Being the princess of all werewolves is not easy, but finding a mate is harder. Annabeth's royal life is turned upside down when she meets her mate, Kate.
Soon, she finds herself stuck between two choices: her duties to her family, and her love for...
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Dinner was pretty fun; it has been ages since the four of us went out to a nice restaurant and spend time together as a family. I even enjoyed Michael's company, what's more, to wish for.
Usually, Dad is too busy with work, Mom needs to correct more homework, and so on. But every year on my mother's birthday dad takes us all out for some fancy dining experience, no matter the costs. Well, except this year because he was away on a business trip with the king, and we postponed the dinner one week.
It's even fine having Michael back in the house, it was not as bad as I was expecting. Ann has a thing for good timing and managed to dodge him. But I'm not going to lie; I am still looking forward to him moving out though. I can't take this constant extra pair of eyes, it's like he is watching me.
The weather is surprisingly pleasant for mid-November. Of course, it's cold and clammy, but the heavy rains of the last weeks have stopped and now the first hoarfrost begins to cover the morning meadows.
We are still raving about the exceptionally good food, as we climb out of the car, relishing the exuberant atmosphere, until I spot something, making me screech in fear.
"Dad!" Pointing at the torn figure sprawled over the front lawn, I feel strong arms wrapping around me, pulling me into the safe embrace of my older brother, away from the corpse.
The distinct smell of blood fills the cool evening air. The metallic taste on the tip of my tongue seems to extend till it reaches the roof of my mouth, making me almost gag.
What the hell happened here?
An intangible fear is making its way from my guts into my heart, an oppressive feeling, all-encompassing as if it were threatening to swallow me up.
The quickening of my heartbeat and my faltering breath cause Michael to wrap his arms around me even more, to shield me from the dead creature, but it's no use. No matter how hard he tries, no matter where he turns me, trying to block my view... it's everywhere.
Scraps of flesh and fur torn from the bone lie in our front yard like a ghoulish Halloween decoration. Where the rest of the torso lies, a large pool of blood refuses to sink into the ground, as if even the earth repels the taste of this blood.
Whatever it was, whoever it was didn't even get the chance to shift back. What a horrible way to die.
I bury my face in my hands and try to fight nausea, but the stench makes it sheer impossible, and the metallic taste is soon accompanied by something sour.
"Stay with her!" Dad whispers to my mother before he gives Michael a firm nod and I can feel him returning it by the way his body moves.
Protect the weakest link, the most vulnerable member of the pack, that's the second most important rule we live by, right after: Protect the royal family.
Sadly, the weakling... that's me. Unable to defend me against anyone, unable to transform.
