I AM ALPHA

Chapter Seven- Meeting The Queen

"Okay miss, open your eyes!" Audrina giggled.
"Audrina, my name is Alaisia, we're friends. No more of the 'miss' stuff." I said with my eyes still closed. I had spent the last I don't know how long getting all dressed up. Audrina has done my hair, my make up, and wouldn't even let me see the dress until I got it on.
"Alright alright, now open your eyes!" I thinks she is fixing to explode out of her skin, so I opened my eyes.
"Oh wow..." Audrina took control of my crazy curly hair and some how got it to hang down without it swallowing me, I never wear my hair down on account of that much hair during a fight is a hazard. My hair hung down as long as usual but it wasn't frizzy or all in the way it just hung in beautiful ringlets. My makeup was dark and she painted my lips a pink that almost matched my lips. But what astounded me was the dress. It was emerald green and satin. The neck of the dress was high enough to cover all of my scars except for a tiny bit on my neck (but my hair fixed that), the sleeves bloomed out like flower petals, and the body of the dress hugged my body but not to tight, I had plenty of room to move and it cascaded down to the floor, no flare, it just hung beautifully at my feet. The worst part was the black high heels Audrina picked out to match. I walk fine in heels, thanks to momma's "princess lessons"I just don't like it. I'd rather be barefoot in the dirt than in shoes that pinched and made my flat feet ache. "Audrina thank you! I could've never done this without you. You are going to have to teach me how you tamed the madness that is my hair." I hugged her close.
     "It would be my pleasure! But I must get going, I've got to get ready too. Though no one will notice if I'm late." She said, almost sadly.
  "I will. Now hurry on so I won't have to worry long." She smiled at me and scurried away
Did you like the dress my mother had made? Dimitri spoke to me.
I love it. It's perfect. I smiled.
I'll be up to escort you down shortly, Kitten. I growled at the nickname.
I need to walk down with my girls. Meet me in the foyer in about thirty minutes. And I thought we agreed I'm not a kitten. I smiled but I growled at him too.
But I think we both know you like it. I could feel his smile back. The cocky one. And I felt butterflies and my wolf purred.
Whatever. I didn't agree to that. I spoke and tuned him out. I felt him laugh and I rolled my eyes. I arrived at Isabel's room and knocked. I felt the rest of the girls already gathering in her room. The must have felt my conversation with Dimitri.
"Come in." Isabel called and I entered. All the girls looked beautiful. Isabel was wearing a pink ,bedazzled, strapless dress with a corset up top with her blonde hair twisted into an up do. Britney wore a sweetheart neck red dress, her black hair hung at her chin with one side tucked behind her ear. Samantha wore black. A plain one shouldered black dress. Even though it was plain she looked exquisite. Tasha wore coral, the top was sheer with gold jewels covering her breasts and her golden blonde hair gathered on one side of her neck and braided into a flower. Each of them looked beautiful, you wouldn't think they could kill you in two minutes. Just dainty little flowers, who would wilt if you heard them too tight.
"You all look amazing." I smiled and hugged them.
"Us? Look at you?! Your hair is to die for!" Britney shouted.
"I had a little help with it. A 15 year old named Audrina. But girls, we've got a party to go to. Remember, we not only are warriors, we are beautiful women. But don't forget what I said about Let's go out there and kick some ass."
***
As we descended the stairs in ranks I spotted him. My mate. Dimitri. He wore a black tuxedo with an emerald green vest. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He must've felt my presence and he turned and our eyes locked.
Ooh he look amazing. My wolf said and the girls behind me were in quick agreement which made my wolf's eyes lower. I scolded her.
Yes he does. And he is ours. I smiled to her and the rest of the girls. They giggled along with my wolf.
Oh Kitten.. And a smiled grew across his face. But not the cocky smile that makes my insides melt and also makes me want to strangle him, but a beautiful smile showing all his perfect teeth.
"You don't look too bad yourself." I said aloud and kissed his cheek.
"I would say I clean up good, but I always look hot." And there was the cocky grin. "Girls," he said speaking to my team. "I've asked a few of my friends to escort you all in. I hope you don't mind." And right as he said it four men walked in behind us through the front door. The girls turned to greet them and all stopped. Each of the girls locked eyes with each of the boys and I recognized that stare..I had it only a few hours ago. They were mates. The all collided at once. Lips on lips.
"Any idea what is happening?" Dimitri asked and put his arm around my waist.
"They are mates. This is uncanny." I whispered.
"Alright everyone! Who is ready for a par--" King Alexander started but didn't finish as he walked into the foyer. "What in the world is going on?" As he spoke each other men and women pulled apart and the girls immediately turned and bowed to the King. I smiled with pride, they were proving everyone wrong and me right. Even though we have found our mates, our duty and respect comes first.
"I do believe Brandon, Tim, Elijah, and Marty have all found their mates." Dimitri spoke to his father.
"So let me make sure I'm caught up. The 5 best warriors of werewolves are mates with my son and his friends who are each Alpha's of the strongest packs we have. Oh this is marvelous!" He smiled. "Congratulations to you all! Now not only are we celebrating your arrival, my son finding his mate, but also 4 leaders finding mates with the best warriors. Come you all. Let's get this shindig going!" He smiled and flew the doors open.
Ranks. I gave the order and the girls fell in behind me, their mates lining up beside them and Dimitri taking my arm in his and lining up beside me.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the best warriors from Pack Greenwood and their mates. Leading the front is my son, Prince Dimitri, and his mate, leader of this task force, Alaisia McKinney." Dimitri led us forward as his father announced our presence. "Followed by Isabel Bennet and her mate, Alpha Brandon Mattox. Britney Hall and Tim Brown. Samantha Williams and Elijah Samuels. And lastly Tasha Bowman and her mate Marty Stewart. These are out guests of honor. I know we will have a wonderful time tonight so without further ado, let's eat!" He announced as we took our seats at a huge table at the front of the room and waiters began to bring out the food. We all sat next to each other the King in the Middle with the Queen to his right and his daughter, Princess Skye to the Queen's right, followed by Skye's mate, a she wolf named Shelby (the first same sex mates) and their friends. Dimitri sat to the left of the King then me, Isabel, Brandon, Britney, Tim, Samantha, Elijah, Tasha, and Marty last. We ate and talking until I couldn't put another bite into my mouth. Once finished the band started and people began to dance.
   Being at the castle was like going back in time, the gatherings weren't like back home where we sat around fires and drank a little bit and had a party. No, this was like a ball from Jane Austen.
  "I wish Ana was here for this.." I spoke and Dimitri turned.
   "What did you say, Kitten?" He asked and extended his hand and bowed, asking me to dance with him. I took it and bowed my head and let him lead me to the center of the dance floor.
   "I said 'I wish Ana was here for this'. " we began to step in rhythm with the music. Waltzing. One day, very far away, I need to thank Momma for dance lessons.
  "Why?" He asked.
"She would love this. It was always her thing. After the food Daddy and I would've already snuck off with the girls and the rest of the men to go to a bonfire. But Ana, this was her element. The princess stuff." I could see her now, she would look beautiful. Probably wearing a pastel dress that made her look like the princess she was. Glowing from the inside and talking to everyone, her smile that didn't have a care in the world and wrapping everyone around her little finger. "Everyone always fell in love with Ana. She is so easy to love. A perfect princess. Smiling and waving, everything I should be too. But me..well it's a lot harder for people to like me. My opinions flow off my tongue before I can stop them, and I often step on people's toes. I don't have a political or any other type of filter in my body." I glanced over Dimitri's shoulder and locked eyes with the Queen. She was staring me down intently, and not in an approving way.
   "I like you. I love you." He leaned down and kissed my cheek.
  "You're my mate, you didn't have much of a choice." I laughed but inside I knew it could be true.
  "I don't think so. I think even if we weren't mates we would still be attracted to each other. Physically and emotionally. You couldn't resist my charms anyways." He smiled and I raised an eyebrow at him.
    "Is that so? I--"
  "Dimitri, I'm sorry, but may I have a word with Miss Alaisia." The Queen halted our dance. I bowed in respect, "oh dear, there is no need for that. We're family now." She smiled and gently took my hand and folded my arm under her's.
   "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace." I spoke. As a relatively small human, the queen towered over me. She was tall and slender. Beautiful. Mary was like Titania from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
  "The pleasure is all mine, my dear. Now tell me, what are your intentions now that you have found your mate?" Whoa, right down to business. She led me out glass doors and into a beautiful garden and over to a concrete bench and I sat down as gracefully as I could manage. The bench was painfully uncomfortable, especially in the dress, but Queen Mary looked as though she was sitting on a cloud. Her long fingers intertwined in her lap and her long neck up straight and her shoulders sat back. My posture has always been terrible. My momma was always slapping me in the stomach and saying "suck that gut it, push those shoulders !" 
   "My intentions? I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean." I asked.
     "All politeness aside, Alaisia, being my only son's mate you are meant to be Queen one day. What I am asking is do you plan to continue to pursue this ridiculous notion of being Alpha of your own pack and being a warrior?" Even her body language changed. Her long legs stretched out and her right arm rested behind her and she leaned on it.
  "All politeness aside, Your Majesty, " I let myself a little loose now. I I crossed my ankles and stretched my legs out as well. "I understand that being mates with the Prince complicates my plans. Being Queen is a huge honor. So partly yes. I do plan to leave the Alpha position to my twin's mate, when she finds him, and rule at your son's side. But as far as being a warrior, it isn't a notion, it's a fact. The King has admitted it himself, along with Dimitri. I am a warrior. The best."
"And in being a warrior what if you are killed? What happens to Dimitri then? Or what if vampires are after you and Dimitri is killed in the process. How will you live with yourself?" At this point I'm convinced that the Queen does not like me what so ever.
"I don't know. Hopefully neither of those things will happen. I will make damn sure they don't. I'm going back to the party and my mate. But I will leave you with this, would you be asking the same if I was a man?" I stood up, bowed to her, and left her there in the garden.