MIA's POV
The palace felt too quiet after Kade got the news. Princess Arianna was on her way. He didn't say much after that, and I didn't know what to say either. It was Selena's duty, as I had written, to be jealous, and now that I was her, all I could imagine was driving the knife in my belt into Arianna's stomach when she walked through the doors. But no, that would bring Selena's death from two weeks away to today, and I don't know what would happen to me if I were to die inside her body.
Kade's focus had shifted, and it was all about the princess now. I wasn't sure how to handle that. I had to go elsewhere.
I walked through the palace halls, trying to calm my mind. The place was stunning, just like I had imagined it—the tall windows, the glow from the torches, and the shiny floor that seemed to stretch on forever. It was beautiful, no doubt, but there was something about it that felt... distant. Like it wasn't really mine anymore.
I ended up on a small balcony that overlooked the garden, where the flowers below swayed in the breeze and their colors brightened. I leaned against the cool stone railing, trying to let the calmness of the scene settle my nerves.
"What might be going on in the real world? What was happening to my body out there? Was it also being inhabited by Selena? Was this some soul swap?" The questions went on and on in my mind until, suddenly, I heard a soft murmur rising from the front gates of the palace. The guards were talking, and I could hear the sound of hooves on the gravel. She had arrived.
My heart started to race. Arianna, the perfect princess of my creation—beautiful, graceful, and loved by everyone. But there was more to her. Something darker. Something I hadn't fully explored when I was creating her. And now I was going to meet her in person.
I pushed away from the balcony and headed back to the main hall. The staff was already lined up, ready to greet the princess. I slipped in among them, trying to blend in and not draw attention to myself.
A moment later, the grand doors opened.
The carriage was the first thing that caught my eye. It was made of shiny black wood with silver details that sparkled. The horses pulling it were pure white, their coats gleaming. Everything about the scene screamed wealth and power. But then, Arianna stepped out, and everything else faded.
She was stunning. Her long black hair flowed down her back, and her pale skin seemed to glow in the sunlight. She wore a deep blue dress that fit her perfectly, with silver threads woven into the fabric that shimmered with every move. Her face was flawless—delicate features, full lips painted a soft red—but it was her eyes that made me pause. They were a bright, icy blue, and they seemed to see right through me.
She moved like royalty, each step controlled and almost too perfect. The people around her bowed, and I followed suit, lowering my head even though my mind was racing and my heart was beating fast again.
Kade stepped forward, his face unreadable. "Princess Arianna," he said, bowing deeply. His voice was steady and calm, but the way he smiled, it was as if he had already begun to flirt with her.
Arianna gave him a nod before her gaze shifted and landed on me. Time seemed to freeze as her eyes locked with mine.
The way she looked at me made me uncomfortable. Did she know who I was? How could she? I hadn't written anything about Arianna recognizing Selena. But there was a flicker in her eyes, a brief moment of recognition, or maybe I was imagining it.
I stepped forward, keeping my smile polite. "Welcome, Princess," I said, my voice coming out smoother than I expected. I was trying to act normal, but inside, I felt both afraid and jealous of her.
Her lips curved into a smile, but it wasn't warm. It was more like a mask, covering something else. "Selena," she said, her voice melodious. "I've heard much about you."
My heart skipped a beat. What could she have possibly heard? Something was wrong. In the story, she didn't know Selena. What was happening?
"I'm honored, Princess," I replied, keeping my tone respectful. But the way she looked at me made my skin crawl. Her smile widened, and I nearly choked on my saliva.
"I'm sure we'll get to know each other very well," she added, her gaze lingering on me for a second too long.
I nodded, trying not to let my unease show. The fact that she claimed to have heard something about Selena was a warning bell. I had to find my way out of here.
Before I could think any more about it, Kade stepped in, leading Arianna inside. But as she passed me, she glanced back one last time to give me a cold smile.
I stood frozen, watching her disappear into the palace. My mind was swirling with questions. What did she know? And why did it feel like she had some kind of plan—one that I wasn't going to like?
I quickly sped off to Selena's room, which wasn't far from the Alpha's chambers. The conversation Alpha Kade was going to have with Arianna was aimed at capturing her heart, and the feeling I was getting now—the feeling of jealousy—wouldn't stop growing. I had to leave. Now. Because in the next few scenes, according to my plan, Selena would interrupt the Alpha and Arianna just to announce to the Alpha that she was his mate, and you don't want to know what happens next. Trust me.
Rummaging through her stuff, I found Selena's journal. The one where she had written every detail of how she would spend today and make that announcement to the Alpha. Yes, in the Crystal Pack, the female had to prepare the Alpha's favorite meal and present it to him on the night of the full moon when she found out, two days before, that he was her mate. Selena had been planning this for the past two days, and because of the goddess's control over every pack member, she couldn't refuse her mate—only the mate could refuse her.
But the good news is, I'm the author, and I have other plans for this story. I'll runaway before the full moon tonight.