Brotherhood

Chapter 38

Amy touched her reflection in the mirror, staring back at herself but it was a completely different rendition of herself than she remembered. Everything looked the same except her eyes. Her eyes were amber, and no matter how often she looked at herself in mirrors, she never got used to it.

Over the past couple weeks, her mother refused to leave her side, and that meant fussing over her as the seamstresses put the final touches on her beautiful burgundy ball gown. Unlike the last ball, she felt ecstatic to attend this one because Geric would be there. It was a ball to celebrate not only their triumph against Minnings, but their engagement as well. She felt proud to call him her fiance.

But then her stomach dropped when she remembered that this would also be the first time being introduced into society as a werewolf. How would her people take it? Would they accept her? Would they still trust her?

Even though she knew her people knew the story of why she had been turned in the first place, it didn't make it any easier to find the courage that would lead her downstairs into the ballroom. She needed to be strong.

"You look so beautiful," her mother said as she held Amy at arm's length and wiped a tear from her own cheek. "I'm so proud of you. I know I didn't want you marrying a werewolf before, but now I couldn't be prouder. You deserve someone who will love you and fight for you for the rest of his life. Geric will do exactly that. He's a great match for you."

"Thank you, Mum," Amy smiled as she held her mother's hand to her cheek. "That means a lot to me. It really does. But are you bothered by what I am now?"

Surprisingly, her mother shook her head. "Not at all. You can have yellow eyes. You can be a wolf. But you'll always still be my daughter. I'm just glad that you came back to me alive, especially after you took a fatal wound to the chest."

Amy ran her fingers along the silver scar on her chest that she didn't bother hiding. It was the reason why she had to be turned into a werewolf. The arrow tip that Charles had shot her with had been made of silver, so even the werewolf in her couldn't heal it all the way. It was a part of her. It would always be a part of her.

For the final touch, her mother set a tiara on top of her hair encrusted with clear jewels and pearls. It was one of her favorites and it matched her dress perfectly.

Her mother smiled as she stroked Amy's soft curls pulled up expertly on the top of her head. "There. Now you look just like the werewolf princess you were always meant to be. Get out there and turn some heads."

Amy returned her smile, her heart flipping excitedly in her chest. She could hardly wait to be officially announced at Geric's betrothed. More than anything, she could hardly wait for Geric to be recognized for who he truly was. It was high time for society to know their future king who hid in the shadows for years. Geric deserved that and more.

Both Amy and her mother walked arm in arm out into the hallway, and her eyes lit up as she met Geric's gaze. He opened his awestruck mouth to say something, but she flew into his arms and held him close.

"You look so handsome!" she exclaimed, holding him at arm's length to survey him up and down. He dressed just as elegantly as her father did but the one thing she wasn't used to seeing him wear was a crown. Not as big as her father's crown, of course, but Geric looked very kingly wearing it.

As if noticing her grinning stare, he said, "I'm not used to wearing things like these. It looks outrageous, doesn't it?"

Amy quickly shook her head as she ran her hands down the front of the shirt he wore. "Absolutely not. It suits you. And you look so handsome."