Advice

Brianna paced down the marble hall as she clenched her fist while the clanking of her heels echoed. She had never fought with her friends. They were like sisters. Inseparable. That is why she trusted Adelaide with her secret.Adelaide was a joker. She was never too serious. It wasn't who she was. Brianna knew this but the pressure of her revealing who her mate is almost made her lose it.She knows she never would betray her, but with all eyes looking at her to pick and marry she couldn't even have a say. People just expect her to do the right thing. But what was the right thing? Going with what people wanted? Or what she wanted?But this wasn't Adelaide's fault, ultimately it was Brianna's responsibility. Her burden. It wasn't her fault that the universe puppeteer her to be with a wolf. Her friend was just playing a joke. But that joke was no joke. Instead her mere reality.

Brianna stopped as she faced the blooming garden and pinched the bridge of her nose whispering to herself" Shit, I'm so stupid, stupid, stupid." Brianna wanted to slap herself.

" Dumb ass. Adelaide didn't do a single thing. Why? Why did I allow myself to be controlled by my emotions?" She thought as she sighed. What will she do now? Obviously ask her for forgiveness, she wouldn't allow a pretty conversation or man come between her friendship. But how? What were the right words? Would she forgive her? Adelaide had been there since the beginning, through humiliation,trial, war, and ridicule. On days, she didn't want to face the public, she did so with Adelaide help pushing and motivating her to stand tall. She always made the effort to build her as a Princess. She couldn't have without her presence. She would have been nothing more than an insecure foolish girl. Adelaide was someone who didn't trust easily. She would get frightened and never return. I'm going to lose her. I'm going to lose her trust. Her stomach twisted from lack of food but more so the emotion of losing her friend.

While the breeze of the wind led him to wherever Michael walked through the fancy lavishly decorated halls of the vamps.Running his hand through his face. He pondered over Aurora's proposal. He already knew his answer. But everyone expected him to say yes. She was from a royal family, an alpha, prominent figure with the tribe. Yet he felt nothing, she was just an extended family member. She probably had her mate, and he has his. Though she probably never thought of this as the first time she laid eyes on him. She was enchanted. Ever since he has treated her with passive kindness but he was never interested. He was vocal about it, but she never gave up. He even had to beg his poor sister to take care of her so he could tend to his pack. Of course he could just reject his mate. But he had just met her. Well officially the first they had crossed paths without a thought of possibility it could be one another. Why would they ever? He was waiting for his she-wolf, and Brianna, her beloved. Neither of them expected this game of star crossed lovers. Odds being greater than any possibility. They would likely kill one another before accepting each other as mates. He turned the corner as he stopped in his tracks.

Speaking of the devil.

There she was like a fierce angel lost in thoughts. She was still beautiful even with the lack of accessories. Firm posture, steady gaze, unmoving ways.They were finally in the same place. Same roof. Alone. Without lingering eyes or overhearing ears to prevent them. This could be their possibility. He walked forward without hesitation hopefully able to observe or make a choice on what to do.

" Princess." Michael warmly greeted her hoping a well equaled welcoming.

" Prince." Brianna said crisply without batting an eye to her. She sensed him when he turned the corner and debated approaching her. His scent was really annoying.She was rigid as a box, her facial muscles didn't even flex to produce an ounce of emotion. She was more concerned with Adelaide than her own mate standing in front of her.

" Guess yesterday's smiles and giggles are gone." He attempted to lighten the mood as she rolled her eyes. There was something clearly bothering her? Was it him? No. He had just arrived. It might have been her petty drama or perfect little royal self that didn't receive the respect she deserved.

Brianna didn't even want to amuse him. He was the reason why she had just yelled at her best friend yet again she couldn't blame him unjustly for her mistake. She made a pronounced sigh to get through to Michael that she did not want his presence. " I'm not interested in your little tomfoolery prince. If you want to bother someone, go and harass someone else." He was all jest and witticism so how could he take this seriously.

Michael carried a wrinkled brow. Surprised by her reaction. He was trying to be nice. He was hoping to be shown some hostility. He thought that by the little time they spent yesterday she would be sweet. Not the heartless demon he knew vampires to be. But what could he expect? She was one of them after all. If he expected that just by them being mates it would change her, he would prove himself wrong. He shoved his hands into his pockets as he retorted " I didn't know that basic etiquette was so rare to you Brianna."

Brianna's eyes widened. How dare he be so casual with her. Cocky Bastard. Only close friends or family addressed each other by their names. She knew he knew this so why act as if he didn't know this? Or rather to disregard her. " Don't use my name formally, Prince. We aren't close. "

"Respect me, and I'll respect you." Michael added as he looked at her.

" Fine." Brianna gritted her teeth as she crossed her arms and spoke with much sacrastim. " What would you like from me, your royal highness? " She spoke without an ounce of care. If he could get out of her way she would have probably come up with a way to approach Adelaide.

Michael felt speechless. What was wrong with her? Was she this rude when all the faces were hiding? Bluntly rude and ill approached. Mocking him as if he were raised with a silver spoon that she wasn't. She had know idea what he faced to even stand in front of his father? What makes her special? Then for a moment her facade slipped and the same face appeared, the same one she held yesterday at the ball after the fiasco with her cousin. But the difference was she felt saddened, not upset. This was not visible to the nake eyes but he could sense distress. Distress. Could vampires feel such a thing? They were empty beings with little wants. But they were still beings. Maybe even the most emptiest of people can feel the tugging in their hearts. Looking for redemption. He breathed in and out. Just once he would give her a chance.Once. " What disturbs you?"

" Nothing." Brianna lied as she thought about the endless things that were. What was disturbing her? Oh plenty. The fact that she fought with her best friend over him. The fact her mate was a wolf. The fact that the wolf standing in front of her was her beloved. The fact she had to choose to reject him or not. The fact that if she did she would be disowned. The fact that if she didn't it would change anything. The fact that everything relied on her. Basically, nothing was wrong.

" I sincerely doubt that Princess. I know us royals have to hide our emotions, so I can recognize the masquerade. You don't have to hide. I'm just here to listen."

" You don't know when to call it quits, do you?"

" No, I don't. Unfortunately I can't find it in my character. You know since I'm an alpha and what not."

She felt like her head could explode at this moment. There were not many individuals she could talk to that she trusted. Even though he was her beloved she didn't exactly trust him. They had just met, still somewhat bare enemies. Not even love could trick her. It was about self preservation. Preservation. But what did she have to preserve? Her pride? It was her pride that had gotten her into this mess. Though maybe if she could. For an instance, Let her pride go. Let her guard down. She could find a resolve. " No. Yes." Brianna quickly stammered. Her mouth moved without thought. Curse her damn human half breed self.

Michael smirked to provide self satisfaction. He guessed she did have feelings. Or at least worries. " Is it a yes or no?"

Brianna stared at her feet and back at the flowers. Fuck it. She had come this far. " It's a yes."

" May I provide aid?" He asked sincerely.

" I don't know if you can. It's something personal." Brianna confessed not alluding to anything more than a preface on what she was dealing with.

"Personal you say." Michael paused as he had not considered the possibility of her dealing with issues of her own. Maybe she knew they were mates. Was she going through the same denial? Was this her issue?

" Yes." Brianna affirmed as he looked at her. " I just fought with my best friend Duchess Adelaide." Michael recalled the pink haired slim girl that stood next to her the night before,observant as a hawk and a word of few words. Both seemed similar in exactly the same way. What could they possibly have argued about? " She was just playing a stupid joke when I reacted badly and offended her."

" You're asking me how to ask her for forgiveness?" Michael squinted at the possibility. Was she that prideful that she couldn't bow her head down to say sorry to her friend.

Get over yourself. He wanted to say but held his tongue just in case he would start an argument. Not wanting anymore resentment between the two clans.

Wasn't a friend supposed to be a confidant whom you could be authentically yourself? An adoptive brother or sister of life, even if blood was evident the bond was stronger than it.

If she could not know the meaning of friendship, how could she know the meaning of love?

Brianna shook her head , " I'm asking you how I can get her to trust me again." Michael head shot up, eyes lingering on her. " Forgiveness is just the start. I would bow to get her to forgive me but how do I get her to trust me afterwards. I frightened her without cause."

Michael stood without saying a word,absorbing what she just had spoken. Did he just misheard or did it actually sound to him that she was concerned. Like she had a piece of conscious. She sighed snapping him of his thoughts. Right, he needed to give advice. But what enlightenment could he give. " Well I assume you are friends of years. " He paused looking at her as she nodded tightly. " I think the best would be to apologize and giving her time. She might be cautious around you for a while but once the relationship you carried before but if you were true best friends you will give her the time she needs. And within that time she will recognize that you were simply upset. After all, friends should know the true intentions of one another."

She remained silent for a moment. Absorbing his advice. It was not what she expected, at this point what could she expect. Left was right and right was left. " Thank you Prince Michael, your guidance is much appreciated. "

He pulled his brows together sensing some sincerity within her words. Truth in the nemesis statement. That was a first. Maybe she was just going through personal sentiments just like anyone else would? " Whenever you need someone, I'll be hear to listen." The words unseemly rolled off his lips. Strange. His mouth moved without thought, just as if his heart had spoken for him instead of his mind.

Were his words genuine? Would he keep such a promise? Brianna wondered as she fiddled with her pearl necklace.

" And forgive me, I didn't mean to be rude. Just a lot of my mind." Brianna apologized as she finally turning her head. Her hazelnut brimming eyes meeting his ocean ones. There was something in that moment that clicked.No hostility. No brimming fire to kill one another. Just them in an upside down world. Making it the beginning of something extraordinary. Pushing and pulling.

Michael internally smiled. Maybe she wasn't so heartless. Maybe there was something in that cold dead heart. " It's alright. We all get emotional about our loved ones."

" Yes, we do." Brianna agreed as they stared at each other lost in their words and gaze.