Forbidden Mate

Chapter 3

The last 2 months have gone past no issue. And most importantly No Alaric. Not even at the council meetings. I can't say I was happy not seeing him as I still have feelings for him or well about the time we spent together. Or is it just the fact that we liked the same things. I don't even know what it was. 

“Aria” my mother walked into my room. “You have a diplomatic obligation to uphold you leave tomorrow morning, you need to pack a case.”

“Where am I going?” 

“You leave for Paris. There is a meeting with the french supernatural council under the Louvre and you will be accompanied by 2 other members of our council”

“You mean Paris, Paris France. As in the place I have begged you to take me for years”

“Yes one in the same now please remember you are the Princess not the girl who went to the university. You have a job to do there. This isn't all about you and your interests” 

To say I was excited is an understatement. From what I know of these you go out 3 days your 4th day is the meeting and then depending on the nature of the meeting depends on how many days you are there. And then you travel home 2 days after the meetings close.

So I am being sent to one of the most beautiful cities in the world with amazing patisseries and art. There is so much to see I can’t wait. I wrap my arms around my mother, give her a quick kiss on the cheek and I get straight to packing. 

I pack a really wide range of clothing  from my formal ‘royal’ wardrobe to casual stuff that I wore to Uni. Nothing that I learnt at the University of Kettary could prepare me for this. My mother would have a human if she knew half of what I packed and the fact I'm taking my glasses. I am not risking finding my mate on my first diplomatic mission. I may have to go see Phoebe and see if she can make me a set of contact lenses with the same spell. Be easier than wearing my glasses.

I want to be independent and enjoy the experience. I wonder who the other 2 that are accompanying me will be. I really hope the Wizard prince isn't coming; he gives me the creeps with his over familiarity. I mean he doesn't know me at all. Yet he thinks that he can call me Ar for short. I'm not being funny but my name isn't long to begin with. Plus the way he places his hand on my arm when we talk or he moves my long red curls over my shoulder sends a shudder down my spine. I shake my head and let the horrid feelings go. Surely he can't be that much of a creep all the time. 

 Urgh, the excitement is slowly fading. Goddess knows I'm going to need help to put up with him. As soon as I have finished with my packing I take off and head for the forest outside. I need to be free. I need to be one with my wolf.  

As I near the woods I discard my clothes and let my wolf take over. Just feeling the breeze through my fur is incredible; it feels like an eternity since I let my wolf out. As we run through the forest paws hitting the floor jumping over fallen logs I come to the lake within the shifters territory. I walk to the edge and take in my snow white complection with the black crescent moon shaped in the center of my head. 

Apparently it is the mark of the gods. Meaning I am one of the chosen ones. Chosen by the moon goddess to make a difference to our kind. Well that's what history and legends have told us. As far as we know there have only been 6 wolves born with this mark in our entire history. We are blessed with additional powers like over elements but I haven't been able to do anything like that. 

I take a few laps of water and then lay at the water's edge letting the tranquility and stillness wash over me. I don't know why but being here I can think clearly. I think back over the past few years and scold myself for getting wrapped up with a vampire. How stupid could I be? 

Yet part of me still longs for our conversations, our love of good literature and art. I shake my head clearing the longing thoughts for the Vampire King. He doesn't even know it was me he had spent time with. 

 I close my eyes and allow myself to relax fully meaning I was soon consumed by sleep. Taken to the beautiful dream scape I have come to know and love.