Fated is overrated

Lola

POV

"A ball in honor of my daughter will be held this Saturday, you are all to attend together with the rest of your lair. Perhaps my daughter will be lucky enough to find a dragon worthy of her presence among one of your members" he booms across the room. 'What, a ball?' I ask Damon, having heard of this for the first time. Damon laughs in my head and a small smile graces his lips 'I'm sure this is the first dad had heard of it himself as well. I think he just wants to taunt Lucian and show you off'. 'Ugh. I hate balls' I reply, and I really do. I hope dad doesn't insist I wear some middle aged ballroom gown. 'You should come to the club with me and my friends instead then.

I swear they are decent guys and it will be fun, they would be just like brothers to you'. 'I'll think about it. If you take me shopping for my own style of clothes next week.

You have quite a slutty taste brother'. He laughs out loud now, earning a side glance from our father briefly, before responding 'deal, big sis'.

My father closed the meeting by inviting the Alphas to lunch, before proceeding out the door with Damon and me by his side. The vast majority of the Alphas enter the dining hall a few minutes after us and to my great displeasure - so do steroids and his barbie doll.

I have to refrain myself from rolling my eyes, I don't want him to have the satisfaction of knowing he annoys me. Barbie is clinging to his arms like a drowning man to a life jacket, and it looks utterly pathetic. I hate when women diminish their own worth like that, having a man calling all the shots and acting like they are superior.

Steroids seem to love the submissiveness of his Barbie doll, however. He casually bosses her around and she simply does as she is told. I hadn't even noticed I was growling lowly, until my father grabs my hand and links me 'are you alright honey? We can send them off if you want?'.

I peel my gaze away from the pair and smile up at my father 'don't, I don't want to give them the satisfaction of knowing they annoy me. I am fine, really. I just can't believe how sh*t my luck in the mate department is. I must have done something really wrong to the gods'.

My father squeezes my hand lightly before replying 'everything happens for a reason, honey. Although the reason may not be that they chose them for you, because they would be good for you. Maybe they are sent as a lesson, and something better is awaiting you'. 'I am beginning to believe that myself as well. Except for the last part, I am not sure something better is to come' I smile back awkwardly at him.

We are interrupted from our private conversation when one of the Alphas approaches our table. 'This is Alpha Cyrus. 55 years old and a very good man' my father informs me in advance. And I have to say, this was one of the men that seemed genuinely excited during the meeting.

He takes a deep bow before us, with a big and genuine smile on his face, before standing back up and saying "it's an honor to finally meet you, my Queen".

He holds out his hand to me, and I gladly shake it "thank you, Alpha Cyrus, it's an honor for me to meet you as well" I respond with a genuine smile in return. I like to think I'm good at reading people by now, and this man feels like a good soul to me. We engage in a bit of small talk, where I get to know he has a 22 year old son who will take over soon, and an 18 year old daughter.

He informed me both of them would be very excited about the ball and would love to meet me, to which I replied that I would gladly meet them as well.

After some more small talk, another Alpha is lining up to engage with us and Cyrus takes his leave. A few of the Alphas come to greet me and engage in small talk. Not surprisingly, mainly the Alphas that seemed excited during the meeting are doing so. This whole time I can feel a burning gaze on me from Mr. steroids, but I don't pay him any heed. He has barbie glued to his side and had my heart not been so guarded, it might have hurt to see your mate being with another like this.

Flaunting it in your face shamelessly, the f*cking prick. I know Justice is hurting, she hasn't spoken since finding out he is our mate.

As lunch comes to an end my father bids the Alphas goodbye, while Damon and I head to the training area together. 'Justice, are you ok to train sweety? You don't have to' I ask her, but she is quick to reply 'definitely.

I NEED to train'. Damon looks at me questioningly, and I nod at him and say "she's good to go". Damon smiles sympathetically and pulls me to him for a side hug, while kissing the top of my head.

"I'll always be here for you sis. As long as Justice doesn't freeze my *ss in training, that is. Tell her to be gentle on her baby brother ok?". I can't help but burst out laughing, before a wide grin creeps up on my face.

I hope what I will do next will cheer her up a bit. "She just said she has some extra cold ice laying around, waiting for you" I wink at him. He clutches his heart in fake hurt, while Justice makes it be known she didn't approve of my joke 'hey!!!. I just continue to laugh, until we reach the training grounds.

It's going to be weird training with someone else as Justice, since we have never had the opportunity thus far. The training I have done here up until now was mostly endurance and training in my dragon form has been on my own, although I didn't get to do it very much at all. "Ok sis.

What we will do is the following. We both shift into our dragon forms, and give them some time to bond. After a few minutes we will begin sparring. Don't hold back, we need to train as if it is the real deal. Any enemy also wouldn't play nice".

I gulp, because I don't want to hurt my little brother. And if ice hits him, it'll be catastrophic. But he is right, we need to practice. And besides my father, he is the strongest dragon there is, I believe.

'Start off easy though, let's first see how it goes' I tell Justice, I don't want to go all out with the risk of freezing him. He already lost to Liberty last time, and Justice would be even more dangerous to him.