3) memories flooding back

I peel my eyes open to be faced with a dark room that is not mine. Thank the goddess it’s dark because my head is pounding. I let my eyes adjust to the dark room. Sun pounds against the closed curtains leaving a slight glow to the room.

I try to sit up but a very muscular arm holds me still. I glance over my shoulder to see scraggly blonde curls.

What the hell happened last night? I remember drinking and dancing and now I’m in bed with the Prince.

I lift his arm and slip out of bed. My dress is hanging over a chair in the pack house guest room he’s occupying. So this must be his t-shirt in wearing. I grab the dress and slip into the quiet hallway. And head out to my house to get changed for breakfast with Angie.

“You are a very difficult to track down.” The Prince slips his hand into mine as we dance.

“I am?” I giggle. He is so pretty to look at. Like a painting.

“You slipped away from my guard. I’ve spent the past 2 hours chasing you around a ballroom. Never quite catching you.” He dips his head to whisper in my ear.

“Like chasing a dream.” I close my eyes and press my body flush against his. In my heels I’m only about an inch shorter than he is.

“A dream?”

“A dream. You enjoy it while it’s happening but you can’t hold on forever. And once it’s done you try so hard to get it back but you can’t.”

“But you’re not a dream. You are very much real.” His breath fans on my neck.

The song ends and we pull away to bow at each other.

“You’re an excellent dancer, Your Majesty.” I say softly as I lower myself.

“Reece.” He says back.

I look up at him confused. “I beg your pardon.”

“Call me Reece. My mate doesn’t have to address me so formally.”

“Right. Mates.” I snort at the thought which then turns in laughter. “I’m sorry.” I put my hand to my mouth. “Sorry.”

To his credit, The Prince stands quietly while I work myself out of the state. Then Aaron catches my eye.

“Excuse me.” I say as I slip past a rather confused Prince and towards the newly anointed Alpha.

“Congratulations.” I throw my arms around him and he squeezes me back. “Look at you, Mr Big Shot Alpha.”

“Thank you. Thank you.” He says dramatically.

“I think we should celebrate with a dance.”

“Ugh. You know I hate dancing.” He complains while letting me drag him to into the vortex of music and rhythm. 

“Morning.” Angie says as I sit down at the head table in the dining room.

“Clearly not a good one.” Mora, the gamma’s mate, pipes in from across the table.

“What gave it away?” I snide back. What have it away? Probably my messy bun, big ass sunglasses and scowl. Mora just scowls at me before continuing breakfast.

“Did you have a good time last night?” Angie asks with a knowing look.

I just shake my head. “Way too much to drink. How about you? Did you enjoy your induction?”

“I did. It’s so cool being Beta Female. Even though you should’ve been Beta Female. Not me. You would’ve been so much better at it…” I zone out as she babbles on.

“Where are all the males?” I notice the large table is mostly empty.

“They all went to morning training with The Prince and visiting Alphas and Betas.” Angie says as she elegantly scoops some yoghurt from her bowl.

As if on queue, all the Alphas and Betas, excluding ours, filter into the room for breakfast. The Prince also walks in laughing with one of his warriors. His laugh is gorgeous. I want to put it in a bottle and save it for whenever I’m down.

His eyes immediately find mine and I smile softly before turning back to bitter black coffee.

“So…” Angie leans over to whisper subtly. “You and the Prince?”

“You know,” I turn fully towards her, “he said something really weird last night. He said we were…” I’m cut off.

“KIM!” A very angry Ben shouts as he enters the room. He zeros in on my and stalks towards us. I don’t have the brain capacity to deal with this. So what the only logical thing to do? Slip under the table, right? So I do. I drop my fork on the floor and slip under the table.

Now, this is possibly the worst plan I’ve ever had because:

1) there is nowhere for me to get out from under the table to make my escape

2) I have no idea which way to go to get out

and

3) people are doing some weird things under the table

so instead of realising my mistake and climbing back out from under the table to face Ben, I pick going left and crawl on my hands and knees under the 40 seater table in the hopes that someone will either leave the table or hasn’t sat down yet so I can get back out from under the table and leave.

But no such luck. And I’m getting closer and closer to the head of the table where Aaron and Angies dad and former leaders are sitting.

Suddenly, a foot sticks out to block my path, nearly kicking me in the face. The owner of the foot reaches his hand down and hands me a napkin. I cautiously take it.

‘What are you doing?’ Is scribbled onto it. The hand then holds out a pen.

‘I dropped my fork.’ I hand it back. A snorted laugh sounds above. Who is this?

‘Did it grow wheels and drive away?’

‘It fell in love with a wine glass and they rolled away together.’ Another laugh.

I hear heavy footsteps and a very angry Beta. He greets everyone at this end of the table. “Alpha, have you by any chance seen Kim? She ducked under the table and hasn’t come out since?”

‘Shhhhhhhhhh’ I hand the paper back to the hand.

“No, I haven’t. Apologies.” He replies and I hear Ben walk away.

‘It’s time to come out now’

‘Maybe I’ll just stay here forever’

Instead of handing the napkin back, the hand drops a fork, pushes the chair back and diamond blue eyes face mine.

“Are you the infamous Kim?” He whispers.

“Yup, that’s me.”

He says my name over and over with a goofy grin on his face. Then looks back at me, offering a hand. Reluctantly, I take it and climb out from under the table.

“Kim.” The Alpha greets with an amused look on his face.

“Alpha.” I greet back.

“Ben’s looking for you.” He says. “Although, you already knew that. Hence the table.”

“I’m sorry to have bothered you.” I say apologetically at all the important people sitting at the table. “I’ll head back to my seat.”

“I think you should sit here.” The Prince catches everyone’s attention.

“That’s I kind offer but I don’t think I should,” his hand is still firmly in mine, not letting go as I try to leave.

“Everyone else’s mates are sitting here. Why shouldn’t mine?”

F.U.C.K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He didn’t just say that. Tell me I imagined it all. Tell me I’ve gone delusional.

“Your mate?” The Alpha looks at me quizzically.

“Indeed. I found her last night.” The Prince smiles down at me with pride. I’ve never understood pride. How can he be proud of a coincidence that was destined to happen? He didn’t find hidden treasure. He didn’t find out who murdered someone. All he did was do what he was supposed to do and accidentally found me. No work done. Really it’s nothing to be proud of.

“Well then,” the Alpha booms to the room’ “let us celebrate! The Prince has found his mate!”

The whole room boom and all I want is for the world to swallow me whole. Mostly because the noise is making my head hurt.

The Prince sits and pulls me into his lap since there are no free chairs.

“All o have to say is good luck.” The Alpha says with a knowing smirk. “If your mate is Kim Mylean Ashyver, you’ll never get bored.”