IMPERSONATING A PRINCESS

RONA'S POV

"Princess, princess. Princess wake up already, stop scaring us" I heard someone calling out to me.

My head felt woozy as I opened my eyes.

"Thank goodness" I saw a young girl, kneeling over me. She was the one who spoke.

What the fuck? Where am I?

I sat up and looked around. There were men dressed in guards' apparels and armor, in addition to some girls in costly maid apparel. It was obvious that they came from a very rich kingdom or pack. I looked around and saw a body of water stretching as far as the eyes could see.

Wait, I fell into water? How did I end up here? Why are they calling me princess?

I looked up at them. They all looked pissed off at me and resentful. As if they were being forced to do a chore they hate very much.

"Princess, this is becoming too much. The Alpha king is pissed off at you. We had to search for hours before we found you floating on the lake. What if you had gotten washed into the sea before we arrived? You keep throwing silly tantrums! I wonder why you keep refusing the marriage, when he's the one that should refuse you! He's the most powerful king in the world, yet he agreed to marry you, despite your inability to shift on your eighteenth birthday. Please respect yourself and stop getting us into trouble!" One of the girls shouted, her eyes blazing with anger and contempt.

I frowned, watching them carefully to see if I can find a clue. Who are they? And why does it seem that they don't respect or love this their princess?

"How dare you talk to the princess like that? Do you want to be executed?" The girl that woke me up roared angrily. She turned to me and held my hands.

"But leaving again was wrong. See how you look now. If not because I know you wore a white silk, I wouldn't have recognized you from afar. Your clothes are all torn up. You even managed to find a boot to change into, getting rid of your heels" she said, and drew me up.

I looked down and noticed that I was still wearing the clothes I wore before I jumped down. Nothing changed.

'What the hell is going on?' my wolf asked, apparently as confused as I was.

I followed them to the carriage in confusion. I can't escape with such a huge amount of soldiers around me anyway.

We soon reached a gigantic castle, it was very big and grand. I was stopped in front of a palace and helped down. We walked in while I remained skeptical. What the hell is going on?

The servants we met bowed to me, but the look of disdain in their eyes was obvious. The maid was still holding my hand as she led me down a corridor. It was filled with beautiful artwork, and then I saw it.

I immediately froze at the portrait before me. My heart immediately skipped a beat. I saw my portrait on the wall. Or rather, the portrait of the girl they thought I was. She looked exactly like me, like an identical copy.

It only happens with twins, what the hell?

But wait, if they brought me here thinking I'm this girl in the picture, where the fuck is the girl?

Where did she go?

If she suddenly returns, I will be immediately exposed as an imposter. I will lose my life faster than lightning. I need to leave here immediately, but how do I do that? Especially as this place is well guarded. It's more guarded and grander than any castle I have been to in the past.

This girl's father is an Alpha king, above an ordinary Alpha. I have just walked into a shark's jaw.

She led me into a very grand room which I guessed was the girl's and sat me on a sofa.

"Princess Erica, you look terrible now. I will run you a bath and clean you up" she said and rushed off.

So the girl's name was Erica, good to know.

****

I insisted on bathing myself, I didn't want my cover to be blown in case she had a birthmark or a different scar. I also took the opportunity to hide the various things I came with into a tiny satchel I found. She helped me dress after I wore my inner gown. The clothes were grander than anything I have ever worn, the jewelries were all made of pure gold and precious stones. I sat on the bed while she disposed of the bath water.

Someone knocked and came in.

"Annalise, Alpha King Harvey said you should lead the princess to the hunting ground. He already left with Alpha Aiden and the ministers" she said, and gave me an evil glare.

So the maid's name was Annalise. But why does everyone seem to hate their princess? What the hell did she do?

****

We rode in a grand procession with people waving and cheering at me. I simply smiled and cheered back. I couldn't help it, their happiness and enthusiasm was contagious.

Whereas those in the castle hated the princess Erica, it's obvious that peasants, and those outside the castle liked her a lot.

We reached a clearing in a forest and I was helped down. It was the feast of the new moon today, I almost forgot. I lost track of time while running. No wonder they're going on a hunt.

It was late evening already, everywhere was getting darker.

"They already left for the main hunt. You guys should either sit and wait for them to return and start the main celebrations, or walk around for a while and make yourselves comfortable" a guard said, coming towards us.

Annalise nodded and looked at me with a smile. I quietly walked into the forest, looking around calculatively. Now was my chance to escape. I walked for a while before sitting down and leaning on a tree.

"You will dirty your clothes, princess" Annalise shouted in alarm.

"It's okay," I replied with a smile, and pretended to be in deep thoughts.

Annalise tapped me with a frown on her face.

"Are you alright?" She whispered, and I gave her a weak smile.

"Can you guys leave for a while, I need space." I whispered, looking straight at her.

"No, you will run away" she immediately cut me off, refusing at the spot.

"I swear not to escape," I said with a frown, trying to look serious.

After a series of arguments, Annalise left with them. I quietly sat there and pretended to be in deep thoughts. I could notice them spying on me from afar.

So, I began to undress myself, spreading them on the floor to lie down. I saw Annalise gasp and lead them away. I quickly dressed up and began to run.

However before I could run far enough, two hundred men surrounded me, shocking me.

"We didn't even have to enter their camp to assassinate the almighty princess Erica Miller. She ran straight to us!" The bandits said, smirking.

I was alarmed and immediately tried to summon my wolf, but she was nowhere to be seen.

I was on my own!

They rushed me and I began to fight the best I could.

But without my wolf, I was pretty weak. They soon overpowered me. One raised his sword to slash my neck and my heart jumped.

"Wait! Let's rape her first. She's so beautiful" one whispered, looking at me lasciviciously.

They put down their sword and began to undress before me. One tore my clothes and I screamed in horror, trying to fight back. They pushed me down and one mounted me, spreading my legs.

Tears streamed down my cheeks at my cruel fate, why did I even pull this stunt?

"Let me go you dirty monsters!. You cannot bear the consequences of touching me!" I roared, and pushed him with all my strength, but I was pitifully weak. Where's my wolf?

Just as he tore off my undies, I heard a scream, and the person on me was torn off. I gasped and cried, feeling pathetic. Why is it that things never go well for me nowadays?

I felt someone kneel before me, wiping my tears, and immediately moved back in horror. I looked up to see a handsome face staring at me.

His blue eyes were the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. His pointed nose and red lips were begging to be bitten. I felt a strange shiver run down my body.

He was dressed in costly shahtoosh and silk robes. He looked like a powerful and very rich king.

"Who are you?" I stammered, looking at him with a mixture of untamed emotions.

"I am your fiance" he whispered, wiping my tears.

He removed his outer robes and covered me.

Wait, this handsome God was Erica's fiancee, yet she is escaping? Why the hell are some people so lucky?

He pulled me into his chest as I cried helplessly.

"It's okay. You're safe now. No one can hurt you under my watch" he whispered, rubbing my back.

He pulled back and carried me up.

I noticed five handsome men dressed in warrior's garments behind him. The bandits were all dead around them, except one which was tied up.

His men bowed to me. Wait, why are Erica's fiance and his men so handsome?

He placed me on a horse and entered behind me.

"Why do you keep running away? I heard you escaped a few times already. I know this is an arranged marriage, but I will treat you with the respect and love you deserve. Or don't you like me?" He whispered, and bent his face to look at me.

"I like you now," I stammered, blushing.

"Because I saved you?" He asked, his breath fell against my nape.

I nodded and he roared in laughter.

"Our wedding is in two days, and I have lots of enemies who will hurt you to get back at me. Stay in the castle and stop wandering around" he whispered, and licked my neck as the horse trotted off.

I shivered and he intensified his actions, licking my ears too. I almost fell off the horse, but he steadied me, enjoying my torture.

The horse stopped and I looked up, realizing we were before the palace.

He climbed off and carried me down, he was smiling with mirth dancing in his eyes.

"What's funny?" I asked angrily.

"I can smell your arousal, just from licking your neck. Your body is very sensitive. I look forward to our wedding night" he whispered, making me stagger in shame and horror.

At once, disappointment filled my heart. I will be long gone before then, otherwise I will be exposed as an imposter.

I saw the entourage I left with waiting for me, and Annalise dragged me into the room.

"You lied to me for the first time in your life. Everyone is right. You changed ever since you failed to shift, into an element I don't know. But I didn't want to see it. Do you think I will trust you again?" She angrily said, before storming off.

I sighed and went to bed, waiting for my escape.

At midnight I felt someone calling to me.

"This girl hurry up!" I heard the girlish voice say again.

Like one in a dream I got up from the bed, against my will, as my foot took me to somewhere I don't know.