Chapter 6: Once A Princess

IN A BLINK of an eye, the most beautiful day in my life had become the most tragic one. The guests would remember this as the bloodiest wedding in history. Most of the knights who had sworn allegiance to my family were now on Uncle Titus’ side as they killed our guards who tried to protect us.

I screamed when their blood splashed onto my wedding dress.

“What is the meaning of this?” Dad hollered as he exposed his claws.

Uncle Fredrick, one of the Council members, firmly announced, “Traitor Adam Valenciaga, your status and all of your power as a member of the royal family are hereby revoked from this moment on for committing a treason. You colluded with the Vampires to secure your daughter’s position as the crown princess.”

Dad looked dumbfounded as he glanced at his best friend. “It was you who did that and now you are trying to put the blame on me? And the Council believed you just like that? Where are your proofs that it was me?” he screeched at Uncle Fredrick. “Show me!”

“As punishment, you and your clan shall be beheaded three full moons from now in front of all the wolf packs to serve as a lesson they would never forget,” Uncle Fredrick continued to announce as if he heard nothing. “If you or any of your family members resist the arrest tonight, we will be forced to execute the punishment as soon as possible.”

Hope rose in my chest when I finally saw Nicole, my best friend and Uncle Titus’ only child. She said she was too sick to attend the wedding that’s why at the last minute, we had to change the maid-of-honor, but to my surprise, she seemed okay now. She was even wearing the same gown as mine. The only difference was that hers was red.

Still, I tried to hold her hand. “Nicole, this is a misunderstanding. You know my father. He would never do what your father is accusing him of-“

I didn’t get to finish what I wanted to say when she suddenly slapped me. And since I was not expecting it, I lost my balance and fell on the carpet. Her claws scratched my cheek and because I was not a normal wolf, the scratches did not heal easily.

“Nicole?” I asked, flabbergasted, as I held my cheek that had become numb from the impact of her slap.

We were the best of friends since we were toddlers. Dad even fondly called us twins because we were always glued to each other. We were bombarded by criticisms our whole lives.

Uncle Titus’ humble beginning was an open secret. His father was a rogue and his mother was a human. When his parents died, Grandpa decided to adopt him and raise him like his own that’s why despite his bloodline, Dad still treated him as an older brother.

When Grandpa wanted to make Uncle Titus into a Valenciaga, the Council protested. That was our only disappointment although his surname had never become an issue to us. Nicole grew up being judged by the nobles as the daughter of a lowborn while I grew up being compared to her. Many of the citizens were saying that my best friend was better suited as the crown princess because unlike me, she could shift. Unlike me, she could do many great things that I could only dream of doing.

Nicole was a gray wolf. In our kingdom, female gray wolves were rare. Gray indicate strength that’s why several male betas sought for her hand in marriage although she refused them all.

Nicole was praised for the color of her fur and I was proud of her. I had wished that I could shift and run with her. I loved her like my own sister. Growing up, we never had arguments because our thoughts, desires, and dreams were always aligned with each other. We supported each other.

Until tonight.

Tears stung my eyes. What happened to her? To us? Where did things start to go wrong?

“Shit! That felt so good! I have always wanted to do that!” she said in a loud voice as she spat on my face, contrary to the meek, soft-spoken, and gentle Nicole Lancaster that I knew.

“Why are you being like this?” I asked in a broken voice. “We’re best friends!”

“Best friends? Me and you? Oh, please! My stomach would churn every time you’d call me that!” Nicole scoffed. Her fingers dug deep in my skin when she clutched my face. “You think I would let myself be acquainted with a weakling and stupid girl like you? I feel so tired of faking it this whole damn time! Tell me, ‘princess’. How does it feel falling from your royal seat? What was it like to force your head to look up at others’ faces? As for me, it was hell every time I had to look at this moronic face of yours! But at last, the moon goddess finally heard our prayers! I no longer have to do all of those shitty things now. Our goddess is truly a merciful one. You have no idea how hard I prayed for all these to happen.”

When Nicole laughed, our group of friends laughed with her. They were the same ‘friends’ who showered me with praises, who I thought liked me and accepted me for who I was.

I had been blinded by my overwhelming desire to be acknowledged by at least a few wolves outside my clan that I didn’t mind whether I would end up losing money, another bag, or another precious jewelry each time they would visit me in my chambers. Those were just material things anyway. They could be replaced, but not my friends’ affection.

They were quick to run to me in every celebration, but they were also the quickest to run away from me at times of tribulation. I wanted to scream. Just how many times do they plan to break me and my family apart tonight?

Where was the moon goddess’ mercy when we needed it?

It turned out that aside from my family and Chester, nobody else had been real to me. I looked up to search for my groom. My eyes widened when I saw him shift and ran away along with his family members.

Before this, Chester and I had already made a vow to each other. We did it the night of the full moon, just the two of us. That was when he slipped the diamond ring onto my finger and I happily accepted it. The man who swore to be true to me at all times, to love me, and to protect me ran at full speed when I needed him the most. It was enough to completely crush my heart. It took that last piece of hope inside me.

What have I done to be betrayed like this?

“Release my daughter at once!” Mom screamed.

She tried to get in between me and Nicole. She shifted, but the knights were quick to catch her. And when she fought back, Uncle Fredrick stabbed her in the leg.

“No!” I cried out. “Mom!”

I tried to stand but Nicole stepped onto my hand, she buried the heel of her stilettos deep into my finger which made me scream from pain.

With tears still streaming in my eyes, I held the hem of Nicole’s gown using my other hand. “Nicole, please… don’t do this to us, to me. Save my mom at least. I’m begging you.”

The tender smile Nicole used to give me was now wicked. Was she always like this behind my back?

“Do it more. Beg some more, ‘princess’. And maybe I’ll reconsider.”