Because the mastermind plan was created by me (the genius, of course!), there was a 99.9% chance that we would survive through this plan with either a serious disaster, major disaster or chaotic disaster. So, basically, disaster was inevitable with this flawless plan of mine. Expect if you dare to consider, the 0.01% that you're life may not be in risk like Madeline.... Whoa! You're on this mission. 

Madeline being all so shy and scared about climbing into vents, I crawled in first. The vents were small, but thankfully big enough to just fit us. Key word: just. Okay, so maybe a part of my dress would be torn off by the end of this mission for sure. I sighed deeply as my feet did their work crawling up. In our vents, we had small circles with green light being projected. 

The vents started from the ground outside of my dad's office and then there were stairs to walk up the vents and then you were basically on the top of my dad's office. I know right, stairs in vents? Well, my dad does a lot of renovation because my mother has this thing about auras. Whenever she finds a rooms aura negative, she compels my dad into changing the direction of his belongings. Yea, all this philosophical stuff.

Anyways, once I reached the stairs the green lights started to fade away leaving me in complete silence. The silence and darkness was killing me, so I decided to check on Maddy.

"Hey, Mads. You okay?" I whispered as I started to climb the tiny stairs as my back arched in pain from bending down.

"Um.. Yea?" Madeline sounded scared and I knew it, of course I did, I mean we know everything about each other. Like how she is scared of the dark, and I am scared of falling in love. 

"S'okay Mads, the green lights are there remember" I told her in a comforting tone. I was quite worried of Madeline, I shouldn't have choose this plan I thought.

When I finished the stairs, I had enough space to tilt my head down to check on Madeline's progress. Thankfully, she seemed a bit less worried and was half-way through the stairs. I looked ahead to see where the vent leads. My eyes widened as I swallowed loudly, my skin shivered with the horror I saw. I lost control over my foot and fell down. Fortunately, my dress got stuck against the stairs and prevented me to fall on Madeline.

"Kathy, what are you doing?" She angrily screamed whispered, I gulped and with great fear said, "Spi.. Spiders." 

She looked at me studying my facial expressions. When she realised I was speaking the truth, she giggled slightly before remembering that my parents and her dad could hear her if she was any louder. She bit the insides of her cheek to prevent herself from laughing. 

"So, finally, scary poke Katherine Williams would like to abort this mission?" she said in a posh British accent. I looked at her and thought about it. 'I could leave this mission, I mean after all... No wait! I am Katherine Williams. I am not scared with a insect which is at least 16 times smaller than me.' I shook my head and crawled up ignoring those black, vicious insects. I noticed that there was so much dust and webs. 'Seems like the maids haven't been doing there job.' 

I crawled to the point where I could finally see my parents. Madeline followed me and our both heads were peaking between the holes. I could see my dad seating on his chair behind the desk, my mom and Madeline's dad were seating on the sofa. My mom and dad seemed quite stressed, as Beta Parker was scrolling down a letter. 

"Huh, I didn't think they used those anymore?" Madeline whispered, I nodded thinking the exactly same thing. The letter seemed fancy it was in royal blue velvet and in the middle had a werewolf in gold. This image shot millions of memories in my head. I remember seeing this logo somewhere. 

As if Madeline again read my mind, she said, "Isn't that familiar?"

"Yea, it seems quite familiar. Royal blue and golden werewolf." We both though in silent, when all of a sudden the tube lights in our minds brightened.

"The Royals," we whispered looking at each other. This must be very serious. The Royals are the oldest, strongest and most respected pack in werewolf history forever. They still have their power, because this pack belongs to the Werewolf King. I remember reading about the Royals in my Alpha training session. They are known to make their presence whenever something is significant.

 If I am not wrong, the current Werewolf King is Alpha Maximus Kai Royal. Their last name is the pack's name, if you haven't noticed. Anyways, he just turned King two years back as all Alpha's including my parent's had to go for his ceremony. He is currently 20, and is finding his mate. My mother said that he is quite charming and good-looking. Well, congratulations to whoever finds him as his mate... But I would never want to be his mate, I hate popularity and being the Alpha's daughter already makes it hard at school with so-much special treatment.

Anyways, as Beta Parker started to read the letter, Madeline's face crunched as if... as if... Oh no! Oh no, please don't! And she did. She sneezed. Oh my mother! 

It felt as if a pin drop of silence fell as she sneezed, thankfully the door knocked making the awkwardness last for a second. I started at Madeline angrily while she murmured a sorry. I softened realising it wasn't really her fault. I prayed that they would ignore it and get along with reading the letter. my anticipation was killing me. And, I was starting to feel suffocated and stuffy. As a lady walked in the room, I realised it was Madeline's mom aka Female Beta Suzy. 

"I am sorry to interrupt, Alpha and Luna, but Parker called me to come here." My mom and dad nodded and told Parker to continue. My parents and Madeline's parents are best friends expect when they are in their offices, they maintain a formal relationship. 

Beta Parker cleared his throat and started... Um, thanks Julie! Really thanks, I thought a gee lot of sarcasm. She was vacuuming the room above and the noise was echoing in our ears. We both tried to bend lower to hear some words. All we could hear was white wolf like the moon and black wolf like the night. Something about a prophecy including this and a curse. Once the vacuuming stopped which Madeline and I were glad off, we could hear the end of the letter. 

"Cordially initiated to the Ball on this Saturday. We would wish that you arrive at the Palace on Friday. Rooms are arranged for each pack Alpha, Luna, Beta's and Gamma's including their heirs. We wish to see you at the Royal Ball for our son's mate. - Ex King Alpha Daniel and Ex Luna Sarah." They all seemed delighted expect my dad. My mom noticed this and smiled at him.

"Don't worry James... It doesn't indicate that.." My mom was cut off.

"But it might, you know why we never let her shift into her wolf." 

I knew they were talking about me and my wolf Kira. When I turned 16, like all werewolves, I shifted. I never got to see my wolf or connect to Kira because my parents compelled me to shift back. They got a witch to put a spell on me so I can't shift. Ever since that day, I haven't connected to my wolf, Kira, or shifted. I never knew the reason why. I tried to ask my parents but they made excuses. So, I finally gave up and decided I was better off knowing. Until today, when my dad just said those words. It gave me a surge of desperation to shift. 

Madeline looked at me and her eyes softened.

"We should leave." I didn't say anything and crawled my way out of the vent. Madeline knew I was depressed, every Sunday when all the members of the pack went for a run in their wolf forms, I stayed at home. Madeline never talked about her wolf with me, and I was grateful for that. When we came out, we dusted ourselves and walked to my room. I sat on my bed as Madeline sat on the chair. She looked at me, while I stared at the ground. My heart ached. I wanted to be like other wolves and shift. I just.. felt helpless. 

"Well, good news is that we get to skip last week of school because I can totally bet you that Monday to Thursday our mom's will force us to shop." she said excitedly. She loved shopping whereas I just liked it. I smiled at her excitement.

"So, Royal Palace and Ball, huh?" I said making her sigh in relief that I was feeling much better now. 

"Yea! Seems like you or I might be King Alpha Maximus Kai Royal's mate," she squealed and winked at me. I pretend to gag, but I don't know when she said that a small spark lighted in my heart. I ignored it and just prayed that I really wasn't I mean he has quite a lot of choices, it surely wouldn't be me. 

Madeline laughed at my silly antics. The door knocked as Madeline allowed the person to enter.

My mom entered, "I knew Madeline that you would be here. Dinner will be ready in five minutes. Your parents are here as well Madeline."

Madeline already knew that, but nonetheless nodded. My mother treated Madeline and I, both, as her daughters and so did Aunty Suzy (Female Beta, Madeline's mom). 

We both sighed and got up not before washing our hands and faces. I decided to change my dress, since it got a little dusty from climbing in the vents. I changed into mid-tigh black shorts, a nike black tank top and top it up a neon sweater as it was getting chilly. Madeline had a cupboard of her own in my house like I did in her house. Since, we both had sleepovers almost all of the time we just decided to leave a part of our stuff in each other's houses. She, also, changed into new clothes. She wore a blue jumper since she was feeling quite cold.

Madeline had short dark hair unlike my long hair. While I had piercing blue eyes, she had brown eyes that were as warm as honey. She was almost as tall as me. She is three days older than me and our birthday, which you probably know by now, is next month. Madeline is super excited to find her mate as she is always into all this love stories and fairy tales. Whereas I can be least bothered. 

Once we were well-dressed, we walked downstairs talking about random school gossip.