The arrogant princess and her mate Tom

Dinner

Maria P.O.V

    The next day I went to school alone. Our houses were only a few properties apart, but I wanted to calmly change and get ready for dinner without seeing Tom impatient. I wouldn't have made it home in time, so I took my clothes to school with me. During the last hour of kickboxing, I couldn't concentrate. My kicks were inaccurate and light.

- Maria!- Arthur my teacher shouted - You are absent. What's going on with you?

- Excuse me. I have dinner with the Smiths today - I replied.

- Okay, last 5 minutes and stretching. Now I will attack. Try to stop me. - He aimed a kick in my face. I didn't have time to react and fell. Normally I would repel this attack without a problem. Arthur ran up to me and asked:

- Maria, what about you? How could you not keep something like that? We do heavier things to warm up - he said, leaning over me - I'm sorry, it looks bad. Let's just do the stretching and go to this dinner. Sorry again- He looked very concerned.

- Don't worry. This's my fault. I'm suck - I got up from the mat and started stretching.

- You're never suck - Arthur shook his head - I don't know anyone from the royal family who trains so hard at your age, and I've been training your family for 300 years. You're too hard on yourself. Go rest and greet Margaret from me.

    I parked in front of the Smiths' house. It was much smaller than mine, as were the others on the estate. However, it was distinguished by a beautiful red brick on the facade and numerous flowers planted in front of the house, which illustrated the love of the hostess - mother Tom Margaret. I was tired and I looked terrible. Artur wasn't kidding. My entire cheek has already swollen and a bruise is slowly coming out. Even covered with makeup, it was visible from a distance. I took a deep breath. "Eh ... A princess shouldn't appear like this." I gathered up and headed for the entrance. A smiling Margaret opened the door for me. She looked radiant as always.

- OMG! Maria! What happened?- she shouted at the sight of me and hugged me hello.

- It's nothing. My kickboxing training didn't go very well- I replied, trying to smile.

That's when I saw him. Tom was standing in the corridor staring at my face. I had the impression that he could see what I felt. It made my eyes water, so I looked away. ,,Stupid me. Why did I care so much about all of this. "

- For sure?- Continued the landlady. I nodded - Oh Maria ... Okay. Everything is ready, so go to the dining room and sit down. Tom what are you staring at? Take the visitor.

-Come on- he said, and walked on without looking back at me. His sister Laura was already in the dining room.

- Maria! What about your face ?! - she shouted at the sight of me.

- Laura- Tom said warningly.

- It's all right - I looked hostile at Tom - Laura, I didn't pay attention to the training with Arthur and now you can see the results - I pointed my finger on my cheek and winked at her - Don't take an example from me.

- Wow - she made a sour face - It probably hurts a lot?

- It's not that bad - I lied. My whole face hurt. Tom showed me my traditional place at the table and sit in the chair opposite me.

- Actually, I have a question for you - said Laura excitedly avoiding the eyes of her brother - Do you feel the mate bond already? There are only a few weeks until your birthday, so I heard it was possible.

-No- I shook my head.-I think I'll find out on my birthday.

- Or maybe it's Mark from the Green Lake Pact and that's why you don't feel? Is there something between you two? Please admit! - she squealed.

- Laura, you're too nosy. Behave - Tom said sharply to his sister.

- We are only friends - I laughed.

    Laura had just turned 15 and was entering the age of her first fascination with the opposite s*x. She read various romance novels, and every time I met her, she brought up the latest gossip about who was dating whom, including information about Tom's latest conquests. Love with werewolves was complicated. Like all races, in adolescence, curiosity and fascination with other people began. You could be infatuated with someone for 2 years, and then after turning 18 it turned out that you were destined to someone else. When you were playing your soul mate, no one else came into play anymore. In the beginning, the relationship between the mates was mainly s****l attraction, which effectively ended other love relationships between werewolves. After time, however, the partners truly fell in love with each other. The couple grew stronger together. I didn't know the unhappy pair pair by the Goddess. Of course, there have been cases where someone would reject their mate in the name of love for someone else or for other reasons. The result was usually deplorable for this person. The rejected partner usually got a second chance, and the rejecter ended unhappy.

From the kitchen we heard Małgosia's voice:

- Laura, come help me with food - I started to get up when we heard - Maria, don't you dare come here. You are the visitor. Laura come here now.

-I'm going, I'm going- Laura said resignedly as she headed for the kitchen.

There was an awkward silence when we were left alone with Tom. I felt uncomfortable so got up from the table and walked over to the wall covered with family photos. Most of them presented the entire Smith family during pact or school events. They smiled and hugged. "Happy family," I thought. In a few photos I found myself and my father.

- So how do you imagine your birthday? -Tom broke the silence.

- Exceptionally - I smiled - first the official part with my transformation into a wolf and then a party with my friends.

- What? As your adviser, I reject this idea- he replied sharply.

- I decide - I said calmly. I pointed with my finger at the photo of smiling Tom with his friends - This is your birthday party?

-Yes, I wanted to invite you ...- I turned to him and looked defiantly in his eyes.

- But I couldn't come anyway, am I wrong? - I sat down at the table again.

- You know that as a future king you have to be careful about many things for example like how other people perceive you - he shrugged his shoulders - Teenage parties are not something you should attend, so you are right.

- I'm almost 18 years old. I don't think one party would spoil anything.

- What are you talking about?- Margaret asked, entering the room with Laura and putting platters full of food on the table - Adam will be gone today. He's away with your father, so we can start eating. - she added, giving me a platter of baked salmon.

-I told Tom that I wanted a party for our peers outside of the official part- Margaret gave Tom a worried look.

- Maria, it won't be possible- she said softly - Nobody's going to agree to that.

- I told her mom - Tom said irritated - She's not listening to me at all.

- Maybe if you spoke to our fathers and backed this decision, it would be possible - I said angrily. I was fed up with negating my every idea. He has never taken my side before. How was he going to become my right hand when he didn't support any of my decisions?

- Maria, don't be upset - said Margaret amicably and put her hand on my arm- Let's talk about something we have influence. What do you want the official part to look like?

- I agreed with the fathers that there will be a maximum of 5 people from each pacts- said Tom - As for the rest, you have full freedom.

- Thanks for telling me about this - I rolled my eyes and turned to the hostess - I would like to do it in a very traditional way. A modest bonfire in a clearing and at midnight turning into wolves and running together.

- Just enough? - Margaret asked in surprise. I nodded my head - I won't have much to do - she sighed and laught.

    The rest of the dinner was relaxed. Margaret told about her 18th birthday and met Tom's father. I knew this story by heart, but I loved listening to it. Looking at the Smith couple, I felt sorry that I did not have such a family. I couldn't wait to meet my mate. I wanted to create a house full of love and warmth, following their example. Laura looked disgusted, suggesting she was fed up with the story. From time to time she interfered with rumors about other families and sought confirmation from her mother as to whether they were true. We laughed and joked. Finally Margaret escorted me to the door, she looked at me carefully and said seriously:

- I don't like the way Arthur arranged you. Take a workout free tomorrow.

- No way. I have to train - I said emphatically.

- Maria please - seeing my stubbornness, she added conciliatory - Let Tom do at least tomorrow's training. I believe my son will know when to let you go - I didn't want to agree. I pursed my lips and was about to answer that, unfortunately, I wouldn't listen to her when she added - I can see how tired you are. Please, I've known you since you was a child. Tom will come to your house and kick you ass - she winked - and if you change your mind you can go to sleep or whatever. Would you agree to do this for me?

- Okay, but I'm just doing it for you.-  I agreed with the resignation. I didn't want to upset her. She was like a mother to me. From an early age, she took care of me and looked after my father on constant trips.She hugged me tightly when I was going and told me to stop more often and without invitation.

    As I got into the car, I felt sad. Tears started to run down my cheeks. "Poor, lonely Maria," I thought, "Nobody loves you. You are weak." Being with such a happy and loving family, I felt more loneliness and emptiness. I had no grandparents, no mother, and my father was still going somewhere. Even when he was, he didn't show me feelings. He just kept checking my strength and admonishing that I must always be ready. He just didn't say what for.