Fate Will Have It

XXX

Kenzie Hope

The white sheets of the silk dress draped over my shoulders, flowing down to my feet. My arms slipped into the lace applique sleeves, covering my arms in white vine designs. The lace covered my upper body and slowly disappeared down the long train of the dress. Hidden inside the heavy material were tall black heels, giving me a few more inches of height. A floating halo princess cut diamond necklace matched the V-neck of the dress. A pair of matching diamond earrings wiggled with my ears. The cascade of my long cream hair, which was both flowing down my back and tied into a braid frown, covered most of the backless section.

A royal crown sat upon my head like a boat stuck on a stream in one place. It was like it was entangled in the roots of my hair, like it was apart of me. Those diamonds, those spectacles of social status and entitlement, sat upon my head in a glimmering mid day light. They were a cold stare in a frigid wind.

The wind blew, teasing my long hair. I had always loved the wind, for it came to me so boldly, touched my skin. In coldness, it roused me to wakefulness, an alertness that let me savor the moments in dryness and rain just the same. In soft breezes, it was finer than silk, smoother than water. In the gales, it sang through the trees, sending loose leaves on a dancing fun fair ride, hypnotic, beautiful. In the summertime wind was cooling, allowing the warmth to gently enter muscle and bone while my skin feels so at ease with the world. Today is almost still and I find myself in joyful anticipation, absorbing the bright colors of the new foliage and buds, taking a moment to watch a dragonfly pass by, its back a brilliant electric blue.

There was a castle over the way, beyond the river that divides four packs. Before you cleared the woodland the fortress' wolves would bay to announce your coming. Should you be foolish enough to travel by night they would send warriors to make sure your quest ends before dawn. Delay until you were blessed by the rays of the morning and the guards would at least grant you the right to speak. After that, no one knows.

The castle laid like an old man of the hill, the moonlight shone on his craggy, tumbled down face. Moss clung in the shade of the ancient walls like a straggly beard. The once proud turrets had crumbled in places giving the impression of a disheveled party hat. The old castle stood on a rugged slope, moonlit snowdrifts piled against half-ruined walls, the windows dark and gaping. It's battlements glistened with ice in the crystal cold air, their ragged outlines blending into the rocks behind.

The castle was sacred. Alphas would be allowed there at times of peace. Without the royal blood, it was a crime often punished with death. The crumbling fortress was only opened to regular wolves on special occasions. Once in a lifetime occasions.

This was a special occasion. Not only was it as passing of the throne to the new generation, but this was the first passing in the last two generations. People from all over Europe and even a few Alpha's from America traveled to see if old man Alpha Hope would really pass his crown. If that wasn't enough, I would also be the first known female Alpha. People traveled to see if stuck in his way old man Alpha Hope would pass the crown to a princess.

The inside, was a sharp contrast to the out. The stairs ahead of us were twisted in a perfect spiral, like a child's slinky toy pulled from each end. Each stair was likely a deep walnut. The inner edge was painted antique cream, the paint was perfect; no dirt and no flaking or dents. It was as if it was perfect one day and abandoned the next, just like the rest of the world.

I let my hand fall on to the black iron rail as Jordan led me up the stairs. It was rough in its rustic charm and I placed my weight on the first step. There was no creak or sign of rot, they were as solid as the day they were made. I walked swiftly to the top leaving the click of my heels behind me.