Alphas Choice

F I F T Y - T H R E E

I stepped out into the dining hall and saw almost everyone was here. I looked around and saw Alpha Heinrich, Connor, and Brutus sitting at a far table, and near them was a group of wolves I've never seen before. One of them is a little girl, maybe four or five years old. There are only two other children in this pack, belonging to the omegas that are staffed here. This is a warrior pack, and most leave once they are ready to settle down and have pups.

"I'm just going to speak with a few wolves if you want to grab a seat?" I said, looking at Hannah and Felix. They nodded and headed off to grab our table we usually sit at.

I walked over to the Alpha and the wolves sitting with him. Brutus was facing me and stood to bow when I approached, I smiled and nodded to him.

"Good evening boys, thank you for joining us for dinner." I inclined my head then looked at the Alpha. "I am sorry your dinner request could not be fulfilled in such short notice, I hope you'll understand." He looked confused.

"I'm sorry, your Highness, I'm not sure what you mean, I would never make a request of another packs kitchen..." He flicked his eyes to Conner and glared. "Did you tell the kitchen to make something?"

"I did no such thing!" he sputtered, then glared at me with a mean smile when his uncle turned back to me.

"Odd, we had a girl from the kitchen staff say you stopped her and said Alpha Heinrich was requesting a roast dinner about thirty minutes ago which of course is not enough time to properly prepare a meal like that." I said sweetly. "Our head cook has prepared salmon for dinner tonight, I do hope that is still adequate enough for you all. I do have a few more wolves to speak with, but please enjoy your meal." I inclined my head as they bowed and walked away.

I heard him laying into his nephew, something along the lines of ungrateful and embarrassing. I decided to stop and speak with the new wolves as no one else was talking to them. I stood next to their table smiling, and they stood to bow.

"Welcome, it is nice to see you here with us tonight." I said warmly. The little girl looked confused when everyone bowed to me. "And who might this big girl be?"

"Ava." She said shyly, slouching in her seat, I crouched down to get down to her level.

"Well, hello, Miss Ava, my name is Grace. Are you looking to join this pack?" She looked around at the adults who nodded to her, so she turned and nodded to me with a small smile. "Well, that is a good thing, you look pretty in your little dress, do you like to dance?" She nodded again, giving a bigger smile. "Well, you know what is happening here the day after tomorrow? There will be a party and a big dance where we all get to dress up in fancy dresses. Does that sound like fun?"

"Do we get to dress like a princess? Princesses are so cool!" The wolves at the table chuckled and I couldn't help but laugh, her mother leaned down and I heard her whispering to her that I was a princess, her eyes grew huge and she looked like she was going to burst with excitement. "You are Grace? Like thee Princess Grace?" She squealed.

I nodded smiling and then stood to curtsy she clapped her hands together quickly and leaped from her chair and wrapped her arms around me. The wolves at the table were shocked and stretched their arms out to grab her, I just waved them away and bent down to hug her back. I lifted her into my arms, she looked a lot like I did as a kid, bright blonde hair, bangs in her eyes, hers were crystal blue and I was envious of her long eye lashes.

"Well, beautiful, Ava, would you like to be an honorary princess?" She nodded so fast she looked like a bobblehead. "Well, that settles it then, Princess Ava, it is!" She squealed and wrapped her little arms around my neck, thanking me.

I set her down, and she climbed back into her chair with a smile glued on her face. I let her know I had to go find my seat before dinner was served as it is not polite for a princess to keep people waiting. I winked to her and then told everyone to enjoy their meal before heading over to Felix and Hannah. Myra and Amber had joined, and they were all around Felix as he told a story.