Chapter 2 One - Meet The Pack

As I rode to college in the royal cart, I couldn't help but feel a sense of security and privilege as a member of the Royal family. My grandmother, Queen Jezebel, sat firmly on the throne, and my family was at peace. Unlike typical royal families, we didn't have to worry about power struggles or fights for succession. My mother, Ivy II, was content with her position, knowing her sister Clara was the rightful heir. With witches typically living over a century before retiring to the underworld, we all knew Queen Jezebel would reign for a long time to come. My close friends would often remark,

"Charli you are so lucky, you could be the rule the kingdom someday, after all, you're the fifth in line!"

"You heard that? Clara's the fifth in line, like number five, and let's be real, witches prefer queens over kings!' I said with a grin. 'I don't care either way, I'm marrying a prince anyway!' Sierra, my beta wolf bestie, chimed in,

"Come on, look at you! You're a queen in every sense. If you were a wolf, you'd be an omega – the ultimate queen!"

Our group was a beautiful mix of vampires, wolves, and witches, but we didn't care about species. We only cared about loving and supporting each other. We had each other's backs, and with our powerful witch in the group, nothing ever went wrong. We were a force to be reckoned with, and our bond was unbreakable.

On my way to school, I encountered James, an omega who had always been envious of me. While he was undeniably attractive, the wolves' admiration for him paled in comparison to the attention I received. My physique, voice, and siren eyes seemed to captivate them more than his physical appearance. As a vampire, my porcelain skin was a stark contrast to his sun-kissed complexion, which I secretly envied. I often found myself wishing for a warmer, darker tone like his. Meanwhile, people seemed to favor my plump, cherry lips over his thinner ones. Despite my own insecurities, I couldn't help but notice the differences between us.

The root of James' resentment towards me was clear. As an omega, he was submissive to alpha males, whereas I, a vampire, was immune to their dominance. Witches and vampires operated outside the wolves' hierarchical structure, and their pheromones held no sway over me. I didn't need an alpha's protection or suffer the indignity of being marked and used at their whim. Alphas could be cruel, trading their mates like commodities and subjecting omegas to a life of discrimination and hardship. It was a harsh reality that I couldn't help but acknowledge.

Unmarked omegas like James lived in constant danger, vulnerable to being exploited as sex slaves by alpha males who viewed them as nothing more than objects for their gratification. In contrast, I was untouchable, a fact that frustrated many an alpha who fancied me. Since my first love, I had zero tolerance for wolves and often wondered what distinguished them from dogs.

As I watched James drive by in a car with one of the wolves' princes, I suspected they were headed for a tryst. Perhaps James sought protection through this arrangement, as dating an alpha male often guaranteed safety. Hans, the prince, wasn't the crown prince, whose identity remained a mystery. Despite our mutual dislike, I pitied James more than I hated him. His eyes seemed heavy with burden as our cars passed, exchanging bitter glances. He had tried to dominate the school, but I stood in his way, refusing to back down.

As I strode into the college's hallway, all eyes fixated on me. It was no surprise, really - I was the most stunning student in school. The girls envied me, and the male omegas seethed with jealousy. But what made it even more infuriating for them was that I was a vampire, an eternal being of unparalleled beauty. Meanwhile, the alpha males drooled at the mere sight of me, their primal urges begging to claim my flawless body. I pitied them, really - they didn't stand a chance.

As I made my way through the crowded hallway, the sea of students parted, granting me a clear path. I couldn't help but wonder why they regarded me as their queen. True, I came from a royal lineage on both my mother's and father's sides, but neither of my parents was in line for the throne, so I wasn't exactly next in line for the crown. Still, perhaps fate had other plans, and I was destined to rule and lead a kingdom someday. Just like Snow White, I found myself waiting for that one prince who would sweep me off my feet with a life-changing kiss and make me his queen, ruling by his side.

As the crowd parted, my closest friends joined me, flanking me like a royal entourage. I was, without a doubt, the most popular student in school - a student celebrity, of sorts. Everyone knew my name, and opinions about me were sharply divided. People either wanted to befriend me or make me their enemy; it was a love-hate relationship, with no in-between. My popularity stemmed from various reasons: my stunning looks, my status as a non-wolf, and my vampiric nature. While no one dared to utter a negative word to my face, rumors and gossip spread like wildfire behind my back. But let's be clear: I wouldn't hesitate to smack down anyone who dared to disrespect me, the queen, in my presence!

As I walked, the crowd parted like a royal procession, but a few hot-headed alphas refused to yield, strutting alongside me as if they were equals. My besties fell into step beside me, and we exchanged warm, familiar glances, greeting each other like old times. Onlookers often mistook us for a pack, a tight-knit group bound by a complex hierarchy. In their world, a pack typically consisted of an alpha, beta, and omega, with varying proportions of each. But little did they know, our 'pack' was different - a circle of friends united by love and loyalty, not lust and dominance.

As the queen and her entourage, my besties and I, strutted down the walkway, our confident stride was abruptly halted by two imposing figures. Blocking our path stood two dominant alphas, their chiseled features and piercing gazes exuding an air of superiority. 'Oh no, it's the Pinewood princes!' Josh, my omega bestie, whispered urgently, his eyes wide with alarm. 'We should run!' he cried, his voice trembling slightly, as if sensing the primal power emanating from the two princes.