One: In love

Tatiana.

I look at myself in the mirror and all I see is a beautiful girl who is about to be mated to the man of her dreams. 

A smile crosses my lips as I tilt my head to check my elegant hair updo. Joane had done a great job at making my curls and now she was trying to place the tiara on my head. 

“My princess, if you keep moving I won’t be able to finish my work and you will end up being late for your date.” 

I giggle and sway my head from side to side playfully while she chases my head behind me with her hands hanging in the air with the tiara. 

“My princess…” A frustrated groan leaves my handmaiden’s lips. “Don’t you want to see Alpha Benjamin soon?” 

Those words make me stop my mischief at once and I feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach. 

Oh goddess!  His name alone is enough to make my heart feel ticklish.

Joane raises a brow at me through the mirror and fixes the tiara on top of my caramel hair. “I thought so. He’s been waiting for close to an hour you know.” She says and my cheeks heat up. 

I get up from the vanity chair and it falls to the ground as I dash out of my room, my heart banging hard in my chest. 

“Princess Tatiana! Careful!” Joane calls out to me but I ignore her. I can’t wait to see Benjamin. My future mate and husband. 

It’s been two months since he proposed to me when I turned 18 and it was the best day of my life. 

We all knew he was going to propose on my birthday and when he actually did, he blew my breath away. It was everything I wanted and more. 

I run down the luxurious hallways of the castle and trot down the stairs while holding up my dress. My nanny insists I wear these heavy princess gowns but I don’t mind since it’s what I’ve won my whole life. 

Like a bullet, I dash out of the castle as Omegas stay out of my way while bowing their heads in reverence but I don’t return their greetings as I’m fixated on something else at the moment. I want to see my love. It feels like forever since I saw him. 

The huge giant golden doors of the castle open and my heart stops beating momentarily when I spot him waiting on the porch. 

He has his back to me. His blond hair is slicked back neatly and he’s donned in a black tux with his hands laced behind him. He must have smelt my scent because he whips his head around right at that moment and my stomach does a backflip. 

Goddess, I am so in love. 

His captivating green eyes meet my azure ones and I gulp. He flashes me that killer smile that made me fall for him and my heart goes into an instant overdrive.  I forget I’m a princess and begin to fidget with my fingers sheepishly. 

What do I do now? 

He takes a step forward and takes my hand in his all the while I’m frozen on the spot like a fool. My stomach is a bundle of nerves and I’m sure my face is as red as a tomato. 

“Princess Tatiana.” He says huskily and I see him bowing slightly, his eyes not leaving mine as he raises my hand to his lips and he places a soft kiss there that sends an electric jolt down my spine. 

Oh my…

“Alpha Benjamin.” I return his greeting, knowing we couldn’t talk to each other casually with all the guards around. 

Benjamin raises his head and smirks. Giving me a look that makes my heart skip a beat. 

“How about that walk in the woods behind the castle that I promised you?” He asks and I smile sheepishly as I nod, recalling how he had to leave early after proposing so he promised to have a stroll with me. 

“It would be an honour.” 

I’m about to hook my hand with his when the strict voice of my nanny reaches my poor ears. “Are you forgetting something, princess?” 

I look back at her innocently as she gives me a stern stare. “Where’s your chaperone?”

A low rumble vibrates from Benjamin’s chest. It’s so low that I almost think I heard wrong. Why would he growl at Gena's words?

“I’m here, Gena. I’ll chaperone as the Alpha courts the Princess.” Joane, my life saviour comes through while panting and Gena huffs before turning around and going back into the castle. 

She had raised me ever since my mother died during childbirth and she was so strict and fierce but I didn’t mind. Gena taught me all that I know today. How I should act as a princess. What I should and shouldn’t do. My duty to this kingdom. She also emphasized on me keeping my virtue until I’m mated. It was a promise I also made to myself so there's no way I’m going to break it. 

‘Keep your legs closed my princess. Men are evil creatures and can be dangerous animals when they want to.’ I almost giggle when her voice seeps through the mindlink. 

‘Don’t worry. I’ll be getting mated soon so I’m not in a hurry.’ I reply just as I hook my arm with Benjamin and look up at him. The expression on his face makes me frown. He looks angry and his jaws are clenching but upon noticing my gaze, his expression returns to the gentleman I’ve always known. 

“Let’s go.” He says with a small smile and I walk alongside him. 

He's been courting me for a year now and it has been a wonderful experience. Although we only go for walks within the castle grounds. I’ve never seen the outside world in my whole life. 

Why should I when everything I want is right here? I’ve never attempted to sneak out because that’s not how a princess should behave. 

We walk in silence and head toward the woods behind the castle. This is where I come when I want to let my wolf out. It’s private and safe. No enemy can come through because the walls around the castle are spelled with powerful mage magic. 

“I would like to talk to you alone princess. Can you tell your maid to excuse us?” Benjamin’s voice brings me out of my thoughts and my heart pounds as I wonder what it is he wants to talk to me about. 

He curls his fingers under my chin and tilts my head up, making me lose all sense of reason. 

He’s so handsome. 

“Please… I want to have some time alone with you.” His husky voice makes me nod my head in a daze and I reach Joane’s mind. 

‘Don’t follow us.’

‘My princess, I don’t think that’s wise–’

‘Benjamin wouldn’t hurt me. Just be on the lookout and alert me if you see Gena.’ 

I don’t know what came over me. I’m never the type to ignore rules. Maybe it was the way Benjamin was looking at me as if I was the only woman in the world, or the way I could feel a dull throb in my centre… all I knew was the idea of being alone with the man I love was tempting. 

‘Ok. Call for me if you need my help.’ 

Looking up at Benjamin, I bite my lip and nod, "she's agreed." I say.

Benjamin smirks and grabs my wrist before running and pulling me into the woods while hearty giggles escape my lips. 

I don’t know how long we’ve been running but I hate how my dress keeps getting caught in tree branches and stuff. 

A gasp leaves my lips when I’m suddenly spun around and pinned against a large tree. I can feel my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath while looking up at the man who pins me with a stare full of hunger and lust. 

My heart begins to pound hard and fast. His eyes dip to my bosom and I see them flash a deep green of his wolf’s before he trails them to my lips and I bite my bottom lip in return. 

Goddess… I can feel butterflies wreaking havoc in my stomach. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous before in my life. 

“Do you trust me, Tati?” He asks, using the nickname he gave me, and I just about melt in his arms. I swear with the way my core is pounding desperately right now, I would gladly open my legs if he wanted me to. I was a goner and it was all because of the Prince charming in front of me. 

I nod my head at his question, not being able to string two words together and I see him smirk as his face magnifies in front of mine and I feel like my heart is about to burst out of my chest from the way it’s thundering loudly and violently. 

He’s going to kiss me... Oh goddess! My very first kiss!

I close my eyes in readiness for him to claim my lips and I feel his hot breath blowing my skin as he slowly dips his head closer. 

His lips lightly brush my lips but I suddenly tilt my head to the side while his lips land on my cheek and we both freeze when we realize what I’ve just done. 

I just dodged his kiss. Why? I thought I wanted him to kiss me. Confusion stirs my soul but Benjamin seems to recover quickly… that or maybe he didn't think much of it. He begins to place rough kisses along my jaw, trailing his lips to my neck while I feel his hard manhood pressing against my stomach. 

The lust that had filled my head leaves me and I’m now frightened by what he’s doing. His assaults are not gentle at all. His kisses are hungry and primal. As if he couldn’t wait to claim me right against this tree. 

How degrading. This is not me at all. How could I allow him to treat me in such a way?

I place my hands on his chest to push him away but he doesn’t budge and I feel him raising my dress up as his hand caresses my thigh roughly. He lets out lewd groans as he gropes me in ways I find utterly insulting and disrespectful. 

His touch should make me feel all tingly inside but for some reason, I feel repulsed. 

Mustering all the strength I can, I roughly push him away, confused by my contradictory feelings. 

I thought I wanted something like this to happen between us earlier but I guess I was wrong. 

I'm not ready. 

Benjamin looks up at me with flashing eyes as if he doesn’t understand why I pushed him away. “You don’t want me?” He questions with a deep frown etching his face. 

I chuckle nervously, my lip trembling. “It’s not that. This is wrong, Benjamin. I thought you promised to protect my virtue until the right time?” 

Maybe it’s the way my voice is shaking or the way my heart can’t stop thumping at a million miles per minute, Benjamin sighs and softens his gaze before stepping closer and cupping my face. 

“I’m sorry, my love. I just got carried away. I can’t wait to claim you.” 

The love and understanding in his eyes make me breathe out a sigh of relief and I relax, leaning into his hand. “I can’t wait for you to claim me too.” 

He pushes himself into me and groans. “When I become king, certain rules won’t matter anymore. I can do whatever I want.” 

I frown at his words but don’t think much about what they mean. Perhaps, he’s talking about claiming me in every which way possible. I blush at my own dirty thoughts just as my father’s deep voice invades my head. 

‘Come to my throne room with Alpha Benjamin. I have terrible news.’