Chapter Three

When I woke up the next morning, I recalled what had happened to me the previous night so I checked out myself from a mirror, my eyes didn’t look dull anymore instead, the color seemed to have changed and a hint of silver seemed to be mixed within, my skin was soft, smooth and flawless, the shocking aspect was that all injuries, whether old or new had healed. Then it dawned to me.

Was that my shift!

Why would my shift cause my body to undergo such a huge change?

I couldn’t recall what I had seen but I was absolutely sure that I had undergone my first shift, which meant I was a werewolf.

I had a wolf!

I tried to call out to her in my head but there was no response. I didn’t let that discourage me and ruin my mood. Since I had woken up earlier than expected and it gave me enough time to prepare breakfast for a lot of people. Brian and Elizabeth had their friends coming over so I had to prepare enough food for everyone. Breakfast consisted of chicken and onion dumpling with cilantro sauce, potato pancake and lemon cream, pancakes with marple syrup and chocolate pudding for dessert.

When my mother and siblings woke up, they didn’t give a damn about me, all of them were fussing about the Mate Choosing most especially Elizabeth who wanted to begin her skincare routine in time. As their friends showed up, it was so much worse having people around with all of them talking about the same thing. I quietly returned to my room to wait for the time to go by, I doubted that anyone noticed my absence which was a very good thing because I didn’t want a bruise on my perfect skin.

That evening, the house was soon filled with people, chatter and laughter. As I approached the living room, everyone seemed to be waiting for someone, at some point while I was in my room, my father had showed up and he was discussing with his Beta. As usual, no one noticed my presence, all I wanted was for them to leave so I could get myself ready.

Brian and Elizabeth showed up hand in hand amidst cheers from their peers, Brian was dressed in a black tuxedo looking like a perfect gentleman while Elizabeth who was tall and slender was elegantly draped a one shoulder ruffle overlay white sheath gown, her brown hair curled softly around her oval face and her long lashed hazel brown eyes were clear and cool. They were the perfect children anyone except me would wish for.

“We are going to be late, let’s get going!” I locked eyes with Patricia, she sends a sad smile to my way but I ignored it.

“Davina!” My father called out in an authoritative tone. “Make sure that the house is well decorated for our return. I don’t want my children’s mate to meet this place in a mess”

“Yes alpha” I bowed down deeply.

Soon the house was empty, there was a smirk on my face, I knew that I wasn’t returning after my departure so I might as well give them a goodbye present. The chances of me meeting my mate was slim but there was still a chance.

I took a warm bath and I enjoyed it but I didn’t spend so much time because I had to get to the Choosing grounds, I immediately got to work on my make up, something I had spent years to secretly learn and perfect and thankfully some of Elizabeth’s friends had forgotten their make-up kits so it was a gain for me. I also put on gown, followed by the jewelries and heels.

When I was done, I checked a full length mirror and was surprised at what I saw, I was different, a girl but I looked very matured in a dangerously sexy way, my skin was soft as the silk red gown: it was a silk gown with subtle scoop neckline that revealed teasing hints of my breast, open strappy back and high side slit, it’s classic line accentuated my softly rounded figure as it clung to my curves. My hair was arranged on top of my head in an elegant and sophisticated style with a pin to hold it in place, my lips were the painted red, my eyes were the colors of sapphire, sparkling and shining, beautiful with the dark eyeshadow and eyeliner.

No one from the pack would recognize me if they saw me at this very moment.

For the first time in a very long time, I felt beautiful. I traced my hand over the golden embroidery designs on the gown and I genuinely smiled. I wore the fur cloak which was held in place by a brooch pin, before elegantly leaving my house for the last time but I didn’t forget to pen down a note for my family.

I was free.

I followed a path through the back of the house, I had to leave my pack’s territory before my absence was discovered. I arrived at a road, cars were driving past me all towards a direction. The Choosing grounds. My feet were starting to hurt from walking so much on heels but I kept moving.

Suddenly a black Rolls Royce slowed down and was moving in the same pace as me, I ignored it and kept moving. One of the tinted windows was rolled down, a man pushed his head out

“Princess, where have you been? You got us so worried” The car stopped in front of me and two men got out. One was red haired and the other had green eyes.

“What do you want? Who are you?” I was confused why this men called me princess.

“Your highness, you thought you could fool us by changing your scent and outfit?” The red haired man chuckled.

“But-” I didn’t have a chance to speak.

“I almost got fooled by your makeover” The green eyed man laughed.

“You look like you’re ready for your mate, I thought you were not so enthusiastic. Come in, we should leave.”

I was confused but I let them lead me to the car as I tried to explain. “I think you have the wrong person, I’m not your princess.”

They burst into laughter. “You are Princess Davina Alisha Andronov, the only child of the royal family” The car started and the direction was the Choosing grounds. “Playtime’s over.”

What!

This men thought I was the princess. I felt so confused. How come I looked like the princess? The makeup!

I didn’t try to protest anymore as I entered the car because they won’t listen to any of my protests, I assumed that the princess was at the Choosing grounds and the best I could do was apologize when they realized their mistake. As we approached the ceremony grounds, I was hit with the fresh scent of vanilla with a hunt of strawberries, it was like I could taste it.

The car pulled to a stop in an area where other cars were parked, the red haired man suddenly got out of car and held out a hand towards me. I accepted it and steadily stepped out of the car, I was nervous on the inside and tried not to show it. I couldn’t imagine the looks on the faces of the two men when they realize that they got the wrong person but I hoped that they let me off since it was their mistake.

The two men took their places by my side, with me being in the middle, we walked through a path which led to a building, my eyes widened at the sight of the magnificent structure before me. The lights illuminated the building’s entrance, I could see some people laughing and holding conversations. The green eyed man chuckled lightly at my reaction. “I’m surprised this caught your fancy, the castle is more magnificent than this and you’re hardly fazed.”

I tried not to roll my eyes at his words. “I’m just surprised, that’s all.” I tried to compose myself and act like how the princess would, I couldn’t blow my cover just yet. The words ‘You ae the princess, act like her’ was on repeat in my head.

“Yeah, yeah. You are always busy training and you never have the time to notice other things. We expected you to ditch us halfway here but I didn’t expect the change of outfit-” The green eyed man said and stopped midway.

“Where is your crown, your highness?”

I totally forgot about that! What is a princess without her crown to complete her looks. I thought of an excuse. “ I must have dropped it somewhere?”

They both facepalmed. “How could you lose it? What would the queen say?”

“I’m sorry.” I stared at the ground.

“You should not submit to us princess, Blaze might just surprise us.”

The red haired man whose name was Blaze walked away and returned few seconds later with a silver tiara in his hand. “Good thing, I always have an extra.”

My eyes was on the tiara, it was glittering and looked very expensive. ‘It would be able to get a lot from this if I sell it’ I tried not to let my inner thoughts show on my face. “That’s weird.”

“I’m better than Ron when it comes to thinking ahead. I might not be a fighter but I’m smarter.” Blaze ran a hand through his hair and winked. From his words I understood that he was a healer while Ron was probably a warrior. While I was deep in thoughts, he took that chance to place the tiara on my hair. “Gorgeous!”

As I snapped back to reality, I noticed the gaze of some people on me, they whispered amongst themselves but it didn’t seem like they were saying anything bad. Some was bold enough to try and approach me but the glare from the two men with me was enough to stop them. “Can we go in?” I wasn’t comfortable with the attention I was receiving.

“Sure!” As we walked to the main entrance, people bowed their heads and made way for us. I smiled as I walked past them, not wanting to act rude since I wasn’t supposed to bow to them.

I allowed the guards to lead me to a room where a woman was waiting, she immediately got to her feet as she saw me. “Your highness.” She bowed in my direction.

“You may raise your head.” I carefully said and she complied. Since the people with me didn’t say anything, I was assured that I had said the right thing.

She gave me a badge, when I collected it, I looked at it in confusion. On it was,

Princess Davina Alisha Andronov, Beauty (10/10), Strength (8/10), Rank (Beta).

I was taken aback by this, the princess strength was took me by surprise. I could be able to pass off as her in terms of appearance but I was no Beta neither do I have the strength of one. She opened the red brocade box that was with her, in it, was a gold bracelet.

I was dumbfounded! I understood the meaning behind the bracelet. There was usually a ceremony for every eligible female wolf, I don’t know the details since my father never signed me up for it. It was used to rank the strength of every female wolf, at the end of it, they are issued a gold, silver or bronze bracelet. From what I’ve heard, it was rare for a female to get a gold bracelet, most are assigned with a silver. I kept on receiving new surprises thanks to the princess and at that point, I was scared. There was no sign of the real princess yet, what if there had to be a display of strength? I was no Beta or fighter, what would I do? I found myself lost in my thoughts again as I was being led to the hall where the ceremony will be taking place.

Could anything else go wrong? Who knows.