The She-wolf and The Prince

Signs of love.

CHAPTER 03

April 27, 1811

- Happy birthday, my little wolf.

Alia opened her eyes slowly. Leaning over her, her father had whispered these few words in her ear. Not wanting to get out of bed, she pulled her blanket over her head.

- Get up lazy. It's your birthday today. We have to celebrate your eighteenth birthday.

- Later on. I'm tired.

- You leave me no choice.

Grey began to tickle her daughter. The tactic worked.

- Hahaha. Stop it. I'll get up. That's okay.

- Good, because everyone is waiting for you. It's a special day for you, but also for us," he said under his breath.

- Did you say something?

- I was just thinking how fast you've grown.

She smiled and hugged him. Her father was the most important person in her life. She had never known her mother. Her father had always taken care of her and given her all the love she needed. That was enough to make her happy.

- No matter what happens, I will always be your little girl.

Their embrace lasted a moment, then the girl detached herself from the father to get ready. Grey took the opportunity to get some fresh air and help the youngsters organize the party. As for Alia, she hurried to finish with her disheveled hair. Despite appearances, she was excited to celebrate her birthday. Wearing one of her khaki shorts and a white shirt, she joined the rest of the village.

- ‟You could have worn a dress for once. A bit of femininity wouldn't have killed you," said a boy behind her back.

- Silves. Alia is half a woman. She doesn't know anything about femininity. That said, I much prefer to see her dressed as a man. It suits her well. Besides, it's comfortable.

- ‟Thank you, Kaul," said the young woman. You are a loyal friend.

The man named Silves looked at him with disdain.

- You'll do anything to make yourself look good. You're a suck-up.

- Come here so I can catch you.

The ten-year-old boy ran away without asking for help, to the laughter of the two teenagers.

- ‟He's a real monster," said Kaul. Come on. Come on. We're waiting for you.

- Yes, we are. Let's go have some fun.

Garlands were placed on the trees left in the compound. Tables had been placed in a circle around an improvised dance floor. The smells of cooking hare, rabbit and other delicacies tickled the nostrils of the happy few. Seeing all that the pack had done for her, Alia couldn't help but think of Ryan who wouldn't be able to celebrate this moment with her and that they wouldn't be able to see each other that night.

- Hey. Why the sad face?

- Am I sad?

- Yes. It's easy to read," he said, bringing his head closer to hers.

Kaul's gaze was plunged in his. It seemed he wouldn't take his eyes off it.

"What is he doing?" she wondered. Their proximity bothered her more than anything else, and she resolved to cut the contact short. The feeling of betraying Ryan invaded her heart, something she didn't understand.

- I'm not. Don't worry about it. It's nothing. Let's go have some fun.

*****

Night had already fallen, but the celebrations were still going on. In the pack, the eighteenth birthday of a member was an event not to be missed. It would mean that the person was already of age and to the delight of the bachelors, be coveted. On the dance floor, Alia was going wild as ever. Unlike vampires who loved ballroom dancing and all the classics of the genre, werewolves only felt comfortable swaying to folkloric rhythms. This aspect of their culture sometimes attracted the sympathy of the humans to whom they were the closest species.

- ‟Come with me. It'll be quieter where we're going," Kaul said without warning.

- Where to?

- You'll see.

He led her away from the crowd. She followed him, wondering why he wanted to be alone with her. They left the estate.

- Where are you taking me?

- Be patient.

They were getting farther and farther away, and the girl's curiosity was getting the better of her.

- There, he said after ten minutes of walking. Here, no one will hear us.

In the middle of a clearing, a stream stretched before them and the soft music it left as it flowed soothed the night. Fireflies flew everywhere and glowed despite the light offered by the quarter moon. Alia sat down on the grass, looking thoughtful; she wished Ryan was there. She promised herself to take him there one day.

The chief's son followed her lead. There was a short silence.

- It's beautiful here. How did I not discover this corner of paradise?

- Alia! I have something important to tell you.

His tone was very serious.

- You are scaring me. How bad is it?

- Not really. In any case, it depends on you. Alia, now that you're eighteen, I can finally tell you how I feel. I haven't seen you as just a friend for years now. I am in love with you and I want you to be my wife.

The last sentence came as a shock. She choked on her own saliva. A marriage proposal was not what she had expected. She knew nothing about marriage and even less about love.

- Are you okay?

- No. I'm not okay. You're asking me to marry you. I'm confused. It’s... This is so sudden... I don't know what to say.

- It's so simple. Accept my request. You won't regret it. I know you love me too. I know you do. We've been close for years...

- Wait a moment. How can you know what I feel?

- Because I can see it in your eyes.

Alia's incomprehension grew more and more. Kaul was talking to her about subjects she had no specific knowledge about.

"What exactly is love? Do I really love him like he tells me? If so, does that mean I'm going to marry him? By the wolves of heaven." she thought.

- Can I ask you a question?" she asked without looking away from the firefly show.

- Yes, you can. Go ahead.

- What's it like to be in love?

- It's both simple and complicated. It's impossible to explain it completely, you know? But I can tell you what happens when you're in love with someone. You think about them all the time. You see them everywhere, whether they're there or not. Sometimes you dream about them and when you feel them near you, your heart beats very fast; sometimes you are embarrassed. But the most important thing is that you want to keep the person you love close to you, to hold them in your arms and protect them from everything. Seeing them suffer or being away from you will hurt," he replied dreamily. And when you love someone, it's important to tell them.

- Is it?

- Yes. Just say "I love you.

He leaned in her direction.

"Ryan," she thought.

The hint surprised her.

"Why am I thinking about him now?"

- I love you, Alia. I always have. Now that you have come of age, you and I can be together.

The interested party had understood her friend's words and without much trouble, she concluded that she felt nothing for him. When he wanted to kiss her, Ryan's innocent look crept into her mind.

Taken of anger, she pushed Kaul away without bluntness.

- Excuse me, but I don't think I share your feelings. To me, you're more than a friend. You're like a big brother and I love you like that.

- That's not true. You love me. I'm sure you do, he insisted.

- Kaul. I....

- Don't say anything. You need the time. It's perfectly normal. I'll wait until you're less shaken up.

- Can we get out of here? This situation makes me uncomfortable.

- Is this really what you want? It's nice here. We can stay a little longer...

- I am tired. I danced too much at the party. I have to go home.

She yawned to support her words.

- Let's go. Let's go, resigned the lover.

That evening, when Alia returned home, the festivities were still going on. The declaration of his friend of childhood had at the same time surprised and cooled her. He already saw her as his future wife, even though she did not share his feelings. The love he felt for her was not reciprocated.

"I won't give up." He had whispered to her before walking away.

- By the wolves of heaven. That's all I needed. Why did it fall on me? How do I deal with it now?

Her mind was so absent that she walked through the front door without realizing it. The blanket on her bed reminded her that she was already in her room.

- With whom?

Grey was standing in the doorway.

- Ah, Father. I've been proposed to. Can you believe it?

- And may I ask who this suitor is?

- Kaul.

- Kaul?

This news aroused her interest.

- Yes. Kaul the chief's son.

- I know who he is. What did you say to him?

- I told him I didn't love him. He is obstinate but I don't want to marry him.

- You will accept his proposal," Grey said coldly.

Alia straightened up quickly.

- You are joking! You're joking, aren't you?

- Do I look like I'm joking? You're going to marry Kaul.

- What? Why are you forcing this on me, father? I don't love him.

- Love is not the primary reason for marriage. Think about it. Kaul will be Silves' successor. If you unite with him, you'll become the alpha of the clan.

- It's decided. You marry him and that's it.

For the first time, she saw a part of her father that she didn't know.

- But, Father...

- You don't have a say in this.

With a start, she got out of bed and came to face her father, her eyes full of defiance.

- No, I don't. I have everything to say. It's my life and I decide how it will be and with whom. You don't have to decide for me.

- You have a duty to do. You don't have a choice. He said.

- You will not impose your will on me, Father. You have never gone against my choices, so why now? Why force a union on me that I don't want?

- I have told you. It is your duty.

- Well... You can eat it, your "duty".

With these last words, she fled through the window. Grey tried to stop her but was thrown against the house. His daughter had become stronger; this worried him. He wanted to follow her but, judged that in her state, his daughter could mortally wound him.

"She will come back."

With tears in her eyes, Alia ran away and went to the only child who could listen to her and understand her...