The Lycan Prince and I

Five

The Elephant ride stopped for the first time ever outside the great temple and for the first time I felt perfect. Usually my sisters didn’t even let the Elephant settle down for me to get down, I had to use the ladder that the servants put for me before I got down.

The Elephant sat down gently and I was helped down.

I stood looking at the well lit temple. Everyone was already in except for the guards who stood facing each on the steps of the temple. I stood and gently started before going up the red carpet.

As I passed I felt every eye of each guard I passed turn to look at me. I started to feel uneasy and uncertain of me, but I held myself.

I had to tell everyone that they were wrong. I had to show them.

I reached the top of the temple and stood at the entrance that was covered with transparent curtains.

The man who was obviously announcing names dropped his scroll full of names when he saw me. He quickly picked it up.

“Wwww..... wwwhhoo are yyyyy.....yyouu?” He stammered.

I smiled at him.

“I am Princess Urmi, daughter of the emperor of India.” I said.

He didn’t even look at the scroll. He just kept looking at me, then he realized he was looking at me and he turned.

“Princess Urmi! Daughter of the Emperor of India!” He announced in a surprisingly loud voice.

He hadn’t been sounding that way when he had seen me at first.

The curtains were opened and I saw all eyes turn to look at me.

“Lord Krishna!” I heard someone in the crowd exclaim.

I stood there transfixed unable to move for a while.

Then I took in a very deep breath and I walked into the crowd. Everyone I passed gave me way to pass.

I walked right past Jhanvi and Aarti who had dropped their mouths wide open in disbelief.

I saw my parents and walked straight to them. I prayed Mama was still not upset with me.

But instead she had a smile on her face and she looked proud of me, papa also. I bent down to touch their feet and they stopped me.

“You look so beautiful.” Mama said unbelievably.

I smiled. “You think so?”

“Of course.” Papa said.

Then Lakshmi came up to me. She had on a frown on her face. I quickly started to apologize.

“I’m really sorry Lakshmi I just-

Lakshmi shut me up with a big hug, I was surprised, but I received the hug happily.

“Don’t ever do what you did again.” Lakshmi warned me.

Then she turned to my parents.

“Namaste your majesties.” She said touching their feet for their blessings and as usual they stopped her modestly.

“Bless You Lakshmi.” They told her.

Lakshmi pulled me away happily. By now the crowd was now back to normal.

“Where did you get this dress from? And this entire makeover?” Lakshmi said admiring me up and down. “You look so beautiful. Everyone was looking at you.”

“Thank you.” I said with almost tears in my eyes. “I just decided I want to show everyone that they were wrong. You look so beautiful too Lakshmi.”

“Forget me or anyone else. Tonight is about you.” Lakshmi said.

She squealed like a mouse excitedly and hugged me again.

“Just take a look at how everyone is stealing glances at you. Look at your sisters faces. They can’t believe it.” Lakshmi giggled meanly.

“You’re so mean Lakshmi.” I giggled back.

“And I don’t care.” Lakshmi said. Then her face became serious. “Have you found your mate?”

At that very moment I caught Raj staring at me. He was standing so handsome in his traditional attire and his beautiful skin was glowing. By his side was Gauri and yes she looked beautiful, but she did not look happy. Well there was more shock written on her face.

I turned back to Lakshmi and took in a deep breath. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to say or overreact.”

“I promise.” Lakshmi said too quickly. I knew her better.

“No Lakshmi you have to mean it.” I said. Then I quickly added. “And don’t say you’re going to try.”

She rolled her eyes. “Alright. I promise. Now talk.”

“I did, I found my mate. It was Raj and he rejected me.” I dropped the bombshell.

Lakshmi’s face has been delighted when I told her I did and even more delighted when I said it was Raj. But the moment I told her I had been rejected her face became a mask of thunder clouds.

“He What?!” She said angrily.

I had to pull her aside to the tables of meals.

“Try to keep your voice down.” I said.

“He did what?!” Lakshmi repeated not even in the least bit interested in hearing me.

I sighed. “He turned me down as his mate.” I said.

She was dumbfounded for a while.

“Is this a joke?” She asked me.

I laughed weakly. “I wish.”

“When did this happen?” She demanded.

“Last month.” I said. “It was the day he picked Gauri as his mate. It was supposed to be me, at least I’m sure he knew it was me. But he walked right past me. And then some weeks later he told me to never tell anyone what had happened. That’s why I didn’t attend the graduation.”

“That bastard!” Lakshmi said aloud and two of our classmates turned to look at us. She didn’t waste time in writing them off. “What?! Mind your f*****g business!”

“Try to calm down please.” I begged her.

Then Lakshmi turned to me. “Who the hell does he think he is. Can you even hear his horrible name? Raj! More like Rat! And Gauri knew that he is not her mate! That sneaky little piece of bug.”

I shook my head. “It’s not something that should bother you.”

Lakshmi was obviously trying to control her anger. “So what’s going to happen now?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Lakshmi looked like she wanted to burst in anger any minute from now. I became scared she was going to cause a big scene. Lakshmi was capable of anything.

Then Abhi came to us.

“You look beautiful Urmi.” He said.

I smiled. “Thank you. You look very nice too.”

“I’m sorry I need to borrow Lakshmi for a second.” He said.

Lakshmi frowned, obviously still upset. “What for?”

“You know I’m being made Luna and my wolf is being tensed. Your wolf can help him. Please. I don’t want things to get out of control and make a scene. Remember the last year?” He asked her.

Last year Abhi’s Wolf had been very tensed at a wolf gathering and eventually Abhi had turned to his original form and scattered everywhere. It had taken five Alphas to pin him down.

“Lakshmi go on don’t worry I’ll be here.” I told her.

Lakshmi looked at me to him. Then she sighed. “Alright I’ll be back Urmi. Let’s go.”

She took Abhi’s hand and dragged him into the crowd.

I saw her give Raj very very dirty looks. Then he turned to look at me, and I turned away to avoid looking at him or catching his attention again.

I was here because I wanted to be here and I didn’t care whatever Raj felt or how much he had humiliated me.

I was looking down at the food on the table when I heard a dark, and commandeering strange masculine voice behind me.

“And who is the wolf in red?”

I turned around and what I saw made my heart stop ultimately.