CHAPTER 48: 48. A RIVAL OF THE ALPHAS - PRINCESS WANESSA!

AT THE SAME TIME

MICHAEL

The tension had just begun to dissolve, Terrence cracking a rare grin, Xavier muttering something about diplomacy manuals being rewritten, and Zavier tugging me close so he could quietly murmur about how ’public alpha pissing contests’ should be banned by divine law when the courtyard doors opened again. Every head turned. The music faltered mid note. Even Rose, who’d been halfway through teasing Charlie about his ’fan club,’ went still. A herald’s voice rang out across the marble hall, clear and pompous as a bell.

"Announcing Her Royal Highness, Princess Wanessa of the Northern Dominion."He said.

And then she appeared. Silver gown, pale as starlight. Long braid that shimmered like ice. Shoulders bare, chin high, smile carved with surgical precision. She didn’t walk she glided straight through the crowd like she owned it, which, to be fair, she almost did. Charlie froze mid-gesture, still holding his crumpled napkin shield.

"Oh no." He whispered. "No, no, no, no, why is she here?!"

I blinked.

"Who?"I asked.

"Her." He hissed, eyes wide. "That’s Wanessa of the North! She, she once sent me a fur cloak and a sword with my initials on it! That’s basically a proposal where she’s from! I got it before I was chosen by Goddness and Selene."

Zavier’s lips twitched.

"How generous."He said.

"Generous?!" Charlie squeaked. "It was engraved ’To My Future Mate!’"

Terrence coughed into his hand to hide his laugh. Xavier wasn’t even pretending, the corner of his mouth had curved up in quiet amusement. But both of them went tense as Wanessa’s sharp blue gaze finally found its target.

"Oh, stars." I murmured. "She’s looking straight at him."

Charlie straightened instinctively, trying for dignity and achieving panic instead. His voice cracked.

"H-hello, Your Highness."Charlie muttered nervously.

Wanessa’s smile was the kind that made people question their life choices.

"Sir Charles." She purred, ignoring the faint flush that exploded across his face. "It’s been far too long. You never answered my last letter."

"I, uh I was busy! With, uh saintly duties!"Charlie tried to explain it.

She took a step closer, ignoring every other person in the courtyard.

"Then allow me to deliver my words in person this time." Her eyes flicked over the three alphas standing like a defensive wall behind him. "Unless I’m... interrupting something?"

Terrence’s jaw flexed.

"You are."Terrence said.

Wanessa blinked once, feigning surprise.

"Oh? Then perhaps you’ll introduce yourselves properly before glaring holes into my skull."She said.

"Here we go again."Xavier muttered. Xavier inclined his head stiffly. "Xavier of the high courts."

"Terrence of the Southern Marches."Terrence said.

"Adrian of Lunaris."Adrian said.

"Ah." Wanessa said sweetly, eyes glittering. "Three Alphas guarding one pretty saint. How... poetic."

Charlie groaned, face in his hands.

"Please, no poetry."Charlie muttered.

"Maybe she’s the romantic type." I offered, trying not to laugh.

Wanessa ignored me completely.

"So." She said, tilting her head toward Charlie. "Which of you intends to claim him? I should hate to waste my time if he’s already bound."

You could feel the collective intake of breath. Zavier’s fingers twitched around my waist. Xavier’s hand actually went for his blade again. Terrence’s smile had gone razor sharp. Adrian glared even coldly than before. Charlie, meanwhile, looked like a man praying for divine lightning to smite him where he stood.

"I am nobody’s claiming anything!" He said, voice climbing an octave. "I’m unclaimable! Very free, very independent, totally-"

Wanessa stepped closer, smile turning wicked.

"Good. Then I suppose I’ll start my courting immediately."Wanessa grinned.

The courtyard exploded, half laughter, half horrified gasps.

"Over my dead body."Terrence muttered.

"Or hers."Xavier added.

Zavier only exhaled, voice low and dangerous.

"This evening just got complicated."He said.

I hid my grin behind my hand.

"Complicated? Darling, this is about to become legendary."I smirked.

Charlie groaned into his hands again.

"Someone, please." He said, muffled. "Tell the Goddess to revoke my matchmaking license before I die of embarrassment."

The music sputtered back to life, uncertain and nervous, as Princess Wanessa extended her hand toward him like a challenge wrapped in silk. The three alphas stiffened instantly. And somewhere, I could swear I heard the Moon Goddess laugh. If the courtyard had been tense before, now it was one wrong breath away from a divine incident. Charlie stood there like a startled deer, bouquet petals still in his hair, three Alphas flanking him like an honor guard of impending murder, and princess Wanessa radiant, ruthless, terrifyingly composed, smiling as though she already owned him and his future offspring. That was when Rose appeared.

"Oh, absolutely not!"Rose screamed.

Her voice sliced through the noise like a silver blade. The crowd parted without even realizing it. Rose swept forward, skirts flaring, tray in hand like a weapon. Her eyes narrowed at Wanessa.

"Your Highness." She said, with that dangerously polite tone that meant I will end you, but gracefully.

Selene followed half a step behind, serene and quiet as moonlight, but her fingers were already glowing faint silver. Protective magic hummed faintly under her skin, coiling like soft mist. Charlie’s head whipped around, desperate.

"Rose! Selene! Finally! Do something! She’s going to court me in front of everyone!"Charlie begged.

Selene tilted her head, her voice calm.

"Courtship is not inherently violent, Charlie."Selene said.

"It will be if Terrence and Xavier don’t calm down." I muttered under my breath.

Zavier’s lips curved faintly.

"I’m taking bets."Zavier grinned.

Wanessa’s smile didn’t falter, not even with two furious women and three alphas closing ranks.

"Ladies." She said silkily, giving a slight curtsy. "How refreshing to see so many... guardians for one saint."

Rose smiled back, too sweetly.

"Oh, he doesn’t need guardians. He needs peace and possibly a restraining order."Rose said.

A ripple of laughter passed through the gathered nobles. Wanessa’s gaze flicked to her, ice cold now.

"Forgive me, but I don’t take orders from attendants."She said.

Selene’s tone softened, but there was an edge to it that made everyone listen.

"Then perhaps you should take advice from someone who speaks directly with the Goddess."Selene said.

That earned a stunned hush. Even Wanessa faltered, just a blink, but enough. Charlie peeked out from behind Rose.

"You’re both my favorite people right now."He whispered.

Rose elbowed him lightly.

"Shut up and look pitiful. It works better."Rose muttered.

Wanessa recovered, chin tilting higher.

"Pitiful? Hardly. He’s radiant. A being of light. You’d understand if you were-"Wanessa started.

"-less invasive?" Rose interrupted.

Selene sighed quietly.

"Rose."Selene said.

"What? Someone has to say it." Rose shot back.

Terrence actually snorted. Xavier looked like he was biting back a laugh. Wanessa’s patience was visibly thinning.

"I don’t see what gives any of you the right to bar me from polite courtship."Wanessa frowned.

"Polite?" Rose arched a brow. "You barged into a wedding uninvited and declared intent on a man surrounded by five alphas and divine witnesses. That’s not polite. That’s suicidal with extra sparkle."

The nobles around us howled with laughter. Charlie groaned, hiding behind his bouquet again.

"I can’t tell if I should thank you or fake my own death."Charlie groaned.

Selene, ever the calm one, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Do neither. Simply smile and endure. It will pass."Selene said.

"Will it?" He asked weakly.

Wanessa leaned closer, ignoring them all.

"It won’t." She murmured, voice honeyed and dangerous. "Not until I decide it’s over."

That made even the air hold its breath. Zavier’s hand slipped from my waist to his sword hilt.

"Perhaps it’s time someone reminded Her highness that this isn’t her court."He said.

But before anyone could escalate further, Rose clapped her hands sharply.

"Cake time!" She announced, loudly enough to jolt half the room. "Everyone loves cake, right? Yes? Excellent! Charlie, come help me cut it before someone dies of jealousy or stupidity!"

Without waiting for permission, she grabbed Charlie by the arm and physically dragged him away from the circle of alphas and ice princesses. Selene followed with a calm nod to Wanessa.

"We shall pray for restraint... on all sides."She said.

As they disappeared toward the dessert tables, Wanessa just smiled slow, calculating, watching him go.

"She prays." Wanessa murmured softly. "But the Goddess might just answer me."

Zavier exhaled through his nose. I could tell that he is barely controlling himself.

"Michael."He said.

"Yes, dear?"I asked.

"Remind me to never invite Northern royalty to anything again."Zavier sighed.

I smirked.

"Noted. But admit it, this is excellent entertainment."I said.

He gave me a flat look.

"You are chaos incarnate."He said.

"Thank you." I said sweetly. "It’s a wedding gift."

Behind us, Rose’s voice carried across the courtyard.

"CHARLIE, STOP TRYING TO ESCAPE THE CAKE KNIFE, IT’S A METAPHOR, NOT A WEAPON!"She screamed.

The entire hall erupted into laughter again. Even Wanessa smiled. But the glint in her eyes said this wasn’t over.