Aurora''s POV


    As I walked with Sophia to the part of the hall where her friends were, I let my mind wander to all that happened before then. I remembered the moment that I walked into the hall which was full of people. I heard so many screams from tons of folks who were probably overwhelmed with the euphoria of everything that was going on.


    It wasn''t hard to say why. We prepared so well for the asion and our efforts finally paid off, just like I had expected.


    I noticed that the voices of the people went down a bit when I walked in. People paused to take a look at me. Wolves from every Pack must have heard about all that happened and were keen to see the Aurora that had be a princess.


    Yet, I was a bit confused. They didn''t know me from anywhere. How was it that they seemed to suddenly recognize that I was the one?


    It made me wonder if someone on the inside had said something to any of them. That was when it dawned on me that it was no handwork of anyone. It was all my doing.


    For so many years, my mom had graced that event. Most of the Alphas and their Lunas had also paid courtesy or business visits to my parents at one point.


    So it was inevitable that they had seen her wear the exact dress that I had on. That''s how they were able to tell. Plus, I felt like I looked so good in them. Anyone could be forgiven for concluding that I was royal just by seeing me like that. It was the best that I''d appeared in such a long time.


    I looked in the direction where I felt my dad was going to be and he didn''t disappoint. He was there, turning his gaze from one point to another, as he always used to do on asions. It was always tough getting his attention whenever there was a festival held in the Pack. He always seemed to be looking for something that probably never existed.


    Sophia was there too. She was by his side, with her head bent. I wondered if it was the shame of seeing me as a princess and the news that flew around or if she was just lost in her thoughts. In any case, it was none of my business and I couldn''t care less about whatever she wanted to do. It was her decision to make.


    "Hey, Aurora. Enjoying yourself yet?" One of the girls asked as I was brought back to reality.


    I almost nodded but then I realised that it was probably not a question asked to know what or how I felt. It was asked to mock me. They had somehow deemed me fit to be used as theiric relief. I was never going to let it happen.


    "Hey, you can talk to us, Aurora. We don''t bite, do we?" One asked as the others shook their heads and waved their index fingers from side to side. "Besides, you''re the Princess. You have no reason to be afraid of anyone; not even us, right?"


    They turned to themselves once again andughed so hard. Sophia didn''tugh. She just kept staring at us, probably trying to see what my reaction would be.


    "How has the life of royalty been for you so far, Aurora? Is it something you''ve been enjoying?" Sophia finally asked, looking to get me to say something but I was determined not to.


    Instead, I turned my attention to what was going on elsewhere in the festival. There was music ying and a fewdies were at the centre of the hall dancing, with their hips vigorously shaking. It was the kind of dance that most men loved to see; especially the unmarried ones.


    Rumour had it that many of the women in the Pack got their husbands after dancing like that. Festivals like that were also the best ces to disy all of that. Since many wolves came from different Packs, it was an opportune time for people to find their mates who were in other Packs and get hooked up with them. "You wouldn''t say anything?" One of Sophia''s friends asked, tapping me on the shoulder which got me a bit infuriated but I chose to say nothing at first.


    "She must have been having it so hard over there. Perhaps, that''s why she can''t say anything at all," another said, as they all turned to look at me.


    I looked like a dot in a circle, as they all surrounded me. Each of them threw jabs


    at me at will and they allughed whether it was funny or not.


    I felt like throwing a punch or two at one of them. I wanted so badly to set an example for anyone who was unfortunate enough to be the scapegoat. But I had


    to refrain from that. If there were to be any form ofmotion, it was definitely not supposed to be from me at all. I had to be more mature.


    "Maybe, she just can''t fit in there. She''s not really a Princess after all, even if her blood suggests that. There''s more to royalty than blood, you know."


    Sophia nodded, affirming what her friend had just remarked. That was when I knew that I''d had enough.


    "I''m leaving," I said, just as Sophia was about to open her mouth and say something else to me.


    Then I began to walk away from the circle, but I felt a hand grab me by the wrist to prevent me from leaving their midst. It was Sophia. She held onto my wrists so tightly.


    "You can''t leave so easily, Princess. Not so easy, my dear," she said, as she turned to look at me.


    I tried to remove my hand but her hold was a very tight one.


    Princess Sophia''s POV


    I had to make Aurora look like a fool at the festival. It was my goal right from the start. I needed to get her to regret being a part of my family. She had to pay for stealing my parents from me. I hated sharing anything with anyone. I hated her too.


    As she tried to leave, I knew I couldn''t just let her do that. I had to make her struggle. I had to show everyone just how weak she truly was and knowing who she was, I was so sure she would do her best to not make a scene.


    "You''re only a servant, Aurora. I need you to understand this very well," I said to her. "You just can''t walk out on high-ss wolves like us, can you?"


    It seemed to please my friends as they allughed so hard at her. I could see the embarrassment on her face as we teased and taunted her.


    She said nothing. All she did was try to break free from my grip. She did her utmost to wriggle her hands-free but I didn''t let her. I held onto her with all my strength, doing well to maintain eye contact with her.


    From the look on her face, it seemed to me that she was shocked to know that she couldn''t break free of my powerful hold.