Eleanor's POV
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in!" I shouted from inside of my room. The next moment, the door opened and a maid walked in, then bowed to me.
"Yes, what's it?" I raised my face from the hand mirror which I was holding to apply some morning makeup. I'm the lycan princess, so I always desire to look pretty radiant.
"Your highness, the king requests your presence now at the throne room. He has something important to say to you and your brother."
Immediately she mentioned my brother, I put up with a frown. Out of anger, I dropped the makeup kit in my hand on the bedside table and settled on the bed, lying on my sides.
"Tell him that I haven't fully woken up." I looked at the small clock on the bedside table and it was 8:30 AM already. As the princess, my wakeup time on vacation is 8 AM and on a normal day like this, it's 5 AM where I get to do some morning runs and exercises.
"Your highness, it's really a serious matter before he asked to see you this early. I guess you should go listen to what he has to say." The maid persuaded, from where I grunted and slowly pulled myself up from the bed. I shot her an unhappy glare but it was of no use.
"Come with me!" She said to me and I slowly followed her, then I realised I had half makeup on my face.
"Give me five minutes please," I told her and rushed to complete it. I was already dressed, so I went out with her.
As we passed the series of hallways and balconies heading towards the throne room, my mind was filled with a lot of thoughts as to what the king really wants from me. Anna said it's really important, I wonder if she already knows what the king is going to say.
I reached out my hand and grabbed her by the shoulder. She paused and turned swiftly.
"What's it, your highness?" She asked politely, I let out a smile. At least, she managed to be polite with me when most of the royal family members treat me as an outcast, probably because I'm a woman dreaming to take over from my dad as the next Lycan King.
"So you know what the king wants to say to me?" I questioned her with a witty smile. She shook her head and moved on.
"Come with me, please. I don't want to incur issues with your dad." From her tone, she could be afraid. Most people are afraid of my dad, his brutal and fierce face and acts makes him a king people can't withstand, except the strong.
We met at the throne room which was where he kept his important meetings here at the palace. The first person my eyes landed on was my brother, I winked my eyes away, looking over to the window. I stumbled and jerked my knee.
A groan came up from my mouth.
"See who wants to become the lycan king, she can't even compose herself." It was his voice, it was George. I heard him quite well, my adopted brother who almost raped me three years ago. I forced myself and stormed towards where my seat was.
"It's such a shame you have the mouth to talk after what you did. Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself?" I lashed back at him, after all he almost committed a worse crime and he was my junior. I had to show him his place.
"Will you shut up and sit down here?" My dad yelled at me, sending shocking waves all over my body. I dashed to my seat in a minute to avoid a slap, it wasn't difficult to get one from him, but I always wonder why he never gave one to George who is a guy and also isn't his birth son. It's a guy that's supposed to get the yells and beatings.
I sniffed, forcing my emotions in. I realised how hard it could be to see an outsider being treated better than you in your family.
"Haven't I warned you not to raise your voice at a man no matter what he does to you?"
These words circled in my mind like a cyclone, igniting a burning fury in me. My eyes turned bloodshot, I stamped my foot on the floor, tightening my fist.
"Dad, it's such a shame you would say that. If it's so, that means some men don't really have dignity as they claim."
"What?" He stormed from his seat and gave me a hard punch on the head.
"Is that what I taught you? No wonder, you're just as useless as your mother."
I grabbed the spot he hit me, trying to absorb the pain. Tears began to cloud in my eyes, not mainly because of the punch but the trauma of being treated like a slave by the very person I called dad. I couldn't take it any longer, I broke out in tears and stood up from the seat to go to the restroom but I felt his hand grab me and jack me painfully back to the seat.
"Until you learn how to behave like a woman, I wouldn't treat you like one."
What does he mean?
I sat on the chair, crossing my arms over my chest, with my mind swayed away. I was thinking of the day I would run away from this family, this palace and this prison type of a life. Here is home but not home, rather a living hell. My mom who would be my only friend and supporter doesn't really have a say. My dad hates her, well she's the daughter of his enemy whom he wiped out all members of his family, including him.
Mom, a pretty young girl, being the only one left, he was mandated by the Supreme Wolf Council to get married to her and never maltreat or divorce her while he lives. I guess he uses me to vent all the maltreatment he would have mated out on mom while keeping her in the background, though she's the lycan queen.
"Eleanor!" His hoarse voice shook me off my deep thoughts and I shuddered while I looked at him. His eyes were filled with hate.
"I'm starting with you," he said.
"Huh?" I let out a gasp. "What do you mean?" I lip synced as I was lost to confusion at this point.
"I'm retiring soon from the position of the lycan king–"
My heart skipped with joy as I heard this. "He must be thinking of handing over to me," I muttered to myself. The hate in my eyes vanished into joy. I leaned across to hear what he had to say further, my heart was thumping hard.
"I know you've always dreamt of becoming the lycan king, the first female to be this–" He paused, giving my heart the opportunity to anticipate more. George turned and looked at me with a hateful glare but I ignored him. If I could get this position, who is he. I would twist and turn him as my revenge.
"-But that's not going to happen."
My heart snapped into two, I fell to the backrest of the chair."
"What do you mean, dad?" I poked out my pleading eyes which were dull and teary.
His glare alone was enough to get me quiet, if looks could kill, this itself would kill.
"I'm setting you up in marriage with the Lycan King of the North, Alpha Alexandro."
Until I slid off the chair and landed on the floor, I didn't know. It was my sudden reaction to hearing Alpha Alexandro's name. While we rule the South, he rules the North and is in his early forties, yet has no mate. News says he had a lot of mates but they all mysteriously disappeared after coming into the limelight, no one heard of them again.
Alpha Alexandro has a sense of mystery and dark aura even from the Journals and TV shows he appears on.
"What did you just say?" I repeated boldly again, rising up slowly. If I would obey his commands of keeping quiet at other functions, I wouldn't be here.
"Dad, that's the perfect man for her who will break and mend her–"
"Shhhhhh–" The king hissed at George, then he leaned towards him and whispered something into his ear. They exchanged glances and winked at each other which made them more suspicious.
"Eleanor, you're a woman and you need to get married as soon as possible to preserve the dignity of this royal family. The marriage has already been arranged and Alpha Alexandro will arrive in this palace tomorrow so you can get introduced to him."
"What dad?" I rose up, stammering. "How can you set me up with an Alpha whom everyone regards as a ruthless beast?"
"Come on, shut up! I don't need your decision on this."
At this George gave a wry smile, I flinched my face away in a swift, overwhelmed with confusion and disgust.
I stood up. "Dad! I'm gonna fight against this plan of yours." I angrily growled and stormed out of the room without even looking back.
"Remember you're to give yourself to him as a virgin. You haven't had a mate before, you must be a virgin. So keep yourself intact for him!" He shouted and his words fell on my ears like the hit of a metallic rod. I balled my fist so tight, then took to my heels.
Eleanor's POV
As I left my dad's presence, I couldn't return to my room. I had to go stay with two of my cousins who were just my age, Bella and Nella, they were twins and we were a trio, best of friends, always sharing secrets with each other.
I walked through the corridor that led to their apartment which was beside their parents. Seeing my tightened face, Bella, who was playing chess with his sister, stood up and walked towards me, her hands spread wide. Upon seeing this, Nella followed suit.
"What's wrong, chipmunk?" Bella asked as she often called me. I would smile hearing her call me this at other times but right now, my heart was heavy. I wasn't only thinking of the decision dad had already made to arrange me in a marriage with the monster, Alexandro, but that he saw me as a commodity, rather than a daughter.
I released a deep breath. By now, Bella had pulled me into her arms and Nella came around engulfing us in a tight hug.
"Cheer up Eleanor, what's the matter?" Nella asked.
They grabbed my hands from both sides and led me to the row of the sofa which they sat on. Nella brushed my left cheek with her palms looking so concerned into my eyes.
"Hmm," I sighed. "Dad called George and I." The tears swelled up in my eyes, I sniffed, trying to prevent the tears from falling. "Imagine him giving the lycan king position to him, his adopted son while he asks me to get married to that wicked, cruel Alpha of the North–"
"Alpha Alexandro?" They shouted in shock, shuddering. Their faces turned and they shook their heads in revolt.
"Why would he want his daughter to marry such an Alpha that kills anybody without any justifiable reason, the son of the devil and a deadly gang member?" Bella began to list them one after the other that I hit my lips several times gesturing to her to keep quiet. I didn't know, this was just a subconscious act to show who Alexandro really is, no one can stand him. He's one of the most powerful Lycans in the world.
"Come on, baby girl. He's not here!"'Nella gingered. I nodded.
"Yes, I know but–"
"Please stop thinking and rest." Bella heaved a heavy sigh, shifting towards me. "Will you play chess?"
I slowly turned my face, sending her a quick warning glare. She understood it right away and raised her hands in apology. It was so pissing expecting to talk about a serious talk and she was bringing in games. Well, it's her own tactics of draining down the tension in me a bit.
She hit on my thigh, squeezing it and looking into my face. "Eleanor, you're unlucky to have such a man as your father. Look, he doesn't even give you the freedom you deserve. Like tomorrow we're travelling to Greece for a three-day fun-filled vacation," Bella screamed with her sister joining her.
"How I wished you could come with us!" Nella's excited tone went low and as I turned to look at her face, it was all a frown with raised eyebrows. Bella dropped her face to her palms, swallowed up by thoughts.
"You said the Alpha is coming when to get you?" Bella asked.
"Tomorrow," I said and sniffed. She caressed my shoulders till I caught up with new energy. "I will have to meet that evil monster tomorrow." I dragged.
They each pulled closer, flicking their eyes at me. "You're not getting married to that beast, we will help you!"
I raised my brows, cocking my head to my side. "Which way?" I was curious to know.
"You can come with us, we're leaving tonight. You just sneak out of the house so no one notices you're gone and when Alexandro comes for you, he won't see you."
"That sounds like a good idea," I reacted with a steady nod. "But–" My head sprang up with a flash of anxiety. "He'll still come for me later, they might think I ran away and would look everywhere for me."
"It won't work then," Bella concurred. "You're gonna come back and they will still have you." To this, a new idea set into my mind.
There's only one way Alexandro will reject me and anyone the king might want to arrange me in marriage to will as well.
Being claimed by another male wolf!
"I have an idea!" I shouted out with excitement to both of them. My eyes glowed and my body swayed in ecstasy as I thought about this. "It's gonna work," I said to myself.
"But first we need to leave this palace." I then said out loud.
Evening came in a short while and I'd already packed secretly. Just as Bella and Nella had advised, I kept a casual demeanour, not showing that something was going to happen. As usual, mom and dad, with George and I, had dinner in the dining room and dad repeated the same talk of me marrying Alpha Alexandro and him coming to the palace tomorrow for the introduction. While this went on, I kept quiet not saying anything, just nodding and thereafter returned to my room.
It was 7 PM when the atmosphere had already begun being dark. Nella sent a text message. "Get ready! We're gonna leave anytime soon."
"You should come over!" Bella messaged three minutes later.
I sighed and took one last but careful look at all the items I packed, little though so as not to arouse suspicion, I sneaked out. I had all my stuff in my pink teddy bear handbag. I met with some staff at the palace but due to the simple style I was dressed in, they must have thought probably I'm visiting the mall or cinema. I sneaked out rather than tell my parents this excuse because I knew I wasn't gonna come back until after three days. I didn't want to feel that guilt of lying, rather I wanted them to miss me and get to discover what made me go away.
We succeeded in going out of the palace without arousing suspicions. The flight ordered by Bella was waiting at the airport terminal for us, we were all from rich families, money wasn't an issue for us.
We arrived at the airport in an Uber can and boarded the plane. Though this wasn't the first time, yet I felt this relaxing aura. Settling on my seat near the window, I breathed out a sigh of relief, glad that I'm not gonna see Alpha Alexandro tomorrow.
"Goddess! I wish I could meet my mate on this trip and bring them back home." I prayed silently, maintaining an optimistic mind.
After three hours of flight, we arrived at our chosen destination. Greece. Domes Zeen Chania, a luxury collection resort in Crete. The lodge and hotel suit here was top notch, one of the best five star luxuries I've come across before. We settled on our booked three room apartment with a central living we could all gather at anytime to spend time together.
"What's today's schedule like?" I asked after we'd finished packing in. Bella gave me a witty grin.
"I know you don't really love stuff like this," she said with sarcasm and I began to wonder what she meant. I lowered my brows with curiosity. "We're going for a night party here at the grand hall of this hotel. It's mainly for youngsters like us and it's held biannually, most elite young gees would be in attendance."
She snapped her fingers, tapping on my shoulder. "You could find a mate or mates to take back home." To this, I cocked my head, reacting with disbelief. I scoffed, turning away to walk towards the window. I didn't want to hold on to my hopes too high before I got disappointed.
She grabbed my arms, I turned around and she pulled off a steady gaze with a nod. I could sense her telling me that this might happen.
Bella, our stylist got our dresses ordered. It was gonna be a special event as Nella said. We're like sisters, so we got to dress similarly. The three of us slid into our mini-lace gown that went mid-hips, sexy and glittering with silver heel glass shoes. Cold swept through my body, I felt as exposed as I've ever felt before, at the same time I felt this budding feeling of satisfaction and freedom in me. Just wishing I could catch a mate and release this budding feeling in me, wishing myself to be noticed.
We sat and she styled our hair, same as hers. Makeup was on her as well, I heard she took some courses on this some time ago while in high school, she was pretty much an expert in this beauty and fashion field.
"Stand! Stand!!" She gingered on us, clapping her hands. "Look how beautiful we look in the mirror."
We all lined up at the extra-large wall mirror here in the dressing room. "Glam Princesses!" Bella uttered, blowing kisses. I blushed hard checking myself out. I was dressed in red, Bella in yellow and Nella in Lilac.
"Thanks so much, our pretty stylist!" I whispered into her ears, blowing her a kiss. Giggling in ecstasy, we got set to leave.
"The party starts by 8 PM." Bella announced and I lifted up my head to look at the diamond clock on the wall. It was 7:45 PM.
"Let's go down lest we'd be late!" Nella urged, then she turned to me. "Watch out, you could catch a man." I grinned and left with them.
We arrived on the ground floor, I saw many beautiful girls scantily dressed, some walking pretty naked, the guys were so charming, dressed in suits and some white shirts with trousers. I stopped, trying to grab the aura this setting was giving.
"Come on!" Bella grabbed my arm. "It's a youngsters ' party with elites from all over the world attending. What did you expect?" She tried to persuade me. Just as she was talking, I heard the MC made his intro from inside.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this strip elite party. We'll hope you will enjoy the maximum freedom right here, grab your handsome gee or babe, fuck and–" Using a loud mic, his voice was quite clear from the outside. I widened my eyes, turning around to both Bella and Bella.
"Didn't you–"
"Relax!" Bella grabbed my wrist. Nella grinned. I wanted to shout at them for luring me into this.
"Remember!" Bella started and Bella stepped forward to complete.
"Alpha Alexandro is coming for you tomorrow, he will come for you again when you return. So–" She leaned towards my ear. "Feel free, grab a guy, let him mark and claim you. That's the only way you can escape him forever!" With this, she smiled wider and grabbed her sister's arms, walked in, leaving me staring.
Her words hit deep. It's the exact thing I planned, only to be reminded by her. I remained fixed to the spot, with my eyes poking out in a wide stay. I didn't know how long I remained in this posture but the moment I was about to leave, I felt this domineering aura surrounding me. My body felt gripped to the spot, my wolf captured me so that I couldn't walk. I could only turn.
"What the hell!" I whispered to my wolf, falling my face immediately.
Four handsome guys, all identical and dressed in shining black suits surrounded me, their eyes radiant as fire, faces glowing like angels and bodies fitting into the world's male model type just so that they looked huge and muscular as well. Complete and perfect!
"We'd love to take you for the night!" The deep voice of one of them came up pulling me into a string of emotions that left my knees weakened and my body nearly sinking to the ground.
Eleanor's POV
"Who are you? I don't think we really know each other," I stuttered, switching gazes between them. My lips slightly parted into a blush that I was trying hard to hide but as I realised, it was impossible. Even if I would succeed to hide it, the red on my cheeks would expose me.
They smiled at my reaction, each looking at one another. Their gazes once again returned to me. The first among them, the one who spoke earlier to me, stepped forward leaving only a few inches between us. My body stiffened and when I took two steps backward, they moved closer covering the distance. It was like a pack of wolves coming after me.
My wolf sprang up with excitement, I looked away to see if I would catch sight of Bella and Nella. To my surprise, they stood by the door from the inside peering at us, giggling and pushing each other. The moment their eyes met with mine, they dashed in with an excited laughter, disappearing from my side.
"Such a lucky bitch to grab four charming princes!" Bella mindlinked immediately. I gulped down the saliva in my throat, slowly taking my eyes back to these four handsome men before me.
"I'm Alessio, the first."
"Enzo."
"Luca."
"And Marco," the last said with a perfect courtesy, blowing off a kiss. I smiled, falling on my face. I was thrilled but I couldn't admit it to them. Within a few seconds of meeting them and they just captured my attention with their charms. I must confess I haven't come across guys who had met my standards and at the same time gave me such vibes that grabbed my interest.
They had introduced themselves, I sensed it was now my turn. I parted my lips to say something.
"We're the Alpha Princes of Oragon."
"Huhh?" I stuck out my head, jaw dropped before I realised the identity of the guys I was standing before, I immediately composed myself. I'd heard of Oragon several times, a very powerful country, one of the most powerful countries in the world ruled by a Lycan King. King Arthur, a strict authoritarian, is a king so many people in the world respect and fear. From the little time I've been able to attend meetings with my dad in Genovia, he's not much in terms with us.
"How does this stop me from flirting with these handsome dudes?" I muttered to myself, wiping out the discouraging emotion. The series of events back there at home, dad's threat and my reluctance to marry Alpha Alexandro came to mind, playing so real. I needed to grab these guys and make them claim me.
It's risky but I have to do it!
Tonight was the only chance I got to meet guys, after today we'd only have to go sightsee and spend time together, referring to Bella, Nella and I. I wouldn't go around looking for a guy to fuck me.
"I'm Eleanor, the Lycan Princess of Genovia." I managed to say without incurring a crack in my voice. "I'm pretty sure you must have heard about me." My voice flowed this time around more smoothly, I was gaining confidence gradually.
Nothing felt good like being able to express myself with such freedom and not a stiffened demeanour.
Their eyes cascaded down my body, only then did I look down to discover I was putting on a gown that exposed the upper part of my breasts, my cleavage and my thighs.
"You look so sexy!" Luca, as I could detect said with a seductive grin. I blushed a deep red feeling myself exposed to their gazes. I loved it, I was freeing myself and soon I grabbed two hands, Luca and Alessio, gesturing to the others to come along.
We got inside, walking in with so much confidence that caught everyone's attention. It was surprising how the shyness went away so suddenly, probably due to the fear of being married to Alpha Alexandro but beside this, there was this budding feeling that was rising with the presence of these guys.
We sat at a designated spot and the waiters came along to serve us. "Isabella Islay." Marco ordered with a huge voice. I turned to my right to look at him in shock.
"What do you care for?" He uttered, his voice kind of laced with sarcasm. "You're a girl–"
I bashed out my hand stopping him, my face engulfed with a frown. I hate the thought of being seen as weak right from home. The three others sat up, baffled.
"I'll take the same!" My tone was firm and steady, there was no persuasion that could change me.
The party began in full swing, naked guys and girls filled up on the stage. My eyes nearly fell off from their sockets at the sight of this, I immediately pulled my palms over my eyes. Some firm hands pulled me over and the next second I was falling over a rock-hard chest with my right elbow falling on a most sensitive area I quickly detected to be a guy's genitals. I jerked up immediately, flinching my face to check out who it was among them that wanted to seduce me in the most subtle way.
Enzo!
The one who hadn't said a word right after introducing himself.
"Are you shy?" He grinned at me and kissed my cheek. I stiffened. His brothers burst into a wild laughter. The waiter approached at this moment, bringing the tray of Isabella Islay ordered and they all sat up ready to receive it.
I thanked my lucky star. I let out a sigh of relief but my wolf snarled at me. "Why don't you let them touch you? I'm falling for their wolves!"
"Huh?" I reacted with shock. "What do you mean?"
"We can become mates!" She said this, pulling up tension in my chest.
"Remember who they are, father would never let them marry me." I reminded her in case she had forgotten.
"Not until you let them mark and claim you!"