Chapter 1
My name is Joyana Winters. I'm an average teenage girl except I am a werewolf. What I don't have in strength, I more than make up for in intelligence. You'd never know I am a seventeen year old princess, next in line for the throne.
My parents are ready for retirement so they are sending me out to find my King. So far, I have been to six different all-werewolf schools in my search. I've come across a variety of potential partners finding no one I felt a connection to. They were either too ambitious, too arrogant or just not into me. My title, sure. Power, of course, but no one saw me.
I wish I could find someone like my father. He's so smart, funny and he truly cares about people. He treats my mother like the Queen she is, always making her smile, laugh and he supports all of her decisions. My mother sure was lucky when she found him.
The only person I wanted to choose was my advisor, Simon. He was so dreamy with his ice blue eyes, wavy blond hair he wore to his shoulders, a bit of a snub nose with bow shaped lips. He's six feet tall with a swimmer's body. He is funny, sweet and always knows just the right thing to say in all matters. At twenty years of age, he was highly educated in history, specifically with customs and traditions of all the packs in our kingdom. It's just too bad he isn't into women because we had the best relationship.
With him not being an option, I have one more year to find a partner before my parents convene the council and pick my King for me. With my luck they'll probably pick some 160 year old Alpha with "the proper experience" to be my King. I did not want that. I wanted someone my age who can learn and grow with me. There hasn't really been a need for the Royals aside from settling interpack disputes since before me parents' reign. Experience is not necessary in my opinion.
My next stop is the Shadow Moon pack which is run by Alpha Viktor Murphy with his Beta Liam Stevens. It's a rather large pack whose school contains a whopping six future alphas. Alpha Viktor's father, Alpha Lucien, united the surrounding packs placing them under his protection about fifteen years ago. This alliance made it the perfect place to continue my search with so many prospects.
If I fail to find someone in three months, I will have to find a new pack to continue my search. It is my last year after all. Simon handles all of the logistics. No matter what, I will not be beholden to the council. I will find my King on my own. That is the best chance for happiness I can see.
Simon would be joining me on my search along with my best friend Sofia, my cousin Gabriella and an assortment of bodyguards and warriors. Needless to say, my entourage will make me stand out. My final task before leaving is to convince my father that I do not need that level of protection on this trip. I want to be incognito. I want to be seen as I am and not the princess searching for a husband.
With that in mind, I left my room climbing the stairs to reach my parents' suite. Knocking, I heard a soft "enter" and proceeded into the suite finding my mother in the living room, as usual.
"Mom, where's dad?" I asked.
My mother was sitting peacefully working on some crochet project. My mother was on the short side standing at five foot two. She has light brown chestnut hair, like me. Her eyes were bright green. She has a small button nose, like mine and full, pouty lips also like mine.
"He's in his office," she said, not taking her eyes off her project.
"Is he alone?" I asked.
My father would not appreciate being interrupted if he had someone in there.
"He is. Don't worry," she said.
I walked down the hall until I reached his office. I knocked but received no reply. I knocked again. Receiving no answer, I opened the door and peeked my head in. My father waved me in as he spoke on the phone.
"No, that shouldn't be a problem. Listen, I'm going to have to call you back. My daughter wishes to speak with me. Alright, talk to you later."
My father hung up the phone and sighed.
"What can I do for you ladybug?" He said.
My dad was a tall man standing at six foot six with a muscular build. He towered over most people making him very intimidating, but to me he was just dad. He has blond hair, beard and mustache and gray eyes. He has a prominent Roman nose with a thin upper lip and full lower. He was very handsome.
"I wanted to discuss my trip," I said, feeling my nerves come alive. "I think I figured out why I haven't been successful so far."
"And why is that," he asked with an amused smile.
"It's because they immediately know who I am and what I am searching for. I wish to be incognito on this trip. Have no one know who I am," I said, wringing my hands.
"So what's your proposal?" The amusement on his face just made me more nervous. He wasn't taking me seriously and I needed his permission to carry out my plan.
" I was thinking that I could go to school with just Rachel, Warren, Lucas, Gabriella and Sofia. Leave the warriors at home. "
"Absolutely not!" My dad roared, all amusement wiped off of his face. " What kind of protection is that? Warren and Lucas just passed their training. Rachel has never left the kingdom. How will they protect you?"
"Dad, I'm just talking about attending school. I know the other guards will come with us. Maybe Alpha Viktor will agree to post them around the school. I just don't want it to be obvious."
This was not going well. How can I get him to agree? He's so overprotective.
"Listen Joyana, your safety comes first. I don't care what other plans you have. You WILL have your guard with you at all times." He stood and walked over to me giving me a hug. I hugged him back. "I will talk to Alpha Viktor and see what arrangements can be made. I'm not promising anything."
I smiled. "Thank you, Dad. I just have one more question. Does Alpha Viktor know who I am?"
"He knows a royal entourage will be staying with him. I haven't told him it would be you yet."
"Can you please not tell him my title? I don't want anyone to know who I am or why I am there," I said looking hopeful. If I just got this one concession, this may work. After all, Alpha Viktor was a suitor, but I heard he was engaged.
"That I can do. Though a little research would let anyone know exactly who you are. You're name is so very unique. I got it! Let's call you Diana Winters. You'll both be my nieces. That could work, plus you can still have your guard... " he started musing to himself. "Let me call Alpha Viktor to iron out the details. Simon will fill you in on what we propose."
He kissed my forehead then dismissed me. I left feeling hopeful for this trip. With any luck, I will finally find my King. Shadow Moon pack, here I come.
I went back to the living room to spend some time with my mom. She put down her project and got up and hugged me.
"I can't believe you're leaving us for an entire year," she said, squeezing me tight.
"Mom, I can't breathe," I said, trying to wiggle out of her grasp.
"Are you nervous, sweetie?" Mom asked, looking concerned.
"A little. Probably more about the prospect of finding a partner. It's so permanent, but it is my duty." I said scrunching up my nose.
"I didn't think you were a commitment phobe, Joyana," she said, chuckling.
"It's not that. It's just, what if I choose the wrong person? What if he's just not right for me and I only find out when it's too late?" I pondered.
"Then you'll deal with it when it happens. You're going to be Queen someday, Joyana. Plus there is such a thing as divorce," she said, giving me the side eye.
Divorce has grown in popularity over the years. Ever since we stopped having mates, marriage has been on the rise. However, people can't seem to find their perfect partner. Not like it used to be. A divorce would just make it seem like I didn't know what I was doing.
"I will be a disgrace, a failure. If I can't even keep my marriage together, how am I going to run a kingdom?" I asked.
"You would not be the first queen to divorce and besides those are all things you don't have to think about right now, Joyana, '' she said. "Right now you should focus on finding someone who is compatible with you. The rest is easy. Don't you have seven alphas to choose from?"
"Six actually. I believe that Alpha Viktor is already engaged," I amended.
"Engaged does not equal marriage, Joyana," she said with a smirk.
"Now you sound like Gabriella," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Sometimes even a blunt ax can hit its mark," she said, smirking.
"Mom, I'm not about to break up somebody's engagement. Besides, Alpha Viktor is more of a guardian than anything else. He is not in my purview," I said.
"Who says you can't marry your guardian. You can marry anybody you choose. Plus, I heard he was quite the catch. Easy on the eyes and very fit," she said blushing.
"Now we know what you like. I'm more into the intellectual type. I wanted to marry Simon, but I don't think that's in the cards," I said with a frown.
"Your advisor Simon? He's a fine young man, you could do worse. He fits my list, easy on the eyes and fit," she said.
"Yes, but apparently he doesn't like women. Or at least not me.," I said.
"I never got that impression from him but what do I know I'm just an old lady. Maybe you should have a talk with him so you're on the same page," she suggested.
"I suppose I could do that. Just have to find my moment. Though I can't see a way of talking through homosexuality," I said thinking about it. "And you're not old mom.
"Thank you for that Joyana. Though if you could feel this body, you would think differently," she said, smiling. " I'm sure you'll find your moment sweetie. It's getting late. Perhaps we can talk more tomorrow?"
"Thanks Mom. I would love that," I said getting up. "I think I'll head to bed now."
"I hope that I made you feel a little better. Goodnight sweetheart," she said, giving me a hug. "You know I love you very much."
"I do. I love you too. Goodnight Mom," I said, squeezing her back.
Although it was nice to speak with my mom about my worries, I don't really think she got my point of view. I'm more of a type A personality while my mom is a free spirit. I don't know what I would do without a plan or a list. My striving for perfection would probably be my downfall.
I walked down to my bedroom and got ready for bed. I wish I had some real guidance on what to do at this point. I was trying not to feel a time crunch.
