Mesmerized.

I am enchanted with the beauty of Château Blanc, the King's official residence.

Uncle Damian was showing me the artwork on the castle walls and explaining the history to me when we were spotted by three young men who could not be older than 21.

The three of them kept judging us by the way we looked. I am not a man who dresses in anything fancy, but I look alright. I imagine they want us for who we are, not how we look.

The three boys were dressed in expensive fabrics, especially the one at the center. His blonde hair perfectly accentuated his face and dazzling eyes. He was dressed like royalty, but I could still spot how he was built, his muscular figure. I am sure that guy is going to give me a run for my money in the upcoming tournament.

The other two looked like fans of his, one of those people who suck up to the royal family just to keep their privileges. All three of them looked insufferable, to be honest. I could try to ignore them, but I wasn't allowed that option.

"Oh good. The peasants have arrived." The blonde boy looked at my uncle and me with disdain plastered on his face. I knew I'd face prejudice going into the Capital, but I didn't think it would be this soon.

My uncle turned around to gaze upon the person who had just said that and he immediately recognized him. I don't know who he is, but I am not impressed so far — except for his good looks and beautiful costume.

Sorry, bub. That to me does not translate what is the mark of a man. I'd take a beggar with great character over a rich man with no moral code at any time. The two of us stared each other down, as if daring the other to look away in a staring competition that was making the surrounding men uncomfortable.

"Didn't your father teach you to bow before your betters?" The blonde boy demanded, looking irritated at me for going toe to toe with him. He looked at Damian when he said that.

"He is not my father, but I'll be sure to do that when I find a person better than me." I challenged him, which set him off the rails.

"Listen to me, you insolent pest, you will show me respect, or I shall have you removed from the castle at once!" He threatened me, which instantly got my uncle terrified. The blonde boy had a finger raised as he talked to me and his eyes were just about to start glowing in rage at my insolence.

"Apologies, Your Royal Highness. My nephew is new to the Capital. We will get out of your way now." Damian apologized to the arrogant boy, grabbing my arm to pull me away from him.

"NOT UNTIL HE BOW HIS HEAD TO ME!" He insisted, raising his voice at me with a superiority I was not familiar with. I really wish he hadn't done that...

"The only man I bow my head to is the King. Since I am pretty sure you are not him, I am going to have to pass." I stood my ground, staring at him defiantly. Sorry, dude. My dad raised no pushover.

"YOU WILL REGRET THE DAY YOU DECIDED TO CROSS ME, PEASANT!" He growled at me, shining his eyes in rage.

"Calm down, Your Royal Highness. He is just a peasant. Get him thrown off the tournament." One of his friends suggested, trying to appease him.

"I will do just that. If I were you, I wouldn't get settled in your quarters." He said with a snarky tone, then left in haste. Meanwhile, Uncle Damian was giving me the evil eye. He dragged me along to the East Wing, where we would find my assigned dormitory.

He could not hide the hate in his eyes, the sense that all this had been for nothing.

He has spent close to a decade training me with the best coaches he could afford, dreaming that this day would arrive, only for me to blow it on my first day here. I get his revolt, but I was not made to bow my head to no man except for the King of the United States.

As soon as we found my room in the vast corridors of the castle, Damian sat me down for a very long speech about accountability and responsibility to my pack and my family. If Prince Elton is successful in getting me thrown out of the castle - and he most likely will be since he is a royal prince - all this effort would have been for nothing.

He is frustrated and infuriated with me. He would never hit me - not now at 19 years old anyway; my parents never did this, so no one will ever put their hands on me - but if I were younger, he would definitely spank me.

I felt bad for getting us kicked out of the castle even before the tournament began. I really do. If I leave here without finding my mate, then all this has been for nothing. That is not lost on me.

We took turns using the bathroom and washed our faces, getting ready before we had to leave the castle. I didn't want to unpack my bags since any minute now, someone would come looking for me. I hate this feeling of inadequacy, but I detest entitled people.

My father always taught me that humility is the best quality anyone can possess.

The two of us were startled to hear someone opening the door to enter the room, scared that they were coming for me. I hate this feeling of being a loser, someone unfit to compete among the best in the land, but that boy really irritated me. I don't care that he is a prince. As far as I'm concerned, he is the one who should be setting an example for the rest of us.

A young man who looked to be around my age was surprised to see my uncle and me inside the room. The two of us stared at each other for a minute in shock until we noticed the identification badges hanging around our chests. The soldiers at the gate gave me one to use inside the castle and to access the room. Uncle Damian has one too as a visitor.

"Hi. I guess you're my new roommate. I'm Colin." He introduced himself, awkwardly. The pale white boy with a familiar accent looked spooked at my sight. He was skinnier than me, wore baggy clothes, and was carrying one single suitcase. He is brunette, his hair looks disheveled as if he had just gotten off the bus from wherever he comes from.

"Nice to meet you, Colin. I'm Bradley Pendragon and this is my Uncle Damian." I stretched out my hand to shake his, cordially.

"Do I detect an Alabama accent? Where pack are you from?" My uncle asked him, enthusiastically. He instantly detected the familiarity in his voice.

"I'm from the Leeds pack, mister. My daddy is the Alpha of that city." He spoke with a country boy charm I am familiar with.

"I'm from the Mobile pack originally, but now I am the Alpha of a pack in Utah." Damian told him, getting up from the bed to greet the Alabama boy.

"Wow! I'm sure there's quite the story behind that move. Please excuse me, I need to use the facilities." Colin said, moving to walk to the bathroom.

"Of course." Damian smiled at him cordially.

While my new roommate got settled, the tension rose as we waited to discover my fate. Colin served as a nice distraction. He and my uncle ended up talking for a while, but all the time I kept looking at the door, waiting for someone to knock.

I was pleased to hear my roommate's story, but I was too worried about being kicked out to focus on anything else. I'd hate to fail without even trying, I absolutely do. Finally, we heard a knock on the door. When I got up from a chair to open it, a soldier was there looking seriously at me.

"Are you Pendragon?" He asked me, sounding short-tempered.

"Yes, I am." I replied, dryly.

"Follow me." He ordered as if I had no choice but to comply with his demand. Well, I don't have any choice. All I can do is hope to be given a chance to plead my case before I am escorted out of here before I even have the chance to meet my mate.

Damian was wrecked as he saw me being escorted by a soldier, while my new roommate had no clue as to what was going on. I walked the corridors as one would walk a death row. What is going to happen to me now?

A|N: Here comes the rumble.

Twist?

No, it's soon for that.

Love,

Léo.