Chapter 1 The King hunt

Valarie POV...

I was in a hurry as I walked through the corridors, it was hard to ignore the curious conversations as well as the laughter and murmurs; I knew the laughter was meant for me. I was at the bottom of the pack as a servant, and stumbling barefoot through the hallways didn't help my cause. But my mother had taken the only car my family had, and she used it to make deliveries. Some women laughed out loud, while others just gave me irritated glances as I slammed into them and raced down the sidewalk.

A bundle of violets that had just been picked from a field on the outskirts of town was in my arms. The Alpha family shouldn't have to accept anything less than the best. After all, Princess Sophia wasn't just pretty; she was also kind and fair, and she kept me on despite the town gossip about my family's low rank.

"Excuse me," I yelled as I turned sideways to get through a small group of people.

I saw bodies moving as I looked down an alley. There would be a guard waiting for Sophia, who was waiting for the violets but should have been dressed and ready by now.

When I got to the palace's side door, the guard looked at me with disapproval but stepped aside." Valarie," he said as he greeted me. It was my responsibility to take care of Sophia every morning to get prepared for any activities she has for the day. Unfortunately, the princess did not require much upkeep. However, she did wake up early, so I had to get up before sunrise to get here in time to dress her and serve her.

I did everything in my power to make my parents proud, even though I was born last in the pack. I was on time and focused on my work, so no one could denied that. In the Kingdom, Sophia's beauty and respect were widely discussed. Even though you wouldn't know it by looking at me, my constant attention played a significant role in this. The princess and I are very different people. Sophia had delicate features and was petite with honey-colored hair. She was extremely strong, so her appearance was deceiving. But when it came to her pack, she was better known for being fair.

The pack had decided to let Queen Moira take over for Sophia's father, who had died only a few years earlier. She had taken a few different partners over the years, but she was the only Alpha. Queen Moira had taken a step back and let her daughter make increasingly significant decisions over the past year, knowing that day would come when Sophia would take over the pack.

Now I was late for what was almost certainly significant news.

Sophia was not even dressed when a messenger arrived in the courtyard.

Panting, I slammed my way through the princess's door.

"You're there!"Sophia yelled. She was surrounded by three other women, all of whom pulled at her lavender dress and fluffed it. The other ladies glared at me, but the truth was that I was the fastest among them all. The dress outlined her petite body beautifully and showcased all of her best features, including the toned muscles in her upper arms. I was the only one who would have been able to return the flowers so quickly. I reached into the bundle, carefully pulled out a violet headband that had already been woven, stepped forward, and gently placed it on Sophia's head, taking care not to damage the delicate braids that were pulling her hair back from her face.

As I frequently did when around other people, I couldn't help but feel out of place as I looked down at the princess. Sophia was practically dwarfed by me. Keeping in shape while being tall and lean required wrestling and training with Sophia. There was no doubt that I and my family would be punished if anyone else in the pack knew what we did in private. However, Sophia saw past my position in the pack. She kept her mouth shut when little things went wrong because she knew how valuable I was.

such as being late.

"Val, are they waiting?"

I nodded when she asked instead.

"In the front, I'm sure your mother is present. But before they say what they came to say, they'll wait for you."

Sophia assuredly said, smoothing her dress down her stomach, "Of course, they will.Go ahead. If this is really about the hunt, keeping them waiting any longer will make me appear pretentious, which is the last thing I need."

I glanced at the three other women. The other two were omegas, like me, and one was a beta. As I followed Sophia out of the room, their expressions were twisted with resentment, and I had to fight the urge to suppress a grin. We moved quickly through the hallways and into the foyer, where two guards opened the doors to the courtyard.

The Queen was standing outside, her hands resting behind her back. The pack's decision to follow Moira rather than another Alpha male was evident from one glance at the formidable woman.

Moira had dark hair and narrow eyes and was as petite as her daughter. Her mouth was set in a straight line all the time. Even though she had not yet spoken to him, the messenger already appeared intimidated by the pack leader. He waited with his head down and hands slightly trembling close to the Benz that had brought him here.

One of the guards announced quietly, "Princess Sophia." The small group of people waiting outside the courtyard's perimeter shifted and murmured. They were delighted to see their princess, especially when she appeared so radiant, and many of them smiled. The pack should be proud of Sophia's grace as she stepped forward. She said, "Welcome, messenger," and her voice was as silky as honey. The man straightened up and spoke clearly, his hands stopped shaking.

He turned to look at Moira and said, "Thank you, Princess."Also, Your Majesty being welcomed into your pack's territory is an honor. I brought a message from King Gabriel himself and the Kingdom." At this news, Sophia almost shone.

The remainder of the group waited impatiently. I resisted the urge to smirk. Everything was clear about this. "It was now two years old". He said, bringing a letter forward and presenting it, "The Hunt" – the messenger could only be coming to make an announcement. Sophia had not opened it but stood with it in both hands as one of the guards stepped forward to carry it to her.

" In just a few short days, the hunt will begin, and your participation would be greatly appreciated by King Gabriel and Queen Evelyn, his mother. You will be joined by twelve additional princesses at Harmon's Palace for a variety of tasks. As he searches for his future partner, King Gabriel will evaluate the princesses based on their beauty, kindness, and strength."

A few people in the crowd rolled their eyes this time. In the past ten years, there have been five hunts. King Gabriel had rejected previous princesses as unsuitable partners. Queen Moira liked to observe that Sophia's absence from the previous hunt was the reason he wouldn't decide on this Blood Moon. Sophia had stayed at home during the Blood Moon because their territory had been grieving the loss of their Alpha.

She had not reached adulthood in previous years. She was permitted to attend this hunt for the first time, and her bright eyes indicated that she was up to the challenge.

Queen Moira murmured, "My daughter would be honored," her voice sounding like ice. With a waning smile, the messenger immediately turned to look down once more.

She went on to say, "You can tell King Gabriel that Princess Sophia will join the others in a few days.She will soon arrive at the Palace, and we will get her ready for the journey."