Alina

Is it possible to clench your jaw so hard you actually break it? My enquiring wolf wanted to know as I suffered through my maid valiantly trying to tie my corset up. Not that I needed one! I had just finished a shower, shaved the appropriate areas so nobody could accuse me of being a savage, and listened to father dearests latest list of my transgressions. However, if I thought that my behavior would prompt him to do the sensible thing and leave me out of political dinners, I was sorely mistaken. My father's face was the example of 'stubborn' in the dictionary-what can I say I learned from the best.

Eve jerked the ties until I could barely breathe, forcing my body into a wasp shape and pressing my breasts together and up to make them look gigantic. With my ordeal far from over Eve bought the formal dress to me, and I eyed it apprehensively.

The dress was long, flowing elegantly onto the floor and behind in a royal train, it was two different shades of the purest blue, made from the finest spider silk in all the realms and had sapphires interwoven in the fine-boned bodice, clinging to a woman's curves like a second skin. I knew from experience that there was a discrete remote that would stay in my evening purse. I would access it sometime in the evening during one of my 'required dances' with the visiting Betas. When I did, the dress would glow, making me the center of attention. It was designed to stand out in a crowd.

It wasn't the garment that made me feel bad, it was thoughts of the last Deveraux who ever wore the Queen of the wolves formal gown-my mother.

Why did daddy make me wear this tonight?

Eve held the dress reverently as I bowed my head, allowing her to slip it over and adjust the material to the shape of my body, it still smells like her, even after these years.

A soft gasp had me looking up, and Eve had her hands over her mouth, tears threatening to fall.

"Princess Alina, you look beautiful. Every inch a queen."

With that, she turned around, picking up my last formal dress wear off it's cushion,and handed it to me.

I carefully placed my crown on my head, the weight of the wolves now settling on my shoulders as I waited for Eve to finish my makeup.I never wore much anyway so she was soon finished,and I took a last glance in the mirror, startled to see a young version of my mother staring back at me.

The ballroom was noisy, with fifty or more guests mingling,and drinking our champagne.One of Daddy's warriors handed me the jewelled black eye mask that would announce me as being from the Deveraux wolves,and Eve assisted in tying it on, taking care not to mess with my hair.Gone was the tomboy for now and in her place stood the Royal Queen in waiting,I was ready to stand by Daddy's side tonight and represent our family, as my mother would have wanted maybe that's why he wanted me to wear her dress.

---

Dean knew the moment she walked in.

His breath caught in his throat and he felt his jaw go slack as Princess Alina Deveraux made her entrance. His Alpha was from a small out land pack, and after having no luck finding his mate he had sent his Beta in his stead to this gathering where the surrounding packs intending to request a mating ball be announced for the King's daughter.Jared Magus was a fair leader,and gentle at heart, but from what Dean knew about the Princess,he honestly wondered if Alpha Magus had what it took to keep her in line.

Alina's sheer presence commanded attention as she walked in unannounced and alone.Her dark raven tresses were swept up into an elaborate nest on her head,the princesses crown holding everything in place.Her creamy skin was on display from the shoulders up as the Queens dress hugged every curve,bathing her in the glitter of sapphires catching the light.The jewel encrusted mask that hid half of her face from view only enhanced her high cheekbones and bright green eyes as she looked around aloofly at the crowd.Her appearance tonight probably cost more than what was in their entire packs supply coffers for the year,and yet she didn't look spoilt.

As more men became aware of her entrance everyone stopped what they were doing and cleared a path for Alina to connect with her father.Head held high she looked straight ahead,gliding through the crowd to take her place by the King's side,and Dean heard a few of the older patrons whispering about how much she looked like her mother dreadful business that was.

A wave of dominant power washed over the room,commanding immediate silence from all of his guests as Elijah Deveraux prepared to speak.

" Welcome to the Deveraux kingdom.It has been a long road to get to this spot after my mate passed away,but I stand before you this evening to present my daughter Princess Alina Deveraux, next in line to be Queen."

He paused to allow the applause and Alina did a small nod to acknowledge everyone before electing to stand slightly behind her father.Dean could almost see her preparing mentally for the next phase,and wondered if she had any inkling of what the evening was all about.

"My daughter will soon be turning 18, and I have decided to throw a ball on her birthday in accordance with the collective packs wishes,in the hopes that my sweet Alina will find her mate,or have one chosen for her to continue the family legacy."

No one was prepared for what came next.

"What the fuck?"

Before anyone could get a handle on what was going on, the princess burst out of her dress in a mess of fur and claws,snarling viciously at the king with baleful green eyes before she leapt into the crowd, scattering the lesser ranked wolves as she tore towards the door.

"Alina no!" Elijah yelled but she was so enraged that her wolf refused to listen to her father and the king couldn't bring himself to bring her to heel with the royal command,so she escaped without restraint and raced through the palace doors out into the woodlands beyond.