When our third meeting was over we had some time to kill before dinner and then the ball, which seemed to be all the women talked about. Luna Anne was not wrong, the females are only here to be paraded around like prizes for the choosing. I can’t imagine wanting to be with anyone other than my Goddess given mate no matter what their rank is.
But I also did not grow up like the rest of these girls, so I can’t judge, yet. No matter how hard I want to, given the looks I am getting from them. I decided to take a walk in the halls that no one else was allowed in upstairs just to listen to silence after all of the talking and noise. I am slowly walking not really paying attention, I know there is a guard following me somewhere out of sight, he’ll make sure I’m back where I need to be on time. All of the paintings and stained glass in the castle are fascinating. They depict times and places in our history that I’m sure I’ve read about, but there is nothing to indicate what they represent, so I’ll have to ask Luna Anne to give me a real tour one of these days.
As I’m admiring a painting of one of the Alpha Kings and his family, I hear a scuffle not far from me. There are several little nooks and alcoves to hide in up here. I’m sure that’s by design for a quick getaway. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are secret passageways too.
I try to ignore the sound, it could be one of the Omegas cleaning or someone else trying to sneak around up here, either way it’s none of my business. Until the sound overpowers my discipline and my curiosity takes over. It sounds like a muted fight, like pushing and shoving, which can be so many things in a place like this. I finally get to a tapestry where the shuffle is the loudest, there isn’t really any talking, but definitely at least two people. I really should just walk away, but what if something bad is happening?
Some of the guys here are creepy, I would feel terrible if I found out someone was taking advantage of one of the younger Omegas that works here. I take a deep breath and pull back the tapestry, enough to be noticed, but not enough to expose whoever is back here, if it is innocent.
“Skylar! What are you doing here?” Xander shouts jumping away from a very nice looking guy, right around Xander’s age, maybe a little younger. They both look disheveled, there is no question as to what was going on here. Xander’s pristinely pressed suit is wrinkled and his dress shirt is untucked in places and his cheeks are flushed, but I don’t know if that is from the activity or from being caught.
“I’m so sorry Xander. I heard noises and I wasn’t sure what was going on, and no one else is supposed to be up here, so I thought maybe something was wrong…” I trailed off, placing my hands on my cheeks, getting more and more embarrassed as I spoke. I’m sure my face was as bright red as Xander’s.
“Hey, hey. It’s okay. I’m glad you came to check.” He’s smiling like an idiot. “This is Oscar, my mate.” He turns and looks at Oscar like they are the only two people in the room.
“I only found him a week ago, he’s been touring the packs helping with training. His dad is our Royal Delta.” : I just nod, no idea how to respond to that. Then something clicks. “Wait! Is this why there is so much fuss over you finding a mate? Everyone is trying to mate you to a female since you’re the prince?”
“You weren’t lying, she is quick.” Oscar has a deep soothing voice. It’s instantly calming. “It’s something like that. Xander is 24, he should have found his mate, or in this case mates, by now, but the Moon Goddess has plans, so here we are.”
