Chapter Six

Celina

Jenna and I stop in our tracks, intrigued by the conversation.

The next voice I hear is definitely Ruben. I guess he’s talking to his brother Chris. “I prefer to think of it as performing my civic duty to protect the Alpha Princess.”

“She’s going to kick you in the nuts,” Chris warns while he laughs.

“That may be so, but you’ve felt this girl’s power. Are you telling me that you didn’t want to submit to her?” Ruben demands.

“A lowly she-wolf? You’ve got to be kidding me. Even as an Alpha Princess, do you really think she’s worth my time?”

“If you’ve seen her legs, you’d change your mind."

I grit my teeth and move to barge in there to annihilate the mother fucker.

“Cel, no,” Jenna hisses, pulling me away to the room next to the dance.

She lets me go and I start pacing for ten minutes, trying to cool off. “Lowly?” I growl, my wolf trying to break through. “Who does he think he is to call me that?”

Jenna puts her hand on my arm to stop me. “He’s a prince, an ass, but a prince. Plus he just broke up with the woman he’s been seeing for half a century, so cut him a break.”

“A lowly she-wolf,” I hiss. “He called me a lowly she-wolf.”

“Let it go,” she says, gripping my arms. “Please,” she begs, pulling me towards the ballroom. “If you do, I’ll let you pick the first movie.”

I take a deep breath. “Deal,” I tell her, us entering the room; watching every single male turn to look at us.

“Cel, aura,” Jenna says nervously and making me laugh a little. I was about to respond when I look up and see a man who has to be Ruben moving towards the tallest man in the room. He’s broad with muscles that make my mouth water. He’s not overly muscled, and I’m appreciating it so much right now. This has to be the Crown Prince Christopher, and he’s gorgeous enough to have caught my wolf’s attention.

I smile before pulling my attention back to Jenna. “Well, I might as well have some fun from the ass’s brother.”

“It appears you’ve gotten both of their attention,” Jenna mentions, keeping her attention on me. His tense pose makes me smirk. Lowly she-wolf huh?

“Celina,” a male calls out, making me look up.

I squeal, recognizing those copper curls. “Amon!” I say, reaching in to kiss his cheek and then giving him a hug. “How is my favorite alpha?”

“Tired,” he tells me, looking me over, “and a bit entranced. I missed you and wanted to say hi.”

“Upset that you missed your mark at last year’s Claiming,” I ask, smirking.

“I’ve been training, so you’re not going to be so lucky this time around,” he chuckles.

I touch his arm, noticing Ruben make his way toward us. “And it looks like the hunt has started for some others. I’ll see you tomorrow Amon.” I pull Jenna along, slipping next to people who are taller and blending in with them to move on.

I pull Jenna along for over an hour talking to people like a good hostess’s spawn. I dance with a few people moving on to another group to talk to. Jenna stayed behind when we were talking to Alpha Gerald’s son. He’s harmless, so I’m not worried. I notice five other men who were aggressive during past Claimings, so I’m staying far far away from them, even though they’re trying to find me.

“Mom,” I say, finally reaching her and touching her arm to get her attention. “Have you seen Jenna? I can’t find her.”

My mom looks at me and adjusts my top. “Stop following Jenna around and meet a mate Celina.”

I have to take a hard breath before I yell at my mother. “Mother, I have been talking to several males,”

“Did you find one you will allow to mark you,” she asks, cutting me off.

Again, deep breaths Cel. “No, but”

“Then you haven’t talked to enough of the eligible men here dear. I expected you to greet each and every single one of them. It is your duty to greet new guests Celina, and to make them feel welcome.”

“Mom,”

“Honestly Celina, I expected more from you. This is your last Claiming. Do not come back until after you’ve greeted each man here. Now go.”

After mentally strangling my mother, I turn around and groan; seeing Ruben promptly looking for me. That’s when I get an idea when my eyes land on the looming ass himself; Prince Christopher. Maybe he’ll help me.

I creep up behind him and touch his back gently. “Do not move, do not speak, okay,” I beg, making his back go tight. Please don’t be an ass.

When he remains silent, I speak, “Your brother is a pain in my ass, and I don’t feel like losing a bet to my idiot brother. Now, you’re just big enough that I can hide next to you, and get to the other side of the room. Will you please make it look like you’re going to the bathroom so I can find Jenna?” I'm praying she went back to my room to wait for me.

His deep voice comes out sounding like he’s amused, “How much are you betting?”

A blush creeps to my face before I answer honestly. “Ten dollars. He doesn’t have a lot of faith in me, considering who your brother is.”

“A pain in the ass?”

I have to bite the corner of my lip to stop a laugh. “That’s the one,” I answer, turning him just right to keep me out of Ruben’s line of sight. Once cleared, I pull on his arm to signal him to move with me.

My skin tingles, warning me he’s looking at me. “So what is the particular bet,” he asks, trying to keep his voice low.

“If I can avoid him the entire night,” I answer watching Ruben near the pillar I had just taken his brother from. “So far, he’s been more persistent than the past men I’ve had to do this with.”

“I’ve noticed three others tonight. One of them seems to be your beta,” he says, his voice suddenly controlled.

“Close, not counting your brother, the answer is five.”

“And how did you know I'm his brother?”

I hesitate before answering honestly. “Tall angry loner looking guy in the back watching my every move? You weren’t fooling anyone with that disguise. I assume your father is ordering you to keep an eye on me, and your brother is taking it up a notch.”

He hesitates before answering. “It’s been a rough couple of days.”

I grimace as I nod. Jenna did mention he’s going through a breakup. It looks like this Claiming is the year of the broken hearts. “I heard about your break-up with your long-term girlfriend.” I glance up to let him know the sincerity of my words, “I can’t say I understand your pain, but I do wish you find your peace. This is the worst place to try to heal a broken heart, so you might as well go have some fun.” His eyes remain on me, so I give him a small playful smile to encourage him.

Finally, he answers with a returning smile and speaks to me in an amused tone. “I think that’s something I can try. Maybe you can show me how to have some fun at this party, provided I keep you away from my brother.”

I genuinely laugh, relieved and surprised I’m having fun. I stiffen when my head tingles slightly. “Cel, I think I need help. Please help me. I’m in your bathroom,” Jenna begs through our pack link; linking only to me.

Quickly, I place a smile on my face and nervously point toward the exit. “Actually, I just found my friend. I’m-I’m going to go collect her and then retire for the night. Have to look fresh enough to get my neck sunken into, and all that,” I laugh that last part nervously, before taking a step back.

I have to make sure he doesn’t follow, and because I can’t resist the setup, “I’m happy that I was able to make you smile today, Prince Christopher, even if it came from a lowly she-wolf.”

He stiffens while I try to leave with my composure. However, the second I’m out of sight, I take off running.