Chapter 6

"Rise and shine, darling. The big day is here," my mum gently coaxed me.

I groaned, rolling over in my bed. The cozy cocoon of my covers was too tempting to resist; a few more minutes of sleep wouldn't hurt. Disturbing my sleep was practically a cardinal sin in our house. I wondered why she was breaking this unspoken rule so early in the morning.

"Honey, today's the day we leave for the Mating Ball," my mum reminded me.

Mating Ball? The Mating Ball! The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. Today was indeed the day of departure, the start of the Mating Ball weekend. It completely slipped my mind. Our itinerary included a flight to Switzerland, followed by a car ride to the exclusive venue, known only to host the Mating Ball. Coincidentally, the castle of the European Wolves' King and Queen was also situated in Switzerland. At this revelation, I sprang out of bed so abruptly that it startled my mum. As she staggered back, I reached out, steadying her.

"Sorry,