Chapter Twelve: Little Princess

Aurora

               When I walked downstairs, I was greeted by my father still at the great dining room table finishing his breakfast. He had a big smile and seemed too happy. Everything felt wrong.

               “My little princess, today you are a woman. You and your friends will spend the day at the spa before coming home and dressing for your party.”

               “Father, that sounds delightful. You know how my friends are like my sisters. Will you tell me any more about tonight’s surprise?” I kept my voice light and feigned excitement. He didn’t need to know that I was dreading whatever was going to happen.

               He chuckled, “Now Aurora, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. Trust me, I don’t think you’ll see it coming.” Well, that was a scary notion. “You enjoy yourself today. I have things that need attending. I won’t see you until this evening. But before I go, I have a present for you.” He smiled as he got up and grabbed a black velvet box from the buffet table against the wall. Handing the package to me, he said, “Open.”

               To my surprise, a dainty silver, sparkling diamond tiara was nestled in the middle of the box.

               “Father, this is too much.”

               “Of course not. This is a big day, and you are my little princess, after all. It belonged to your mother, and I want you to wear it tonight. Tell the stylist uses it to make you sparkle like a little queen.” He took a lock of my hair between his fingers. “Yes, tell her to leave your hair down, but sweep part of it away from your face. You are beautiful, and it should show.”

               “I really don’t know what to say.” That was the truth.

               “Say thank you, and remember your father knows what is best.”

               I bowed my head a little trying to hide the panic that was coursing through me, “Thank you, father.” He patted me on the head like I was a good pet. He’s never given me such an expensive present or ordered me on how to do my hair. That was a little too controlling even for him.  

               “Very well,” he looked at his watch, “I must get going. Until tonight.” He excused himself from the table to go off and do goddess knew what as I pushed the remainder of my breakfast around my plate.

               “Don’t tell me, you no longer like my cooking?” Melly came in with a smile.

               “No one can top your cooking, and you know that.” I took a bite to prove it. “That’s why I look forward to the rare occasions you cook.”

               “I just saw your father head down to his car.” That was nice to know we were the only two in the house. “You look so sad, Aurora,” she paused. She was kind and caring, but she knew that information could be dangerous. I could tell she was considering her wording carefully. “After you leave for your party tonight and I pack, I’ll be leaving too. Your father has generously granted me a vacation to visit my family. So I won’t be back when he gets home tonight.” That wasn’t surprising since she usually had a couple of weeks off during the year.

               I felt like a jerk. I’d never asked Melly anything about herself. She had spent the last six years quietly in the background. “Where is your family from?”

               “Outside Illyria. I was very fortunate to get this job and able to send things home.”

               “Do you miss them?”

               “Yes, and no. As I’m sure you are aware, that family can be a little demanding and ask too many questions.” I nodded. “Mine means well,” she continued, “but they are ready for me to settle and marry.”

               “Good grief, you’re not that old.”

               “I’m nearly thirty. They want grandchildren,” she was very matter of fact.

“You won’t be thirty for another two years, so don’t round up.” I giggled. She was fresh out of college when she came to work for us, which never made sense. “And we can have children much later than humans. So what is the rush?”

Her phone buzzed. She looked down, irritated and disappointed. “I’m afraid your car is here, and you are expected to be on time for your appointments.”

I opened the box holding the tiara, “Did you see my present? I’ve been instructed to wear it tonight and look like a little princess. “Between us, I hate my dress and wish he wasn’t paying so much attention to me by throwing me a party.”

“Between us, I do too.” She took my plate away and sighed. I grabbed the box and my purse before heading to the elevator. I sent a group text to my friends, so they were all waiting for me on their perspective floors.

They seemed cheerful and excited about the new facials and makeovers. Along with pampering and massages, we would also be beautified before we got home. That way, we’d only have to put on our dresses. Getting into my pink poofy tulle nightmare would take Melly forever to button. It might be a beautiful dress with all the delicate satin roses that were hand-stitched covering both hems. But to me, it was another thing that proved what little control I had over my life. Hell, even tonight, I couldn’t control the moon and my shift. I wondered where my father planned for us to run tonight because I doubt we would be home by midnight?

The day passed by in a blink. I was plucked, poked, prodded, and waxed. The massage was great, but everything else kind of hurt. When the esthetician said, it was time to drop my panties, I was horrified. “Why?” I asked.

“It’s time for your Brazillian Wax,” she laughed, and I nearly fell over.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve never had anything waxed except my brows?”

She tapped on her Ipad, “No, it says it right here that you are to get the entire removal treatment. But lucky for our kind, we don’t need the twenty-four hours to recover, only about two,” she waggled her eyebrows at me. “It won’t hurt that bad.” Not all employees here were wolves, but I suppose I was glad this particular one was, “Besides, you might as well get used to it. All of our males prefer us smooth.”

“What? We are wolves. Naturally covered with hair. Besides, I don’t even have a boyfriend. My father won’t let one near me. So that doesn’t even matter.”

The woman was in her fifties and began to laugh. “Oh honey, you should know as well as I do. Fathers don’t see everything their daughters do.” She laughed some more, “I would love to see a male try control a wolf in heat.”

“Trust me, my father has most certainly controlled every single one of my heats.”

She looked horrified, “How?”

“With meticulous planning.” I’m sure I looked as miserable as I sounded.

“No offense, but Miss Howard, your father sounds like a downright…”

“I’m not Miss Jenny Howard,” I cut her off before she could say more. She looked at me strangely, pointing to her tablet, “That’s my alias. I’m Aurora Crane.”

Her face went white. “I meant no disrespect, Miss Crane. I beg that you please don’t take offense or tell your father. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay. You thought I was just another young girl out for a day of fun. I liked it. No one ever just talks to me like that. Thank you. And your secret is safe. I just ask that you don’t tell any of the others who I am. I would really like a normal day of being a teen.”

“Yes, Miss, I can do that. Thank you. I promise to be as gentle as possible.” She was quiet the rest of the time. The humans who worked on me the rest of the day were a little more chatty than the silent wolves. My friends tried to reassure me that we would have fun, and they kept my mimosa glass full. It took a lot to get a wolf drunk, so there were no worries on that front. The day quickly turned to evening as Torie, the stylist, finished securing my tiara and fluffing my hair.

“You do look like a queen.” She smiled at me in the mirror. She was right. I looked downright regal and a good ten years older. “I must say this is some of my best work.”

“Thank you, I know my father will be thoroughly pleased.” She slightly frowned at my statement. Oh shit, I said the wrong thing, “You did a beautiful job. I love it.” That seemed to soothe her. All of my friends were finishing up at the same time. They were lovely and not so done up. I was a little envious of their lack of frills. They all fawned over me and tried to keep up the act that we were all happy and excited. No matter what they said or how they smiled, I knew they were just as worried as I was.