The Crowned Princess

Chapter Two: Two Options

Chapter Two -
Two Options
•••

The sound of loud voices chatting and laughing spilled outside of the Ball room, making it hard to hear the live jazz music playing.

I make my way through the hallway, dreading walking through the doors knowing what was waiting for me inside.

My whole life I grew up attending the events my parents would throw, getting the chance to meet new people and make stronger connections with other surrounding packs.

But this time it was different.

What stood behind that door today held the key to my future. The person I would obey and bare a child for in order to keep the Kingdom under control.

I had been preparing for this my whole life, but now that it stood before me, only one week away it felt surreal.

As much as I wanted it, I couldn't help but feel like I wasn't ready. That all those years of being taught what was right for the crown had caught up to me too soon.

As if I had arrived on time the medium oak doors open at my arrival, the loud voices that spilled outside the once closed doors were now silent and you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's eyes were lazor focused on me, checking if I was worthy of their respect and their loyalty.

I gave a polite cursey to the crowd and on cue the jazz band started a new song, snapping people out of their stare and back to their conversations.

I look over the crowd of people to find my parents exchanging small talk with Angelo Marvel who wore an expensive suit, ditching his old tattered clothes he wore in the arena.

"My pack and I travelled for 4 days, mostly without fault beside the one rogue who-" he stopped, noticing my sudden presence. "Ah, Miss Quinn, nice to finally meet you." He said, bowing down and picking up my hand to kiss me on my knuckles.

I fought the violent shiver that went up my spine, disgusted at how his wet lips left an uneasy lingering feeling which i instinctively wanted to wipe off.

"Mr Marvel," I acknowledged him, knowing I couldn't speak unless spoken to first "a pleasure it is to meet you too." Which made the crowd of people let out hushed whispers.

My dad let out a loud cough shutting the people up before speaking "Serena, I'm sure you are aware by now Mr Marvel was the one to win the competition."

"Yes I am aware father." I nodded my head, taking a moment to look at Angelo who seemed to gloat at my fathers words. "Which congratulations Mr Marvel, you've done quite well for yourself and I see you polish off very nicely."

It wasn't a lie, he did look a lot better than the last couple of times I have seen him in the arena all rugged and bloodied, and though I can see why others would find him attractive, I couldn't.

I couldn't make out what it was, but something about him made me feel small, maybe it was the age gap between us that made me feel uneasy or how his eyes bored into me only seeing me for what I could offer rather than who I was.

"Call me Angelo love." He said, his lips tugging up into a cocky smile, one which I could tell had tugged at the hearts of the women that came before me.

"Okay Angelo," I say politely, his name sounding foreign on my tongue, "would you like to talk some more outside?"

"I would love to princess." He said watching for my reaction to his pet name, but I gave him none.

"Right this way." I said, taking the lead and walking out of the crowded ballroom, and down the corridors where Angelo catches up besides me.

"You're quite quick little one." He says making me cringe at yet another pet name, but it was more the irony of the name that made me cringe.