March 15th, 1526
~Cecily's POV~
'What is it?'What did you see Les?' I ask my wolf, fighting off one of the headaches that came with our gift of sight. Only she can truly see all the time and I can only do it when something's wrong, but I have other abilities in my human form.
'Something is wrong with Sister's mate, he's about to mark someone else.' My wolf, Caelestis "Celeste" Diana Hunter tells me as we run in our wolf form back to Hever Moon Pack.
We are omega's (well all but me and Anne), but it was Anne's mother's... connection with the respected Howard family that let us keep and grow up in Hever Castle on the edge of our pack territory while our Alpha lives in the Chiddingstone Castle, which resides about 35 minutes by carriage. And my sister's... filtration with the king bettered our social standing with our Alpha, but we are still expected to help clean up every once in a while, as omegas.
'We can't tell her. She'll be heartbroken. We have to wait and see who it is. Do you have any ideas who he is, Celeste? Maybe we can get her to him in time.'
Celeste nods and tells me,'Yes, it's Henry Tudor of the Tudor Rose Pack.'
'Uh oh.' I think to myself. We pick up speed.
Everyone knows about him. Apart from being the Goddess' chosen king, he is known to be a bit of a flirt, unable to keep his hands off of every pretty little thing that catches his eye.
Basically, to put it simple, the total opposite of our Anne and Storm. Anne and Storm are playful and flirtatious, yes, but they are virtuous and strong willed. And if not anything else, sweet, but has quite the fiery temper. And she doesn't like to share anything, especially her love.
And the King has a wife, Katherine of Aragon with a daughter of his own. Even though he refused to mark her up until recently. He claims it's because she was once his dead brother's mate, but every respectable wolf knows that he is still trying to find her. And I bet in order to get her to mark her, she used a son as a barging chip.
Henry and Katherine have never had any luck with sons. The Goddess, Selene tells us it's because she doesn't want it to be so. It's as simple as that to her.
The moment Anne got her wolf we knew she was special. And now I know why. It explains everything, but I think I should pay a visit to my older sister.
--
~Anne's POV~
' Something big is going to happen today Annie.' My wolf, Storm Artemis Apollo tells me. 'I can feel it.'
I laugh as I do the dishes. 'You and your feelings.' I joke with her. She may be my best friend besides my little sister, but she can be a little much with those feelings of what will happen today sometimes.
Just then, my papa, Thomas Boleyn, comes in rushing with an excited fan and an official looking letter in his hand. I stop cleaning the dishes and go, "Papa? What's happening?"
"Alpha says the King invited him to take us with him to Court to attend his ceremony tonight celebrating his marking his wife, the Queen." He answers. A uncontrollable growl escapes my lips.
I cover my mouth and apologize. I have no idea why I did that. 'Storm, what's wrong with you?' I ask gently.
Before she can reply, my little sister Cecily comes rushing in panting and laboredly asks, "Am I... too late to... help with anything." She wheezes as she tries to catch her breath.
I bow my head slightly in pride and smile at her. She's my pup. She's always come to me with everything. I'm the only one who knows she already has her wolf. I was there when she first shifted, rocking to her and singing her her favorite lullabies in the French language as she fought to get herself unstuck from what we call mid shift, when your body is stuck in its half wolf half human faze. Her black and white wolf was quite a sight to behold.
She smiles back and then father yells, "Where have you been?! Anne had to cover your chores for the day and her own!"
"Devana and I went for a ride. I'm so sorry, Sir. I forgot it was chore day, and I rushed back as quickly as I could when I finally remembered." She says her voice laced with regret. We have horses for the pups that are to young to shift, so that's always been her cover when she goes for a run. She still rides that horse a lot, but she spilt her time between her horse and her wolf.
Devana Cecily named after the goddess Artemis when she was a foal. When she found out that my wolf was named Storm Artemis, she knew she couldn't use Artemis, and her wolf had Diana in her name. She had to change that horse's name two times to finally not have to worry about it anymore.
"Before you came in here late,... I was just telling Anne that we are invited to court by the king for the party tonight as the Alpha's personal omega's and the king's friends."
I want to growl at my father for making Cecily feel worse than she does already, but I'm choosing to focus on planning our outfits for the night. I grab Cecily's hand and pull her to my rooms, starting to look for her favorite hair pieces.
When I find them, I turn back to look at her and see she has my favorite dress she made me in her hands with a bejeweled gold crown. It's green and very pretty, but nothing particularly special, but it was her favorite so it was mine too. And the crown was made of real diamonds she found on a ride made to look like flowers. She had been saving it for special occasions. It was the crown Mary wore at her wedding.
I slowly walk over and drop so I can see how the crown looks on my head. She puts it on and says, "You have to wear this, Annie. This is a big opportunity for you. Every Alpha in the world will be there, hoping to be mated with the princess." My sister refuses to let anyone but an Alpha be my mate.
"Oh, my own heart, enough with this 'mate' talk. You should be focusing on finding your husband." I tell her gently cupping her cheeks. My family's ambitions will not allow me to accept my true mate unless they are of high rank, so I gave up hope young. "Okay?"
She sighs and nods. "That's my sweet girl." I kiss her forehead and she pulls me toward the mirror.
I have to say, it did suit me. Storm is purring in my head at seeing us with a crown on her human's head.
'This feels right Anne, a crown on our head. And our pup is right. We could find mate tonight.' Storm tells me.
Maybe.
--
Later that night
~Henry's POV~
I groan as I read the latest letter from the council. I crumble it up and throw it into the fire. More complaints about how I have been holding this off for as long as I could. My wolf Perseus--or Percy as I affectionately call him--growls at their disrespect.
'She isn't Mate. Why are we being forced to do this!?' He asks me.
'I don't know, old friend.' I reply honestly. I have a daughter, what more do they want from me?! Yes I want a son, but I didn't want anymore children with anyone who isn't my mate making her feel upset or uncomfortable when I find her. If I find her.
Do not get me wrong. I love Mary, I love her till the end of the Earth. She is, and always will be the Pearl of my World.
I put my crown on and think, 'Okay. Here we go.'
I'm about to walk to Katherine's room to get her, but I am hit with the most delicious scent. Ambergris and civet times ten thousand--but not in an overwhelming way--mixed with ripe oranges.
Maybe's it's finally happened. Maybe a bond is forming with Katherine.
--
~Anne's POV~
I dace with Cecily in my beautiful green dress that she hand picked with the crown on my head. The light seems too make her shimmer as the light reflects of the diamond and hits her. She looks stunning. Anyone would be lucky to call her their mate. I accidentally read her mind and it says, 'Any man would be so blessed to have you.' So I give her the biggest smile I could and tell her, "You know, any man would be lucky to be your mate too." She smiles back and bows as dance reaches a conclusion. And the people clap. I do the same.
We join in clapping with the rest of court and soon, I am hit with the most brilliant smell I've ever smelled. It smells like fresh champagne and violets perfume and fresh apple pie mixed with what I can only describe as a garden after a light Spring drizzle.
The King and Queen enter hand on top of hand, walking towards the mating bed and my heart suddenly hurts. I want to look away, but my fury at seeing him kiss that women's hand refuses to let me. My gift feels out of control, but I will myself to push it down.
His canines appear from his mouth as Storm howls in icy jealousy and they sick into the Queen's neck, then she does the same. Everyone claps for them, but Cecily and I don't. I knew that she must've seen it with her gift, but what did she see?
As the mark takes time to work it's magic, mates were usually licking each other to heal the seal that holds over the bond forever. But His Majesty overlooks the crowd, appearing to be looking for something. I ran to the balcony.
"Annie B." I heard a familiar voice say. I look and reply, as sweetly yet dismissively as possible, "Thomas."
"I haven't seen you in ages. You look good." He says walking over. "You know, back then... I had the biggest crush on you once I saw how attentive you were with Cecily. Guess I had a thing for older women with pups."
"I'm only two years older than you, Wyatt." I say with a bit of annoyance to my voice. We stand there in awkward silence for a few moments till I broke it by saying, "Well it was wonderful catching up, but I must get back. Cecily will be looking."
Wyatt grabs me and pulls me back to him. His eyes blacken with lust. "Be my chosen mate." He demands.
"What? Are you kidding me?! No! You have a wife and mate!" I yell pulling away, but he keeps trying to grab me.
"I can get a divorce and rejet her." He pleads.
"She said no! Hands off!" A man commands. The power of his tone makes us turn directly towards him, but I am unable to look directly at him.
"Majesty." Wyatt says respectfully and walks off.
"Thank you for getting him away from--" I say looking up at him to thank him properly.
Our eyes suddenly meet and we both say the word, "Mate."