Meet the Beast

Chapter 1

APOV (Alek)

I don't want to go to this stupid Mai meeting. What's the point of it anyway? I know we need a strategy on how to protect the Uniter, but I don't even know this person. I don't even know if it's a boy or girl. Let's just assume it's a boy. All I know is that they are sixteen. Aunt Valentina said that the meeting will be held at our apartment. I don't know why I need to practice strategy; I'm already the best fighter here.

"Alek, everyone is going to be here any minute. Why aren't you wearing the suit?" Aunt Val lectured.

"Aunt Val, I look good in everything I wear," I said, cocky.

"Just get dressed. I don't have time to deal with you. Members from other prides are coming to this meeting. They all want to help the Uniter. They will be joining our pride. We need to make a good impression so hurry up!" she said, her voicing rising from the stress and panic.

I slumped into my room and begrudgingly took my tux off the rack. I have to say, I do look hot in that tux. I still don't want to go to this damn meeting. I honestly don't care about the Uniter. Aunt Val said he doesn't even know a lot about the Mai. He transformed only two weeks ago. Aunt Val already met the Uniter. He found out that he is the Uniter because a member of the Order pushed him off a building and lived.

"Alek, get in here guests are starting to arrive," Aunt Val said, frantic. She has been overly stressed since her daughter, Jasmine, died a month ago. She was my best friend. That's the reason why I am mean and conceited now. It's to hide the pain of her death. She was considered my cousin, but not by blood, by adoption. Aunt Val adopted me because my parents were killed when I was little. Just me and my brother were left. Jasmine briefly dated my brother, Zane, when he killed her. Once I saw that she was dead, I killed him.

I walked into the kitchen to greet guests. Once all of them arrived, I decided I would mingle to please Aunt Val, even though I don't need to please anyone. It started off as an elegant ball where we would dance. I don't dance. If an incredibly hot girl came up to me to dance, then I most likely would, just to impress her, not that I need to. My looks impress girls plenty.

A mousy girl came up to me and said, "Hi, do you want to dance with me?" She was hideous looking. She had frizzy brown hair, dirty brown eyes, and freckles all over.

I gave out a short, taunting laugh while saying, "No." She had a hurt look on her face an walked away. I continued looking around the room for important people to talk to when I saw a totally hot girl standing on the sidelines, smiling at the scenery in front of her. She was watching the fancy dancing in the room. I walked over to her and said, "What's a pretty girl like you doing on the side, when you should be in the center?"

She just scoffed and looked away. Did this girl not see my handsome face? I was about to say something else when another timid girl walked up to me, "Can I have this dance?" She was okay looking but not good enough looking to dance with. Or have any contact with.

"No," I said, as if my answer was obvious. She walked away, crestfallen.

The hot girl turned back to me. "I know your type."

"Oh, yeah? And what type is that?" I countered.

"The type that thinks he can get any girl he wants. If you find one flaw in a girl, then they must be a horrible person. If they are good looking, you automatically think they are yours." She whipped around to talk to more people, her blonde hair hitting my face and her blue eyes were on fire.

The first girl who asked me for a dance earlier came up to me with her frizzy hair, filthy eyes, and flawed skin. She didn't say anything. She just took my hand with hers, which was clammy and dragged me to Jasmine's old room, against my will. I kept protesting but she wouldn't listen. "Who the hell do you think you are!" I yelled. Even with all the Mai hearing in the other room, I know they won't hear me. This room is soundproof.

"You have been a terrible person." The mousy girl suddenly turned into Jasmine. She was in the form of a ghostly spirit though.

"J-Jasmine?" I stutter out.

"I have been watching over you, Alek. Ever since I passed, you have become shallow, arrogant, and conceited. I am very disappointed."

I just shrugged it off. "So? I can't change who I am. And if I could, I wouldn't. Girls like me the way I am. Why are you even here?"

"I am here to change your selfish ways." She waved her arms around. Wisps of light flowed in circles around me. "There has been a curse on you. Tomorrow, on your seventeenth birthday, it will fully activate. You will turn into an ugly creature. You will have exactly one year to find your true love. She must love you back. When she kisses you, the curse will be lifted, but only if you two are completely in love with each other for each other. Looks won't matter. All that will matter is what's on the inside," she explained.

I didn't believe anything. She disappeared into nothing. I don't believe in that type of magic. It's ridiculous.

When I walked to the living room, most people were gone. When I asked the unimportant people who were still standing there where everyone went, they said to the meeting room. I ran down the hall to the meeting room and took my seat. Two people were standing at the head of the table. Aunt Val and the hot girl from earlier. "Nice of you to join us, Alek," Aunt Val said, sending me a glare.

"Sorry, Aunt Val," I muttered, looking down.

She continued with the meeting. "As I was about to say, I would like to introduce you all to the Uniter of this generation, Chloe King." Everyone was clapping except for the hot girl, who I am now assuming is Chloe. Oh crap. I was an ass to the Uniter. "Today, we are going to announce her protectors. Once I say your name, please rise. Also, keep in mind that some Mai will be transferring from their pride to ours. First, Damien Russell from the London Pride." He stood up. He was very muscular. Every member of each pride had to wear a pin from their native pride. Sure enough, he was wearing a pin with Big Ben on it. "Next, Jack Johnson from the Dublin Pride." Again, a muscular man stood up, this one wearing a four leaf clover pin. "Up next, is Joseph Russo from the Venice Pride." This one had a natural tan and was wearing a pin with the Roman Colosseum on it. "And finally, the protector that will be watching Chloe the most is from our own San Francisco Pride, Alek Petrov." I was stunned she wanted me to guard the Uniter, but I still stood up with a pin of the Golden Gate Bridge on the lapel of my tuxedo. All of the guards, including me, walked over to Chloe to recite our oath. The other three guys messed up because of nerves, causing Chloe to giggle.

I don't want her to giggle at me so I recited it perfectly. Well, of course I did it flawless. "I solemnly swear to treat the Uniter with respect and to always guard her with my life. I will forever more watch over her remaining lives with great care and keep her out of harms way. I shall protect her from every member of the Order. I am willing to risk my life to save one of her many. I hereby give myself to our Uniter, Chloe King." When I looked up from my bow, the blonde Uniter seemed impressed and shocked. I bent down once more to place a kiss on her hand. I would not be worshipping her right now if I didn't have to. Aunt Val seemed impressed also. After everyone left, it was just Aunt Val, Chloe, and me.

"Chloe, I would like for you to meet Alek properly," I heard Aunt Val say from the meeting room while I was in the kitchen looking for a snack. "Alek, come here to meet Chloe. She is your Uniter after all. You shall treat her with respect."

"That's quite alright Valentina. I learned earlier in the night that he has no respect." Valentina seemed appalled that I had disgraced our beloved Uniter. "Thank you for having me. I must be going home now, though. My mother must be worried." She grabbed her coat and started to head for the door.

"Chloe, I would feel more content if you allowed Alek to drive you home."

I could tell Chloe has been struggling to speak properly all night so of course, she said, "Very well."

We both walked out the front door.