Chapter 3 Birthday Party

[Aimee] I stayed in Moonlit Pines for three days, but I knew I couldn’t go on like that; I couldn’t possibly hide in the woods forever. There was not much time to think when I was running away. However, now that my head was clear, the fear started to sink in. It struck me that my father might take his anger out on Alger if he found out that Alger let me go. Soon, I realized how ridiculous that thought was. Alger was the future duke. Even if my father was furious, he wouldn’t dare cross Alger. Therefore, I was surprised when Alger came to me. “What brings you here, Alger?” I took a good look at him. Although he looked slender, he seemed in good spirits. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Aimee, the baron knows I released you.” “Did something happen to you?” I regretted leaving. I wouldn’t have done it if I had known it would bring trouble to Alger. Alger shook his head and smiled brightly. “No. You know your father best. I told him we’re not meant to be because you can’t shift.” Afraid I would get the wrong idea, Alger explained, “I only said that to appease your father. Please don’t take it the wrong way, Aimee.” Since we grew up together, I knew Alger never cared that I couldn’t shift. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have become best friends. “I know, Alger. We’ll always be good friends, right?” Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I saw the struggle on Alger’s face before he quickly looked normal again. “Of course. We’re best friends forever.” Alger told me he had come to me at my father's request. My father wanted me to go home and had promised not to marry me off to Alger. When I followed Alger back home, it was like the nasty fight hadn’t happened because, for once in my life, my father was nice to me. While I was at a loss, Alger offered me words of comfort before he left. My stepmother and father were different toward me after my return, and I felt different in the house. Even though they no longer restricted my movement, I was used to the past. I couldn’t bring myself to check out the places I used to be curious about. The day I turned eighteen arrived quickly. The eighteenth birthday was a significant milestone for a werewolf. Even a normal person would celebrate this important occasion. My father organized a birthday party for me and invited many nobles. It was something I wouldn’t dare dream of. At that moment, I believed that my father still loved me and that he had to cast me aside because of societal expectations. The party was lively. My stepmother had prepared a red and white dress for me, so I wore a fancy dress for the first time and was dazzled by the person I saw in the mirror. “Now, now. My little Aimee is now an adult. Don’t go running away again, alright?” my stepmother said with a smile. I nodded. “Got it, Mother.” My stepmother then led me down the stairs as I basked in everybody’s blessing. I was nervous to see so many people for the first time. However, I had to keep my father's words in mind — I was a member of the Hale family, a lady of the upper crust. As I walked to the stage and received their blessings, my stepmother would whisper the guests’ names in my ear so that I wouldn’t embarrass myself. I responded in curtsies to each and every one of them until my knees were starting to ache. “You’re the most unique she-wolf I have ever met, Lady Aimee. On behalf of the royal family, I wish you a lifetime of happiness.” The person who spoke was tall and imposing. He was dressed in a black suit with an amber handkerchief in his pocket. He had a regal bearing. He had sharp eyebrows, indifferent eyes that held a hint of joy, a high nose, and thin but well-shaped lips. It was difficult to look away from his face. My stepmother was surprised by his appearance. It took her a moment to snap out of her trance and murmur frantically in my ear, “Aimee, that’s Prince Ares.” Ares…? I widened my eyes and stared at him in disbelief. He didn’t mind my staring, and his lips curled into a grin. “T-Thank you for the lovely wish, Prince Ares.” He was good-looking, and his looks were even more prominent when he shifted. As I remembered the soft touch from the other night, my fingers moved involuntarily, and my little gesture didn’t escape Ares’ gaze. I stuck my hands behind my back and received birthday wishes from others. While I responded to the wishes robotically, I wondered if Ares’ injury had healed. He was having a manic episode then, so he probably wouldn’t know that I was the girl who was too frozen to run away. As the party moved onto the dance floor, Ares didn’t pay me much attention. He had also stopped looking at me, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Out of the blue, my father went up on stage. “Welcome all to Aimee’s eighteenth birthday celebration. After much consideration, we’ve decided to marry Aimee to Damon Brown. The wedding will be held at the Browns’ estate…” My father said a lot, but I couldn’t hear another word. Did he just say he was going to marry me to Damon Brown? Damon was an earl in his fifties and was older than my father. I spotted Damon among the crowd. Was the balding, overweight man going to be my future husband? Unable to accept it, I turned to my father to get some answers, but he avoided my gaze. Only then did it dawn on me why they didn’t reprimand me during my return — they had to put up a façade in case I were to run away again. As everyone watched in surprise, Damon approached me and reached for my arm. Frightened, I moved away from him. Instead of getting angry, he happily announced to the public about our upcoming union. I couldn’t take another word in. The endearments lingering in my ear felt like the devil’s curse to me. “No! I won’t marry him!” I pushed away Damon’s plump figure and ran out. However, my father seemed to have seen it coming as many guards appeared and blocked my path. “Aimee, I know this is difficult for you to accept. Don’t worry. You will always be my beloved daughter, even after you’re married.” He was warning me to be grateful for my position as the daughter of a baron and that I was lucky to be marrying an earl. At the wave of my father’s hand, the guards were about to escort me to my room. I knew my future would be over the moment I stepped into the room. Suddenly, I saw Ares standing out in the crowd. Although I tried to call for help, nothing came out of my mouth. We exchanged glances, but there was no spark between us. I knew there was probably no chance of me fighting back. Just as I was about to give up resisting, he stood up. “Lord Adrian, don’t you think it’s wrong to make this lovely lady sad?”