3.

Summer's dress was exactly the same as mine but amber-colored to match her eyes.

"Hurry, girls! The guests are arriving. There's a big surprise for all three of you tonight!" It was the giddiest I had ever seen her in my entire life.

"What is she going on about?" Summer asked. I shrugged my shoulders. I put on the matching blue shoes and walked to the stairs with my sister.

"I love you," she said as we stood, pausing for a moment before the insanity of turning eighteen started.

"What?"

"I love you. Look, I know I pick on you a lot, but I love you." I smiled at her.

"I love you too."

"You ready?"

"I guess. Let's get this over with." We walked down the stairs and into the Grand ballroom where all high-ranking members of our pack, their families, some of our friends, and leaders from every other pack mingled.

"That's a lot of people," Summer whispered.

"How often do the future Alpha and twin daughters of the Beta turn eighteen on the same night?"

"I guess never."

She pulled me into the middle of the dance floor as the music blared. Lights flashed and a smoke machine filled the area with weird-smelling fog. We twirled and laughed as our friends and a few of the other kids joined us. The music cut out suddenly and the lights turned on mid-song.

"It's not time yet, is it?" I asked, looking

toward our old clock.

10:00. Everyone's here. Why stop the music?

"Attention everyone. Please welcome our benevolent rulers, King Allen and Prince Lucas of the Winter Pines pack," Alpha Cain said, bowing as an older gentleman with beautiful gray hair and an incredibly dominating aura walked into the room, followed by a younger version of him with dark brown hair and black eyes.

The young prince was merely nineteen but he had a commanding stare. His lips twitched up into a small smile as the entire room paid him respect with either a bow or a curtsy.

"Oh. My. Goddess," Summer squealed, clasping a hand over her mouth. "He's the most amazingly gorgeous man I've ever seen."

"He is appealing," I agreed.

"Appealing? Winter, he's ridiculous!" She grabbed my hand and dragged me to where Alpha Cain and Liam were standing, talking with the royal wolves. She cleared her throat and smiled expectantly.

"Oh, my apologies, girls!" Alpha Cain exclaimed. "Let me introduce you. King Allen, Prince Lucas, may I introduce you to Beta Kendrick's daughters, Summer and Winter."

We both dipped into low curtsies as the two men stared at us. That's when I felt it. It wasn't strong, but it was there. Something.

I looked up into the face of the prince and saw him staring intently at me. Liam, taking notice, stepped in front of him and started speaking. Taking that as our cue to leave. Summer and I stood and returned to the dance floor.