to unravel in his presence, and I had no idea how to keep it together when he started walking toward me. Hannah rose too, not enough to stop him, but enough to make it clear she would try.

"Maverick," Hannah said too brightly, "This is Demi. My human friend. She made the wedding cake."

My human friend. I could have kissed her for lying if I weren't busy trying not to collapse under Maverick's intense stare. He extended his hand, and I reluctantly placed mine in his.

The moment our skin made contact, an electric heat surged through me, wild and unpredictable. His grip tightened slightly, a silent acknowledgment that he felt it too—a connection that seemed to suspend time. As he leaned down to press his lips against the back of my hand, I felt the world around us fade. It was as if he was igniting something deep within me, a spark that threatened to unravel everything I knew.

"I look forward to seeing you later, Demi," he murmured, his voice low and intimate, sending shivers down my spine. The promise in his words lingered in the air, heavy and intoxicating. Just then, Dominic stepped in, interrupting the moment, but the impact had already been made. My heart was racing, and I could feel the heat radiating from where he touched me.

"We need to move," Hannah said urgently, her grip on my arm firm as if she could pull me back to reality. Panic surged through me when I found myself in my room, and Hannah shoved a dark bag into my hands. I stared at it, my mind racing, but I packed mechanically, the urgency of the situation pushing me into autopilot.

Before I knew it, I was behind the wheel of my car, my heart pounding in my throat. I pressed down on the gas as if I could outrun whatever awaited me. The road stretched endlessly ahead, but deep inside, I was acutely aware that no amount of distance could shield me from the inevitable. Destiny had a way of creeping up, and I wasn't ready for what was coming.