The Lycan Kings Princess

Step Carefully

Aria's POV

I was strongly aware on the second day of my attendance at the Alpha Summit that...

It's a gossip house for Luna's. My mother wasn't too bad, but I had heard too many rumors and stories about other groups. It was quickly becoming clear that even though we were all here as neutral parties, there were groups already formed. It seemed there was a competition going on that I wasn't keen on being a part of and that was the Luna's trying to make their daughters into the most desirable candidates for the future alpha's attending.

I really didn't see the hype.

Thankfully, I wasn't in the market. I wasn't interested. Even though Carson and I were apart with distance separating us, I still felt the dull ache of the matebond holding on faintly. I knew it would fade over time, it would get easier to ignore and, hopefully, one day just return to the way things were before. I really wanted to be with Carson and Elaine again just hanging out and being friends. We were swiftly growing up now and things were changing though.

Sometimes things will never be the same.

I felt like I was on egg shells, making sure that I didn't make any mistakes. I was trying to make a good impression on everyone. I did not want to make any enemies with other young she-wolves on the hunt for a mate, and I did not want to earn the ire of any Luna's who may think me a threat to their daughters. Frankly, It was exhausting. The small talk, the questions. A lot of familiar faces appeared too and attendees on my eighteenth birthday were doing what I had hoped they wouldn't.

I received a lot of hushed condolences for my rejection.

I've gotten real sick of telling people it was mutual and that I was fine...or would be.

It also seemed my mother had garnered more attention than was necessary, having taken up Mrs.Colts' invitation to brunch the previous morning. I mean, when I say, everyone's heads must have had whiplash with how quickly they spun around to watch the tall Lycan woman sit down at a table with us for brunch. I'm not kidding. I could almost hear the snapping of necks if they had been any faster.

Mrs.Colt was kind though, from what I understood. She behaved differently when she was addressing us directly rather than someone else who may have wandered close to grasp her attention. She was very amicable and asked a lot of questions.

We were having brunch with her again while my father and Beta Yulson met today with other Alpha's to discuss territory lines and determine if there were any retirees to be expected soon with so many of their sons coming of age.

"So dear Aria, is there anything you have a passion for?" Mrs.Colt questioned. She sat across from me at the square table, one long leg crossed gracefully over the other. She wore a black and beige pencil skirt with a cold shoulder white blouse. Gold rings covered her long fingers and occasionally she would tap her manicured nails on the tabletop if I took too long to answer a question.

"Music Mrs.Colt." I learned she liked simple and short answers rather than anything long winded.

My mother coached me on how to answer questions quickly and precisely, since I was younger and still a pup in the eyes of the Lycans, I had to maintain an appropriate behavior. Lycans had long life spans and it turned out that Mrs.Colt was about two hundred years old. Habits die hard when you grow up in a time where social class is extremely strained. I gathered, in Mrs.Colt's eyes, I was nothing more than a nobleman's daughter who had caught her fancy. If I wasn't careful, that could die out quite quickly.

"Oh, please call me Tabitha." she said, taking a drink of her mimosa, "I feel so old with you calling me so formally, you're a good girl, with good manners," she stated, waving her hand at me lazily, "You have my permission to call me Tabitha privately like this." I nodded, it would definitely make me feel a little less stiff and relaxed. "So, music huh? do you play any instruments?"

"Cello and the Violin. I also play a little bit of the piano." I had actually brought my violin with me and had been itching to play it for the last couple of days but, by the time our days ended and we got back to the room, I was so tired I just wanted to shower and sleep. My jaw had begun to hurt with how much talking I had been doing.

"Fantastic!" Tabitha looked genuinely interested. I couldn't help but question whether it was genuine or if I was some sort of temporary entertainment for her. I kept taking cues from my mother's behavior and she seemed to be enjoying herself too.

Perhaps I'm being a bit too guarded?

"You should play it before the event is over. I'm sure it would be lovely if you've invested in practicing it." Tabitha gushed, "I haven't heard a good violin piece in nearly one hundred years." I watched as she pulled out her phone to shoot off a text to someone. It's a really fancy phone with a camera. It's flat and smooth. It looks kind of like Carson's but a much newer model. I have my dinky little flip phone still stashed in my purse.

"Aria performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra back home." I twiddle my thumbs under the table lightly as my mother gushes praise. It is one of my more exciting accomplishments, even though I was amongst a lot of humans. I had always wanted to play with them, even as a guest.

"Ah, which is your dream orchestra to play with?" As I said, Tabitha likes to ask a lot of questions. I feel like I am being interviewed for something.

"The Royal Concertgebouw," Tabitha nods, shooting off another text before smiling.

"Well, dear Aria, I hope that comes to be one day," she smiled, tucking her phone away.

"Perhaps, but I also want to focus on my duties as a future Luna of my pack." I took my pack more seriously in the long run. My pursuit of music was a hobby and would always come second to my family.

Tabitha sighed, her face looking truly impressed as she reached across the table to touch my hand that was now folded on the tabletop. Her skin is smooth and warm to the touch, "You are such a good girl, I just can't get over it! I wish half the little wolves I meet at these events were as level headed as you." she tsk'd slightly. "All of them fawning and tripping over themselves to be impressive, none of them carry themselves half as well as you do." Tabith tutted slightly, "I must say Sierra I knew there was a reason I was going to like your daughter, she's just as impressive as you." She waved over the waiter to have him take her credit card, it's a black card with a Lycan embossed in gold on the front.

For the last two days she has insisted on covering the bill for my mother and I. I've been trying to think of ways to show our appreciation, even if Tabitha didn't have to go to such lengths for us.

As the waiter leaves, she turns back to us, "There's really no point in us sticking around here while the men work." she stated as she reapplies her lipstick, "So why don't we head into town and do a little shopping. I really love their boutiques here."

It's a tourist town, I'm almost curious as to what boutiques she's talking about.

"Oh! Yes let's, Aria's only been able to see the town in passing, there are so many cute little stores." My mother quickly gathers her purse and wipes her hands with the provided warm towel to ensure she hasn't accidentally gotten anything on herself throughout the meal.

I wait until both Tabitha and my mother are standing before getting up myself.

I'm walking on eggshells.

I have to step carefully.

---------------

It's what I tell myself, but I am really starting to rethink my thinking process.

By the time dinner had rolled around, I had been dragged to so many stores I was dizzy. I want nothing more than to trade my heels for fuzzy slippers and order room service. Aeris is unhappy too.

I'm unhappy.

Not because of the shopping, mind you, but my mother and Tabitha both wanted to go to a place called the trading post. My mother had been talking up the uniqueness of Native American items and had piqued Tabitha's interest. We had headed there after going to a few shops on the strip. (I now have a brand new mink fur poncho, courtesy of Tabitha.) None of us thought much about what might be in the trading post. My mother assumed it would be similar to the tribe back home.

I nearly screamed and jumped out of my skin when we had gone inside.

I had to practically strangle myself to muffle the growl Aeris tried to let loose.

My mother had sputtered wildly and Tabitha had given a shrug of her shoulders, clearly not liking their choice of decor but also not about to say anything either.

See, amongst the many animal heads lining the upper walls, there were moose, goats, deer....there were also wolves.

Now they weren''t werewolves, mind you, these were wild wolves that had no form outside of the one they were born in. However; it still made my skin crawl, my stomach turn and my body tremble as I quickly backed out of the shop.

My mother grabbed my hand, following along, unable to pull her eyes away from the horrifying sight.

"My apologies Tabitha. I don't think Aria and I can go inside." she swallowed loudly. "If...if you would like to take a look around, we'd be happy to stand outside and wait."

Tabitha actually gives us a sympathetic look. She knows we're not afraid of being mounted on the wall like the stuffed ones, rather we're upset due to our close connection to the animals.

I had seen my mother followed off and on now and then through our pack territory by wild wolves that wandered by. It was like having big oversized pets that came and went as they pleased. We can commune with them in our own special way. It's heartbreaking to see the wolves here have ended up as a decoration.

I watch as Tabitha looks back at the shop, her eyes briefly scanning the contents from the doorway before shrugging her shoulders, "It's quite alright, I want I can order something online." she prances past us without a single glance back. I am quite happy to trail after her like a little duckling while pulling my still rather horrified mother along.

"I'm sorry for our reaction." I apologize, it was quite embarrassing.

Tabith waves it off, "nonsense, it was tasteless if you ask me. Who in their right mind mounts so many animal heads and carcass halves on their walls like that? frankly I'm not upset." she turns to pat me gently on the head, I know though just from the sheer power radiating off that single appendage. Tabitha could kill me with a simple swipe of her hand if she wanted. I am suddenly very grateful that we are in her good graces. "We Lycans are the pure breed, and while werewolves are considered the inferior species in ou hierarchy, I can sympathize that you view wild wolves much differently than I would."

I'm entranced by how kind she sounds as she addresses my concerns without actually hearing them. "To me, wild wolves are a part of our cycle, but they are just animals, they don't think or act like we do and it's a pity they are mounted on the walls, but I wouldn't say I want to tear the building to the ground over it either." it makes sense, well to a point. I am deeply upset by the treatment of the wolves, but I can't say I'm raring to burn the place down. My mother's visibly relaxed now, not keen to go near the trading post again.

"I'll respect your feelings and not make you go run back to the shop. Don't apologize either." Tabitha shakes her head, her blond curls bouncing in the evening sunlight, "it's good to have compassion, but remember we live in a kill or be killed world..." she looks me in the eye as though she can read my thoughts and it leaves me breathless, her golden eyes glinting mischievously "We must all step carefully."

My mouth feels dry as I nod, taking in her words, "I'll be sure to remember that."

Tabitha smiles and pinches my cheek and it stings, but I make sure not to wince, I don't want to appear weak. "Good, you're a very smart girl. Let's head back, no doubt the men are going to be hungry after fighting it out in board rooms all day."

We pile into the Limo and head off back to the hotel.

This shopping trip was far more taxing than it should have been.

Aeris is still growling slightly in the back of my mind, she's just as upset as my mother and I were. She'll take much longer to recover from the shock, I am sure.

A sensation of fear settles in my stomach, I'm almost afraid and dreading the full moon run now. I don't want to potentially be mistaken for a normal wolf by a hunter. Not that I think there will be any hunters at the site of the run either. It's a fear now that settles in the pit of my stomach and doesn't go away,

I close my eyes for a moment as my mother and Tabitha talk, I enjoy the little break.

I don't remember exactly when I fall asleep.

----------

My parents go to dinner that night with Beta Yulson.

I decided to stay in the room since I was really tired from the days events. My parents were happy to let me have the space and I am thankful for it. My father had decided to have dinner with a few other alpha's who were good friends of his, and my mother as his Luna, had to attend with him. Beta Yulson always trailed close behind as well, he is my father's best friend and beta after all.

I ended up ordering room service which was a Apple Pecan Chicken salad with a sweet pomegranate dressing. I also turn on the television to try and pass the time. I've been so busy mingling the last three days that I honestly feel like my heads going to explode from all the gossip. I had made a sort of friend though, It was with the girl I had met the day I arrived, the one with the french accent. Her name was Penelope but she said all her friends called her Penny. She was from a pack further east in Quebec, which explained her french accent.

She was very bubbly.

Honestly she almost reminded me of Elaine just, a lot more chatty. Turns out Penelope was only at the event in order to meet some eligible bachelors, she hoped her mate would show up on the full moon. I liked her, she wasn't pining for a an alpha or anything, she told me she would be happy to have anyone be her mate as long as they were nice.

Carson was nice...

"UGH!" I buried my face in my pillow a groan of frustration escaping me.

'These feelings will take time to pass.' Aeris murmured in my mind, I know she is right but the lingering thoughts are still hard to shake.

'I know, I know I just don't like the fact that my feelings were forced due to the moon goddesses decision...Carson will always be my best friend but having these thoughts that he was mine are starting to annoy me.' I answer rolling on to my back and holding my pillow against my chest. 'Carson was never mine like that and I didn't want him to be...' It still aches regardless.

'The moon goddess will gift us with a second chance, im sure she has a plan.' It seemed Aeris had come to terms finally about the whole ordeal. I just hoped Carson's wolf had come to the same conclusion. Only time would tell.

Feeling idle I turned off the T.V. and got out of bed. I needed to do something relaxing and distracting, so I grabbed my violin. After a little bit of tuning I stepped out on to the balcony. I took a deep breath watching the sun setting slowly over the mountains casting everything into different hues of pink, purple, and gold. I breathed in deep and could smell the damp earth of the forest, the fresh water that poured into the emerald lake. I exhaled slowly and raised my violin tilting it to rest along my shoulder and bicep. I snuggled my jaw on the chin rest while straightening my back. The first notes that flowed out of the instrument instantly felt magical.

I closed my eyes and began to hum and vocalize gently with the tune.

There were no real lyrics, but I had been composing the song since I woke up after nearly dying.

I imagined it was my way of letting go and expressing the feelings in ways words could not.

Each note carried off into the evening air and drifted on the wind to somewhere far away to rest among the starlight.

----------------

??? POV

I sank down in the arm chair near the open window.

The lights had been dimmed and everything had begun to settle down. The smell of scotch in my glass invaded my senses welcome. The silence surrounded me, finally.

For the last two days, I had too many alphas pulling at my nerves, chatting my ear off and testing my patience. How many times I had to dig my nails into my palm to calm down and keep my cool was growing into a near impossible feat. Thankfully, there were alpha's who were not testing my patience, keeping quiet and observing the rest. These alphas I actually had shreds of respect for. They had made simple documents that highlighted their pack's activities over the last year, the comings and goings of rogues and any requests they had were written in bullet form from greatest need to least needed. Some even had no requests.

Alpha Skylar never had a request in his documentation, not one. It was always a single or two page document with no requests, not even a inquiry about increasing his pack territory or getting outside funding.

Come to think of it, had he ever requested anything?

I pushed the thought away, too tense to think too much of it. I had two more days of this god awful gathering and then I could prepare my final decisions and announce them to the whole of the summit. Then I could easily be on my way home.

My phone beeped and I let loose a low rumbling growl. All day my phone had been going off nonstop. I was starting to get really annoyed at this point and picked up the offending item.

My sister, nosy as ever.

"Your sister is still hounding you?"

I glanced towards the spiral stairs descending from the second floor where the bedrooms were and huffed, "She's your wife and yes...she keeps going on and on about a she-wolf she met." I dropped the phone back on to the side table and huffed taking a swig of the scotch, enjoying how it burns down my throat.

"Oh? did she?" he took a seat on the long couch a couple feet away and began to pour himself some whisky. "Tabitha did say she would be busy with Alpha Skylars wife and daughter the next few days, she's taken a real shine to that little pup."

"Teagan please, I don't need her playing matchmaker." I'm beyond searching for a mate at this point. I've no interest in stumbling females trying to work their way into my bed.

"I can assure you, this little she-wolf is not like the rest, she's actually quite polite and dainty.' Teagan said, leaning back on the sofa. "Tabitha told me that their daughter hasn't asked about the king once, fancy that." he gives me a smirk making my brows furrow into a frown. "Just think, a wolf who isn't trying to throw herself at your feet."

"Fancy that, it's probably just some trick." I huff, getting more comfortable.

My ear twitches.

It's then I heard it.

The sound of a violin and someone vocalizing the tune drifts into the room from the open window. I temporarily become entranced with it. The sound is pleasant, it's sad, it's happy, it's....everything. I close my eyes again losing myself to the sound. It brings a strange calm to the tension I've been feeling.

"Teagan?"

"Yes Damian?"

I almost want to roll my eyes at him for the snarky tone he uses, but that would require me to open my eyes. "Your sister said the she-wolf plays the violin right?"

"Yup, she wanted you to let the girl play at the ball, why?" I can hear him pouring another glass of whisky.

"Arrange it."

"Pardon?" he questions, choking slightly on his drink. I opened my eyes again to look at him and pushed myself up from the armchair, walked over to the low coffee table and began to pour myself another scotch.

"I said," its a low growl that seeps from deep within my chest, warning for Teagan not to ask me a second time what I meant, "Arrange for the girl to play at the ball." my golden eyes flash in the dim light of the room as I make eye contact with my brother-in-law and beta, 'Do I have to repeat myself?"

Teagan swallows, a nervous smile playing on his face, "No...No, I got it loud and clear."

"Good, now tell Tabitha to stop messaging my phone or I'll break hers." I take my newly refilled cup and go back to the window, sinking down into the armchair and close my eyes. I let the melody fill my ears once more.

I know I have a temper, but I don't like repeating myself.

Something about this melody, makes me forget why I was annoyed with Teagan in the first place.

---------

Aria's POV

As the final notes of the melody faded away I felt much better, my mind had become a lot clearer.

Clap!Clap!Clap!

The sudden applause made me jump nearly out of my skin. I fumbled for my violin, almost dropping it as I turned around and let go an embarrassed laugh. My parents and Yulson stood in the doorway of the balcony smiling.

"That was lovely songbird." my mother praised coming over to take my violin.

"Thank-you, sorry I was so engrossed I didn't hear or sense you come in." I was still getting used to my heightened senses and you would think that I would be more in tune with things happening around me, but it seemed my nose and ears had decided to take a temporary vacation while I played.

"How was dinner?" I questioned, tilting my head.

"It was good, we brought you dessert." my father held up a plate with some red velvet cheesecake and I smiled excitedly,"I didn't een think of ordering dessert earlier."

"We figured you might not, and I remembered you asking about it at dinner the other night so we got you some." Yulson noted as he closed the balcony doors once we had all piled back into my suite.

I nodded happily, "thank-you, i appreciate it!"

My mother laughed lightly as she unwrapped the plate while taking it from my father and put it down on the table in the corner, "Come eat your dessert and then your father suggested we all have a movie night since we've been so busy, we can take some time to relax tonight." I really didn't deserve such good parents.

"Okay, I get to pick though!" I agreed

"As long as it isn't a sappy romance." Beta Yulson requested.

"No promises." I laughed.

I completely forgot why I had been stressed out the whole day, the feeling of walking on eggshells dissipating into nothingness.