"Where have you been my whole life?"

"Becoming the person you needed me to be"

-Amanda Torroni

The silence held in the room for a long time. No one said a word as all eyes watched, waiting for Fayette to speak. She stared at the rich wood table in deep thought, not breaking her trance until she finally resurfaced and looked to Prince August.

He shifted slightly in his seat so that his whole body was pointed towards her, making known that his whole attention was invested in her next words.

"Isn't this moving a little too fast?" Fayette asked as blue eyes penetrated black.

The Queen leaned forward, including herself in, "Fast how dear?"

Fayette felt terrified inside as the room listened and watched her. With the day she was having, her nerves were nearly shot. She clamped her hands in her lap, trying to hide from the prying eyes the shaking movement that they were making. However, Prince August's quick sight caught her actions.

"It's just that..." Fayette took a deep breath, willing herself to be brave and hold out just a few hours more, "I don't know, I just was hoping to spend more time with Alto and get to know him. If I had the choice of all this happening from a bond versus real feelings I would choose it being real."

"Do you not think this is real?" Gavin whispered, his eyes glaring out gold.

Fayette clutched her hands tighter, realizing her mistake all too late.

"I'm just confused, you can understand that can't you? This whole scenario of being swept away so suddenly and having feelings on first sight already? Anyone would want to question it..." a new feeling of tension was building up within the room the more Fayette talked.

Alpha Bruno looked at Fayette with wide eyes as if saying 'Do you want this Prince or not?'

Fayette turned to Alto. She wished he would speak more. She wanted to hear his voice of reassurance. But the truth was, Fayette couldn't think of anything that Alto knew about her besides her name and the horrible past that she had spilled. Based on that she was wondering why he wasn't the one doing the running.

Sensing her unease, Prince August turned to Fayette and reached across the table. The King made a noise of protest in the back of his throat but did nothing to stop his son. Still extending his hand, he waited patiently for Fayette to take it.

There was no hesitation in her movements. Even if she wanted answers from him- questioned still why he could be so attached to her or even accept her as his lifemate- she still could not deny the calmness that he brought her or the fact that even if she knew next to nothing about him, she still trusted him.

The moment their hands made contact Fayette felt her nerves die away. She felt safe.

She wished fleetingly, that he was on her side of the room, or that she was sitting in the empty chair next to him.

"Fayette," he whispered looking down at their combined hands. Fayette felt color involuntarily rush to her face as he said her name.

His eyes never left hers as he spoke.

"I know it's confusing. All these feelings coming in so fast and suddenly. When there wasn't anything and then the next second there is just a spark that engulfs into a flame. But-" Prince August cleared his throat. He avoided talking when he could and this already had been a lot of talking for the day. However, Fayette did not seem scared of his voice or the power that came off him when he spoke. If anything, he noticed that she leaned in closer.

"-please do not question what this is. The bond I think, just helps us know that we are meant to be together. I want to get to know you more also though. And eventually, it will come. Love. Laughter. The fights-" Fayette grinned at those words - "But it will come, Fayette. And I want to see what it's like with you. I want it to be you."

Fayette stared at Alto. She still had so many questions. Still didn't understand how Alto could be so sure of it. But what he was suggestion sounded...normal. It sounded like he was suggesting a relationship. Before she could think Fayette blurted out, "Do you want to go out with me?"

Alpha Bruno burst out laughing at Prince August's shocked face.

"Fayette," he said grabbing his side in an attempt to calm his laughter, "Great job sunshine."

Prince August shot a dark glare at Alpha Bruno that made the laughter die on his lips. He let go of Fayette's hands, causing a flurry of nervous movement from Fayette. Had she done something wrong? Did she upset him? Wasn't this what people asked when they wanted to get to know each other more?

With the thoughts still flying around in her head, she watched as Prince August walked around the table to her side. Sitting next to her, he reclaimed her hands and placed a lingering kiss on both of the palms that he held.

Flashbacks ran through Fayette's head of when they first met at the Blue Moon Ceremony and Alto had kissed her hand.

"I want to go out with you," he said looking up and flashing her a grin.

Fayette and Alto stared at each other for a few moments more until Fayette looked around, startled to remember that people were in the room with them.

The Queen was smiling next to the King who had yet to close his wide-open jaw in disbelief. Alpha Bruno was politely messing with a pen in his hands. Gavin was studying the moment with critical eyes, while crystal looked at the couple with a dreamy smile on her face.

Fayette shifted awkwardly in her chair. Prince August released one hand but held on to the other as he turned back to the watching eyes.

"Before Fayette goes to the academy, which," Prince August turned slightly to Fayette, "Is entirely your choice to make- I think it would be best if she is trained here for a few weeks or months on basic training and just learning general knowledge on how to shift."

Gavin looked at the Queen and nodded, "The process of shifting is always easier if a mate is present to help ease the pain."

The Queen looked at the King, giving him the power of decision.

The King sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Fayette, Alpha Bruno says you are already trained in some basic fighting skills?"

Fayette nodded, "I practiced some self-defense when I had spare time from work, but it wasn't much. I think my duty's and work as an omega though have made me gather some endurance."

"Who taught you might I ask?" The King questioned.

Fayette turned to Alpha Bruno, confusion from what to say in her eyes.

Alpha Bruno leaned forward, "We have an omega who use to be a pack warrior from another Pack. She and Fayette are close so she insisted that Fayette learn some training."

The King stared hard at Alpha Bruno, questions surfacing and forming in his mouth, but the look the Alpha gave made it clear he was saying no more on the subject.

"I think it best then that you stay here for several months Fayette. Maybe until the first semester of the academy. That's about five months of learning the basics of fighting and shifting. The rest the academy will teach you." Instead of staring at Fayette though, the King looked to Alpha Bruno.

The Alpha sighed. "Give me the document."

"Document?" Fayette questioned.

"Ah Fayette, this is why I'm here," Alpha Bruno said with a small smile. "The documents state that you are no longer a member of my pack, but instead joining the King's Black Dawn Pack."

The one free hand Fayette had was gripping the table tightly.

"You mean," she said in a choked voice, "that I can't go back to our Pack?"

Alpha Bruno shook his head. "It's not your pack to go back to my sunshine. But you will always be welcomed there."

Fayette sucked in a deep breath and without realizing it squeezed Alto's hand.

"What will happen to Lizzy and Jane?" Fayette said, her voice finally breaking as the situation hit her. Her home wasn't home anymore.

"They will go back with me," Alpha Bruno said, staring at Fayette with hard eyes, trying his best to will her to be strong in the moment.

"But I-"

Suddenly the door burst open and a wail was heard from outside saying, "Lizzy no!"

"Now just hold your wolfy nose one second you lot!" Lizzy shouted standing in the doorway, with the crouched figure of Jane behind her, trying desperately to pull her back.

The King let out an ear-splitting growl from the other side of the room. "This is a matter of high privacy!"

"Well it involves my sweet cub, so you can bet it involves me!" Lizzy said, pulling herself up to her full height of 5'4 and glaring at everyone in the room.

"Guards!" The King yelled. His response, however, was met with silence. Turning his head more towards the door the King yelled again, "Guards!" Still, no one appeared.

Lizzy laughed. "You mean those two brutes who were standing at the door?" She made the motion of dusting her hands and shoulders off, "They won't wake up for another few hours I'm betting."

Alpha Bruno groaned and lowered his head to the table. His words came out muffled as he pressed his face in, "My King and Queen, I sincerely apologize on behalf of my pack members. Lizzy has an illness that we are working on-"

"Hey, that's offensive!" Lizzy yelled from the doorway, pointing a finger at her Alpha.

Fayette pushed her chair back and gave Alto's hand one last squeeze before letting it go and rushing to embrace Lizzy. Jane still was sitting on the ground mortified at being caught.

Lizzy wrapped her arms around Fayette and slowly stroked her hair, saying softly, "there there, it's okay. You were so brave girl, so brave. Jane and I were so proud of you."

Fayette smiled at Lizzy and Jane.

Prince Alto pushed his chair back then, getting up and walking towards the girls.

When he reached them he held his hand out and dipped his head slightly.

"Prince August, lifemate too Fayette."

"Ooooohh I forgot how sexy his voice was!" Lizzy whispered loudly to Fayette. Jane groaned on the ground and got up, shaking Prince August's suddenly rigid hand. Lizzy looked at the hand for a few second before smiling up at the Prince and grabbing it in a firm handshake.

Prince August nimbly reached out for Fayette, wrapping his arm around her waist, bringing her to his embrace instead of Lizzy's.

Lizzy cast a knowing smile to the Prince, as his black stare greeted it.

Turning to his father, Prince August cleared his throat and said, "I say we can fit two more, don't you father?"

The King's face was a deep red from his anger. His words were barely inaudible as he grunted a nod.

"Fayette does need a guard and lady-in-waiting," the Queen suggested.

"Oh no my Queen," Fayette said with shock on her face, "these are my closest friends, not my-"

"Well take it!" Lizzy said with gleaming eyes.

Fayette turned to look at Lizzy with horror. "You don't understand, I can't have you serving under me!" Fayette whispered desperately.

"But how else are we going to look after you," Jane said with a smile.

Lizzy turned and the two girls gave a high five in agreement.

The Queen smiled at the interaction. "I think this has been a successful meeting then." She slid the papers neatly to Alpha Bruno, who had watched the girls with his head still resting on the table. Feeling the paper hit his head, he looked up and saw what was being presented.

"Right," Alpha Bruno said, clicking his pen.

He gave one last look to Fayette. Prince August's arm was still wrapped around her waist. Lizzy and Jane were both smiling at each other, proud that their eavesdropping had lead to something good besides being thrown in the Royal Jails.

Fayette's eyes met Alpha Bruno's. She gave the smallest of nods, a sad look hanging over her features.

Alpha Bruno nodded back.

Without another word, he signed his name.

#LizzyLove hahahaha

Thanks for reading!

Loves,