Wren POV
I am wildly underdressed for the restaurant Alpha Charlie insisted on bringing me to. If I had known this was what he would choose, I would have put on something nicer than a pair of jeans and a blouse. It is my fault for assuming Alpha Charlie wasn't the fancy dinner type.
Hiding behind my menu, I try not to focus on the prying eyes and whispers of those around us. I am sure my attire, my status, and my now-questionable reputation have drawn their attention. I'm not ashamed of how I acted, but I am worried about how fast the rumors spread. I am sure they have gotten back to my parents by now. In fact, I am surprised that they haven't called me with another lecture about how princesses are supposed to be acting.
Alpha Charlie clears his throat awkwardly. "What looks good?"
"Oh," I hum, realizing I have been staring at the menu but not actually reading it.
My eyes scan the entrees, and I wrinkle my nose. I may have been born into royalty, but my taste buds were not. I would rather eat a greasy burger than any of this crap, but I don't want to hurt Alpha Charlie's feelings.
"I am not sure, Alpha," I smile over the menu. "What are you going to have?"
He shifts awkwardly in his chair. "Please don't call me Alpha. Charlie is just fine."
"Okay, Charlie," I laugh. "What are you having?"
His face blushes bright red, and he takes a long drink of his water. "To tell you the truth, I'm not much on this fancy shit. I was planning on cheating off of you."
I snort with laughter. "Then why did you bring me here?"
"Because you are a Princess," his cheeks blush even deeper.
I roll my eyes. "Since I can't call you Alpha, you have to stop referring to me as a Princess." I gesture wildly to the restaurant. "I get enough of that attention as it is."
Charlie glances around him and finally notices awkward glances. "Yikes."
"Yeah," I say, laying the menu in front of me. "It comes with the territory. I had hoped that coming here would be different, but I guess my reputation precedes me."
"You did disappear into a playroom with a two-hundred year old Fae," Charlie replies through gritted teeth.
"Wow," I whisper. "A couple of things. He is my mate. Actually, that's the only thing. If you took me out to lecture me about Destin, then I think I will find my way home."
I push away from the table, and my chair scratches loudly on the floor. Now, I am sure everyone is looking at me, but I won't be scolded in public by a man who has only known me for a few weeks.
Whispers follow me out of the restaurant. I can hear everything they are saying. Most are curious about how my mother, the kind and respectable Luna Queen, could have such a disrespectful daughter. I think they have all forgotten about the antics of my brothers.
I push the door open and pause in the parking lot. I don't know this area well enough to run back to the pack house. I am kicking myself for not paying more attention on the way here.
'I know the way back,' Jasmine replies.
'Will you tell me?' I snap at my wolf.
'I don't want to be alone in the dark, any more than you do,' she scoffs.
"Princess," Charlie shouts. "I didn't mean…"
I bristle at my title and refuse to turn around. 'Take me home.'
Jasmine takes over, and I begin to shift into my golden wolf. Charlie grabs ahold of my wrist as I shift, and Jasmine bites down onto his hand. He hisses in pain and stumbles back. "Give me a moment to explain."
He inches forward, but Jasmine paws the ground angrily. She bares her teeth, and a snarl rips from her chest. I pity him if he comes any closer. Jasmine can be a bit of a wild card. Fortunately, he steps back with his hands raised.
Jasmine takes off running. She sticks to the shadows even though they don't do much to hide us. When the moon reflex off her fur, she glows brightly. I used to marvel at her beauty, but now she is just another reminder of what I am, and I hate it.
'You know I can hear your thoughts,' she growls.
'It is true,' I groan. 'We are the failed daughter of the Luna Queen. I can't do anything right. I will never live up to her standards.'
'You worry too much,' Jasmine continues.
'Says the wolf who has an opinion about everything,' I snort.
We run the rest of the way in silence. I have always been jealous of werewolves who have a simple relationship with their wolves. But that isn't in the cards for Jasmine and me. We challenge each other at every turn.
The scenery begins to look a little more familiar, but it isn't near the pack house.
'I thought you were going to take me back to the pack house,' I mumble to her.
'That isn't what you asked for,' Jasmine retorts.
I try to reel in my anger. 'I asked you to take me back.'
'No,' Jasmine sits in front of a beautiful cabin. 'You asked me to take you home.'
I peer out through my wolf's eyes, and though the night at Heat is blurry, I know exactly where I am. Destin's.
'I can't believe you brought me here,' I whine. 'After all he has done.'
Jasmine isn't listening to me. She is trotting across the yard, to the front door. My eyes bulge in fear as she lifts her paw to scratch on the door.
'Don't you dare,' I warn her, but I am too late. She scratches on the door of the cabin and sits back, waiting for him to answer.
When he doesn't answer right away, she whimpers softly. Sometimes I forget that she longs for him just as much as I do. Tears run from her eyes, down the soft fur of her face.
'It's okay,' I try to comfort her. 'Maybe he's not home.'
Dejected, she turns away, only to find Destin standing behind us. Her tail begins to wag happily at the sight of him, but I roll my eyes in frustration. She could at least pretend to play hard to get.
"Shift," he commands us.