The Crowned Princess

Chapter Nine - The Unmated Alpha

Chapter Nine -
The Unmated Alpha
•••

After catching up with Jasmine, she showed me to my room where I would be staying for the week, and for the first time since I escaped I was able to catch a glimpse of what I looked like.

"Oh my God." I said in disbelief.

My hair was matted with dried up mud and leaves, while my face was covered in small cuts and bruises.

I stared at myself for what felt like an eternity, completely startled by my appearance and how tired and broken I looked.

"This isn't me?" I managed to mutter to Jasmine who held a sympathetic look as I slowly began to face the reality.

I never realised how much my hair and looks meant to me before today.

"It's okay Serena, you've been through a lot. Besides no one is coming out of the woods and dirty old cells looking like a model." Jasmine tried to help but it only made me feel worse.

"I look broken." I say, still staring at myself in the mirror hoping to find some kind of resemblance to my past self.

"Okay that's enough." Jasmine said, picking up the full length mirror and turning it over. "You're the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen, I'm not gonna let you fool yourself into thinking you're not cause you haven't showered in a week." She said harshly, pushing me through a door that was attached to my bedroom to show an adjoining bathroom.

"Here." Jasmine said bending over, grabbing a towel out of the cabinet under the sink and handing it to me. "I'll go and grab you some clothes, and maybe after you might feel a bit better." She said, walking out and closing the door behind her.

I tried to ignore the mirrors in the bathroom as I turn on the hot water to the shower and begin to take off the hospital gown, but I let out a loud gasp when I saw how many cuts and bruises were hidden beneath the gown.

Underneath my collar bone was a two-inch gash that had been stitched up, followed by a deep eight-inch cut that ran down my rib cage, but all of my body was covered in purple bruises that it was hard to make out any other cuts.

I thought back on what Jasmine said, and decided to ignore how beat down my body looked, and jumped into the shower before I could think anymore about it.

I watched how the clear water turned to a murky brown colour by my feet, as the mud and sweat began to wash out of my hair.

I grabbed whatever shampoo was left in the shower and began to gentle scrub all the muck out, ignoring how the cuts around my body began to sting before moving onto conditioner.

I practically tipped the whole container in my hand, wanting to desperately get rid of the knots in my hair.

After massaging the knots out, I went onto body wash, gently rubbing the vanilla scent into my skin until it began to foam and bubble, removing any old dried up mud that was once glued to my body.

Soon I began to feel better so I jumped out of the shower and dried my body, slowly patting down my skin that was covered in bruises.

I wrapped the towel around my body, walking back through the door to see Jasmine waiting patiently on the bed for me.

"Finally." She jokingly rolled her eyes. "How do you feel?" She asked, with a soft smile.

"Better." I breathe out and Jasmine nods in understanding.

"Good." She says, standing up and picking up a pile of clothes that were neatly laid out on the bed. "I managed to sort through some clothes that might fit, and hopefully they'll last the week."

"Thank you." I say, grateful to have such a good friend like Jasmine.

"It's no problem." She gave me a big smile. "Dinner will be ready soon, so let's get you ready for all of the prying eyes." She said, walking over to the vanity table and picking up a hair brush.

"Prying eyes?" I asked unsure to walk over to her, not wanting to be seen in the state I was in.

"It's not everyday you get a Princess running straight into your Alpha." She says with a smug smile on her lips.

-🌷-

I follow behind Jasmine in a flowery corset summer dress she let me borrow as she walks me towards the dinning hall where all of her pack will be.

I wasn't used to wearing dresses that weren't traditional or touching the floor so I felt exposed, especially with the bruises that littered my skin.

I haltered in my step behind Jasmine as she comes to a stop in front of some wooden doors.

"You ready?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at me and I nod. "Most of the people here aren't particularly fond of royalty, so don't take anything they may say to heart." She says, gently putting her hands on my shoulders but it still causes me to wince slightly.

"I know, besides I'm not particularly fond either." I say half-joking which causes Jasmine to give me a soft smile shifting her feet slightly.

"Okay, now that is out of the way, you ready?" She asks, putting a hand on the door and waiting for my response in which I nod.

As the door starts to open I could hear loud voices turn to whispers as all eyes fell upon me, looking me up and down, some giving me a dirty look while others took in how I looked, but mostly they were giving me a dirty look.

"We welcome Princess Serena today, please if you wouldn't mind taking a seat at the table." A loud authoritative voice said who I could only assume was the Alpha, gestured towards a seat opposite him, which caused the entire hall to look over at the tall man that exuded power.

Our eyes had met for a split second but that's all it took as it felt like my world had been tipped upside down, making me feel dizzy.

What was that about?

I quickly link arms with Jasmine to steady myself as I walked towards the table where he sat in his freshly ironed suit.

He was arguably the best looking man I've ever seen, with his dark green eyes, brown hair and broad shoulders.

Every person we walked passed would slowly stand up from their chairs in respect even if they didn't want to and watch as I walked towards their Alpha, bowing their heads and taking a seat when I stood before him.

"Thank you for having me." I curtsy before sitting in the seat opposite him while Jasmine sat besides me next to a blonde man I assumed was her mate.

It felt wrong to be eyeing up the Alpha of my best friends pack, especially when I knew the context on why he wasn't yet mated but I couldn't help myself as his hot gaze sent a shiver up my spine.

How could a man who wasn't my mate make me react this way?

"The pleasure is all mine." He says as his eyes scanned my face, slowly taking in my features. "You look different when you're awake." He says as a small smile lingers at the edge of his full lips.

"Well that sounds a bit creepy." I joke, which causes him to chuckle.

"I won't lie, I only realised how creepy that sounded once I said it." He admits, as his eyes peer back at me.

"Alpha Phoenix." He said, holding his hand out ready for me to shake, but before I could grasp his hand Jasmine shook me in excitement.

"Food is here!"