The Crown Princess's Choice

Prologue

The night outside was a relentless maelstrom of chaos and agony, the palace trembling under the weight of the war raging beyond its walls. Each distant roar and anguished cry served as a grim reminder of the terror engulfing their world.

Inside their sanctuary, young Princess Camilla and her siblings huddled together, their tiny bodies shaking with fear as they clung to their omega father, Prince Beck. The stench of blood and fire thickened the air, clawing at Camilla's throat with every breath.

Prince Beck fought to remain a pillar of strength. "It's okay," he said, though his voice wavered, betraying the weight of his fear for his alpha mates. "Your mama and papa will be back soon."

But as he spoke, Camilla's heart sank deeper. The words felt hollow, a fragile shield against the storm raging outside and within.

She could see the strain in her father's eyes, the way his hands trembled ever so slightly as he stroked her hair. The burden of what was to come hung heavily in the air, suffocating her in a way that the scent of blood and smoke could not match.

The King and Queen, their other parents, were engaged in a desperate, fierce battle on the front lines. Their vow to return felt like a distant, aching promise, a flickering light in the overwhelming darkness.

Inside the palace, Prince Beck, their omega father—a formidable werewolf despite his omega frame—was ready to be the last line of defense for his pups.

"Go in the closet!" Prince Beck's voice echoed urgently through the mind linked to his children, his instincts screaming as his nostrils flared at the scent of their fallen guards.

Camilla's heart pounded in her chest, her pulse deafening in her ears as the reality of the imminent threat sank in. She had never seen her father so terrified, and that realization alone sent a cold, paralyzing fear through her veins.

As she watched, her father shifted into his grey omega wolf form. Despite his omega status, his werewolf form was powerful and protective, his fur bristling with fierce resolve.

The transformation was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, a reminder of the dire situation they were in. Prince Beck growled at the door, his senses keenly attuned to the danger drawing near as the blows continued to rain down on it.

Camilla's hands shook as she guided her younger brother and sister toward the closet. Tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away, knowing she had to be strong—for them. But they clung to their father, their tiny hands grasping his fur, unwilling to leave him.

"We have to stay hidden," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear and determination. Her heart ached with the need to stay by her father's side, to help him, but she knew she was powerless to do anything but obey.

Just as she closed the closet door, a violent crash shattered their sanctuary. The sound reverberated through her bones, and she nearly cried out, her hands flying to her mouth to stifle the sobs threatening to escape.

Two vampires burst into the room, their predatory eyes gleaming with cruel intent. The door splintered under their assault, and Camilla's heart raced, pounding so hard she feared it might break through her chest. She instinctively crouched down, wrapping her arms protectively around her siblings, who pressed against her, their tiny bodies trembling.

Soft, choked sobs escaped them, muffled against her side as they clung tightly to her clothes. As their tears soaked through the fabric, the salty scent served as a harsh reminder of their fear while Camilla battled to keep her panic under control. Her gaze was wide with terror as she peered through a narrow crack in the closet.

Her father fought with an intensity that spoke of unyielding love and desperation. Prince Beck's lupine growls and snarls filled the room as he engaged the vampires. Each movement was a blur of fur and fangs, his body a weapon of raw, primal fury. But even as he fought, Camilla could see the exhaustion in his eyes, the strain in his limbs. Her father was strong, but he was only one against many.

One cunning vampire managed to slip past his defenses. It crept silently toward the closet, its eyes fixed on the hidden pups. Camilla's breath caught in her throat as she saw the danger approaching. Panic surged through her, and she clung tightly to her siblings, her mind racing with fear and desperation. A small whimper escaped her lips before she could stop it, and she prayed the vampire hadn't heard.

But just as the vampire reached for the closet, it met with Beck's fierce retaliation. With a decisive swipe of his claws, Beck tore into the vampire with a feral snarl.

The vampire shrieked a high-pitched sound that echoed in Camilla's ears, making her cringe in fear. They fought viciously, Beck's teeth closing around the vampire's neck in a savage bite. The vampire's body convulsed as Beck's powerful jaws crushed its throat.

For a fleeting moment, Camilla felt a surge of hope—a desperate, fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, they would survive this nightmare. But then, another vampire lunged at her father from behind, its fangs sinking deep into his flank. Beck howled in pain, the sound ripping through Camilla's heart, leaving it in shreds. She pressed her hands to her ears, but nothing could block out the agonizing cry of the father she loved so dearly.

She watched in horror as the second vampire joined the first, their attacks relentless with no mercy. Beck fought back, but he was weakening, his movements slowing, his growls growing fainter. Camilla could see the blood staining his fur, the life draining from his eyes. He fought to throw them off his body as they stood on top of him, slamming his back violently against the wall. Her father struggled under the assault, and she had no power to help.

Her vision blurred with tears, and she bit down on her lip so hard she tasted blood, struggling to keep quiet. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run to her father, to save him, but she couldn't move. She was frozen in place, paralyzed by fear and helplessness.

And then, just as her omega father seemed to be losing all hope of life, she heard it—the howl. The sound was menacing and desperate, chilling her to the bone while simultaneously providing a flicker of hope once more in her chest. With her alpha father, the King, coming, they could gain the upper hand if he arrived in time. She prayed her alpha father would arrive in time to save her omega father. The sound that followed was worse than anything she could have imagined.

The vampires lunged at her omega father with renewed fury, their fangs sinking into his flesh as she stood horrified, frozen in place. More of them rushed in, a dark wave engulfing him as they sensed danger approaching. Just then, her alpha father burst into the room, but it was too late—she watched in agony as her omega father's body crumpled to the ground, the bond between them shattering deep within her soul.

His body hit the floor with a sickening thud, and the world seemed to stop. Camilla's breath caught in her throat, and the pain in her chest was unbearable, as if someone had reached in and ripped her heart out. She wanted to scream, to cry, to do anything to make this nightmare end, but all she could do was stare in mute horror as her father's life bled out before her eyes.

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What is your thoughts about the prologue?

What impact do you think witnessing the ordeal with Prince Beck will have on Camilla?

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