Chapter 2

Maryanne's POV 

Blinking and pinching myself could not wake me up from this dream. No matter how much I stretched my imaginative cord, I would have never thought that the first man to take my virginity was the son of the Lycan king. 

As he climbed the stage to give his speech, his soft smile reminded me of our just concluded night. 

“Thank you everyone for being here to officially welcome me.” He said to us. His father was seated on the throne at one end, smiling endlessly. 

“As you all know, I've been studying abroad all my life. I'm finally back to cater for the affairs of my people. I'm here for good now!” He said and everyone clapped joyously. 

I, on the other hand, felt like I was releasing from my core. My legs grew weak. I gulped down the saliva on my throat. 

I thought that Austin was far away, and it would take some time before he would reach my stance. We stood here at strategic points, lined up to welcome him to his seat at the table specially made for him. He came down after his speech and had to shake the hands of the officials as he headed for the seat. 

Before I realized it, he was passing by me. I grew even more conscious. My eyes were still wide and my jaw dropped. 

He gave me a curt nod and a grin. He remembered me from last night. I couldn't give him a reaction other than my current one, I was still staring wide. He shook my hand in a very demure way. I was the only young person he shook, which I know made many eyes to be on me. 

From surprise, my expression shifted to admiration. Prince Austin was more handsome than I ever thought last night, he was tall and perfectly muscular. The dream guy of every girl. I could see all the girls present here to fix their eyes on him but I observed I'm the only one he acknowledged. 

My eyes followed him as he went to his seat, so much that even my father noticed the lust in my eyes. 

“You stare like you know him from somewhere.” He said to me silently. “Have you met him before?” He asked. 

I shook my head with a nervous smile. I didn't know my gaze was that obvious. “Then why are you shaking and why is your heart beating faster?” He asked. 

I began to feel embarrassed. He was telling the truth and I couldn't even hide the fact. 

I didn't know what to answer, so I kept shut and took my eyes off Austin. Funny enough, Ashe sat down, all his eyes were on me. That even made it worse. My father was already putting two by two together. 

“You both keep staring at each other in a fishy way. Is there something you're not telling me?” He asked me. 

The question was too much for me and I couldn't take it anymore. I just zoomed away from him to a further distance. I was too embarrassed to face the questions. 

I thought I escaped him, until he mindlinked me. “Behave well, miss. Don't embarrass me here.” He said to me then walked away. 

Everyone had sat down for merriment. As much as I tried to take my gaze off him, it seemed impossible because his looks kept taking my face back. Worst of all, anytime I turned to him, he was also looking at me. 

My eyes ran from his dreamy blue eyes down to his incredible chest which was straining hard against his shirt. It wasn't too tight, but enjoy to show his well toned muscles, which pumped so hot anytime he tried lifting his hands. The curve of his arms could be seen from his shirt.

Pictures of him were taken continuously while he sat, which made him smile occasionally and his perfect set of white teeth got me hooked. Everything about him was definitely perfect, I didn't observe a single fault.

It was later in the day, after the event had gone half way through that Janey walked in. She did, holding hands with Mike. I guess they wanted to prove a point to me, but I surprisingly didn't care. 

When they saw who the Lycan Prince was, the same man they saw me with yesterday, their jaws dropped. No matter how much they tried to compose themselves, it was obvious that they were shocked. 

I could see them murmuring to each other and one their eyes clashed with mine, they would pretend as though they weren't saying anything. 

I followed them secretly after the event to hear what they were saying about me. “she thinks she's arrived because she was with him yesterday. Seeing the way she stared at him, so embarrassing. I still wonder how she got to know him.” My elder sister said. 

“I can't believe it. She has probably been cheating on me since with him.” 

“I told you she was a whore.”

“She can't be with such a man. She's not even worth his presence.” Janey said. She was obviously pained that I could hook up with a man of such a high stature. 

“I know what to do. I'll frame them both and make life embarrassing for both of them.” She said again. 

“Are you aware you can be locked up for that statement?!” I heard a stormy voice from the corner. 

We all turned back in shock. I was shocked to see that Austin was following us and they were shocked to see that I was following them and Austin was following too. 

His voice popped up when I wanted to confront them. 

“My prince!” Mike fell to his feet at once. We were all scared. I, myself, never heard him sound so brutal before. 

“We were just….” Janey wanted to say when he shut her up. “Do not talk when I am talking!” 

She bowed her head to the ground as she withdrew in fear. 

“The next time I hear any of you say such a thing about me, you will all face dire consequences. Now leave!” 

When he said this, they both scrambled away, leaving the both of us behind. 

I turned to him, thinking he remembered me from last night. “My prince….” He didn't let me say it all when he cut me short. 

“When I said leave, I meant you too!” He said to me with the same angry tone. I was shocked and embarrassed. He really didn't recognise me after all. 

I left in shame. Good thing the other two weren't around to see me get humiliated like this. 

The house was quiet. I didn't know where Janey and Mike headed to because they never came home that night. I was all alone, thinking about why I was treated that way by him. He couldn't stop gazing at me during the event, which gave me the impression that he remembered me. At the same time, how he treated me outside said otherwise. Maybe he didn't remember me after all and I was just delusional. 

Either way, I would never set foot in that castle anymore to avoid seeing him. 

*****

The next day, Caroline, my course mate, was already knocking on my door as early as 7:30am. I was normally a slug in the morning, but she helped me leave for school early enough anytime we had morning classes. 

“Let's go sleepy head!” She mocked me as she woke me up. Did my normal duties and headed for school.

It seemed like a normal school day. We had our morning class, then took a break. 

My sister and Mike were more science inclined, and studied chemistry, while I studied law. We were always far apart in school and never really were ourselves except at general meetings, like the impromptu meeting that was set for a few hours later. I guess that was where their connection began. I really wanted to talk to them about why they betrayed me, but never really got the chance to, yet. 

Caroline, my best friend, was particularly broken when I told her everything that had happened and what I caught them doing. “Your sister is a witch, never really liked her. As for Mike, he is the one who has lost and not you.” She said to me in a bid to console me. 

As expected, we were gathered outside for the general meeting. Today, more unusual than other times, we stood outside for over 20 minutes, waiting for the people who would address us. Normally, it would be the vice chancellor or her representative. In fact, it was always her representatives. Apart from coming out when new students are admitted to congratulate them and also say some wise words to them, she never really came out for anything. 

“This has to be very serious!” I heard Caroline say. “The VC is coming out by herself.” She added. I looked over and saw that it was indeed, the VC. I gasped in shock. The other students were too. They were forced to comport themselves. No one dared misbehave before her. 

“As you all know, I was employed to handle the school affairs until the rightful person was ready to take over.” She paused. I always heard this rumor, but till now, it was nothing more than that. 

“I am glad to announce that he is here and ready to resume duty effectively…. Immediately. His name is…. Prince Austin!”

The words caused a gasp! 

Looking closely, I saw Prince Austin walk in. He walked majestically in his corporate dress, which more than anything, added to his already good looking status. 

"Oh gosh!"

"Gosh!"

"Oh my God! He's so handsome!"

I could hear some whisperings from the girls, they were each gesturing to one another.

"Shhhh! Silence!!" Our now former VC commanded. The crowd of students quickly went back to begin quiet. From now, claps were heard and everyone joined. That was what we should have done in the first place, rather than murmur about his looks. 

"This is Prince Austin, son of the King," she continued. By now Austin was standing right in front of me, it was me praying for the ground to open up and swallow me. 

The way he grinned and looked at me first of all before matching his eyes with other students was intimidating. He was too sexy for me, I was a novice when it came to matters like this, I only dated Mike. I felt like a fool, overshadowed by his aura at that point. I had never been more uncomfortable in my life. 

My belly began to rumble. I loved standing in front of things like this, but I was starting to regret that choice today. 

“I'm going to the back.” I said to Caroline.

"Why? What's going on?" Caroline asked, noticing I wasn't steady since the new VC walked in. 

"Nothing," I smiled then stood upright, acting thrilled like other students.

The former VC began talking about Austin and his academic prowess. What made him standout and why we were to respect him. 

Everyone was silent as she spoke. I could tell that only the guys were listening because all the girls were just staring at his handsome face. Some of them had already imagined as far as having his babies. 

I just thought about how the whole thing would play out. We had a one night stand and sort of shared a gaze at the party, but he treated me so harshly later, like what we shared that night and taking my virginity meant nothing to him. 

I was happy, thinking I wouldn't have to see him again, but now, he was the VC of my school. I knew things would definitely get weird!