The Silverveil Palace's magnificent ballroom was lit up by innumerable chandeliers. With its golden candelabras and walls covered in deep-blue tapestries embroidered with silver thread, the room exuded luxury.
Exquisite plates of baked breads, aromatic stews, and roasted meats covered tables. As royal guests mixed, conversing and laughing over exquisite wine and elaborate foods, jewels sparkled on their fingers and necks.
The smells of exotic perfumes, fragrant florals mingled with spices, and the earthy scent of leather and wood filled the air, laughter and conversation filtered through the notes as musicians played a soft yet upbeat melody, inviting both royals and nobility to join the dance floor.
It seemed as if the entire ballroom was swaying to a set up beat as the lords and ladies danced with grace and elegance.
Alpha Lucian sat at the head of the royal table, smiling slightly in satisfaction as he peered out over his gathered guests. He was clearly the alpha of the realm, his broad shoulders and strong build, but his eyes were warm as he absorbed the joyous sight in front of him.
Luna Jamayah sat by his side, her face was calm but alert as her deep, contemplative eyes looked around the ballroom. Lucian noticed the thoughtful look on her face and leaned in to speak with her,
"Is something troubling you, Jamayah?" he asked, raising an eyebrow,
She sighed, her eyes continuing to survey the crowd,
"Have you seen Amaya yet?" she asked softly,
"You know your daughter, always late" He looked at her with a playful glint in his eye,
"Just like you" he teased.
Jamayah shot him a knowing look, though a smile played at the corner of her lips,
"Even I am not this late, especially to a feast held in my honor"
She looked at Prince Garret, her son, who was sitting close by, enjoying a large plate of food,
"Garrett" she said, directing his focus away from his food,
"Have you seen your sister?"
With a chunk of roasted lamb on his fork, he looked up and smirked slightly, shaking his head after swallowing,
"Not a trace, Mother" he said, then eagerly went back to his plate.
As the music came to a close, the dancers nodded and bowed courteously to each other before relocating to the room's border. The time for suitors to approach Amaya grew closer and Luna Jamayah shifted in her seat, her anxiety increasing.
Princess Amaya was in her chambers upstairs, sitting in front of her mirror while Selene tied the final ribbons on her dress. Amaya squinted her eyes as she looked at her mirror,
"Take your time, Selene"she sighed,
"I have no desire to attend that insufferable ball any sooner than I must"
Selene smiled and laughed quietly,
"Of course, my lady" she said as she ran a soft brush through Amaya's hair. The doors to Amaya's chamber sprung open as she was ready to secure the final few strands, and Luna Jamayah walked in purposefully.
"Mother!" Amaya cried out,
"Is something the matter?" Jamayah's face made it impossible to argue,
"Come with me, now" she replied firmly, taking her daughter by the arm and pulling her in the direction of the door,
"But Mother, my hair"
"Forget about your damn hair, Amaya. We've been waiting long enough for you"
Jamayah insisted, pulling her daughter along, her own heels clicking sharply against the polished floors.
The grand doors to the ballroom opened, and the herald's voice boomed across the hall,
"Her Royal Majesty, Luna Jamayah, and Her Highness, Princess Amaya!"
As Luna and her daughter entered, all heads turned and the guests got up from their seats, bowing. Whispers of adoration took the place of the murmur of discussions.
They gently made their way down the lengthy aisle to the royal table, where Amaya's father sat and nodded in approval at the impending arrival of his daughter.
After bowing slightly to her father, Amaya sat down next to her mother, she glanced attentively around the room, seeing the lines of men gathered with the sole purpose of winning her hand.
She rolled her eyes and scoffing slightly, the rebellious gleam in her eyes clear as day,
"Seen anything you like yet?" Her brother teased,
Amaya gave him a friendly bump, her delight showing through a tiny smile.
At that moment, a young man dressed in exquisite tailoring came forward and bowed to Alpha Lucian and Luna Jamayah before speaking to Amaya,
"Might I have the honor of a dance?"
After hesitating, Amaya held out her hand and concealed her hesitation with a courteous smile. The band played a lively tune, and they started to move in time with the music while the onlookers watched with polite interest.
However, the dance soon soured when her partner stepped on her foot, missing the beat, and fumbled with his steps, the princess let out a soft hiss of pain, her patience running thin, and she pulled away from her partner, gave him a curt nod, and turned and left the ballroom without saying anything.
"Where's she going?" Her father frowned as he turned to his wife,
"Oh Lucian, give her a moment"
Amaya sneaked out into the palace gardens and took solace in the peaceful silence of the flowers and moonlight.
She calmed her beating heart by taking a deep breath, did she really have to be married only out of obligation? Her soul longed to be free, to rule without a crown to burden her or a partner she couldn't love. Without these regal restrictions, couldn't she rule as Alpha?
"Excuse me, my lady" came a deep voice from behind her, pulling her from her thoughts.
Amaya spun around, her eyes settling on a tall man a few steps distant. He exuded a quiet strength, his hair was swept back, a few stray strands framing his face, and his eyes, dark and penetrating.
"And who are you, exactly?" she asked, her eyes scanning him from head to toe,
"Darkota, my lady" he said.