The Lycan's Substitute Omega

/-Zara-/

“Where is the princess?!” Luna Theresa angrily demanded. “Is she not aware that she has guests waiting for her?!”

I bowed my head timidly. “She is, Luna. It's that the lady hasn't been feeling very well lately. She has been sleeping in all day.”

“What nonsense are you uttering from your mouth, Zara? We have important guests that are waiting to see her and you are telling me that she is sick?” She fired and I flinched.

Luna Theresa always had this scary expression when she was angry and no one dared stand in her way after that. Not even her own daughter, talk more of a common maid like me.

She shoved me out of her way with annoyance and tried to open the door but it was locked.

“Sarai!” She called, knocking repeatedly on the door. “Open up!”

There was no response.

She knocked again. “Sarai, you have people waiting down there for you. It is rude to keep your in-laws waiting on their first visit so please open up. We will arrange for the pack healer to check on you after the meeting.”

There was still no response and the Luna's patience was growing very thin. She ended up banging the door so hard that it felt like the entire floor was vibrating.

“I said open this door!”

There was still no response, yet again and I knew why. The princess wasn't in. She had locked her door as usual and snuck off to see her boyfriend.

When her mother informed her last night of the marriage arrangement between our pack and the SilverMoon pack, she was very upset.

Princess Sarai didn't want to be trapped in a loveless marriage for the sake of politics. She wanted to be a free bird who could love whoever she wanted.

I was by her side all night as she cried herself to stupor, after which she begged that I cover up for her so she could tell her boyfriend the news.

As her personal maid, I gave in to her request because I couldn't stand seeing her so upset. Sarai has always treated me like the sister she never had and I had grown to love her very much. Enough to indulge her excesses.

That was why I suggested she locked her room and sneak out through the window, but I expected she would be back by morning. This was almost noon.

Luna Theresa turned to me and I could see the rage dancing in her eyes.

“Are you sure she is in there?” She asked and I nodded.

“The princess was very upset about the news last night and cried herself to a fever this morning. I went to make her soup, only to come back and find her door locked. When I tried coaxing her into opening up, she yelled that I should go away,” I lied, keeping my gaze on the ground and praying to every God that was listening out there that the Luna wasn't angry enough to order the guards to break down the door.

That would be very hard to explain.

“What do I do, Zara? The guests are out there. She needs to come out,” the Luna's voice softened.

Even though this allegiance meant a lot to her, I could still tell that she cared about the princess very much and would have ruled out this marriage if she had a choice.

“Her father is going to be so mad if he loses this deal,” she muttered, palming her forehead in frustration. She turned back to the door and knocked softly this time. “Baby, please open up. We can talk about this, please?”

Once again, she was met with silence.

“Luna?” I called quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “May I suggest something?”

“What is it?” She asked frantically.

“Since the princess is unavailable now, what if we send in someone else to greet the guests? At least to finalise things and secure the deal. Then you can talk to the princess later,” I said quietly.

“You should try speaking up, Zara. I find it difficult to hear you half of the time,” Luna Theresa groaned in annoyance.

I swallowed thickly and repeated what I said in a louder tone. She was silent at first, weighing my words.

“That is such a crazy idea, Zara! Are you trying to upset our guests by suggesting we send in a servant in place of the princess?”

She didn't sound too pleased and I bowed my head in apology, wishing the princess would return already.

“Forgive me, Luna. I might be getting ahead of myself but I think they can only be upset if they know it is not the princess. We could easily doll up a servant and veil her. That way, they will never know. She doesn't even have to speak to them,” I explained.

Her eyes widened for a second and I could see that she was actually considering my idea. Something glinted in her eyes when she took in my appearance.

Before my brain could fully process and send the warning signals to me, she grabbed my arm.

“You are absolutely right!”she exclaimed. “Let's not waste anymore time. You need to get dressed.”

“Me?!” I gasped. “Luna I can't…”

“Quiet!” She hissed and I immediately fell shut for fear of angering her. I was nothing but a mere servant anyways. A lowly omega born into servitude.

My duty was to obey and serve the royal family, regardless of what it was. They, afterall, took me in after my parents died in the great war.

Luna Theresa dragged me to her private quarters and had her own personal maids clean me up. I could see the confusion and curiosity on their faces but no one dared to question the Luna and I wasn't in the mood for gossip.

I mentally braced myself for the task ahead as they finished up. In the next thirty minutes, I looked like a brand new person. I almost couldn't recognise myself in the mirror.

Who knew I was this beautiful? I always assumed my looks were pretty basic.

“Perfect!” The Luna cried with excitement and immediately grabbed the veil. She drapped it over me and I was ready to go.

Nervousness ate deep into me as I trailed behind the Luna. The dress was so long that I stumbled on it a few times and it made me worry that I might end up embarrassing myself before everyone.

There were three of them, all dressed in royal regalia. The Luna took my hand and led me to greet them.

My heart hammered against my chest as three sets of eyes pierced into my skin like oversized needles.

I managed to bow before them without tripping on my own feet and they showered me with praises.

I bowed to the Alpha as well and right after that, the Luna dismissed me with the guests commenting on my elegance.

I tried not to seem in a hurry as I exited the room. As soon as I was out of sight, I heaved a breath of relief.

That was close.

I decided to check on the princess again before going to change and surprisingly, I found her room door open.

I pushed it wider to spot her by the mirror, brushing her hair while humming to her favourite song.

She must have sensed my presence because she turned immediately. She took me in from head to toe before bursting into laughter.

“What happened to you? Are you casting for a fairytale?” She teased. “Where did you get this ridiculously bogus dress?”

“You're late,” I stated plainly. “You were only supposed to be gone for a few hours!”

“Guess what?” She grinned, waving her hand in my face. I blinked as the sparkling ring caught my attention.

“No, you did not!” I gasped, staggering back in shock.

“I said yes!” She squealed in excitement as if things were perfectly normal. “I am officially engaged, Zara! I will be getting married soon to the love of my life!”

Oh goddess! This girl was going to be the death of me.

“Princess, you do realise you are already married right?” I groaned. “Your husband's representatives have already approved of you! You will be going home with them tomorrow!”

“Me?” She raised a brow like she was absolutely clueless. “You are the one they approved of. So rightfully, you are the one who will be getting married tomorrow, not me.”

What? Was this some kind of joke?