1-Princess Ariella Zillard, 18F, Single, College Student

Ari’s POV

“ARIELLA!” Alicia’s voice rings in my ears as I throw the last of my stuff in my bag. “You traitor!”

I barely move before Alicia’s fist swings past my head.

“Alicia, stop!” Tristen, her mate, grabs her. Well, I use the word mate loosely, more like Baby Daddy, Mates are fated, Tristen and Alicia are forced because he got her pregnant.

“NO,” Alicia screams, taking another swing. “I out rank her.”

Juliet- Come on, Ari, let me at her. I was made to defend you!

Me- Down girl. Thanks to you, I got this.

“No, you don’t,” I speak back to her for the first time since I was four. Juliet, my wolf, finally healed the crushed voice box in my throat. I’ll give you two guesses as to who crushed it.

“Ari, you can talk?” Tristan can’t help the smile that takes over his face.

“Really?” Alicia slaps him. “Congratulations on being able to talk. Now, cancel your travel. I need you here.”

“No, Mother and Father promised me I could leave at 18 and I am leaving,” I say in my still raspy voice. “I had to wait for high school to end, but I am starting the summer program now.”

“How can you do this to me when I took care of you when you couldn’t speak?” Alicia screams.

Juliet- Oh, sweet goddess, she is laying it on thick.

“Your idea of taking care of me is disgusting. You abused me terribly. I hope you are taken care of in a like manner,” I almost whisper it, but I know she heard me.

I turn on my heals and head out the door. I’ve already said good-bye to my parents and brother. I promised to come home when my brother is crowned King by our father. But for now, I am free.

Alicia made it clear from the moment I have any memories that she didn’t want a sister. She tortured me by taking my food, pinching me during ceremonies, and when I started to tell my parents what she did, she crushed my voice box. It took two surgeries to save my life. Whenever I would write things down for my parents, she would rip them up first. She forced me to write down that I didn’t want to be in the public eye anymore and got my parents to exclude me from official events.

For once, she did me a favor. Now I can go to the University as a normal student.

Well as normal as a werewolf can expect. I chose the Supernatural University at Conrad pack. Their Alpha is only 36 and his triplet sons are starting with me.

When I get in the car, I am shocked. My Dad, the King of Werewolves, is driving! My Mom, his Queen, is beside him and my brother, Crown Prince Caleb, is in the backseat waiting for me.

“What is all this?” I ask in a quiet voice.

“We want to say goodbye without Duchess Bitch yelling and screaming,” Caleb smiles.

“Caleb, she is your sister,” My mother hisses.

“Yeah, so I guess that means we blame you and Dad for her behavior,” Caleb whips back.

I can see both my parents are uncomfortable. I know they would have stopped her if they had known, and I know they were mostly unaware. But I mean, if they paid a little attention.

“Thank you,” I say to them, easing the tension.

Caleb makes jokes and they all compliment my laugh.

“I finally get to have talks again and you are leaving me,” Mom has tears in her eyes as we say our final goodbyes.

“If you find your mate, be sure he treats you well,” Dad hugs me. “If you need me call, text, email, smoke signal. I don’t care. I will never leave you as an outcast again.”

“Thank you, Father,” I whisper in his ear.

“Okay, so boys,” Caleb starts with an eye roll. “We are gross and have only one thing on our minds. You don’t have to have sex with boys for them to like you. So don’t.”

“I will decide what I will and will not do,” I smirk.

“Fine, but just understand any boy who touches you will answer to me directly. You are my little sister, the one I like,” Caleb jokes. He has been my protector as much as he could. He even tried to tell our parents many times, but Alicia seemed to get away with it.

“You will not do anything,” I warn him with a finger in his chest. “You will behave like a perfect supportive big brother and keep your nose out of it.”

Caleb runts his nose around as if putting it somewhere.

“Can’t help it, instincts kick in. I got to protect my sister,” Caleb pulls me into a hug. “I feel like I just got you back.”

“I’ve been talking since January,” I whisper, hugging him back.

“It’s not enough. I need my sister close, always. I mean it, Sis, don’t let those college boys take advantage of you.”

“If I am hurt by any of them, I promise to call my crazy big brother,” I tell him.

He tightens me in a hug, and we wave goodbye.

I haven’t spoken to anyone outside of family yet. But know I am speaking to ticket agents, security people and so many more.

“You look nervous,” a young woman sits in the cube next to me on the plane.

“First time on a plane,” I manage to get out. My throat is actually starting to hurt.

Juliet- Sorry. The healing of old wounds is really hard.

Me- I’ll be okay.

I smile and nod to the lady before closing the door to my cube.

Juliet- I’m trying to heal it completely. Maybe once we find our mate he will heal us too.

Me- Hey, that will be really nice.

Juliet- I can’t wait to have our mate. We will get Alicia back for all her crap.