Chapter 3: Hiding in the moonlight

While Vanessa and Eric were dancing, her father and Richard were discussing and Richard made an angry look." King George what is your daughter doing ?" said Richard's father. "She is supposed to choose Richard not this... this werewolf" he said with disgust.

"And who is he ? Do you know him ? Is that your way to embarrass my son in front of everyone ?" he said with an angry tone.

" Father please calm down, don't make a scene here, it's not the moment for that." said Richard trying to calm his father "I'm sure Vanessa has a good explanation of this situation."

After the music stops, another one begins and everyone joins us in the dance floor. I led Eric to quit the dance floor and introduce him to my father "father let me introduce you Eric LeLoup and ..." he didn't let me finish my sentence and say "honey what are you doing ? You're supposed to dance with Richard, not this stranger who is not even a vampire. You know the rules : a vampire can only marry a vampire and a werewolf can only marry a werewolf."

" But rules can change , I said abruptly "I will be the Queen and I'll change them".

Then Eric took the floor and said " without any offense your Highness, but I think that your daughter can make herself her own choice about who she is about to marry." "How dare you speak without our king inviting you" said Richard with a yelling tone.

" With all my respect but you're not my king so I have no obligation to obey you" replied Eric.You are here in my territory as a guest so the least you could do is to respect me.

Moreover she is my daughter, I know what is best for her and for our kingdom and it won't be a foolish werewolf like you who will give me a lesson" yelled father and deafening silence immediately filled the ballroom with all the eyes of every guest.

Then the Alpha of Eric's pack took the floor and said " it is true that we are here as guests but he is under my command so you have no right to talk to him like that, your highness. And now Eric I want you to get away from this vampire princess."

"Vanessa I want you to do the same and let Richard escort you to your room" said my father with a commanding voice.

" What is wrong with all of you ?" I replied to my father with a tear falling from my eye and went through my cheek to my upper lip.

Then I ran away from the ballroom to go to the garden and then exiting from the frontal door, I can see Eric trying to catch me and yelling "Vanessa wait ! Please wait for me !" I stumbled on my feet because my dress was too long and fell down in the grass. Eric catches me, helps me to stand up and whispers in my ears "are you alright ? What do you think you are doing running like that ?"

Then he tore the bottom of my dress leaving my legs completely naked and said "here, you can run faster now". Without saying a word I saw my father, Richard and guards running in our direction then Eric saw them, took my hand and said "come with me".

We ran as fast as we could and finally reached the door that led to the outside of the castle. We hid behind the gates of the castle letting my father and the guards pass in front of us then we went back to our steps. He took up the hill where the view was completely breathtaking, the city lights were shining and we could see the full red moon in its splendor, there was a leafless tree next to us. We were there no one saying a word for a while then he break the silence saying " seen from far away, the branches of this leafless tree seem to hold the moon. I noticed that when I got up here ." "How did I not notice this view earlier ?" I replied. The amazement in her face fascinates me. It was priceless.

Then she asked me "why did you help to escape from my father earlier ?" and I replied to her "because you seem to need a break and to forget about all of your problems I mean your duties". She replied to me with a soft voice " well then thank you very much ! I'll owe you one ". "I didn't do it for a favor but ..." I said but she didn't let me finish my sentence and said " I know but it will help me feel better to give you the same things one day because what I feel now I never felt before it's a feeling of freedom. This is the first time I feel so free, I had always been this perfect princess in everyone's eyes. I want to help you to feel the same one day too because it's amazing to feel like that. » « I'm happy that you feel like that » I finally said.