Shifters of Grrr 2 (2 page)

Prince Henry

The party was in full swing by the time I walked down the back steps. I could hear the laughter and music and smelt the aroma of a hog roast in the air. I'd have given anything to cancel the celebrations and get as far away as possible from the palace.

I heard voices coming up by the stairs and I turned towards the wall, allowing them to pass without noticing me.
 

I wasn't ready to be seen. To be fussed over. That was all I'd ever known and now, just because I'd reached thirty, the world were eagerly waiting to find out who I was going to marry and when there'd be a royal baby and the pressure was overwhelming.
 

"There you are!"

I turned to see Alfred, my assistant hurrying over to me. I tried to hide the disappointment on my face as he took my arm gently.

"Your parents were about to send a search party."
 

He guided me through the inner hall and briefed me on the guests that were desperate to see me.

"Lady Arabella Winchester is here too..." He looked at me, trying to read my response and I sighed. The Winchesters.
 

In a strange and rather long way, we were connected. Families formed with time and for as long as anyone could even remember, every man from the Royal family
had
to marry and mate a Winchester woman to produce an heir. There was no doubt about it, and everyone had done as they were told, everyone but me. I wanted something different. I wanted to be free. I didn't want my fate and future dictated to. I wanted to marry whomever my heart fancied.
 

Arabella was sweet. We'd grown up together, playing on the floor in front of my grandmother, the Queen and running through the gardens with my cousins. To marry her was almost sickening. Even the thought of running my hands over her body made me almost want to turn and disappear.
 

We neared the entrance door and I took a deep breath.

"How do I look?" I asked, turning to Alfred.

He scanned me over, adjusting my tie and collar.

"Like a Prince who's looking for a beauty to carry on the family name..."

I nudged him and he smiled as I heard the music change, courtesy of my mother, and the sound of the toastmaster announcing my arrival.

"
And now, for the man we've all been waiting for, your royal highness, Prince Henry Wessex the third!
"

I heard the guests applaud and the double doors opened, showing me to the crowd.
 

I saw a sea of faces in front of me. Most that I didn't recognize and I waved, trying my best to smile and look as though I was more than happy to be there. I walked down the steps, heading for the bar, when my mother caught my arm at the elbow and guided me towards the other side.

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked, eyebrow raised.

"The..."

"No. I have people I'd like you to..."

She didn't get to finish as we were joined rather abruptly by Lady Arabella and her pushy parents.

"Helena," they said to my mother, air kissing her, "lovely party you've put on tonight. Thank you for the invite, Henry."
 

She turned to me and I saw a hint of irritation in her narrow eyes.

She most probably despised me as I'd already refused one of her daughters and ever since I'd been to blame that she'd eloped with a humble electrician.

I nodded my welcome, hoping to slip away into the night, but my mother took my arm again.

"Why don't you dance with Arabella?" She asked.

They all looked at me, including her, so I reached out a hand and she took it eagerly.

Despite the dance floor being full, most people disappeared as we walked on and the music changed to soft, low dulcet tones.
 

I sighed, unintentionally and she laughed slightly, her hand slightly sweaty in mine.

"I know you don't want to marry me." She said quietly. He statement took me by surprise.

"What makes you think that?" I asked, spinning her again around the room, the same dance we'd learnt together over the years since we were younger, only now, it meant more.

"Because Verity was beautiful and you didn't marry her, so you most certainly won't want me."

I moved my head backwards slightly to look at her.
 

I'd only ever seen her as the sister I'd never had, but I took a moment to study her as a woman in her own right.

Full chested, plump lips and beautiful eyes that would normally have captured any man's soul, but not mine. When I looked at her, I felt nothing. I wanted to feel my cock stir when she looked at me or feel the starts of semi building with her body pressed against me, but I didn't and it was nothing to do with her looks.
 

She was stunning, it was me.
I
had the problem. I was the one who wasn't attracted to women. I let my side down and even though she would one day make someone a brilliant wife, it wouldn't be me. I couldn't do it. I couldn't live a lie for the rest of my life.

"I can't do this..." I whispered, letting my hands fall from around her waist. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it again as I backed away.

I knew our parents were watching us and as much as I didn't want to disappoint my mother, I felt like a fraud.

Arabella held onto my hand before I was out of her reach and I saw she was red with embarrassment. I felt ashamed, running from her in front of our audience but it was an unexpected knee jerk reaction.

"You're making a scene!" She hissed at me, trying to lace her fingers back into mine, hoping to continue where we left off, but I'd turned to stone, unable to move.

"I have to go..." I said quickly, trying to pull out of her grip, but I felt her nails digging into my skin slightly.

"Why? Are you...?" She looked over my body, horrified, then back to my eyes. "Shall I get help? Do you need to be chained, or..."

I realized what she was trying to say and shook my head.

"It's not that, I promise I'm not turning. I just..." I saw my mother heading in our direction with one side of her dress lifted by her slender fingers. "Listen, it's nothing to do with you, I just, I just can't do this right now."

She let go of my hand and I turned and ran, pushing through the shocked faces and dodging the whispers as I ran thorough the hall and out into the dark and cool night.
 

The air hit my face and I took a deep breath, opening my arms up to bask in the freedom.

I just wanted to be normal.
 
I wanted to be outside and without security and I wanted to go and walk down a busy street and not have to hide away.
 

Everyone meant well, my parents, my grandparents, even damn Arabella was sweet enough, but I didn't ask for any of it. I just wanted to be free.

I heard rustling in the bushes beside me and decided that I'd get my bike and leave. They wouldn't miss me; in fact, my parents would probably be glad that I wouldn't be around to embarrass them any longer.

I contemplated going back to my home in Devon but I knew that a bike ride of that many hours at this time of night would be a killer.
 

I just needed to get away and the way I felt right then, even a hotel would do, I didn't care who saw or took a picture of me. I couldn't do it anymore.

Caleb

I loved working at night, hearing the sounds of wildlife around me in almost silent conditions.
 

I looked back at the house and at the bright up lighters casting a green glow over the palace walls.
 

Oh how the other half lived. I hadn't been there long, but the way they enjoyed life made me envious. Everything came so easily to them while I had to work so hard for the small things in my life and try ten times harder just to survive.

I dragged all the tools into the gardener shed and locked it, putting the keys in my pocket and just as I bent to pick up my jumper, I saw, from the corner of my eye, Prince Henry, running through the trees
away
from the house.

I watched him for a moment, trying to figure out where he was going. Was he with someone? Perhaps sneaking off with a woman? He did have the reputation as a womanizer.
 

He disappeared into the bushes and I turned to walk away, tired, but I couldn't concentrate. He was running off alone and one thing we'd all been briefed on during induction at the palace was that the Royal family was our main priority. I remembered thinking how that would apply to me, a gardener, but then it came to me. If something,
anything
happened to him and it was known that I'd been out there and just left him, 'd get the blame and I couldn't have that.
 

I turned back and ran out into the darkness, following him.

It was most probably a stupid idea that I'd likely regret when I saw him rolling around on the floor with someone desperate to be the next queen, but at least my conscience would be clear.

I half walked and half ran past the walled garden entrance and out near to the lake, looking around me. He was gone. I'd buggered up my great rescue, as all I saw around me was darkness and trees.
 

"You know, you can be imprisoned for stalking..."

The voice behind me made me jump. I turned and there, suited and booted was Prince Henry. Even in the darkness, I could see just how light his eyes were.

He watched me, suspiciously.

"Why are you following me?"

"I wasn't, I just..."

"Is there something you're after?" he pressed when I didn't answer quickly enough. "I saw you in my room, then the kitchen and now here..."

"No, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

He watched me intently before walking past me.

"Well, you've seen me. I'm fine. You can go back now."

He walked away and I wanted to turn and go back to the Palace, but again, I knew I couldn't leave him. Not out there alone, without security.
 

He heard my footsteps, sighed and stopped.

"Look. Just go back, okay?"

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I just can't."

"Can't or
won't
?" he snapped. "In case you hadn't noticed, tonight's party is in
my
honor. I'm thirty now, so in case you didn't get the memo, I don't need a babysitter or nanny anymore."

He continued to walk and I felt my blood boiling and a torrid of words ready to overspill if I didn't stop them in time, as I hated people like that. He had the world at his fingertips, people back in the palace who would think nothing of dropping thousands for his stupid party when the only thing he wanted to do was spend it outside running about.

"You're ungrateful, you know." I said to his back as he strode across the lawn.

"You don't know anything about me!" He shouted over his shoulder.

"Look at the party they're throwing for you in there and where are you? Out here. No one's going to find you in this darkness."

"Did you ever stop to think maybe that's the plan?"
 

I realized I was panting hard and I found myself shocked at how infuriating he was and how angry he made me.

I couldn't waste any more time in his presence. He wasn't worth it and if he wanted to turn around and fire me then it was fine. I couldn't stand arrogance.

"I'm going back." I sighed, "I'll let them know you're out here and someone else can deal with you."

I started to walk away, wishing I'd done that in the first place when I heard his footsteps on the grass behind me.

"Listen, sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just..." His voice was softer than before and he trailed off.

I turned to look at him, his eyebrows furrowed as though he was in deep agonizing thought.

"Don't mention it." I accepted, going to walk away again, but he stopped me.

"Wait!"

I didn't know why I was still entertaining him, but I walked back until I stood in front of him. He stared at me long and hard and I felt the anger inside me drain away as I felt something pass between us.
 

"Listen Prince Henry..."

"Just call me 'Henry'." He interrupted.

"Okay,
Henry
, it's late and I think I should get back."

He watched me still, hands pushed into his pockets without speaking.

I turned to leave again but he stopped me.

"No one knows how hard it is to be me."

"Hard? Really?" I asked sarcastically. There was a reason why people didn't like the royals and he was the prime example. Arrogant, cocky...
 

He sighed deeply.

"It's not like that." He looked past me at the house with its luminous glow.
 

"Isn't it?" I felt the annoyance boil again. "While you live in this high security palace, there are people who sleep on the
streets
, Henry. They scavenge through bins for food. There's gangs and violence out there. Believe me, I could find hundreds if not millions of people who would beg to differ..."