Sins Among Royals

The members of the Christiansen home rose slowly the morning following the party.

Security roamed the desolate hallways waiting for something to do. Many of them even helped to clean the ballroom along with the housekeepers.

Indie and Noah sat in their room for a number of hours before deciding it was time to make a move, “you ready?” Noah questioned her with a crooked grin.

“Ready for what?” Indie replied more than a little confused. Where were they going?

All Noah could make in response was a hearty chuckle. He was sure he had mentioned just the three stops on their way to Blackwood with Alpha Christiansen’s home being the last.

“Well we will be arriving at my home this afternoon where you will meet my parents.” Noah couldn’t wait for Indie to meet his mother and father and was more than a little sure that they would love her.

Indie on the other hand felt her heart stop in her chest. Her breathing instantly became restricted as her nerves reached a new high. “Is that today?” She asked panicked as she struggled for breath and felt her head spin. When she felt her heart beating again it was rapid.

Noah saw her skin pale immediately at the mention of his parents. Was she nervous?

“I can see you’re terrified but look at it this way! Next week your family will be visiting.” Noah tried to ease her worry and stress, he knew she had been missing her family and remembered that he’d asked them to join Indie for the day he would officially make the announcement that he’d found and accepted his mate. It would be the same day that Willow and Naira were appointed Alpha’s of their first pack.

Indie visibly perked up at the mention of her family. “Oh yay, already!” She replied as she bounced in her seat. She couldn’t help but be happy with that revelation. She had missed her family so much that she even missed Chase.

She never thought she would ever see a day she missed her squirt of a little brother.

The pair bade a very quick farewell to those that had risen for the day. Included were Albert Christiansen and his wife Rochelle.

“Master Noah,” Albert bowed his head submissively as he greeted the pair, “it was lovely hosting you in our humble home,” His words made Indie want to snort but she held her composure as he spoke. “We eagerly await the day our daughter is named as one of the first Alpha Females and thank you for choosing her for such an honorary.” Albert could not hide the proud smile from his lips and made Indie think of a parent waving pom poms wildly in the air when their child came last in a running race. She got the feeling that Albert was the type of parent that would do anything for his children and that was a heartwarming sights to see.

His wife too smiled just as brightly as she nodded along with every word her husband said. There was no doubt in Indies mind that her parents would be the same if they’d been put in that same situation.

“We’ll see you in a week or so Albert, thank you again for your hospitality. We rather enjoyed ourselves.” Noah smiled and tilted his head slightly, in thanks.

His emotional realisation the previous night had cemented in his mind that he and Indie were indeed meant to be and that nothing else mattered.

With another slight bow and curtsey they pair were escorted to their vehicle where Amber and Fletcher were waiting patiently. The rest of the convoy were lined up around the circular driveway waiting to make their final journey home to Blackwood territory.

Noah and Indie climbed into their vehicle and a strange sense of anticipation and nervousness again filled Indie as she fidgeted with her fingers and tried to forget about it. She couldn’t.

Soon she found her hand smothered by Noah’s as their vehicle began its long drive towards the main road and their final journey towards their final destination. “Everything will be alright,” Noah comforted her, “I promise.” His words were genuine as he looked on at Indie with eyes full of certainty and adoration.

“What if they don’t like me?” She asked quickly. Acceptance had always been a big fear for Indie and even though she often had a tough looking exterior and laughed at jokes about herself she always found reason to fear not being accepted.

All Noah did was squeeze her hand as he saw the frown settle over the delicate features on her face. He felt her nervousness and wanted so desperately to ease it and let her know she had nothing to worry about. It seemed he could only say so much before she stopped listening however.

After a while Noah drifted off to sleep leaving Indie worrying next to him.

Would they like her? Would they question her about her past and would she be punished for what she did to Poppy. What would happen to Poppy, would she be allowed to live?

So many questions filled her mind and by the time they reached Blackwood her head was spinning and she felt sick.

The first sign that they were close to Noah’s home was the scattered houses that soon turned into a town, the town had a very rocky hill on the far side that was sparsely covered in young trees and shrubs. The area was not as desert like as Indie had previously thought it would be but it definitely wasn’t as lush as where she had come from.

Sitting atop the rocky hill was an impossibly large home that looked like something out of a fairytale. Indie couldn’t help but laugh, “I don’t suppose that is where we are headed to?” Her question sounded more sarcastic than serious but she was entirely serious.

Her question startled Noah from his slumber as Fletcher and Amber chuckled softly.

“Yep,” Fletcher began slowly as they wound their way through the streets of the town, “that there is Blackwood Castle. The biggest building in all pack lands country wide.”

Indie thought it looked gigantic from far away but as they drew closer she was bewildered at how it seemed to grow larger before her very eyes. Despite the size all Indie could think of was one thing. Why couldn’t they fit the Royal guards mates into the castle? She knew well enough by now that Noah didn’t have fifty siblings running around. If he was lucky he still had one on the run.

Hearing a great big yawn from her side Indie turned and saw Noah struggling to wake up. The sun still sat above the horizon but it had began setting just before they reached the outer limits of town.

“Welcome to your new home,” Noah smiled beside her as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He curse himself internally, how could he have slept so long. He would be awake late into the night now that he was fully aware of his surroundings.

Taking a deep breath in he felt at ease being on home territory. It had been months of travelling to find his mate and now that he had her the feeling that life was complete was difficult to ignore.

Before long they began winding their way up a mountainous road towards the top where the castle sat atop a large, open and flat plain.

“Am I dreaming?” Indie muttered as they pulled into a long driveway that had smaller, sealed roads jutting off in all directions.

Noah began telling her where certain roads lead to but Indie was too bewildered to take them all in. She was having trouble taking anything in. When finally they reached the top of the road it lead to a very long oval shaped driveway that was paved in large dark coloured cobblestones.

Driving the full length of the road they turned the corner and drove down the side nearest the entrance. Indie looked out the window at the height of the castle, it had turrets on each end and towers somewhere near the centre.

“Big isn’t it!” Noah remarked as he climbed from the vehicle excitedly and ran around to help Indie out.

“How many people live here?” Indie questioned him curiously as she climbed out of the truck and stood next to Noah. She squeezed his hand and leaned against him gently, she needed the support.

“Myself, mother, father and about seventy staff.” Though Noah seemed thoroughly pleased with that piece of information it made Indie feel sick as her stomach turned.

The pair were greeted at the main entrance by a man who smiled with a the rays of the sun, “good evening Master Noah and welcome home,” he had an English accent and stood rigidly. Though he seemed extremely formal he still had an air of casual calm about him. “And this must be Mistress Indie, soon to be Queen Indie.” He acknowledged her with a warm smile and a slight bow of his head.

“Good evening Barnard,” Noah greeted him kindly as they were quickly ushered through the two storey tall doors and into an entrance hall that looked like the size of Indies parents home.

“This place is too big,” she sighed feeling rather insignificant in comparison.

“Isn’t it wonderful,” Noah beamed as he tugged Indie towards a door, “Barnard where are mother and father? I shall introduce them to Indie right this minute.” He exclaimed enthusiastically and while it was infectious it made Indie feel even worse.

“In the informal lounge Master Noah, would you like for me to accompany you?” Barnard then looked at Indie and silently examined her from head to toe, “would you perhaps like to freshen up quickly?” He queried with a slight look of what could best be described as disgust.

“No,” Noah replied before Indie could say anything. “I would like to get introductions out of the way so that we may rest well for the evening.” His voice was stern and insistent. Perhaps he picked up on what Indie had?

“Very well,” he responded with a deep bow, “I shall introduce you of course Master Noah.” Barnard smiled warmly again as the look of disgust he displayed earlier completely disappeared. “Your parents were not expecting you till morning.”

Indie found herself silently questioning just who was in charge as Barnard lead them through a series of corridors. Noah held Indies hand tightly and gave it an extra squeeze for encouragement. He wanted her to know that he was there for her through everything she wanted and needed.

Arriving at a door Barnard urged them to wait while be announced their arrival but Noah was not having a bar of it. He grinned mischievously as soon as Barnard entered the room and bowled in after him rather dramatically.

Indie followed behind him with her hands clasped before her and her eyes looking at the floor.

“Oh Noah!” His mother cried as Indie looked up and saw her rise from her seat and rush towards her son. She took Noah in her arms and held him tightly, she began sobbing gently as she did so. “My darling Noah it has been far too long that you have been out of my life, come let me look at you.”

Indie stood completely unnoticed and ignored as Noah’s father joined in the celebration of his son being home. While Noah and his father embraced his mother noticed Indie standing there rather meekly, “You may leave.” she seemingly dismissed Indie along with Barnard as she waved her hand at them.

“Mother,” Noah laughed and shook her head, “this is Indie. My true mate and soon to be Queen,” he beamed a proud smile at his parents but was left utterly stunned by their reactions.

His mother shrieked as her skin paled instantly and his father looked more than a little cross. “No! She is not fit to be Queen! She is a commoner!” He roared angrily as Indie stood there feeling more than a little inadequate.