Sins Among Royals

The afternoon rolled through quickly as the sun sank beyond the horizon and the moon rose to take its place high in the sky. Stars twinkled against the witching black sky lending an ambiance to the expected events of the evening.

“Indie,” Rita called from downstairs, her house so quiet that it worried a little. “Hurry up will you?!” She called again from the bottom of the stairs. The entire morning had was spent reassuring Indie that she looked beautiful and stunning, it was spent bolstering her confidence and trying to instill confidence where there was none. Though she knew it was too little too late, Rita could hope, and she hoped that her daughter found a shred of it before they left. All eligible females were to be escorted by at least one parent, if they were young enough, to the formal gathering but Rita was over it, she didn’t realize how difficult it would be, and she didn’t count on her daughter unwittingly being a brat. “I swear to god if I have to haul my ass up those stairs to get you while wearing these bloody heels, I will rain hellfire on you.” Rita fell silent as she heard the familiar sound of high heels against wood. “Finally!” She cried out, impatiently.

Looking up the stairwell, she spied her daughter descending the stairs awkwardly with her little brother Chase holding her hand. “Sorry!” She yelled an apology at her mother as she stumbled down a few steps. “I still don’t walk in high heels and this much fabric! It’s taking every concentrated nerve in my body not to fall over” Indie protested, defending the time she took to get ready. She had a legitimate reason for not being downstairs sooner, or at least that was how she felt. Whether or not it was a reasonable excuse for her mother was another story.

Taking each step slowly she held her brother’s hand lightly and gripped the railing tightly; she knew what Chase was like and didn’t particularly fancy the idea of falling to her death. She found herself wishing that she’d have at least practiced walking in her room but no, as stubborn as she was she left it for the night of the party to put her shoes on and walk in them. “My feet are going to be dead by the time we get there. Why did I have to buy shoes so high?”

Her complaints fell on deaf ears as Chase released her hand before the last step and watched his sister tumble. Chase waited for her to hit the floor, but fortunately for Indie her mother caught her before she did too much damage. “Chase you little shit. Get out and wait in the car! Don’t you dare do anything like that when we get to the party, or I will hand you over to the Alpha King myself! Do you understand me, young man?”

Chase visibly shrunk at his mother’s threat. He often got away with a lot, but when his mother was as angry as she was, she was the last person he wanted to be around. Hanging his head and sneaking past his mother he ran from the door to the car and climbed in the back to wait patiently for the ladies. Even he, all of thirteen, had to dress up and wear a suit and because he was underage and had yet to hit puberty and shift, he needed to realize. No matter how much he begged to go with his father and Hunter, he would be stuck with women all night long. The only upside Chase could find was that he would get to see Poppy, even the mere thought of being in the same room as her made him blush. Luckily Chase was in the car alone, so no one saw, the idea of Indie relentlessly teasing him was enough to make him shrink more.

“Well, how do I look?” The insecurity in Indie’s question to her mother was obvious, but she did her best and held her head high in the hopes that she wouldn’t notice. She felt good. Despite cursing herself many times internally, it would not change her decision to get what she thought were extremely high, high heels. “Why did I get such stupid shoes? This is why I should never go shopping with Poppy! She lets me make bad choices.”

Rita couldn’t help but giggle, “oh, honey everything you do with Poppy is questionable. That girl has a few screws loose, I’m sure of it.” Rita didn’t exactly approve of Poppy’s choices in life, but she knew the bubbly curly haired blond always meant well. “As for how you look,” Rita stepped back and had a good long look at her daughter. While her makeup was fine some of her curls had started unfurling. “Well you could look worse,” she cocked an eyebrow and shook her head at her blatant honesty when just moments before she wished she could bolster her daughter’s confidence. Cursing herself internally Rita shook her head and took Indie by the shoulders. “You look beautiful my darling,” Rita smiled warmly. Indie was stunning in her unique way. She wasn’t a bright beauty like Poppy, she wasn’t a classic beauty like Madeline, but she was, in her own way, gorgeous.

“Gee thanks, mom!” Indie groaned as her mother took her by the hand and began leading her towards the door. “I don’t know why I’m so worried! It isn’t like I am going to meet my mate tonight or anything,” Indie never held out hope that she would ever find her mate. Though she was still very young, she knew many people her age in other packs were mated. Indie was still in two minds about finding her mate, but overwhelmingly she wanted to remain a single spinster for the rest of her life. Free and able to do what she wanted whenever she wanted.

As Rita and Indie walked out to the car, neither of them could imagine what the night had in store for them.

Sooner rather than later they arrived at the Alpha’s home and were greeted by one of many security guards. “It’s about time you two got here Rita; the Alpha is only waiting on a couple more after you.” Though the guard meant it in jest, Rita couldn’t help but narrow her eyes. They often forgot their places when in the presence of normal pack members.

“Yes well we are on time so don’t give me a shit about it. Blame the girl.” Though Rita was more than happy that they weren’t the last arrivals she wanted more than anything to throttle the man that spoke to her.

The guard bent at the hip slightly and looked in through the car window at Indie. “Well at least she doesn’t look like a ratbag, hell if she doesn’t find her mate tonight I’d be keen to have a go,” and with that last statement, he waved them through the gate.

Before the guard could turn and walk away Rita took hold of his coat and pulled him to her roughly, “if I ever hear you speak of my daughter or any other woman like that again not even the Alpha King would scare me out of slicing you to pieces, are you keen on that?!” Her response astonished not only the guard but her two children as well as she released the man and watched him stumble away quickly. “Bastards are all the same when you threaten them seriously.” She’d lived a long enough life to know what cocky security guards were like and what scared them.

The massive iron gates slid open along a set of rollers that seemed strained under the constant pressure. The Alpha’s home was large and stately and a little over the top, as were all Alpha homes that were paid for by the King. The massive sandstone pillars at the gates held a small guard station that usually held two to three highly trained men or women. A very long pebbled driveway lead up to the home that was built of sandstone, the bright yellow color of the material now faded and weathered with age. The stately seven-bedroom home often played host to visiting Alpha’s and their families and showed the opulence the Stoneden and Aspen wolves were sometimes known for.

Outside the very front of the home sat a large and ornate fountain, the driveway wound around it but as Rita pulled up, she noticed they’d even hired a valet service for the evening. “Good God they went all out tonight didn’t they?” Much to her surprise, the man that greeted them was her eldest son Hunter.

“Oh, mom finally you guys are here! Alpha Thornton is waiting for Indie in the ballroom. You need to drop her there then head out the back to be seated. The girls will be introduced to the crowd one at a time.” To the entire Jones family, the pompous ceremony seemed a little over the top. Why couldn’t the Alpha King just mingle with everyone? “The next Alpha King is going to meet all the eligible girls before they’re introduced too, just to make sure none are his mate.” Hunter grinned and winked at his sister; everyone knew Indie had no hope of being chosen.

“Oh right,” Rita muttered as she climbed from the car and urged both her daughter and son to follow her. “Can Chase stay with you?” The question directed at Hunter was more rhetorical as she raised a brow at her eldest child as if she were silently telling him to challenge her.

“Sure mom. Dad shouldn’t be too far away either. He’s running security in zone one.” Neither Rita nor Indie knew what on earth he meant Rita handed the keys to Hunter and helped Indie up the stairs.

Two doormen greeted them with a smile and a nod. The front door led to the grand foyer and off to the left lay the ballroom in which all young eligible women were gathered. “Alright, darling I am going to leave you here. Go in and find Poppy and I’ll go get your brother and head out to the seating area.” Rita kissed her daughter on the cheek one last time, careful not to press too tightly for fear of running off with half a face of makeup. Pulling away she smiled warmly at her daughter, “no matter what anyone else says love, you really do look beautiful.” And as if it was too much emotion for her to deal with Rita scoffed, “I am glad to know my only daughter can go from homeless to hottie whenever she feels like it.” With that, she left Indie feeling more than a little lost for words.

The ballroom was gaudy, to say the least. The gold accents on the walls shone so brightly as Indie entered the room that it almost blinded her. The doors were pulled closed behind her, and she soon found herself being stared at by more than one set of eyes which made her feel a little uncomfortable.

The other women gathered didn’t say much to her as she entered further, but she soon spotted Poppy on the far side of the room standing all alone. Indie noted that Madeline and her friends made a point of standing away from her and pointed now and then as if to emphasize it. If there was one thing, Indie hated more than anything else it was the way Madeline thought she could walk all over everyone she thought as undeserving of her attention. Which happened to only be Poppy and Indie.

Without another thought Indie suddenly found balance in her stride and she pulled her shoulders back and took it one step at a time all the while thinking, ‘if you fall flat on your face Madeline will remind you every day for the rest of your life.’ That was more than enough motivation and incentive to keep Indie upright and smiling smugly as she strode towards her best friend.

Approaching Madeline and her small group it was evident that none of them realized who she was and with more than one pack gathered it wasn’t too surprising.

“Glad to see that even with a thick coat of makeup you can’t hide that ugly attitude, Madeline.” It was a mystery to Indie why she had so much confidence around the Alphas daughter, but she put it down to always needing to have the last say and a slight feeling of hatred too.

At first, Madeline turned with a blank stare on her face but when the cogs in her head finally clicked, and she realized who was speaking to her all she could muster was a sneer. “I see you managed to find a dress after your car was broken in to.” Grabbing at the necklace, she wore Madeline looked and sounded nervous which only boosted Indies confidence.

“Funny.” Indie smiled sarcastically. “I don’t recall telling you my car was broken in to. I didn’t even file a report with the police so how could you possibly know that?” Indie lied through her teeth, but it seemed to only agitate Madeline further.

“I am the Alpha’s daughter! I know everything.” She stomped her foot against the herringbone patterned floor angrily.

“Whatever you say, princess. I know a thief when I smell one,” Indie stepped closer to Madeline and grinned deviously when her opponent took a step back. Indie loved antagonizing Madeline she was far too easy to wind up.

With a sneer and a scowl, Madeline nervously laughed it off but turned from Indie and began walking away.

“Oh my God!” Poppy called from behind Indie. “Please master teach me your ways to tame the monster that is Madeline!” An arm linked with Indies quickly as Poppy sighed. “Why do I turn in to such a mess around her? She isn’t even that pretty.” Poppy couldn’t help but criticize the Alpha’s daughter cruelly.

“Because Poppy,” Indie began carefully. “When she’s around, for some reason she makes you see insecurities that aren’t really there,” Indie always spent her time boosting Poppy’s ego after Madeline had been through to tear it down.

“You look hot by the way,” Poppy muttered as the Alpha walked in with the guest of honor who scanned the room eagerly. “I’d do you any day.”

Indie let out a little yelp and ducked behind Poppy as she set eyes on their future Alpha King. “Oh no, no, no, no,” Indie whispered as quietly as she could. “Is he looking?” She asked quickly as she trembled behind her friend. She knew as soon as he set foot in the door that her life was over and she was not ready for that at all!

“No, he’s still looking around. He doesn’t look......” Poppy cut her sentence short and hissed at her friend. “Why are you hiding?!” Poppy whispered harshly as she tried to shake her friend out from behind her, her actions only caused more attention to fall on the pair.

“He’s my mate, I think.” Indie couldn’t be too sure but from what her mother had taught her and from the stories she’d heard of finding mates he belonged to Indie, or rather, she now belonged to him.

“Holy shit balls!” Poppy cursed so loudly that everyone stopped and stared at the pair. “Ugh, I think he’s coming this way Indie,” though Poppy did her best to hide her friend at the realization of what was happening, there was no way she could protect her forever.

The crowd parted, and though the pair stood near the back of the pack of about forty females all eyes were suddenly on them, and Indie found herself shrinking behind Poppy in a feeble attempt to hide.

The future King of all werewolves strode through the room with a confidence and surety Poppy had never seen before, he didn’t even have to say anything to anyone, and they moved and bowed their heads. He stopped a short distance from Poppy and gave her a questioning look.

Indie glanced up and around her friend at the Alpha King and what she saw froze her to the spot instantly. His steely grey glance came upon Indie and made her stop all fidgeting suddenly. His gaze was cold, calculating and somewhat devoid of emotion and he looked almost disappointed with what he saw.

All Indie could do was let out an awkward and strained giggle as she stepped out from behind Poppy and bowed her head to their future leader. All hopes of returning home and not having to worry about finding her mate withered and died at that moment. Her life had been chosen; her path was now absolute, the only way she could get out of it was through death.