Chapter 199

Fiona

The last three days have been full of meet and greets, healing lessons, and alone-time with Ethan. I haven’t met the whole pack yet, but Ethan thought it would be a good idea to start introducing me slowly to people. I’ve met the healers, some of Ethan’s friends, several of the Gammas, and a few friends of the Elders.

Ethan said starting with people who would accept me would be the best plan since introducing me to everyone all at once would probably end badly.

The car slowly pulls into a half-circle drive in front of what can only be described as a palace. I try not to let the nerves grow again, but seeing the elegance of our destination, I can’t help it.

Fidgeting in the seat, I smooth down my skirt and wiggle my feet. These heels are higher than I like, but I didn’t want to trip over the hem of the dress. I also wanted to look nice since we’re heading to the Kingdom Capitol.

From what Ethan said, this is going to be the biggest gathering in years.

Ethan’s hand lands on my thigh, squeezing gently and applying enough pressure to still my bouncing leg. The warm tingle that radiates through my body from his touch has my body relaxing and my heartrate slowing.

“Are you sure it’s alright for me to be here?” I ask after watching Ethan get out of the car, walk around to my door, and open it. I take his outstretched hand, letting him help me out of the car.

“You’re exactly where you need to be,” Ethan whispers, “You’re with me.”

Again, his words calm me a bit. We’ve been planning for this for two days. I knew we’d be here with a large number of unknown people. Ethan told me there would be people here from every pack in the Kingdom which meant there would be people staring.

Just like they are now.

Before I can even link my arm with Ethan’s, they’re already looking at us. Each stare sears into me, and I realize they know who I am. The human mate of a Lycan Alpha. I can see the wrinkles in some of their noses and the narrowing of their eyes.

Then, the whispers start. Women lean into each other, talking behind their hands. Groups look at me then look away quickly when I see them. Eyes follow me and Ethan as we make our way up the corridor.

I barely get to process the beauty of the palace because of the whispers. The whispers are so loud that I can feel their judgment even though I’m not close to them. I can’t make out their words, though.

“Keep your chin up,” a female voice whispers in my mind. The familiar voice catches my attention. “Walk with confidence. You have your mate to lean on. Don’t let anyone here make you feel inferior when you aren’t.”

“You belong here just like anyone else,” Ethan whispers, almost mirroring the words of the imaginary woman.

Her words and Ethan’s arm sliding around my waist both give me a sense of calm. She and Ethan are right. There’s nothing wrong with me being here. Ethan and his mate were invited to this gathering, so as his mate, I was invited here.

Straightening and lifting my chin, like the woman said, I decide to show these people that I’m not scared of them or their judgements. So, I walk into the real-life, massive castle with Ethan like I belong here because I want to be with him.

With my mate.

Side by side, we make our way down the hallway, and my eyes bounce from a large painting to the biggest crystal chandelier I’ve ever seen. It hangs in the middle of the long hallway, but it doesn’t compare to the chandelier that hangs in the middle of the throne room’s ceiling. It’s bright and beautiful, like a mini sun.

I’ve never been somewhere so nice or around so many people wearing fancy clothes. Everyone is wearing either a suit or a gown since the invitation said this was a black-tie event. I glance down at the midnight blue sparkly dress I’m wearing then I look out at the other women in the room.

Their gowns are so much nicer and more extravagant than mine.

“You look beautiful,” Ethan says softly, his lips brushing my ear. “You outshine every woman here.”

My heart skips a beat in my chest, and I tighten my arm around his as we continue walking. How does he know just what to say?

“Alpha Montgomery!”

Ethan turns at the man’s voice and smiles.

“Alpha Greene. It’s good to see you,” Ethan says, bowing slightly. I mirror his gesture, trying not to bite my lip as they shake hands. A beautiful woman smiles at me.

“This must be your human mate,” Alpha Greene inquires. His eyes land on me and I offer my best soft smile. I don’t’ want to seem too eager or scared.

“This is my mate. Fiona. Fiona, this is Alpha Greene. He used to be one of my Gammas until he branched off and created his own pack.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell the man, bowing slightly like everyone else when they meet an Alpha. The woman looks me over, but she doesn’t say anything as they turn and go back to talking with other guests.

“Ethan Montgomery.”

Another man walks up, slapping Ethan on the shoulder and then pausing when he looks at me. He stares for what seems like several minutes before blinking and shaking his head.

“Aaron Alexander,” Ethan says in the same way, sounding confident and a bit joking. “This is my mate, Fiona, and I would be very happy if you would stop staring at her.”

Aaron shakes his head again, as if he’s clearing it, and looks at Ethan.

“Sorry. She looks a lot like my grandmother. I was just taken aback that a human would look so much like her… which is not an insult. I apologize,” the man says, bowing and smiling. I didn’t hear any hatred in his tone, so I don’t take it to heart.

I’ve heard several times before that I have ‘one of those faces’ and that I looked like someone another person knew. There were several times Jack told me I was plain, so I’m used to it.

Ethan chuckles and glances at me, “This is Aaron. His family is one of the oldest Lycan families in the country. They are considered nobility here, only slightly lower in status than the King himself.”

Nodding like I know what Ethan is talking about, I lean into his side.

“Anyway,” Aaron says, stretching the word. “I must get back to my grandmother or she will be coming after me to grab my ear and drag me back.”

I bite back the laugh that threatens to escape me as he winks and turns away. Ethan shakes his head and leads me toward the front of the room.

Again, as we walk, people stare and steer clear of us. They also give me the stink eye, watching me like I’m going to spread a disease to them. I can’t understand what’s so wrong about being a human.

“Is it really so bad that I’m human?” I ask, looking up at Ethan.

“No. Don’t let them bother you, Fiona,” he murmurs, glaring at someone over my shoulder. “Uncultured and close-minded people always see beauty as a flaw.”

“Isn’t that how you saw me at first?” I snip, elbowing him in the side. Ethan grunts, and I smile when his cheeks go a little pink.

“A mistake I’ll never make again.”

With a soft smile, Ethan leans in and kisses me, his hand sliding to the back of my neck to pull me close. I lean into him and grip the sides of his suit jacket, pulling away when a loud voice booms through the room.

“The King has arrived.”