I went home and quickly went upstairs to look at the injury. Who the hell was that man? Why did he cut me with his claw? I went into the bathroom and took a cloth to wipe away the blood leaking from the wound. It didn't look so bad after I cleaned it up. Sure it was a little deep but it could easily be hidden.

Did I want to tell Invictus what happened?

He will go into a rage. I just knew it. I sighed and took off my blouse. It was riddled with blood. I hid it in a drawer and changed into a t-shirt and sweats. All these emotions and drama was making me feel exhausted and the desire to look nice didn't seem appealing to me.

When I walked downstairs, everyone was eagerly talking back and forth. The front of the palace was filled with soldiers and staffs. Marc, Caden, Max, and Ron walked up to me. Caden placed his arm around my shoulder and I winced as he accidentally hit my injury. Thankfully he didn't notice it.

"So, are you going to go on a hunt with us?" He asked.

I shook my head. "I just wanted to see what is going to happen."

"Pity. Maybe next time, eh?" Marc teased. I gave them a smile before urging to go wait with the others. I stood behind and watched. Invictus was shirtless and wore only his shorts. He stood tall in front of everyone as Akoni and Marc flanked his side—Caden and the rest following closely behind them. Marc playfully pushed Akoni as they laughed and shoved each other back and forth.

A howl was made and everyone did the same thing before I began seeing the shift. The men and women in front of me shifting into their lycan form. It was wild to watch them transform into their other half. Invictus's gaze landed on me and we stared at each other for what seems an eternity before he burst into a run. Everyone was following closely behind him as they went in search of their prey.

It is funny that only a few days ago I was literally freaking out at seeing this but now it was all natural to me. When the last of the group disappeared from sight, I walked back inside, scratching at my wound. It was beginning to itch. I then scratch at my neck before bumping into Mama Kate.

"There you are." She said.

"Here I am." I replied with a smile. She grinned and then took me around the elbow as we walked together. "Where are you taking me, Mama Kate?"

"Your dress fitting." She replied.

"B-but..."

"No buts. You are going rather you like it or not." She replied. We went down a marble hallway hung with paintings before we reached a door. She took me in and we tried on several dresses. I made sure to only try on ones that will cover my shoulder.

When we finally agreed on a dress, everyone had finished their hunt and was already in the palace. The noise and howls in the hallways told me they were. Mama Kate left me with makeup artist and hair stylist to fix me up as she went to go tend to her boys as well as get herself ready.

The door to the room crept opened and in came Elena dressed in a royal blue ball gown. I turned slightly to look before the makeup artist pushed my back to face her with her finger.

"Make sure you put a lot of makeup on her, she needs it to stand out." Elena ordered. The makeup artist rolled her eyes and continued to do what she did without hearing Elena. "Did you hear me?"

"We all heard you, Elena." I murmured. "Now, if you would leave them alone, they are trying to fix me up."

She snickered. "Nothing could hide that hideous face of yours."

I sighed and turned my face to look at her. "I don't need to hear your negativity. If you really need to come in and give me a talk so that you would feel better yourself than it is not me who needs more make up but you."

The hair stylist giggled and the makeup artist gave me a cheeky grin. Elena snarled before taking a couple more bold steps towards me. The makeup artist's back stiffened and I can see her looking at Elena's next move.

"I suggest you leave her alone. You don't want to anger Invictus. I am sure that if you marred her in any way he will have you dead in seconds." The makeup artist suggested.

Elena stopped and glowered at her before huffing before turning to walk out but before she did, she turned back slightly.

"You might be his mate but I will make him mine. You just wait and see, human." She said it as if I was a disgusting piece of filth. Her eyes glint with mischief.

I rolled my eyes and threw up my hands. "What do I have to do to make everyone understand? Invictus is not mine nor am I his. He denied the bond."

The hair stylist gave a soft laugh, "Honey, you don't know a thing. That prince of ours is also just as blind. Destiny can't be avoided. We might try to take different paths but it always goes back to the same ending."

I pouted and scratched at my injury again. It was beginning to burn and itch. When they were done with me they pulled back to allow me to look in the mirror. The person I saw there, I did not recognize. I was a completely different person.

"Wow." I whispered and they both grinned.

"Do you like it?" They asked.

"Are you kidding? Who is that girl?" I pointed in the mirror and they both laughed.

I was dressed in a puffy cream colored princess dress that had lace running on my shoulders and bodice. My hair was gently put into a fancy low bun in the back of my neck with soft curly strand of hair falling on the side of my face to soften it up. My makeup wasn't extravagant. She gave me a peach like lipstick and glossed it up and mirrored my cheek with a blush. She enhanced my eyes with fake eyelashes and eyeliner and a smokey eye color.

"Alright. We better get you going. The party isn't going to wait for you." The hair stylist ushered me out the door and toward the great hall. The sound of the piano playing a melodious song grew louder as I got closer. My hands grew clammy and I turned to go back.

"Oh no you don't." The makeup artist ushered me in as soon as the hairstylist open the door. I went almost stumbling in. The eyes in the room immediately came to me as the door opened and I appeared. I shifted uneasily until Mama Kate walked up to me.

She leaned down and wrapped one arm around me gently. "Head held high, Deidre. You are beautiful and you are not any less than us. Be brave."

I looked up at her and what she said rang true. I nodded and lifted my chin. My eyes landed on Invictus first in the crowd. He wore a black suit with a bow-tie. His curly auburn hair neatly combed back. The way he was looking at me had me shifting in my spot.

Mama Kate walked me up to Invictus and he put a hand out. I looked at it in surprise before glancing around the room. Why was he suddenly so willing?

I hesitated and irritation flashed in Invictus's eyes as he moved to grab my hand and pulled me into his side. I landed with a thump. Mama Kate smiled and walked away towards Simon--leaving me alone with Invictus.

He leaned down to my ear and whispered so that only I can hear, "I am going insane. You come in looking like that and all I want to do is take you upstairs and have my way with you. You are even more stunning tonight. Radiance glows around you and I find that I am at your mercy. What are you doing to me, little moon?"

His words stirred a desire inside of me like nothing else. My body responded immediately to his husky tone.

"I am doing nothing. Keep in mind, Invictus, I am not yours." I replied calmly and mentally applaud myself for sounding confident.

He pulled back to look at me. His hand came to cup my cheek. "You are mine, little moon."

Mama Kate came back and tapped us on the shoulder. She pointed to the dancing floor. "Would you two take the first dance?"

I hesitated but Invictus was having none of that tonight. He was really starting to scare me with this bipolar attitude. He was acting a lot more possessive and the look in his eyes—I have never seen it before. It was completely unhinged and raw. I saw everything. I could feel how much he wants me. It scared me and at the same time excited me. What changed his mind?

When we made it to the dance floor he pulled my body up against his. Sweat was beading down my neck and back. I felt a little nauseous and dizzy. I tightened my grip around his shoulder and hand. I could feel his large hands on my lower back.

"What are you saying, Invictus? Are you saying that now you suddenly want me?" I asked a little irritated with him.

"I have always wanted you." He replied as he looked down at me. "Make no mistake, little moon. I have always wanted you."

"Then why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" I asked.

"It is complicated."

"Well I have time." I replied.

He sighed. "I was afraid of losing you. I do not see you as a weakling. I don't care if you are human. It is the thought of you as my mate and losing you is what scares me. It was what pulled me away at first but now I am starting to realize I don't care because I would do anything in my power to protect you—to protect what is mine."

He gave a chuckle. "I didn't even realize I was already doing it for years."

"So it is not because I am human?" I murmured softly as my vision began blurring a little. I blinked several times.

What was wrong with me?

I stopped dancing and swayed back and forth on the dance floor.

"What's going on?" He asked now clearly concerned as he moved to hold me upright.

Loud clapping from the entrance had everyone turning to take a look. Many started growling and snarling. The man was pale skin with red glowing eyes but he was actually really handsome. He walked up to us as his eyes looked me over. I didn't know how to react to this man. Who was he?

"Aldric." Invictus snarled. The guards came immediately to surround us. "You have guts to walk in a room full of lycans."

"I only wanted to welcome you back." Aldric purred as he looked down at me. Invictus moved me behind him.

"I suggest you leave now or I will kill you before you could." Invictus commanded.

"Tut, tut. You were always so serious, Invictus. Think about what will happen if you killed me. I am the vampire prince after all. Imagine the war, you will bring upon your people."

"Who the hell let you in?" Invictus growled out.

"That you have to look into your people. You have many betrayers." He chuckled before taking another glance at me again. "It seems you have something of mine."

"She is not yours." Invictus moved to wrap his hand around Adric's throat.

"Oh but I can make her mine." He inhales deeply. "She smells divine."

Simon moved to rip Invictus away from Aldric. "Get out. This is your last warning."

Aldric took one last glance at me before straightening his suit and with a wicked grin leaving the place. Several guards followed after.

I swayed a little. Sweat beading down my forehead now. I couldn't take it anymore. I rested my forehead against his shoulder blade.

"Invictus." I whispered weakly. "I am not feeling so well. I think I am going to faint again."

He turned automatically to look at me. His hand was coming up to cup my cheek before he pulled back with a hiss. "You are burning up."

"Was it the food?" I managed to say before slumping. Invictus caught me before I fell to the ground. He fell to his knees as he held me in his arms. The worry in his eyes was clear. He was afraid. I could feel his heart beating rapidly.

Simon appeared in my line of vision. He moved to touch my cheek and then opened my eyes up to look before lifting my lips up. Everyone I knew surrounded me in worry.

"She's turning." He whispered. 

Next chapter will be Invictus POV