| CHAPTER 45 : YOUR FUTURE QUEEN |

Today was the day.

I didn't need to be told. I felt it as soon as I woke up.

The three girls continued cleaning and oiling my body. My face glowed and shone with the bath and facial I had a few minutes ago. The ball starts as soon as the night falls, giving us only six hours to get ready.

In my opinion, six hours was too much but the girls were freaking out about how much work they still had and how little time they had.

This morning was a weird one when Drew suddenly burst into our room and grabbed King Alpha, hauling him out. According to "tradition", mates aren't supposed to see each other after the first ray of sunlight until the ball.

I mean what kind of a tradition was this?

So...yeah, I haven't seen King Alpha since today morning for except the short thirty seconds in which he tried punching and kicking Drew away while he dragged King Alpha out.

Soon after that, the room was invaded with the three girls carrying bags of accessories, clothing, makeup and God knows what else. 

They made me have a bath first where they completely invaded my privacy and personal space by scrubbing my body, cleansing, shaving and polishing me until I looked like a glowing doll.

Now they moved towards my hair. They seated me on the stool near the dresser and worked on my hair using straighteners, hairdryers, pins, and perfumes and stuff.

I have never gotten this ready in my entire life.

"Close your eyes, Lady Ezlynn." One of them instructed.

They all wore matching satin silver gowns with their hair pinned up and ready.

I closed my eyes, and they sprayed a lavender-scented hair spray all over.

My chest was constricted by various emotions ranging from silent screams to internal dying. Like God! I'm attending a ball where the spotlight is gonna shine on me and poke my eyes out.

How do act? How do I talk? How do I breathe?

Like, what if I breathe too loud and annoy someone? Will they kill me? What if I accidentally spill someone's drink? What if I crash into someone and send them flying into the wall, causing the whole mansion to collapse?

One of the girls massaged a scented moisturizer on my face. Her fingers caressed my skin, sending me into a temporary relaxation.

A sigh came out of my lips.

Next was the makeup. They told me to keep my eyes closed the whole time and only open them when it's all done. They wanted to surprise me with the final results.

I closed my eyes, seeping into a comfy leather chair while they worked on my face.

The only reason I'm attending this ball is that I want to stay here. And the reason I want to stay here is that I want to help King Alpha...while also making an excuse that I want to help myself.

I mean sure I want to help myself and figure out what I am and where I came from, but King Alpha seems to be in a worse position than me with no sense of direction in life.

I want to help him.

Even if I have to attend this nerve-racking ball.

It's insane to say that I have formed some kind of a connection with this place and its people. Not everyone, but a few of them. This place has started to feel somewhat close to home.

The light strokes of brushes and fingers on my face gave me a sense of coolness and relaxation. I would have drifted off to sleep if wasn't for King Alpha who made me sleep early yesterday.

I couldn't wait to get over with this. This should be as simple as everyone talks about.

1)    Wear a pretty dress

2)    Meet a bunch of Royals

3)    Let the Oldest Royal confirm you Queen to everyone

4)    Dance

5)    Eat

6)    Boom! Done!

After a few more minutes, or probably an hour, the girls finally allowed me to open my eyes. My first expression when I opened my eyes was to squint and almost hiss at the bright lights of the room.

I let my eyes adjust to the bright lights and turned toward the mirror. Before I could take a look, one of the girls blocked my view with a grin.

"Na-uh, not yet, Lady Ezlynn."

"Yeah, we want to see your face at the very end."

A sigh came to my lips, and I nodded.

They made me stand up and remove the robe I was wearing, leaving me in my underwear. See, I told you! No sense of privacy or personal space. But eh, I'm kind of used to it.

They walked over to the bag which covered the ballgown I was going to wear for tonight. The bag bulged already telling me that the ballgown was going to be huge.

"Oh please close your eyes, Lady Ezlynn."

"Yeah, no peaking."

A sigh came out of my lips once again and I closed my eyes.

The sound of the bag unzipping reached my ears and within seconds, hands pulled my arms above my head as they slipped the gown over my head. Just by the feel of the material, I could tell this was something more than just a 'pretty' dress.

My curiosity grew as they straightened the gown and adjusted it properly on my chest and waist. I wanted to open my eyes and look down at what I'm wearing.

They made me step on a pair of heels with my eyes still closed.

Finally, after a few more minutes of pestering and making sure everything was ready, they let me open my eyes.

My eyes opened, falling on a huge mirror ahead.

I stopped breathing.

My mouth parted open at the image in front of me and it seemed as if everything was immersed in a dream.

Starlight. That was the first thing that came to my mind. The colour of the ballgown. A hundred stars seemed to rest on the lace of the gown, making me seem more alluring than the night itself. The gown started with a light colour from the top and turned darker as it flowed down, making me look like a descending night princess. The ballgown clung to my waist before flowing down like a waterfall, stopping right above the ground. My shoulders looked smooth and soft with the ballgown being off the shoulders. The neckline dipped low into a V, showing the right amount of skin.

Long strands of black hair flowed down in light waves behind my body with sparkly pins with diamonds crested in them held up my hair in a half up-half-down hairstyle.

Black eyeliner and mascara made my eyes look big and sharp with the makeup giving me a soft innocent type look while also making me look absolutely elegant.

In total, I looked...woah.

"Beautiful, aren't you?" One of the girls asked.

I couldn't take my eyes off of myself.

"Yes," I whispered.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, my Lady." Another girl spoke.

My heart filled with warmth and excitement looking at myself. I looked like a night fairy.

Finally, being able to move my eyes away from the mirror, I turned toward the girls.

"Thank you."

They smiled wide.

"Ball starts in fifteen minutes."

"Make sure to breathe and relax till then."

They spoke as they packed up everything they brought and scurried out the room.  

My eyes fell on the mirror again.

Damn, this feels good. This gown and makeup made me feel more confident about myself. I mean everyone acts extra nice to the pretty ones, right? Back in high school, it was always like that.

"Looking good, my queen."

I jumped around with a gasp, almost tangling my heels with the gown. My eyes scanned around the room but found no one.

"Casper?" A whisper left my lips.

"Me, obvio- wait, what? Casper?"

I kept twirling around in my place to the voice that came from everywhere.

"Hmm, I see. You don't know my name, so you decide to give me one of yours. Smart. But why Casper?" He spoke in a distasteful tone.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Seriously? Haven't you watched Casper?"

"What's that?"

"It's a movie."

"Oh wow, that was so obvious." I could feel him rolling his eyes.

"Um, it is..." I spoke, "Casper is an old movie that everyone knows about."

"Well, I don't."

"Geez, fine. Don't get emotional about it."

"You talk funny."

I really wish I could see Casper's face or even the outline of his body. His voice sounds so deep and muscular, I bet he's one of those old-time hotties.

"Why don't you show yourself, spooky dooky?" I placed my hands on my waist.

"I scared you well last time, didn't I?" He laughed ignoring my question, "Anyways, long live the future queen. Good luck with the ball."

"Um, thanks?" I furrowed my eyebrows, "What? Are you not gonna bother me? Strangle me? Make a spooky scenario then jump out of nowhere making me scream?"

No one replied.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Casper! Are you there?"

Silence once again.

Is he gone?

Wait a damn minute!

I glared, "You pervert! You watched me dress, didn't you?"

"Shut up."

I jumped slightly at the sudden voice.

"Don't talk to me."

"I'll talk whenever the hell I want," I glared more, "you saw me naked."

"I didn't, you loser. Shut up."

"Yeah, you-"

"I said shut up. You know what? I'm going to leave. I'll find some better people to look at."

"Hey, no. Stop!"

I got no response in return.

Right when I was about to start talking again, A knock resounded on the door.

I turned towards the door and my heart thrummed loudly. What if it's King Alpha?

"Ezzy? You there?"

Levi.

I dismissed the momentary disappointment and calmed my raising heartbeat, "Yeah, I'm here."

"Am I safe to open this door?"

"Safe as a greedy man's jewels." I replied.

The door opened and Levi stepped in. He wore a black tux with a bow tie. His black hair neatly styled on either side of his head. His black eyes roamed around until he spotted me. They widened.

"Woah." His mouth dropped open, his eyes taking me in from bottom to top.

"I know, right?" I smiled.

He grinned, "You look amazing."

"Thanks," My hands roamed over the soft fabric of the ballgown, "I look like Cinderella. You know? The real-life movie, not the cartoon one. Except she has blonde hair and I have black."

"Yeah, I get it." He smiled, "So? Ready?"

"Ready?"

"I'm your escort to the ball."

"Yeah? I thought King Alpha would come or something."

He shook his head, "Nah, it's the Royal Beta who escorts and from there it's King Alpha," he shrugged, "tradition."

I snorted, "Traditions."

"C'mon." he held out a hand.

I walked towards him, putting my arm around his like how a gentleman and lady does. God, I feel like I'm in a movie. Levi smelled like soap and lemon from this close.

We walked into the hallways.

"So are the Royals here?" I asked, noticing how nervous I sounded.

He nodded, "Yup. They're all here."

A gulp went down my throat.

"Just be you and you'll be great," Levi assured.

"That's the worst advice anyone has ever given me," I muttered.

He smiled, "Make sure not to trip on anything. Even the air."

I gave him a funny look, "Very funny."

We continued our walk towards the ball that was being held in the huge halls in the west wing. My palms started sweating the nearer we reached the doors.

I yanked my arm off Levi's, taking a step back.

He turned towards me, off guard.

"I can't do this!" My eyes widened as the panic seeped in, "Oh my god! Levi. I'm on crack! I'm definitely high."

His eyes widened, "You took drugs?"

"I might have if I believe I call pull off this ball!"

I went to grip my hair, but Levi grabbed ahold of both my hands before I could mess up my hairstyle. Instead, I fiddled with his fingers.

"Oh my god, Levi. I want to run away. Help me!" I begged, "Shoot me off to Mars."

"You're overreacting, Ez," he spoke calmly, "Everything is going to go good."

"Says the one who isn't going to be the center of attention," I rolled my eyes before panicking again, "Look at me! I'm human! I'm a human going to be standing in between lots of hungry werewolves who would want a chunk of my delicious meat!"

He rolled his eyes, "King Alpha took care of that."

When I started jumping slightly on my heels cos of the nervousness, Levi pinched my bare arm.

"Ouch!"

I rubbed the spot where he pinched me.

"Did that calm you?" He asked.

"A little bit," I mumbled.

"Good. Now listen," he grabbed my attention, "knowing you, I know you're gonna do something or the other, no doubt and I'm not even gonna sugarcoat it. Just remember to laugh if you fall or something 'cause that directs little attention. Also if you're going to trip, grab anything or anyone near you. Don't hesitate, got it?" He grabbed my shoulders, looking into my eyes.

I took in a deep breath, "Yeah."

"Good. Even if you mess up, don't stress. Just laugh and play it cool."

"Okay," I breathed in, "Go to the ball, mess up, laugh, play it cool."

"Don't purposefully mess up." he gave me a look.

"Purposefully mess up."

"Don't mess up."

I nodded, giving a thumbs up, "Noted."

"Now, c'mon," he held out his hand again and I took it.

We neared the doors.

The giant doors stood in front of us, creating the one and only barrier between me and hundreds of other werewolves. Waltz music played from the other end swallowed by rings of chatter.

I took in a deep breath, tightening my hold on Levi.

He gave a reassuring squeeze.

"Ready?" He asked.

I released the breath I was holding.

"Yeah."

He knocked on the doors, which were immediately pulled open by two men standing inside.

The music and chatter immediately hit my ears.

This is it.

Levi guided me in.

A hundred pairs of eyes fell on me.

Everything went silent.

"I, Levi Kazariah, the Royal Beta, present to you," He raised my hand towards the crowd, making my heart beat louder, "Ezlynn Richardson, your future Queen."

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Date: 25th August 2021