I get up from the dining table and politely excuse myself. I lean down and give Mia a quick kiss on her right cheek and tell her goodnight.

"Sleep tight, my little queen." Mia says.

Anastasia shoots me a Cheshire cat grin.

I hurriedly climb up the stairs to my bed chamber and lock my door.

I throw off the heavy tiara and slip off my sash.

I run to the bathroom and grab the bottle of temporary hair dye. I quickly apply it on and a little while later, I am admiring the snowy white colour.

Too bad it's temporary, it really brings out my eyes.

I rummage through some cupboards for the spray tan. As soon as I find the can, I carefully follow the instructions.

My white hair makes a beautiful contrast to my now tan skin.

I can't even recognize myself anymore, I look like a goddess of sorts!

I glance at my phone for the time and see that I have at least fifteen minutes before Darcy arrives.

A purple hoodie is draped on my small sofa and I waste no time pulling it over my black spandex vest. I kick off my brown bear slippers but leave on the pink donut novelty socks and slip on a pair of comfortable black sneakers. I take my phone and shove it into my pocket.

I don't know if this looks nice for a party but I honestly don't care, I just want to have a good time.

I grab my phone and text Darcy to hurry up. I'm getting restless.

As if on cue, she pops up on my bed. A small girl clings onto her side.

"Who are you?" The little brown haired girl who I recognize as Darcy's eleven year old sister, Rosalia asks.

"You, out." Darcy teleports her sister away before I could even respond.

Darcy hops off my bed and I give her a once-over. Her dress is a simple light green body hugging dress that ends at her knees, showing off her curvaceousness and beautifully thick toned legs

Her shoes are glittery green strapped heels.

The most noticeable feature is her curled light brown hair with pink streaks in it. Guess I'm not the only one with a dye job.

"Your skin looks amazing!" She whispers.

"Thanks, it's really simple actually." I say sheepishly.

"No time to waste, we need to get going." She rushes to grab my hand.

The spinning starts immediately after I take her hand and I start feeling queasy. It takes every fibre of my being to not empty out my stomach's contents.

My eyes close involuntary because of the sharp gust of wind that swirls around us when the spinning stops.

"Come on, Chloe. Gamma girl and Beta boy are waiting for us." Darcy says as she grabs my hand and shoves me rather roughly into a black Lexus.

"Wow Chloe! Love the new look." Anastasia says from the passenger seat.

She is dressed in a white cashmere sweater and black leather pants. Her sleek black hair is in multiple braids and one braid has silver coloured ribbon spiralling around it. Her braids are tied up into a low ponytail.

Kaden, who is focused on the road, is in a maroon V-neck t-shirt and black ripped jeans. His deep brown hair is tousled.

All in all, he looks dangerously hot.

Darcy, on my right, utters a spell under her breath.

"What's that for?" I ask.

"To hide our scents, duh." She says matter-of-factly.

Anastasia turns up the radio just as a rap song plays.

Darcy and I start jabbering about how awful this track is with so many unnecessary profanities, while we get a few glares from Anastasia.

After about thirty minutes, we come across border patrol and we all had to identify ourselves.

"Anastasia Andersen, future Gamma."

"Kaden Staves, future Beta."

"Fliss! Meg!" Darcy and I say at the same time.

The guard checks me out before letting us pass and just like that, we are out of pack territory.

"You don't look like a Meg!" I mock Darcy.

"What the fuck is Fliss?" Anastasia bursts out laughing along with Darcy and Kaden chuckles.

Truth is, I don't know what I was thinking. I just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Doesn't matter, I'm never dressing up like this again." I huff. That guard was looking at me too lustfully for my liking.

We continue driving for what felt like hours, even though it was mere minutes.

Kaden pulls up in a clearing filled with music and flashy lights and many wolves. There has to be at least half a thousand people out here. And the party was in full swing.

Food and beverages sit on tables that lay scattered all around and between the crowd.

"Darcy, Chloe, welcome to your first party." Kaden says with a smirk.

"Our baby princesses grew up so fast." Anastasia wipes an invisible tear away.

"Remember, I'm Fliss and Darcy is Meg. No one can know that we were here. Especially not our parents." I say.

"Got it." The three of them say.

We all walk into the crowd and find a cozy spot near a table. We have a few drinks and some appetizers. "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons starts playing.

Just a young gun

With a quick fuse

I was uptight

Wanna let loose

I was dreaming of bigger things and

Wanna leave my old life behind.

Not a yes sir, not a follower...

"Do not take that piece of advice people. I don't need a rebellion on my case!" I shout over the music to Anastasia and Kaden who just laugh. Darcy gives me a smile and pulls me over to the heart of the party where the music is loudest.

"You're horrible at dancing, Floss!" Darcy shouts while dancing.

"Shut it, Meg! And it's Fliss!" I shout back.

It's so unfair that Darcy, who's never had a dance lesson in her life, is better than me at dancing. I've tried but it just doesn't come to me. So I just jump around and sway my hips to the beat.

"Dang she got moves!" I hear a group of guys say about Darcy.

I take this as my cue to escape the crowd and find Anastasia or Kaden. Preferably both of them.

I push and glide through a lot of people before I spot Kaden at our table.

"Why aren't you dancing!?" I shout.

"My mate isn't here." He sighs, "I want to go home. This was all a waste of my time."

"Well, if you're going, I'm going too. And if I go, Darcy goes and if we all go, Anastasia goes. So if you want to go, we'll come with." I said while reassuringly rubbing his arm.

He sighs. "I can't do that to you guys. Go, Chloe. Have fun. Don't be down because I am."

"No. I came here to have fun with my friends and that's what I plan on doing. Come on!" I drag Kaden by his arm.

"Chloe please don't." He protests. But I am not taking no for an answer.

I pull him to the crowd and dance with him.

"Come on Kadie, dance with me!"

He finally gives in and starts moving in tune to the music.

After a few moments, we're both dancing like crazy, not caring who's watching.

"Chl- Fliss!! Kaden!" Anastasia shouts and runs to us with Darcy on her heels.

She says something to the pretty girl she was chatting with and leaves her.

"We need to talk." She says and pulls us to our table.

"You're both sober, right?" She asks wearily.

"Of course, it would take much much more than a few glasses to get us drunk. And Chloe doesn't drink." Kaden responds.

Anastasia inhales sharply and starts talking. " I found my mate."

I open my mouth to congratulate her but she cuts me off.

"Guys, there's no easy way for me to say this. M-my mate is...is.." her breath hitches.

I immediately assume the worst and think that her mate's already with someone. Or that her mate rejected her.

My blood starts boiling and I let out a loud growl.

"Did he reject you?" I growl out through gritted teeth.

"No. No. Chloe, calm down." She gives me a hug." My mate is..a girl" she whispers the last part out so only Kaden and I can hear.

All my anger dissipates and I hug Anastasia back. I get why she is so nervous about telling us this.

Kaden joins in and it becomes a group hug.

"I thought you were rejected." Kaden says.

"So, nothing changes between us?" Anastasia asks with her head down.

"Of course not! The only change is that we won't get your full attention anymore." Kaden and I sulk.

Anastasia gives a little chuckle and tells us to wait while she gets her mate for us to meet.

The girl Anastasia was talking to before comes to us and politely says hi.

"Guys, this is Kella, Kella these are my friends, soon-to-be royal Beta Kaden and..."

"Should I tell her your real name?"She mind links me.

I give her a nod.

"This is Alpha princess Chloe, the current crown princess of the werewolves. And you've already met princess Darcy of the witches." Anastasia says to Kella.

Kella starts laughing.

"But that's Meg," she points to Darcy, "and she's Meg's friend Fliss." She looks at me.

Kaden and Anastasia both tense up.

Did she indirectly call me a peasant? Kasey growls

Calm yourself, Kasey.

"Woah, calm down Fliss." Kella says in a soft voice.

"That's Alpha princess to you, peasant." My voice drops and sounds huskier and richer. Kasey took control.

My eyes are probably black as night.

Kella looks terrified and Anastasia runs to stand in front of her.

"Please Chloe." She looks at me with pleading eyes.

"Sorry, Kella. In fact, let's all forget this drama and just dance. Darcy and I might never get the chance to party again." I say and manage to pull a witch princess, the future royal Gamma pair and future royal Beta back into the mob of dancing wolves.

We dance together in a group and Kella shows me some simple dance moves I can actually imitate.

I've been everywhere

Man, looking for someone

Someone who can please me

Love me all night long...

How cliche and expected for them to play "Where have you been" by Rihanna at a mating party? Very.

I sway my hips to the beat, then catch a whiff of a very appetizing smell. Cedar and fresh pine trees with peppermint infused in it.

The smell is coming from my left, without realizing it, I am moving closer to the delicious scent.

Even Kasey is running wild, chanting one word. The one word I've been dreading to hear since I got here.

Mate.

Oh hell no! I bolt in the opposite direction, trying to hide from whoever my mate is.

I can't I can't I can't I can't!!

Why are we running from mate? Kasey whimpers.

Mate will be in danger if we find him. I promise Kasey, when Kenneth is dealt with we-

No! I want mate now! He can help us!

Kasey fights me for control and I find myself on the ground kneeling in a position that would be very shameful if I wasn't in an internal war with my wolf.

Kasey no!

Shut up human!

My legs stand up on their own and turn around and walk into the direction I was running from.

No!

I turn around and run in the opposite direction. Kasey isn't making this easy for me at all. My canines painfully elongate and my fingers morph into silvery grey claws.

Fur sprouts from my entire body and I feel myself losing control. No! I try to gain control but I'm stuck.

I am in limbo, right between human form and wolf form.

The delicious scent gets stronger.

Yes! Kasey cheers.

No! I oppose.

My long canines that were reaching my chin retract and the grey fur sprouting everywhere disappear. Even my ugly claws morph back into my normal fair hands.

My plain brown hair hides my face like a curtain.

No! No! My disguise!

I only half-shifted, but my hair is back to its normal color. My clothes have stretched and now appear big on me.

I stand up and continue running, then crash into a hard chest. The alluring scent emanates from him. His burly arm wraps around my waist, pleasurable tingles arose where our skins made contact.

He gently pushes my hair away from my face and tucks them behind my ears.

"So beautiful."

A deep husky voice that makes my insides churn rings through my ears.

Kasey purrs at the sound of our mate's voice.

Look at him, dumbass.

I slowly raise my head, taking in the wild raven black hair and sharp jawline. His stormy grey eyes look at mine with nothing but adoration.

A wave of deja Vu hits me.

Lorenzo. Is. My. Mate.

Did he just speak?