Chapter Six

* Nick *

The noise outside my bedroom is confirming the start of a fancy dinner held in the palace's private dining hall. It's a family discussion first before we make it public. I look at my reflection in the mirror, wearing semi-formal attire. A light color blazer paired with skinny slacks and a belt. I am sure that my brother would be wearing more formal clothes than me.

"Nick, are you ready honey?"

My mother's voice outside the door of my bedroom made me quickly finish wearing my shoes.

"Come in mother, I am ready."

She turned the knob and went in, I turned around to see her. Despite her age, my mother would still pass as a woman in her mid-twenties. Her hair was tied in a French bun wearing diamond earrings and a black long dress well fitted her slim figure.

"The Bates family are already here son, they came on time and I don't want to make them wait on our table. Brad is already there with your father and Maleficus, come on, they are waiting for us."

She smiled knowing that I am not even a little bit excited about this event. Well, I guess I have a slight feeling of gladness for my brother but other than that nothing. The Bates family are rich and famous that they could almost rival us. However, we are the chosen family to lead the wolves so they are only under my father's command.

"Alright mother, let us go and meet my brother's bride."

She sighed and place her hands on my right arm. "You look handsome as always Nick but I am not happy with what you are doing outside the palace."

As we walk outside my room, my mother reminded me of the last time. I am sure that Riza has already told her everything.

"We should not talk about this right now mother, remember this event is important for my brother."

I squeezed her hands lightly as she laughs. "Oh, yes you are right. I am so happy for Brad, finally one of you is ready to become the crowned prince of the Royal pack."

"Mother about the Bates woman, did she know that her mate is my brother? Did her family already tell her?"

I ask out of curiosity. "She was here when you two are still young. She usually visits with her parents but that was a very long time ago before you two studied outside the Langston lands. I am not sure if Brad remembers that. Maleficus must be certain when he said that one of you is mated to Emma Bates and that it is Brad. However, I am not sure if her parents informed her."

I nodded as we continue our walk. A memory suddenly flashes inside my head. It was when my brother and I are about ten years old. The Bates family visited us bringing a very pretty little girl wearing a fancy white dress with flowers. She looks unreal, almost like a doll that we couldn't take our eyes off of her. She is about seven or six.

"Nick and Brad this is our daughter Emma, you can call her Ems! Say hi to the princes of the Langston palace Ems!"

I could remember the smiling face of Andrea Bates holding the little girl's hands as she introduces her to us. Emma looks so pretty her naturally brown hair framing her face like a doll and she has the most interesting eyes, forest green. She must have taken it from her father.

"Hello! I'm Emma. Do you boys know to want to play house with me?"

Brad immediately goes near her. "Yes, come with us to the garden we can play there in the wooden shed we will show you the beautiful flowers too. Mrs. Bates, can we take Emma to play?"

Her mother nodded. "Of course!"

"Yes!"

Emma and Brad look very happy as we all go out to the back of the palace. The flowers are blooming that night and the Moon shone so bright, I thought it was a full wolf moon. In our young hearts, we must have felt something as we all stared at it above the sky.

"Boys! Who's gonna play like father and mother while someone is the baby since we are three? I am going to be the mom because I'm the only girl here. Look! That would be our house!"

Her eyes sparkle against the brightness of the moonlight and she runs towards the wooden shed. It has a stone table and chairs enough for six people. We followed her like dogs waggling our tails.

"How did you become a mother? You can't be a mother without a mate and the sanctity of marriage."

Brad being the smart-ass brother thought of something as he continued. "Let me be the wizard and the priest Maleficus, I will stand as the witness to your marriage with Nick!"

He grinned and elbowed my side I know that he is making me follow.

"Alright, I will marry you, Emma Bates."

As I said that her face looked surprised but she understands. "Thank you, Nick, then come stand beside me and let the wizard priest start the ceremony."

I smiled and walk towards her. Brad stands firmly and says his words, I pick up a stem of red rose and then slowly tuck it behind her ear. She is very lovely, I thought about calling her the fairy of our garden. I think my heart beat faster as she smiled at me.

"Now that you two are married, the groom may kiss the bride."

My eyes suddenly turns to Brad and made a questioning look. His teeth shone brightly against the light of the moon. I was waiting for Emma to say no and shake her head but to my surprise, she turned towards me and meet my gaze before her eyes slowly close. I don't know what to do! To be honest Brad said it was easy, and that he had kissed a few she wolves even before our tenth birthday.

I look at him asking for something and he is motioning me to hold her face. Then I lifted my hands and did as he told me, her skin so soft just like a piece of cotton in my hand. My eyes look at her soft pink lips I am slightly trembling as I hold her face and slowly bring my mouth down to match hers.

A part of me is saying no to this game that we are playing yet I feel my heart beating fast. She smelled like roses and powder mixed together in the garden. I hesitated and almost pulled away when Brad's hand moved to the back of my head and pushed me. My lips pressed against hers, her sweet young lips felt softer than velvet it almost shocked me to the core.

"Yeah! You are now officially married now we can celebrate by drinking!"

Brad clapped his hands and cheered while I pulled away as fast as I could like I was being electrified. Her face look surprised when she opened her green eyes and look at me. I am sure that I'm her first kiss and she is also my first! Brad made a thumbs-up when I glance at him.

"Then can we drink something?"

I ask Brad when Emma did not say a word. She just looks at me wide-eyed. She's probably wondering what just happened. I felt guilty but it was just a game she was the one who suggested it in the first place. Then my Brother Brad manipulated everything in order for me to get my first kiss.

"Yes! Of course, we can but Emma should not drink or her parents will kill us."

Emma groaned and stomp her foot to the ground. "Who says I can't drink? Of course, I can drink juice, I am feeling thirsty so let's go and get something to drink as a celebration."

Brad laughs loudly as he looks at her.

"My dear Emma we don't drink juice to celebrate a big event like marriage."

She turns to me and then asks. "What are we going to drink then?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "You can drink fresh fruit juice Ems then me and my brother would drink some wine to celebrate tonight."

She frowned then we heard her mother's voice calling out her name.