| CHAPTER 46 : I'M NOT SOME GUARDIAN |

The entire room watched me making my body stiffen more than it already was. Everyone wore formal suits, tuxes, gowns and fancy dresses.

My eyes immediately found King Alpha seated on a throne. He was lounging on his throne acting as if he were a child forced to attend a family gathering. He wore a black tux with his hair all messy as if he didn't bother combing it- which surprised me since he was such a neat freak. He looked up, bored, when Levi announced my arrival.

His eyes blinked in surprise as they landed on me. His mouth parted open and he sat there, openly staring at me without blinking as if seeing me for the first time. 

But what caught my attention were the exquisite set of people seated beside King Alpha at the back on a set of thrones raised high on a dais.

My eyes roamed around the elegant-looking people who looked back at me.

Royals.

Those were the Royals, no doubt.

A gulp went down my throat.

Fourteen, I counted. Fourteen Royals.

I spotted Drew and Katia seated on the thrones too. They held pleasant smiles. Drew sent a wink in my direction when we locked eyes.

Levi walked forward, guiding me along with him as we walked into the gigantic hall. People slowly moved to the side to let us pass. I kept my eyes trained forward at all times and tried not to break down crying because of the anxiety pricking at my skin.

If it weren't for the warriors and the night before with King Alpha, I would have definitely done that.

Speaking of the warriors, they stood, all erect and military-type below the dais. They all smiled at me except Hans of course who only blankly stared at me. Fred grinned at me, Chase raised his eyebrows in greeting, Drake winked, Matt looked like he could doze off anytime, Sydney smiled, and Warrant looked like he was trying to hide the fact that he was chewing something.

Levi gave a quick secret stern look which made them drop their expressions and straighten themselves into warrior-looking statues. 

We passed by them and Levi left my hand, taking his stand by the warriors.

I resisted the urge to throw up as I climbed the stairs of the dais, keeping in mind to not trip over my ballgown. King Alpha kept his eyes on me the whole time until I was on top of the dais.

He stood and took my hand. This was the part where he gives an introduction of me to the people standing below us.

"My mate." He gave a short smile to his people and guided me to the empty throne beside his and made me sit.

I blinked.

Wait that's it? I thought Rick said he had to give some brief, boring and lengthy introduction.

I looked around me at the Royals who shot disapproving looks at King Alpha as he sat back on his throne which told me he did had to give a long boring introduction.

"Let the ball begin," Drew announced while he also secretly gave a flat look in King Alpha's direction. 

Music filled the room and people scattered, immersing themselves in conversations, separating themselves from the Royals.

"Utterly disrespectful, King."

My eyes flitted to the lady two thrones to my right who spoke.

The thrones were placed in a slight curve so that we could see each other. I didn't notice I was fiddling with my fingers until I accidentally scratched myself.

Here I was, in the middle of the Royals. Just great.

"You could at least pretend to be interested, mon ami." Drew gave him a look.

"Everyone already knows her." King Alpha replied, not bothering to maintain the straight posture everyone around me was maintaining.

"Let's just move on," Katia spoke giving a short smile. She wore a dazzling cream ballgown which gave her an elegant look and brought out her blue eyes.

"Very well." The lady spoke beside me again. She looked in her twenties with the same hair and eye colour as Drew and Katia. Now that I notice, all the Royals had the same hair and eyes colour. Maybe it's a heritage thing. 

All eyes turned on me.

My eyes widened at the sudden attention from the Royals.

"Speak your name, darling." A man, looking in his mid-twenties spoke three thrones beside me. He held a calm smile. 

"Ezlynn Richardson," I replied, trying to keep the trembles out of my voice.

"Where are you from?" Another female Royal asked.

"I lived my entire life in New York." I think.

"How old are you?"

"Sev-"

"Twenty." King Alpha cut in. His eyes, bored, roaming around the people and not seeming the least bit interested. What's his beef? 

I gave him a confused look but went along with nodding my head. 

"Hmm, still a pup." A man mused from the far end.

I only smiled, trying not to seem awkward. Levi said King Alpha took care about them not knowing I wasn't a werewolf. I wonder how.

"Have you been marked, dear?" A lady asked.

My fingers brushed the part of my neck, "Yeah."

"What about mating? Have you two mated yet?"

King Alpha's face went flat at that as he gave the lady a long flat look while I didn't understand what she truly meant.

I frowned in confusion but before I could answer King Alpha beat me to it again.

"We're still getting there." He gazed at his fingers before sighing and looking up, "are we done questioning my mate? I bet you already know the basics about her from poking your nosy asses."

"King." Drew gave a warning look with the Royals giving him a distasteful look at his choice of words.

"Why are you in such a sour mood, King?" the man at the corner asked, "it's your mate's ball. You should be happy or at least pretend to be happy for her."

King Alpha turned to me with a big fake grin, "Oh my god Ezzy this ball is so wonderful I can't wait to dance and talk to boring old people."

Everyone gave him an 'I'm fed up' look while I resisted the urge to chuckle.

"Oh leave him," Katia waved her hand, "he's always like this."

"How are you planning on to put up with him for the rest of your life?" A lady asked me.

"Rest of your life." King Alpha snorted.

"What?" The lady gave him a confused look to which he shook his head at.

The conversations continued between all the Royals asking each other for the future plans, better protection and all that werewolf stuff. It felt like a business meeting with me being the small kid who's gotta wait out until the parent is done. I answered the questions passed my way almost easily except for the few questions which King Alpha decided to answer for himself.

There were twelve Royals excluding Katia, Drew and King Alpha. So far, they were pretty normal and didn't seem to scare me except for their sharp and unnatural features. They all looked classy and elegant but when the time comes, they'd be removing secret weapons hiding under their clothes. 

Drew stood up from his place after the boring conversations stretched out for more than an hour. He walked ahead with a beaming smile, "Now, is the time for the dance."

The music immediately changed to a slower one as soon as he announced. 

People below us found their partners and got into a ball dance that I've only seen in movies. This all looked so...royal.

Drew turned around and gave King Alpha a waiting look.

King Alpha stared back at him.

"Well?" Drew raised an eyebrow.

"What? You want to dance with me?" King Alpha asked.

Drew rolled his eyes, "Take Ezlynn and get down there."

King Alpha gave a tired, annoyed look before sighing and standing up. My heartbeat rose a bit as he turned towards me with a fake smile and held out his hand.

"Care for a dance, milady?"

My mouth forgot to answer with his eyes directly meeting mine. Instead of answering, I placed my hand in his and he pulled me up and down the dais. Drew sat back down and watched us from above.

King Alpha pulled me into the center of the hall and placed his hand on my waist with the other holding my hand up. My hand found his shoulder.

My heartbeat rose up to a thousand beats per minute with him this close and warm to me. The fabric of his tux felt smooth beneath my fingers with his large hand clasped at my waist. I tried not to get all heated up.

"Why're you in such a bad mood?" I asked as we swayed slowly.

"I hate family gatherings." He replied, his eyes solely fixed on me.

"They don't seem that scary as others acted like they were. I honestly thought I was going to pee while walking in here with Levi."

"Yeah wait until they get all animal mode. They're savage," he smirked, "like me."

A teasing smile came on my lips, "Aren't you gonna compliment how amazing, gorgeous and beautiful I look? Like how the man does in the movies. I've never worn ballgowns in my life with this whole makeup and stuff. I bet I look extremely hot right now."

He scoffed, "I'm hotter than you. Screw that, I'm hotter than everyone."

"You didn't deny what I said though."

"I have nothing to deny."

I blinked.

Wait, what?

"Okay..." darn my cheeks turned red and he smirked at that. I should have just kept my mouth shut.

"So when does this end?" I asked, changing the topic.

"I want this to end now but my grandpa and grandma along with the rest of my family will probably stretch this out till next day."

I groaned, "I don't think I can keep up with the formal acting thing. These heels are killing me."

"I'm surprised you didn't trip the first step you took into the ball, Blondie. I was expecting a good 'Ezlynn getting embarrassed' show." He smirked.

"Sorry to disappoint you." I gave him a funny look.

"What are the chances of us ditching this ball and hooking up in my room instead?"

I narrowed my eyes, "None."

"Oh come on, you want to continue this boring ball?"

"No, but I don't want your family to murder us so yeah, no."

"As you wish, ma'am." He said sarcastically.

We continued dancing for what seemed like hours. My feet were definitely killing me more than they already were, and I couldn't bear standing any longer. King Alpha succeeded in continuing the dance with me decently except for the fact that he placed his head on my bare shoulder telling me how much he wanted to go up in his room and go back to sleep.

I found his mouth near my ear disturbing as it gave me shivers down my spine.

Then he went ahead to lick my skin, making me almost freeze up. I gave him a small thwack on his shoulder which prodded him more into bothering me with his mouth.

"I swear if you lick my neck one more time-"

He licked my neck again.

I inhaled deeply, shaking my head, "You're a child."

I could feel his grin.

Nevertheless, the dance was a slight torture and now it was time to eat. Rick gave me special specifications to not stuff my face like how you stuff a turkey and to eat like a "lady".

I found that a bit hard when I hadn't eaten anything since today morning and there were suddenly plates and trays filled with food placed in front of me. Nevertheless, I managed not to look like a homeless person who hasn't been fed for three weeks.

"What did that lady mean when she said we have to mate?" I asked King Alpha while putting a spoon of creamy chicken in my mouth.

We were seated alone at a table.

His mouth lifted up into a smirk, "She asked when are we having sex?"

I choked on the chicken and slammed my fist repeatedly on my chest.

King Alpha took enjoyment in watching me feel bothered.

"Are you kidding me?" I asked, wide-eyed.

"Yup," he put a cherry in his mouth, "having sex is like a really proud thing in our kind."

"You people have got to be kidding me," I muttered.

"So when are we gonna make my family proud?" His smirk widened with a suggestive look masking his face.

"Probably when I turn into an orange."

"Tasty."

"Why did you lie about my age?"

"And make me seem like I'm banging an underage?"

"As if you don't think of it." I rolled my eyes.

"Sometimes." He smirked.

I shook my head.

"So this is it right? After food, we finally get done with this?"

He popped a cherry in his mouth, "You still have to get the blessings."

I frowned in confusion, "Blessings?"

"Yeah, you have to get blessings from the Royals for, as they say, and I quote, 'a happy merry life with a blossoming future'."

"Wow, what crap." 

"I know, right?"

"Can't wait to get over with this," I mumbled.

I ate as much as I could without wanting to bulge my stomach and tear this dress.

Grand music filled the room. Drew stood on top of the dais facing everyone below us. He looked really happy with this ball with his beaming smile.

"People of Saludom," he called out to us. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned towards him. The chatter immediately died.

"Today we're here in the presence of a hopefully new Queen Luna for whom this ball has been held. For six hundred and fifty-two years, Saludom has been without its queen. Today, we're happy to announce and rejoice that we have finally found our queen."

People cheered all around. 

"We now give our blessings to Lady Ezlynn in the hope of a future coronation." Drew's eyes fell on me, and he smiled.

I nervously smiled back. 

My heart sped up to a thousand beats per minute.

King Alpha discreetly kicked my leg under the table.

I turned to look at him.

"You have to go up there." He spoke.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Huh?"

He rolled his eyes, "Fuck Rick. He never teaches anything properly."

King Alpha stood up from his place and lend out a hand towards me. I placed mine in his and he guided me towards the dais and up to the thrones. But instead of making me sit, he planted me right in the center with every Royal staring at me from their thrones.

What's going on...?

I stared in confusion at the Royals, all wearing expensive-looking ballgowns and tuxes with a strict kind of smile.

"We may now begin the blessings." Drew moved towards me, and my first instinct was to move back.

People from below watched us with awaiting looks.

"Are you alright, ma chérie?" Drew asked lowly so only I could hear but I bet everyone heard it because of their super-hearing senses.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he stepped closer towards me, but I didn't move back this time.

He smiled, "I'm giving you my blessings first. Apparently, I'm the oldest one here among all the Royals."

His hand slid up and I shivered at the feel of his warm and strong hand which gently clasped the back of my neck. His other hand wrapped around my body, holding me firmly to him.

I stood, my eyes wide open, "What are you doing?" I whispered.

Drew furrowed his eyebrows, "You don't know?"

I slowly shook my head.

He let out a small sigh, "Just don't freak out, okay? It'll hurt at first then it'll all feel like a dream."

My heart thudded loudly, "What are you talking about?"

He gave me a reassuring smile before opening his mouth. Long canines extracted from his gums, pointing towards me. Before I could gasp, yell or scream, Drew plunged his fangs on the crook of my neck.

My body tightened with a gasp coming out of my mouth. Drew rubbed my shoulder soothingly as an abrupt pain shot through my skin followed by a warmth of pleasure.

When I thought I would pass out by the intoxicating bite he's giving me, he pulled out his canines, licking my skin clean of blood that pooled out my mouth.

"What..." my mind hazed, "was that?"

He held me up with a smile lining his mouth, "Fourteen more Royals to go, ma chérie. You need to try and not pass out, oui? Try keeping the haze and dreamy feeling out of your system as much as you can."  

But I had already let the haze cloud my mind.

One by one, the Royals stood up from their throne and walked over to me. Different canines, different fangs plunged into my neck. Different arms held me. My brain swam in a pool of foggy clouds with my body heating up with warmth and a different kind of pleasure that I can't seem to handle.

I had to bite my lips to resist a moan.

God this feels like torture but a good torture. I feel like I'm getting drunk. God, I want to strip out of this dress. Why am I so happy?

Katia chuckled when it was her turn, "You look well." She commented before sinking her canines into my neck where the other twelve Royals already had.

In the end, King Alpha stood in front of me, a smirk on his lips but I couldn't care. I just wanted to lean on him and go to sleep or maybe for him to touch me everywhere. Man, werewolf canines have definitely got crack lining them.

"I much prefer this in our room." He smirked before baring his canines and sinking them into my neck. This time, that moan came out and I couldn't help but flutter my eyes close.

This is embarrassing. This is good. I'm gonna sue all of them.

When King Alpha slid his canines out of my neck, my knees weakened, and I finally leaned into him. His hand went around my waist, and he turned me towards the crowd. My head lolled on his shoulder, and I needed someone to slap me for me to not fall asleep.

"The blessings have been given," Drew announced, and the crowd bowed down on their knees with their hands on their chests.

My drugged mind should stay quiet but I can't help it! I'm drugged, baby!

"RISE PEASAN-"

King Alpha clamped his hand on my mouth.

A few heads raised in my direction; others obediently kept their heads down. The Royals gave me a small look before turning back towards their people.

"Ritus quatur nisi expleto." Drew announced and the people rose from their knees, "Have a good night everybody." He smiled.

Slowly, they started filing out of the ballroom. Some still remaining to finish their food and some remaining to continue their conversations.

A dreamy sigh came out of my lips that made King Alpha shift slightly so I was more comfortably propped on his side.

"I'm gonna..." King Alpha said to the Royals, "yeah I'm just gonna get her out of here." He said before tugging on my arm to follow him.

I moved my feet and gasped when I almost tripped due to my imbalance.

King Alpha's hands were quick to straighten me.

He rolled his eyes, "Stupid." He said and wrapped his hand around my shoulder blades and his other hand moved to the back of my knees. In one swift motion, he lifted me off easily from the ground and carried me down the dais.  

"Have a good night, ma cherie." Drew called from behind.

"You too!" I called back, rather too loudly.

"Geez, blondie. I didn't think you'd get this intoxicated."

"You werewolf carry drugs in your mouth. I know that now. Lesson of the day, don't let a dog bite you."

"You're glad we're out the ballroom or the Royals would have been coming for your ass." He grumbled with a roll of his eyes.

"My pretty hot ass?" I smiled.

A smirk lined his lips, "Sure."

He lowered me down on the bed and proceeded to stand up, but my hands were fastened tight around his neck.

"Blondie, I have to go." He said, unlatching my hands from his neck.

"Go where?" I almost whined.

"As much as I'd love to stay and enjoy your intoxicated state, I have to make sure the Royals are departing as it's my "duty"." 

"Fine, get lost," I said and turned to the other side. Ouch, a hairpin poked my head.

King Alpha left the room, closing the door behind him.

I tried going to sleep with the effects of the bites still all over me.

Another hairpin poked my head.

With a sigh, I peeled myself off the bed and walked over to the dresser. I started removing the diamond hairpins one by one, letting my hair fall around my waist.

A yawn came out of my lips.

God, this dress is starting to itch and feel heavy. I reached for the zipper behind and almost pulled it down if it weren't for the voice that spoke behind me.

"Wonderful ball, wasn't it?"

I jumped around with a loud gasp.

Ace stood in the center of the room. More like Ace's projection.

"You creep!" I yelled, "I would have been naked in two seconds!"

He didn't smirk or smile, instead, his eyes narrowed on that already unhappy face of his.

"I asked for Lucretia's crown weeks ago. I haven't gotten it or any updates about it. You don't seem to be searching for it, are you?"

I placed my hands on my hips, "No, I'm not. Excellent observation."

His face hardened, "I want the crown, Ezlynn. Or your brother is good as dead." he warned. 

"I'm not giving you the crown until you give me a proper reason for it. King Alpha has it because he's protecting it. What's your reason?"

"None of your fucking business," he marched towards me, making me back up a few steps until my back hit the dresser. His expressions wore anger and furiousness. Why was he so dang angry in the middle of the night?

Realizing that this is only his projection and not him actually here, I let myself loosen.

"Then I won't find it for you," I stated.

"I'm going to kill your brother."

"He isn't my brother."

"Whoever he is, he'll be dead by the end of this week if I don't get that crown."

"You know I don't still understand how you're King Alpha's father? You're messed up along with your history. I'm not finding that crown for you, end of discussion."

His hand clasped around my neck making a huge choking gasp escape my mouth. He pushed me into the wall, squeezing my neck in his strong and vice grip. I stared at him in shock.

"How can you-how can you touch me?" I managed to speak out while my hands went to free my neck from his hands. But he tightened his hand until my windpipe seemed to crush.

"This will give you a head start." He snarled before lifting me off the ground and hurtling my body across the room.

I crashed into the wardrobe and fell to the ground. My lungs gave out along with my whole breathing system. Pain shot through my back and a sob lodged through my mouth. Black spots clouded my vision along with tears streaming down my face.

I tried getting on my knees but before I could do so, Ace's hand was back on my neck. He jerked my head forward so quick; I didn't even realize when he banged my head on the ground until pain radiated from my forehead.

"Are you ready to find the crown now?" He asked, holding my crumbling body to him.

"Fuck off." I choked out with a half-unconscious body.

He threw me against the wall. A gasp escaped my mouth with my lungs seeming to fly out my mouth. My body tumbled to the ground. I groaned in pain, not having it in me to move with my back hurting like hell.

Something warm and thick trickled down the side of my head and I knew some part of my head was bleeding.

Ace's feet planted themselves in front of my vision and I thought he would kick my face next. He even lifted his foot. But before he could swing it at my face, his feet lifted off the ground and he went flying away from me, crashing into the wall across. 

He got back up in a second, looking around the room in confusion and anger, "Who did that?" he yelled.

"Me, obviously."

Ace's expressions chilled at the sound of the hallow man, "Who are you? Why can't I see you?"

"You don't deserve to see this sexy body, that's why."

Ace's head turned around in all directions, trying to find Casper. Sucks for him, even I didn't find him.

"Your tricks don't scare me," Ace yelled angrily, "come out and face me like a man."

"Sorry, not interested."

Ace's eyes widened with some kind of a realization, "Are you some kind of Ezlynn's guardian?"

"Bitch what? I'm not some guardian."

"Then why are you helping her?"

"I'm not helping her. I just wanted to throw someone across the room, so I did it. Now get the fuck out of here before I throw you out the balcony."

Ace shook his head, seeming confused and angrier but he didn't say anything and only turned to glare at me, "This isn't over." He threatened before vanishing into thin air.

Before I could mutter out a 'thank you' to Casper, the bedroom door flung open and King Alpha hurtled in, looking around with an open mouth.

His eyes roamed over the broken dresser, the dented wardrobe and the messed-up room before he spotted me on the floor, almost unconscious. He disappeared from his place and reappeared, crouched in front of me.

His hands went to my head and brushed my hair back from my face. When he pulled his hand away, blood covered his fingers.

His face hardened with anger as he gazed at my body, "Who did this?"

I couldn't answer, my mind was slowly drifting off to unconsciousness with the numbing pain. 

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," King Alpha cursed multiple times, running a hand through his hair, "Literally left you alone for only six minutes."

I only blinked through half-open eyes.

He shook his head and picked up my body in his arms. A whimper came out of my lips when his hand touched my back where I have been slammed into the wardrobe and the wall.

He placed me down on the bed, before taking out his phone and calling someone.

I couldn't hear him talk because I finally fell unconscious.

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Date: 25 August 2021