DANCING WITH LYCANS

CHAPTER 7: MEET AND GREET

The two older men walk towards their sons, standing to their sides as the older men glare at each other.

The older man to the right gestures to his son to follow him, and they walk towards my father and I. He's wearing a cape and a crown. Fashioning a dark, thick, burly beard with neatly combed dark brown hair under his crown. He looks to be a king of sorts.

"It's been some time, Beta Devon." He flashes a white toothy smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Angelica. I am King Asher Corleone, of the west side territories. May I introduce my son, Prince Phoenix Corleone." The king extends his hand, gesturing his son who steps forward and nods his head in a subtle show of respect. "Angelica, I've only heard stories. You're more beautiful beyond my capacity to imagine what others have described you to be." His face is sweet with a soft smile and a glistening in his eyes that are solely fixated on mine as if he's trying to read me like a book.

He's incredibly tall. A guess would be over 6 feet. Dark brown, almost black hair with shaved sides and long thick curls that I just want to run my fingers through. Wearing a long sleeve black button-up shirt, black slacks, and black leather dress shoes.

I return his show of respect and curtsy.

"Thank you for the kind greetings, your majesty. And to you as well, Prince Phoenix, for your sweet compliment."

My dad speaks up. "You will have a chance to speak with her soon, Prince Phoenix."

Phoenix looks towards my father and then back to me. "It's my wish to kiss your hand before leaving, if only the circumstances were different. I'll see you on your birthday, Angel."

"It's Angelica." I'm quick to correct him. His lips tilt into a handsome smile, nods, and walks off with his father, whom has his eyes locked on to my dad's stare until they're far enough away.

Once the king and prince walk away, I return my focus to the two men remaining. The father was whispering to his son before tapping him on the shoulder and letting him lead the way to where my father and I were standing.

"This must be the lovely Angelica I've heard so much about, Beta Devon!" The older man says with a big toothy grin, he seems boastful in his stance. "She is, she's my pride and joy." My father smiles back.

"Angelica, I am Alpha Daniel Skarsgard of the eastern territory, and this is my son, and soon to be future alpha, Troy Skarsgard."

Troy is standing tall and proud, with a flashy smile revealing perfect teeth. Holding his hands behind him, he tilts his chin down to line up his gaze with mine.

He is solid muscle, like that of a gladiator, with bulging biceps. I could lick the sweat off this man to quench a thirst he created in me that water cannot cure.

"It's an honor to be in your presence, Angelica. Thank you for allowing this meeting to happen, Beta Devon. I've been waiting almost impatiently to meet my future luna. Now that I've laid eyes on her, it'll be hard to let her out of my sights." He let's out a deep chuckle that rumbles from his chest.

"Unfortunately, we must be wary of the rules, young alpha. She will turn 18 soon, and then you will have the chance to win her heart." Dad stands firm in his word.

"Yes." Troy sighs. His eyes dropping to the floor briefly and immediately looking up my body slowly until his eyes meet mine and his lips curled into a cheeky smirk.

"Until then, beautiful." He nods his head to me and then again to my father, before him and his father take their leave.

Troy had bright green eyes, more green than aqua, but light and full of hope. Dirty blonde hair and tanned skin tell me he spends a lot of time outdoors. He wore a tight-fitting navy blue suit with a Grey button-up shirt. Maybe it was his bulging muscles that filled out the suit so well. Either way, he was a sight for the eyes to feast on.

I could eat him up and lick him all over. I'm pretty sure they call that eye candy. I chuckle under my breath.

"Found them humorous, did you?" My father asks with an arch of his brow, clearly knowing that I am pleased with the options presented before me. "Of course." I smile back at my dad, feigning innocence on my face. Hah. As if!

I may be a virgin, but my thoughts are sully.

It's okay, I'll keep that bit to myself.

My dad let's out a singular laugh. "Hah! Let's go home and plan your birthday, Sport."

"Dad, why did they say that they would be present at my birthday?"

"I'll explain it in the car, Sweetheart, let's go."

We get in the car and start driving back home.

Why does it feel like I left that place with more questions than when I entered? My parents are doing a poor job of educating me on a world they've been privy to their whole lives, and yet they expect me to live here and fulfill a seers prophecy.

"Dad, why aren't you and mom telling me everything?"

"We don't want to overwhelm you with minor details. You'll learn everything in due time."

"I'd rather know now so I can feel more prepared." I cross my arms.

Dad sighs. "Your mother and I fear telling you everything too soon will have you running for the exit."

My eyebrows raise. "Wait... there's an exit?"

Dad laughs. "See? And the answer is no. There is an exit, yes, but the witches are in charge of granting passage through the portal. You are on their "do not travel" list."

"So I'm a prisoner here?" I ask, arms still crossed, and visibly upset.

"In layman's terms, yes." Dad replies with no emotion on his face. How could my parents let this happen?

"Dad!!" I yell in frustration.

Dad takes a deep breath and exhales. "Your mother and I never wanted this for you, Sweetheart. My alpha ordered me to follow through with the prophecy."

"Which alpha?" I ask, squinting my eyes.

"We're in the southeastern territory. Technically, my alpha is a man you haven't met yet, but the order went down the line from Alpha, Daniel Skarsgard."

"Welp, that settles it, I'm choosing Prince charming." I smile to myself.

Dad huffs. "That is exactly why your mother and I left you in the dark." He slams his hand on the wheel, shaking his head.

I have only seen my dad upset a handful of times in the past. He is not easily angered.

My parents are typically lighthearted and full of jokes and witty comebacks.

"This is not childs play, Angelica! These are big life decisions that, unfortunately, you are forced to make, and choosing the wrong one can be fatal to many." Dad is visibly upset.

"Fine!" I fire back with an equally upset tone.

"I'll take my time and do it right, but that ONE order has completely flipped my life upside down and is telling you what to do with your own child!" I yell. "Doesn't that make you angry?!" I ask dad.

Dad exhales a breath, clearly trying to calm himself down from wanting to lash out at me. "Of course I'm angry, Angelica. I've just had the time to realize that no matter what your mother and I do, we can't fight fate. Our best bet is to help guide you through this process with as little casualties as possible."

"Why did the seer tell everyone?" I ask.

"The seer is a part of the council. She was present today. She is required by law to report any visions with impact."

"So the council is like a congress? And an alpha.. is .. like.. like a president or something?" I try to make sense of the situation as much as I can.

"Kind of, I guess you can say that." Dad sighs again. "Enough talk of this today. I don't have the energy to continue this."

We pull into the driveway, and dad goes into the house. I stand out by the car in my thoughts when the sound of the creek flowing nearby catches my ear.

I guess I'll go to see what it looks like.

I walk over and past the treeline, seeing pebbles and river rocks scattered on the ground leading up to the water. There's a makeshift bench by the water made from the rocks, and I go to sit down to take it all in. Feeling calmer already, I look around and see a few rocks, and I pick them up to collect them for artwork.

Walking towards the entrance of the house, I get goosebumps on my skin and a feeling of being watched. Halting in my steps to look around, I don't see anything that is out of place. I still have that feeling, though. I walk a little faster towards the house, stopping at the walkway where some flowers are planted and placing the rocks that I picked up onto the mulch, rearranging the assortment of rocks to look like a flower.

"There. Cute!" I smile to myself and walk inside.