"You smell like a dog," I laughed, turning on the shower.

"Not as much as you," Edmond said, glancing at me as I stepped into the large, glass enclosure.

"Do you, uh, want to get in with me?" I asked nervously.

"Um. I've never showered with anyone before."

"I'm sure it's the same as showering alone, but with someone in the shower with you."

We both glanced around the room while washing ourselves. It was the closest I'd ever been to a naked man. I did my best to not look at him, which was ridiculous. We were about to mark one another. This was going to become our norm.

"Are you okay?" he asked, reaching for his soap.

"Uh huh. I'm good. You?"

"I'm fine. You sure?"

"Yup."

"El, you're as red as a tomato and staring at the ceiling."

"Oh, I know."

"You can look at me?"

"Yup. I can."

"Not going to?" he asked.

"Not yet."

"Nervous?"

"Just a little bit."

He chuckled lightly and rinsed himself as I washed my face.

My heart thudded in my chest when his hand brushed my shoulder. My inner wolf whined and pawed to get out.

Nope. You stop that.

Knocking interrupted us as we finished up.

"Are you done?"

"Almost," Edmond called out.

"Are you both in there?" the voice asked.

"Yes. We were told to shower. So we showered."

"Together?"

"Yes. Together."

"Disgusting," the voice said.

"Harmony!" I screamed. "Get out of my suite!"

"You don't own the castle. Stop being a damn brat."

"Get out!" Edmond roared over her. "She does own the suite. It is our room. Not yours!"

"Harmony. For the love of Goddess. Why can't you just stop! Go to the ballroom. Now!" I heard mother yell at her.

"I believe King Orsand will have a conversation with her later," I heard the soft voice of Queen Amelia drift through the door once the water was off.

"I've had it with her, Edmond. I swear I'm going to kill her."

"Calm down, love. I know. She's really trying my patience too."

"Did we have to invite her?"

"She's Alex's mate. We did."

I sighed heavily. "Did he have to come? He's just as bad."

Edmond wrapped a towel around my body and pulled me close. I think I stopped breathing when I felt his hot, wet flesh against mine.

"He at least knows when to hold his tongue and knows his place in the ranking. Your sister..."

"Is an asshole?"

"To put it kindly," he muttered. "I can't believe you two are related."

"Neither can I." I took a deep breath. "I guess, we really aren't. She's just wolf. I'm the daughter of Artemis who just hitched a ride for 9 months."

Edmond laughed and wrapped a towel around his waist. "Are we allowed to do our own hair?"

"Who knows," I mumbled. "We haven't been able to decide anything else so I'm going to say nope."

"Okay, you two. Let's get moving!" Queen Amelia called. "It's not getting any earlier. Guests are arriving!"

"We're coming," I called.

"Edmond, out there. Phil and the other men will help you dress and try to do something with your hair," Queen Amelia sighed. "It's always such a mess."

He shook his head and sauntered to the other side of the room.

"And Ellie, my dear. Here. Here. Let's get you dressed and that beautiful silver hair done."

The housemaids closed the bedroom door and got to work on turning me into a princess. I was handed new white, lace undergarments to change into. They had me sit at a chair in front of my vanity mirror as Henry, the Queen's stylist stepped behind me.

"Hello, cupcake. Let's make you a Queen!"

"Princess," I corrected.

"Let's make you as beautiful as a Queen," he laughed.

"You're the master."

"Damn right, I am."

I sat as he moved all around my head curling and twisting my hair into an intricate updo while another, younger woman, concentrated on my face.

"Is there a lot of sparkle to the gown?" she asked.

"It's hanging over there, dear," a plump, older woman wearing a long black maid's uniform said.

"Oh, that's...old."

"It's from the beginning times. It is Queen Diana's wedding gown."

"Wedding?"

"The ceremony they had before the marking ceremony."

"Okay. Cool. Yeah, it's retro. It's vintage. I can work with that."

She pulled various eye shadow pallets from a bag and held them up before settling on a two different ones.

It felt like an eternity before they finished.

"The sun is nearly down!" Queen Amelia announced. "We need to finish and get the prince and princess to the ballroom!"

"The dress." The older, plump woman snapped at a younger girl who stood in a corner.

She nervously picked up the dress and brought it to me, helping me step into it as a rush of ladies came forward to snap and lace everything in to place.

The soft fabric felt nice against my skin.

The delicate shoes, which were new, were slipped onto my feet before I was taken to a full-length mirror.

"Wow," I said, staring at myself. "I can't believe this is me."

I heard my mom gasp and sniffle.

"Ma?"

"You just look so beautiful. Like a princess."

"That's because she is a princess. Except for one thing," Queen Amelia said.

"What?"

"This." She held up a tall black box.

I took the lid off and my eyes grew as wide as saucers. The most beautiful tiara rested on a blue pillow within.

"King Orsand's great-great-great grandfather had this made for his queen for their marking ceremony. Ever queen, or princess, since then has worn it on this incredibly wonderful and special day."

"Your majesty..."

"Nope. You do not call me that."

"What?" I looked at her puzzled.

"Mom."

"What?"

"Call me mom."

"Re-really?"

She nodded, a tear sliding down her face. "If that's okay with you." She looked at my mother.

"Of course! I would be honored!."

"I've always wanted a daughter. And Ellie, you are everything I dreamed a daughter would be. I would love it if you called me mom."

I nodded and burst into tears before hugging both women.

"No! No! No tears!" the young woman yelled, storming to me. "Your mascara and eyeliner will run!"

She patted my cheeks and dug through her box again. "I guess we are going with waterproof. I wasn't expecting tears."

The room burst into laughter as she touched up my already-streaked makeup before we left the bedroom to find Edmond standing there in his outfit.

"Wow," we both said.

"You look incredible!" he gushed.

"You're so handsome. Edmond..."

"Oh, my baby," Queen Amelia sobbed.

Her crying just triggered my own mother to start crying.

"Why is there so much crying in here?" King Orsand asked, popping his head in. "Everyone's waiting!"

"Sorry, dear. We're just, our babies," she continued to sob.

"You two. You look like royalty."

"We are, dad," Edmond laughed.

"Ellie, you look breathtaking."

"Thank you, your majesty."

"Nope. It's dad now."

I nodded, trying to hold back the tears.

"Now, let's go before we have a castle full of angry wolves!"

"Sweetheart!" My father hugged me tight, kissing my cheek. "You are absolutely gorgeous. My baby."

"Thanks, dad."

"Are you ready?"

I nodded. "I think so."

"We have two hours till the full moon rises. Let's go eat, drink and be merry!" Queen Amelia stated.

We walked to the ballroom, the same ballroom Edmond and I had met in not long ago. How was I to know that evil creatures invading our land would lead me to my mate and to the throne of all wolfdom?

"Dear, after we're introduced, we need to talk," King Orsand whispered to me. "It's about our friends to the north."

"Oh, yes. Of course."

"What friends?" Edmond asked.

"I'll tell you later."

He pursed his lips and nodded.

"Are you ready?" Phil asked, standing in his finest tux, smiling at Edmond and me.

"Yeah. Yes. Yeah?" Edmond looked at me.

His face was flushed and I could hear his heart thumping like a hummingbird's wings within his chest.

"Yes."

"Okay. Here goes."

He motioned for the two guards to open the doors and stepped forward before heralding us in.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Beta Kenrick and Lady Catherine of Moon Mist."

Everyone within the ballroom gave the appropriate applause.

"Their majesties, King Orsand and Queen Amelia!"

The room erupted into cheers and applause. They really were beloved by all the realm.

"And, finally after a long wait, their royal highnesses, Prince Edmond and Princess Elanor."

I could feel goosebumps traveling up my arms as we stepped into the spotlight. There were hushed whispers and gaps before the applause started. Then the cheers. And finally, the entire room erupted into complete joy.

I saw Ashley standing near our table jumping up and down. Crying and shouting. Harmony stood there, arms crossed, glaring at me. Alex clapped but kept his gaze down.

Music started once we reached the middle of the room.

I looked around, confused, as Edmond grasped my hand and pulled me close.

"We dance," he whispered.

He twirled me around the room as people clamored to watch. It was the first time I really, really felt like a princess.

The music shifted to another song and everyone was invited to join us.

"Another go?" he asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, let's have another go."

We danced for hours it seemed. When we finally stopped, Edmond walked me to the table.

"I'll get us drinks."

I nodded and sat down.

"Oh my Goddess! Look at you! You're a freaking princess!" Ashley screamed, hugging me.

"I know. It's crazy right? This is all crazy. This isn't real."

"Congratulations," Alastair said while bowing.

"Thank you."

"Congratulations, El...I mean Princess Elanor."

"Um, thanks, Alex," I mumbled, not looking at him.

"Whatever. Let's go," Harmony snapped, grabbing Alex by the hand and dragging him away.

"Do you want me to beat her up? I can beat her up."

"Nah. I'm not letting her misery ruin today."

Edmond returned with my drink and we talked with Ashley and Alastair until the music stopped.

"Alright. The full moon is at its peak," Queen Amelia announced. "And we all know what time that means."

"You ready?" Edmond asked.

I nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

He took my hand and led me to the balcony. "Thank you. Everyone. For being here. It's an incredible thing to find your mate. It's like filling a hole you had no idea was empty."

We walked through the heavy drapes, watching as two guards closed them and two more stood at the entrance ensuring our privacy.

"No!" a scream came from somewhere within the ballroom.

"You have to be kidding," Edmond groaned.

"This has to stop! Edmond! I love you!"

"Is that..."

"How did she even get in here?"

Savannah.

I peaked through the curtains and watched as people gasped. She looked like a full in a bright pink taffeta gown.

"It's my turn! This is my ball! I'm the princess! I'm the princess!" she screamed.

She managed to make it half way across the room before four guards wrangled her and all of her dressy poof back out.

"It looks like she's gone. That girl is a hot mess."

"Yeah, she is."

"Okay. So, no more interruptions. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Who goes first?" I asked.

He smiled at me, pulling me close. "I do."

I could feel a strong tingly almost lightning-like feeling surge through my body. His hot breath on my neck sent shudders down my spine and I braced for the pain.

Except, there was none. There was no pain as he sunk his fangs into the crook of my neck. My body warmed and numbed as his essence coursed through my veins. He pulled back slowly, staring into my eyes.

"Did it hurt?" he asked.

I shook my head.

He tilted his head, ready to accept my mark. I swallowed hard and tried to steady my breathing. He smelled so good. Almost like I was running through a cinnamon field. If there were cinnamon fields. That spice and earth smell. The same strong smell the first time I'd seen him.

I closed my eyes and sunk my fangs into the crook of his neck feeling that electricity move from my body to his.

I pulled back and looked at him.

"Did it hurt you?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"I feel...alive."

I nodded my head. "Me too."

"I don't know how else to describe it."

"My soul feels full."

He laughed lightly. "Yeah. That's the perfect way to describe it. I'm full."

"Do we just go back?" I asked.

He pulled me back into his body, gazing into my eyes. "In a moment."

He lowered his head so his lips brushed mine. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he said.

He closed the gap, pressing his mouth to mine.

After a long moment, he broke our connection. "Okay, now we go back."

We reemerged from the balcony to cheers from our guests.

"Congratulations!" people shouted.

There were even a few howls.

We made our way around the room, shaking people's hands and talking with dignitaries when it caught my eye.

The man in black.

He stood in the same corner with the same dark hat and the same dark cape.

He motioned me to follow him. Edmond noticed and looked down at me.

"It's the friend."

He nodded at me. "Tell me later."

"I will. Promise."

He kissed my cheek as I excused myself, following the man into the hallway.

"Princess," he said softly.

"Andrew?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Good. You found each other. Shall we go to my study?" King Orsand didn't really ask. He turned and led us down the hallway.

***

I know this was a long chapter. Thank you for sticking with it till the end!

What do you think???

Harmony is a giant butthole! Savannah is still crazy.

And can we trust Andrew???

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