The Princess’s Broken Alpha

Kiarra smoothed her suit down taking one last look at the early morning from her balcony before heading in. She had a busy day before her. She stopped to look at her reflection in the mirror in her fitted light yellow pencil suit that was tailored to perfection, clinging to her in all the right places. Her sweeping hair was curled with its brown highlights glistening and she wore a light nude lipstick to compliment her overall look with her usual glittering jewellery. She looked stunning. Her hazel eyes scanned her outfit to make sure everything was in place. She looked like a model out of a catalogue. She walked past the gold box where the circular ornament laid, it's open work gold frame set with the stellar jewels, her crown.

Today she had to go through the list of candidates that would be vying for her hand and she would be thorough. This was happily ever after she was dealing with and Lycans lived long. Her father had sent the carefully curated list or rather his carefully curated list along with varying details down to their blood types and how often they used the bathroom. She couldn't believe the day had finally arrived and she could feel her throat tighten. Instead of happiness she felt unease; an approaching doom. However, it was the never ending feeling that she must press on.

She pursed her lips and headed through the door. The Lycan guards bowed as she made her way through the halls. She breathed in the heavy floral scent that filled the air as she walked into the grand hall. It was a bit too much. It looked like a dozen florist shops combined, not to mention there were the mountain of presents sent by her suitors that were screened as customary with the courting process.

She hadn't even glimpsed them yet which she should because moon goddess knows they're going to ask how she liked their gifts but she had sent out thank you notes to each. She would simply tell the truth she hadn't opened any if she ever felt like it. The colourful flowers looked like they got more and more elaborate for each suitor and she was ready to leave when she heard the footsteps behind her. She didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. His scent stood out even in the suffocating floral mix. "You are the most enchanting thing, even in this room your beauty stands out." He loomed over her purposefully to make sure his chest brushed her back and she stepped forward, spinning around.

"Out of all these flowers I hope you know that only mine truly matters." Castor's eyes scanned her appreciatively before handing her the beautiful bouquet of apricot coloured roses. "The Juliet Rose. Most expensive rose in the world and a clear replication of your beauty."

Castor took advantage of her reaching out for the rose by holding her hand and dragging his fingers across her delicate hand. Kiarra raised her brows in surprise and she felt slightly uncomfortable.

"You should know I would go above and beyond especially when it comes to you." he leaned in to her to whisper, his blue eyes intense on her. "It took David Austin 15 years to cultivate it. See it moves from the pale outer petals to a deep warm apricot shade in the centre. It's a lot like you, rare. Beautiful on the outside but also has depth on the inside not to mention it's bright and full of life. It's a lot like the sun in many ways."

His blue eyes connected with hers and she smiled taking a step back. There she went again. Everytime he made a step forward she would take a step back even though she shouldn't. He didn't like it. He wanted to kiss her but that would be pushing it and he didn't want to push it. He had her where he wanted her now. He wanted to slowly guide her in if anything.

"I don't think I've ever seen this side of you."

"Well, you've never given me the chance to."

Kiarra smelled the bouquet he handed her and smiled.

"Don't you find this weird Castor or did you have your sights on me all along? If I didn't know any better I would assume you were only friends with me for what you could get?" her hazel eyes studied him and he shook his head.

"I doubt I can be that calculating. Most lovers start out as great friends." his face got serious. " Remember I'm your first and only choice."

"Only?" Kiarra questioned, looking up at him under her lashes.

"Only" he replied possessively with heavy meaning behind it.

Something shifted in her and he saw it again. She was constantly pulling back every time he advanced.

"Thank you Castor. I'm not trying to be rude but I do have a lot of things to attend to today."

Castor laughed, falling in step with her.

"The King shouldn't mind me spending the day with his daughter if she's okay with that."

Speaking of king, Kiarra hadn't seen her father in days. If she didn't know any better she would believe he didn't want to see her. Her aunt insisted he was the same as usual. He wasn't in his section of the palace and when she asked no information was provided as to where she could reach him. She brushed it off. He was often busy.

Kiarra felt the fierce head ache start up again and winced. Castor stopped to take her in with concern and she shook her head as if it could get rid of it.

"You don't look so good." he reached out to touch her forehead.

"On second thought I think I'll go lie down for a bit" she panted and held her forehead. She walked until she was inside Vivienne's office and laid down on the sofa. She didn't want to go back to her room alone. Vivienne was over her in a second but Kiarra shooed her away. It was strange for her to have a headache. Beasts didn't have ailments like these. She worriedly played with her bottom lip between her teeth.

"Just take deep breaths and it will soon clear." Vivienne sternly directed after instructing for tea to be sent in immediately and a warm cloth.

"Is it possible all of this is giving me a head ache?"

"Don't be ridiculous. You just need to rest a bit." Vivienne said in her monotone voice.

" Maybe I should see a doctor?"

"You're fine. It's all in your mind Kiarra. Your father is already preparing to welcome Castor as his son-in-law unless you make some other choice of course." Kiarra scoffed and winced.

"You both are a match made in heaven. The perfect pair if I do say so."

Kiarra was quiet as she pondered before she looked at Vivienne.

"Did you ever look for your mate?"

Vivienne looked under her glasses at Kiarra. Kiarra had never delved into anything too personal with her aunt besides when it came to her sister, who was her mother. "No I never did and neither did he, which is why I'm unmated obviously."

"So why didn't you take another? It would have been a good move to mate with another powerful Lycan probably on the council. Don't you think it is a life wasted?"

Kiarra wanted to ask her if she didn't want to be loved and to love someone back, to have someone solely for you but she didn't want to make her feel any less. Vivienne sighed and placed her glasses on the desk.

"Because I was a fool waiting for the right one. It was the biggest mistake of my life. Now here I am and that's why I don't want you to make the same mistake I did. I could've had a family and a mate but I was being stubborn about what I wanted." "Does it get lonely?"

"I would be lying if I said it didn't."

There was a quietness.

"There's still time and I will make sure you find a mate this year."

"No no no! I am quite fine" Vivienne was quick to cut in.

"I will take care of it."

Vivienne knew there was no arguing with her as she watched her quietly blow short breaths out before she began chewing on her bottom lip.

"Sometimes my wolf feels confused like I feel like I know my mate but I can't find him. It's like if I close my eyes I can almost see him." Kiarra began. "You're probably thinking I'm going crazy but it's like knowing the name of your favorite ice cream and randomly one day you can't for the life of you remember what it's called. You can picture everything about it down to the wrapper vividly but you just can't find the name. It's on the tip of your tongue but it's so frustrating because you know how much you know it like the back of your hand but for the life of you, you just can't remember the name. That is what it feels like. It's just so confusing and my wolf, she's restless. Maybe I should slow this down a bit. Everything feels like a blur. I feel like something is missing, like a huge part of me. It feels like a major part of my life like I'm forgetting to breathe."

Kiarra wondered what could be as important to her as breathing.

Something in Vivienne's features changed but it was gone in a flash before Kiarra could decipher what it was.

"Kiarra darling, it's just anticipation you are feeling. Absolutely nothing is missing. You will be fine and happily mated in the next two weeks". Her aunt folded her arms smiling proudly. " You will make not only me and your father but your mother proud as well just as you should."