Sins Among Royals

The day of the Alpha Kings visit soon dawned on the small town of Aspen as Indie woke with a start. If she were in a fairytale movie, she would be filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and cheer, but as it were, she found herself filled with dread and despair because of how the events of the previous day had unfolded.

Pulling a pillow over her head, she let out a muffled scream. Indie had never before been so anxious, so nervous, so tense. Not even running the music shop stressed her out this much.

Before long a knock sounded at her door. She didn’t answer, and soon she heard the familiar creak of the hinges and faint footsteps sneak across the wooden floorboards. A heavy lump sat on one side of her bed and quickly lifted the pillow off revealing Hunters concerned face followed promptly by Chase.

“Why are you so miserable?” Her little brother asked curiously. He didn’t understand why Indie could ever be upset at the Alpha King’s visit. “I heard he’s a cool guy and if you piss him off you die,” Chase mockingly fell from the bed as he mentioned what Noah Blackwood was capable of. “I bet you’ll piss him off tonight and get sent to jail.”

Hunter grabbed his little brother by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to the door, “you’re pissing me off. Get out.” Chase protested as he was shoved roughly out the door but could do nothing as his older brother slammed it in his face. Chase knew when Hunter was bothered it was more than likely him that would suffer. The youngest of the Jones family had a well-known reputation for being a jokester and a prankster, but it often crossed into the realms of cruelty, something he wasn’t quite capable of understanding.

“Why couldn’t I be a boy! You guys have it easy!” Indie groaned and pretended to cry, she didn’t want to go through with it but there was no use in her complaining to anyone else about it, the rest of the pack seemed excited. Though it was only one day in her life, it was one day too many for Indie. The thought of being noticed by people in her pack was unsettling, she had her circle of friends, her family, and her plans for the future and that was all that mattered to her.

“Well you’re not a boy so stop being a sook and suck it up.” Hunter didn’t want to be tough on his little sister, but her self-pity was more than a little nauseating. “He’ll find his mate and, you’ll be free to go back to your shitty dead end job. Now get up and get dressed.” Hunter ripped the blankets from the bed in an attempt to get his sister up and stop her feeling sorry for herself.

For a werewolf, she was extremely reluctant to acknowledge it. Hunter knew his little sister had done things to make her embarrassed of being a werewolf, but he still couldn’t understand her stance on the matter. There were times when Indie completely repressed her wolf which made her a target for specific pack members.

“Fine! I’m up!” She cried out in defeat. “No doubt Poppy has been awake all night freaking out,” the thought of Poppy looking ragged and tired made her feel a little better about the day.

“Indie are you awake? Get dressed honey,” Rita called to her loudly. “You have an appointment at the salon this morning with Aunt Saul.”

Though Saul was in no way related to Rita and her family the pair had grown up together and though Saul was human, she was one of few that knew all about the supernatural beings living in Aspen.

Rita entered her daughter’s room and saw Hunter comforting her. “Oh honey not this again!” She didn’t understand why Indie couldn’t pull herself together for one night. “Stop being selfish and get up. Hunter, you get ready. Don’t forget you are working with your father tonight!” Rita hated putting the bossy pants on, but when her children were difficult, she cared very little for how they felt.

Hunter ran off quickly mumbling under his breath while Indie dragged her feet over the side of her bed lazily. Rita rushed to draw the curtains open and find a suitable set of clothing for her daughter among the items scattered across the floor.

“How’d you get me an appointment with Saul?” Indie couldn’t help but query curiously. “Surely she was booked out as soon as all the pretty girls with the rich parents found out about the Alpha King.”

Rita rolled her eyes at her daughter and scoffed, “it’s Saul. She’s been wanting to get her hands on you for a long time.” Rita smiled at her daughter then, “beside’s the woman owes me a lot. Now hurry up. Five minutes then were off.”

Thankfully for Indie they only had to drive down the hill to Stoneden for a visit to Saul’s salon, but when they got there, anyone would have thought the Alpha King himself was inside. The crowd that was waiting seemed a little excessive.

Rita found the first available car park and pulled in. “Hurry up Indie! I don’t want her to get sick of waiting for you.” Rita urged Indie to walk around to the front door of the salon while she hurried around the back and in through the door to greet Saul.

Dressed in a pair of baggy grey sweatpants and a slate grey t-shirt Indie couldn’t help but feel sub-par to the girls waiting outside for Saul to open the doors, though it was early in the morning they were all dressed well and looked put together.

“Go home Jones!” someone called from the crowd as Indie looked around.

Soon she saw Madeline and her friends standing right near the front of the group. “Oh, of course, you’re here princess.” Indie groaned in annoyance and frustration. “Who else would be desperate enough to stand right in front of the door.” Madeline stood so close to the opening that Indie was sure her greasy facial marks would be left behind along with half of her makeup.

“Who do you think you’re talking to!” Demanded Madeline more than a little outraged, her morning had gone from glorious to gloomy in less than a second.

Although the Alpha’s daughter intimidated many young girls in the pack Indie was different. She’d seen enough horror movies to be dead inside and utterly unafraid of anything Madeline could do. Anything she could do Indie would try and do better.

“Alright ladies!” A voice called from behind Madeline as rusty hinges turned on themselves.

It was Saul. She stood tall and proud before the crowd and searched the sea of eager faces for Indie. “I’m only letting in two at a time, and I’m closing the store early today. Got better things to be doing quite frankly.” Although Saul didn’t mind the beauty industry, she much rather loved her quiet little farm outside of town where she had chickens, cows, ducks and sheep just to name a few of her animals. She usually opened her poky small salon when anyone booked an appointment which seemed to be rarely ever for the posh and pampered girls of the werewolf pack she lived in the middle of but like everyone else Saul knew something big was happening and would gladly overcharge the spoiled little princesses of the pack.

Much to Saul’s dismay, it was Madeline who presented herself first. “You can start with me. The rest can wait till later.” She stood in front of the hairdresser with her nose in the air and a cocky grin on her face almost asking for Saul to test her. Unfortunately for Madeline, she didn’t know Saul very well.

Madeline tried to enter the store, but Saul pushed her arm out in front of the cocky young woman, “you just cool those jets, little lady!” A very shocked and confused Madeline looked up at Saul, astonished. “I have appointments first then everyone else. I don’t see your name on my list, so you go to the back of the line.”

To say Madeline was outraged was an understatement, “I’m sorry? Who the hell do you think you are telling me to wait!” She demanded answers fiercely. “I am the Alpha’s daughter, and I deserve to look beautiful! I deserve to look my best!”

Many of the girls gathered looked around at each other shocked at Saul’s brazen refusal of Madeline, but they were even more appalled at Saul’s handling of it.

“Listen here, princess.” Saul placed one hand on her hip and leaned into it to emphasise her point. “I ain’t part of your pack so I give no shits about who you are! I have a booking sheet here that says you don’t have an appointment, so get to the back of the line and maybe, just maybe I’ll have a space for you before I close.” Pulling her head up she looked over the crowd again, “Indie and Poppy. Let’s go now,” Saul had never had a soft spot for anyone that demanded anything of her, and although it was a significant night for all young, single and unmated girls, she wouldn’t compromise her integrity to indulge the Alpha’s daughter as others did.

If there were consequences later, she would deal with it then.

Both Poppy and Indie rushed to the front and pushed past a very angry and embarrassed Madeline.

“Go on now! Or good luck getting an appointment in Luton this late.” At that threat, Madeline seemed to come to her senses and backed away from the door. A silent rage built within her but if she wanted to look her best she had to wait her turn.

The two girls entered the salon while Saul locked the door behind them. “I literally can’t believe how desperate these girls are. This guy must be a hunk of spunk for all this trouble.” Though Saul knew of werewolves, her knowledge of the Royal family was limited.

Once upon a time a man came to Stoneden and claimed Saul was his mate. Not knowing what he was she played along with whatever he said. The man was so desperate to have his mate that he failed to see Saul as a mere human and when he did it was too late. He was reported to the Blackwood family and was left for them to deal with. Unfortunately for Saul, her mates punishment was death, and Saul’s penalty was a lifetime of broken-hearted misery, unable to leave Stoneden and unable to be part of the pack. She was left to wander in a never-ending limbo.

“So what are we doing with you girls today?” The hairdresser and beautician smiled as she began her long day of work.

Thankfully for her, the two girls were easy and opted for simple beauty. Loose, wavy curls with natural-looking makeup. After an hour the girls were done. Simple beauty but a dramatic effect. For Saul, there was nothing more rewarding than putting little effort in and getting maximum results.

“Now here’s the million dollar question. What to do about the pouty princess outside?” All eyes turned to the windows as they saw the girls sitting outside. Madeline stared at them through the glass, her arms crossed and a deep scowl on her face.

“I suppose it would be cruel to just shut the doors if she’s the last one,” Rita smiled woefully as her conscience got the better of her.

“Maybe something she doesn’t want?” she then laughed mischievously.

“Mom!” Indie couldn’t believe what her mother was saying.

“What?” Cried Rita loudly. “She is such a horrid little lady who needs a major attitude adjustment.” Though everyone agreed not many people ever spoke it out loud.

“Well, you girls better get going. Anita should arrive soon.” They all heard the back door of the salon open and were soon joined by another person.

“Bloody hell Saul! Why are there so many girls waiting outside?” She questioned her boss tentatively. “Is it prom season or something?”

All four ladies laughed nervously before Saul replied. “Some kind of formal do up at the Thornton house tonight.” Turning to Rita and the girls she smiled and clapped her hands together, “Come on girls! I bet your both excited to get those dresses on?”

Before long they left the store and headed out the back to the car. Though it was still morning time was going by quickly.

Poppy drove behind Rita and Indie all the way to their house. Neither of them was surprised to see Poppy pull in to the driveway behind them. The girls ran up the stairs giggling.

Though Poppy was genuinely happy to dress up, Indie was only excited that the day was almost over. The longest part of the day was still before her, but at least she could wake up in the morning in her bed.