The Alpha's Elemental

A Family Dinner

    The week flew by, suddenly it was Friday and the Edwards family was coming to Crelatha to meet their future daughter-in-law as well her parents. Anya was in her room, some maids helping her get ready as she had just got done bathing. "I heard Master Duncan likes green tones, Princess, how about this deep green with some brown tones?" One shoved some fabric into her view, it looked less green and more black - almost like a funeral. 

    "How about a lighter tone? They go better with my hair," Anya suggested. The maid, who reminded Anya of a busy bee, nodded and quickly went to her wardrobe to look through her dresses. Another maid stood in front of her, perfecting her makeup while another one stood behind her carefully undoing curling rolls that helped her wavy hair appear curlier. Anya was met with anticipation with each day that drew closer to now, she thought that she wouldn't care - but despite all that, she wanted to have the perfect appearance that she could be a good wife and future queen to her husband and his people. I'm growing to hate that word, Anya thought to herself as she closed her eyes on whim. 

    "Princess Anya, your makeup and hair is done!" She opened her eyes, her reflection showed her hair elegantly styled in a small twist back, the curls cascading down her back. The makeup, while natural, only enhanced her natural beauty, a maid showed her a lighter colored dress that had a corset and some heavy skirts. It was perfect for the winter, the long billowing sleeves would be tied around her shoulders and wrists to cut back from the excessive fabric. "Please, allow us to assist you, ma'am," Anya stood up and allowed them to pull the dress around her naked body.

    "Ah, how Master Duncan will relish in your beauty tonight!" A maid said happily as she finished tying up the corset and another one the sleeves. Anya slipped on some black flats since the skirts weren't too awful long. All Anya wanted to do was get the dinner over with, exchange pleasantries, and crawl back into her bed. She was exhausted from helping the maids against her parents' wishes in order to prepare for tonight. She sighed as the maids escorted her out of her bedroom, they were talking amongst each other the whole way. "I hear he's rather handsome, perhaps this will be a great match indeed!" Anya let out a disgruntled sound, a much younger maid noticed this and stopped - grabbing her hands.

    "Princess Anya, please, we're only trying to look on the bright side for you," The blonde girl said, her big blue eyes looking up into Anya's green. "After you leave, the castle will surely resemble a corpse," The blonde girl's once dominant smile disappeared into a solemn frown. Anya gave her a soft smile and squeezed her hands.

    "What's your name?" Anya asked.

    "Marie, ma'am. I started working a week ago," Marie replied with a soft grin.

    "When I get to Maes, I'll see if I can do something about this dying castle," Anya squeezed her hands one last time before allowing them to fall back to Marie's side. "For now, I need to meet my future husband."

    The car ride to Crelatha took exactly ten hours, they had stopped at a hotel before continuing their journey to the slightly smaller kingdom - much to Duncan's dismay. "Duncan, please try to look somewhat happy," His mother, Heather, told him. She had long black hair that matched her son's, but had brown eyes despite his blue ones. Duncan only looked back out the window, his mind a horde of angry thoughts and confusion. He couldn't understand why one of his younger brothers could have gotten married, they haven't found their mates yet either. "Duncan, this is for the good of our people, the elementals like to play naive but they could wipe us out if they really tried," Heather reached her hand out to him, but stopped when he made no comment. "It's just a dinner, and then your wedding will be next Friday."

    "Why couldn't we have met on the day? It's not like we'll actually love each other," He muttered under his breath. Heather sighed, before rubbing her temples at her eldest son.

    "Think of it as a formality, they have no photos or paintings of their family available to the public outside of their castle. Wouldn't you like to know what your wife is going to look like?" Heather asked. Duncan had wondered this in the past, there were hushed whispers amongst every kingdom about how beautiful the elemental princess is. "I heard she has hair as bright as fire against an ink night, and eyes that sparkle like emeralds," Heather commented.

    "You're making her sound like a princess in a fairy tale rather than real life, Mother," He replied. He looked over at his father, who had remained silent in the whole ordeal. "What do you have to say? I know you keep your thoughts to yourself," The King, or rather, Alpha of the Werewolves looked at his eldest son - his eyes and hair gray from his age.

    "I think, this is a smart move on our part, son." 

    Duncan gritted his teeth when he heard that and moved to look back out the window, the forest began to grow thicker - not as thick as the one around Maes - but it clouded the far off city lights of a neighboring village. "We're almost there, try to look somewhat pleased," Heather pressed her son before offering him a small smile. "I heard she's really sweet,"  Heather said with a smile, offering her hand to him as the car stopped. Duncan sighed as the driver opened the door, Crelatha was still set in the Victorian times. He noticed this when he saw the king and queen dressed as Victorian royalty.

    "It's the Walsh's pleasure to welcome the Edwards' family," The man, Francis, spoke up as they both offered a bow or curtesy. They returned the favor as they closed the distance, Francis and Damon shaking hands as Duncan stood behind them, allowing his parents to converse with his future wife's parents.

    "It's a pleasure to finally meet you two," Heather said happily to Eliza who was smiling back at Duncan's mother.

    "I've heard rumors of your beauty, but they do you no justice, Queen Edwards," Eliza commented.

    "Please, just call me Heather. We'll be in-laws soon," Heather said with a smile, the two women were holding hands. Heather seemed somewhat uncomfortable, but knew it was a custom within their kingdom. "Speaking of, where is my future daughter-in-law?"

    "I'm so sorry for running late," A soft voice devoured the courtyard that the families were standing in, it shook the three werewolves to their core as they never heard a voice so soft, but it still held a strong sense of power. Eliza and Francis parted, Duncan's heart rate increasing - which he couldn't understand. A young woman was coming down the stairs in a light olive green dress, her dazzling auburn curls were pulled away from her heart-shaped face, and Duncan would be damned if her eyes weren't like emeralds. A blonde maid escorted her to her family. "Thank you, Marie," The girl, Anya, said to the blonde girl who only curtseyed before scampering off after the other maids who were going back into the castle.

    The girl turned back to the families in front of her, her eyes scanning over the Edwards family. Duncan felt his heart drop to his stomach when her eyes met his and held them. His stomach felt like it was on fire, his father had told him about this experience before - but it made no sense. "You must be my future husband," She curtseyed to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Duncan."

    "The pleasure is all mine," Duncan said, extending his hand to her. She placed her hand in his and he kissed the back of it. The four parents seemed surprised at this interaction, his eyes cutting to meet his father's who seemed to understand what was going on. He pulled back up and noticed that Anya seemed to be analyzing him.

    "How about we go inside and eat? I'm sure you three are famished after the long drive here," Eliza said, linking arms with her husband. Heather and Damon followed suit, Anya seemed a bit awkward or embarrassed, Duncan wasn't sure. He extended his arm out to her and she reluctantly took it, her touch searing through his clothes and onto his skin. He couldn't understand how this was possible, but through some cruel act of fate - he found his mate. 

    And she was an elemental.