Chapter 222 - Party Crashers

Two weeks later

Ales's eyes were focused on the beautiful girl standing by the entrance to the ballroom greeting guests. His eyes trailed over her floor-length pale pink dress trimmed in gold and clear jewels to match the diamond tiara that was carefully placed atop the perfect ringlets of blonde curls. He couldn't help the curve of his lips into a smile as he watched her graciously welcome every person who passed by.

"Cam is looking quite stunning tonight, isn't she? She will make an excellent queen someday. Don't you agree, son?" Reighley said as she lifted her hand to pat her youngest son's shoulder. When surprised eyes turned to meet hers, she chuckled sweetly. "I often find myself in stunned amazement at how much of a beauty she has grown into over the past three years until I find myself standing beside you." She playfully bopped her now six-foot-tall son's nose. "I can hardly believe you are only sixteen." She blew out a long, heavy sigh. "And our little Cam is now fourteen. Where has the time gone? It seems only yesterday the two of you were sharing shaved ice and holding hands as you skipped through town." She laced her arm in her son's as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "I hardly see the two of you even in the same room anymore..." She stared up into her son's handsome face. "I had thought it was because you'd had a falling out, but now... I wonder if it's not for another reason you avoid her."

Ales frowned down at his mother. "What difference does it make." His stormy blue eyes moved back to Cam. "She's betrothed to Fern..."

Reighley studied her son as she spoke. "You're not wrong." She shrugged. "However sometimes things change."

Ales shifted his troubled gaze down to his mother. "What do you mean, Mother?"

She leaned her head from one side to the other as she continued studying her son. "Your brother is nearly 21. Though late bloomers are not altogether unheard of, typically an alpha has fully come into his powers by that age. Your brother hasn't even begun showing signs yet."

Ales's brows came together in confusion. "What are you trying to say, Mother?"

She smiled up at him as she patted his arm. "Only that it may be too early to give up on the things you want so easily." Her smile widened when realization reflected in his intelligent eyes. "Why don't you go ask her for the first dance. Your brother has yet to arrive, and I shall take over greeting guests."

Ales swallowed hard as his gaze moved back to Cam reflexively. He nodded to his mother without taking his eyes off Cam. He was so nervous, he nearly stumbled over his own awkwardly long feet as he came up beside her. He cleared his throat to hide the grunt the stumble caused. He held out his hand in greeting like many of the guests had done and waited as she turned toward him. She had already extended her hand out to him as she was turning, and hadn't frozen in place until their eyes locked. He bowed over her hand, hiding the smile her open mouth was causing him. "Happy birthday, Princess." He murmured as he placed a lingering kiss atop the above the elbow silk glove she wore. "May I have the first dance?"

Cam couldn't mask the surprise or the blush that covered her face as she nodded in agreement and let him lead her into the ballroom. Her eyes trailed over the well-tailored suit he wore. It consisted of a crisp white shirt under a white vest with slightly visible gold patterns and tight trousers that seemed to be just a bit too short. It was all topped by a stunning tailcoat and a sash indicating his rank as a prince. She tried to focus on her footing as he began to lead her around the dance floor. She wondered if he could feel her nervousness radiating from her. She struggled to think of something to say. "You... you look nice tonight." She said shyly.

A corner of Ales's lips curved upwards. "As do you, Princess. Absolutely breathtaking in fact." Ales raked his brain for something, anything to say to keep the conversation going. "How... how has the party been?" He asked.

Cam furrowed her brows. "It has only just begun..."

"Oh yes... that's right..." Ales felt like slamming the heel of his palm into his forehead. "The decorations are lovely. Did you help select them?"

Cam smiled, "I did. Lilies, they are my favorite." She fumbled over her words.

"Yes, they are very lovely." He repeated.

Cam tented her brows as she gave a slight giggle. "As you've said." Their gazes locked and nervous anticipation radiated between them like its own forcefield. They were only swaying still hand in hand when Cam cleared her throat. "Um, Ales..."

"Yes, Cam?" He asked intently, holding her gaze

"Um... I believe the song has ended." She whispered under her breath.

"Oh?" Ales's attention pulled away from her and swept over the room. Before he'd been able to force himself to release his hold on her, another song began. He sent her a crooked smile. "Since we're already here and the night is still early. How about another dance?"

Cam gladly accepted. Soon a second song turned into a third, fourth, and even fifth song before the pair finally decided to take a rest. Cam noticed the hushed whispers and the veiled glances from some of the other females in the room. She let out a heavy sigh. "I believe I'll step out for a breath of fresh air."

Ales nodded, the earlier tension beginning to release. "I can lead you for a stroll through the gardens if you'd like."

Cam smiled up at him. "That would be great. It's beginning to get a bit stuffy and crowded in here." She let him lead her through the sea of well-dressed bodies and toward the huge balcony doors. She sucked in a large breath before letting it out slowly as she stepped out into the cool night air. "Um... It was so stifling in there! I didn't think we would ever make it through that crowd."

Ales grinned as he looked around the packed room. "Yes, it seems like nearly everyone invited came. The people must have been excited to finally meet their crowned princess." He released the ties holding the curtains back away from the doors. Once they were securely blocked from the massive crowd of onlookers, Ales caught her hand and spun her against him. "You look every bit the part, tonight. You know that?" He said as he began moving them to the new song that had begun inside.

Cam frowned. "I haven't been crowned yet." Her eyes locked with his causing an odd, nervous energy to course through her as his bright eyes shown down at her.

"Because of no fault of your own." He pretended to brush a stray ringlet from her cheek as an excuse to touch her smooth skin. "And believe me, you look as regal as a queen tonight." Another song began to play from inside, filtering out in muffled waves through the thick curtains that separated the ballroom and balcony. Ales held out a hand to her. "May I have this dance?" He asked in a low charming voice.

Cam's wide eyes held his. She knew she should refuse him but couldn't bring herself to, instead, she held her gloved hand out to him. She sucked in a surprised breath as he quickly took her hand and pulled her into his tight embrace. His body was more relaxed than it had been earlier when they had danced inside reminding her of the younger boy who used to accompany her during dance lessons when she'd first came to the palace. She giggled as she recalled how much taller she used to be than him, even with him being two years her senior.

"What's so funny?" He asked in a near whisper, his twinkling eyes studying her beautiful expression.

Cam laughed again. "I was only remembering some of our first dances together and how much shorter you were than me!" She giggled again as she moved her gaze from eye level with his chest up to his handsome face. "It is amazing how much you have grown in such little time."

He narrowed his eyes and a mischievous smile spread across his full lips. "Ah too bad I can't say the same for you, Princess. Still nearly as short as the day you arrived. Such a shame..." He teased. When she scrunched her nose and moved to slap his chest, he quickly spun her. "Tisk, tisk, still just as much of a brat as well... what shall I do with you?" He spun her back against his chest.

Cam glared at him. "I see you've also grown into a jerk. Must be a family trait... tisk, tisk, what a shame..." She mocked as her irritated eyes met his teasing gaze.

Ales's smile widened showing his bright white teeth. "I absolutely love your quick-witted retorts. I've missed banters with you."

Cam frowned. "Then why avoid me as you have lately?" Part of her regretted asking the second the words left her mouth, but the other larger part of her had to know.

Ales's smile fell. His playfully shimmering eyes grew more serious as he held her gaze. "Because being in your presence lately has become... more problematic..."

Cam furrowed her brows. "Problematic? How so? What happened to your promise of always being there for me, being my friend? Have... have you grown to dislike me so much?" She couldn't handle being so close to him with her emotions building as they were. She quickly pulled her hand free of his and made her way toward the wide staircase leading down into the garden, fighting the urge to cry as she ran.

Ales forced the shock of her pulling away and running to the side as he began to follow quickly behind her. He caught up to her, grabbing one gloved hand and spinning her around to face him. His wide eyes searched her expression. Tears were barely contained behind a well-placed mask or anger. He raised his free hand to stroke the sharp edge of her jaw. "Cam, I could never dislike you. The word itself tastes foul in my mouth." He searched her light blue eyes. "You must know, I have avoided you lately for quite the opposite reason." His eyes lifted from hers and searched their surroundings. He couldn't see much of the balcony above them to see if anyone else had stepped out onto it. There were a few couples walking around the garden path in front of them, but they each seemed to be too caught up in their own partner to notice he and Cam. Deciding it was still a wiser idea to move their conversation to a more private location, Ales nodded ahead. "Walk with me through the gardens."

Cam tented her brows in frustration. "You can't mean to simply leave this conversation at that, do you?"

Ales took her hand as he leaned down closer to her and whispered. "I do not, but I would also like any other sentiment to remain between the two of us." His eyes moved to the nearest couple to make his point.

Cam bit her lip. She had been so wrapped up in the rush of adrenaline and pheromones at being so close to him that she hadn't realized they weren't alone. Had they heard? She was still staring at them and worrying herself when Ales switched hands he'd been holding hers with and placed the other onto the small of her back. Her shocked eyes moved up to his.

"We shouldn't stand out here in the open like this. Come..." He nodded and began leading her toward one of the many openings to the maze-like gardens. He navigated it skillfully until they'd reached a bench that overlooked the ocean on one of the many cliffs that surrounded the palace. He released his hold on her and watched her every move carefully as he thought out his next words.

"Hah..." She breathed out in a long sigh as she filled her lungs with the fresh salty air of the cliff. "This is my absolute favorite spot..." She moved her eyes from the thin crescent that cast a pale reflection off the waves below back to Ales. "You only brought me here because you know no matter what you have to say, I can't be mad in this spot."

Ales nodded as he sent her a half-hearted smile. "I can at least hope that it will lessen your anger, at least..." He ran his hand over his neatly styled hair as his gaze moved away from her and onto the rocky shore below. "Cam... I've been thinking... maybe it's time I move my studies to university... away from the palace... and you..." His troubled eye met hers. They stared back at him in shocked disbelief. He took several wide steps to close in the distance between them. When he reached out to caress her cheek, she pulled angrily away from him.

"Don't touch me!" She hissed as she slapped at his hand. Sharp pain filled her chest making it even harder to breathe past the tight corset of her dress.

He moved closer as she tried to pull away again. "Cam-" Her angry eyes moved up to him, cutting off his words.

"Why Ales? Why if you care for me at all would you leave me so abruptly after spending the better part of a year ignoring me?!" Cam called out, emotion adding a shrill undertone to her words.

Ales followed her around the other side of the bench as she tried to get away from him. He caught her hand and tugged her back to him. "Cam," He waited until her angry, hurt eyes met his before continuing. "It's because I care... because I love you..." He stumbled over those three words not meaning to say them. His cheeks heated, but as the anger in her eyes melted away and a surprised, curiosity replaced it, he swallowed hard and pushed on. "It's true... I love you, Cam." He shook his head. "I know I shouldn't, and you probably think horribly of me for my admittance but-" His words were cut off as Cam flung herself at him wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

"I love you, Ales." She whispered shyly against the soft fabric of his shirt, his warm arms wrapped tightly around her. They stood like that for several long minutes unwilling to let go of the other.

Though the idea of releasing his hold on her troubled him, he finally loosened his grip. "Cam, you must realize... this is why I must leave the palace. We can not be together, and I can not stick around to see you chained to my brother. It's too painful a thought."

Cam's troubled eyes shot up to meet his. "Then we should run away together! Leave this place behind and start our own clan, our own pack!"

He stroked her rosy cheeks with the pad of his thumbs. His sad eyes studying her bright ones. "I wish it were that simple, but you know it is not. I've never wanted any of the things that come with being alpha, but right now I would take on all that burden plus a ton more if it meant being with you."

She held his hands tightly against her own cheeks. "Then run away with me. We could leave tonight!"

He shook his head. "Where would we go? We are both still little more than children. All we have ever known is with packs who would never accept such a pairing. We would never be able to see our families again."

Cam pressed up on her tiptoes as she released her hold on his hands and wrapped them around his neck. "I don't care what I have to lose as long as I gain you." She pressed up closer meeting his lips as they came down onto hers. Fireworks exploded through the nerves of her lips and traveled through her entire body as they shared their first kiss.

Ales pressed his forehead against hers. "Do you mean it? Will you leave all this behind to be with me? Give up being a princess... being a queen someday?" He searched her eyes as he held her close.