A Beauty's Sadness

"Cheer up Mel." Ophelia beams in front of my face. "Turn that frown right side up."

Just seeing her in my face trying to get me to smile only makes me more salty. I turn away from her. Ophelia signs, continuing combing out my hair for the start of the day. A week has gone by since my sister's departure, and I'm still heartbroken from having to say goodbye to the only person in the world who completed me. No matter how much Ophelia and Solaria tried to cheer me up by making my favorite food, or Solaria being a lot nicer to me, they don't understand the type of heartbreak.

It's like the day I lost my mother.

My nose pinches from trying to hold in my tears. I hate when I can't do anything other than feel bad. I can't be there to help my sister who might be in trouble all because she had left home without father's permission. But the jewels I gave her should last her a few months– if father hadn't taken the money for himself.

Another figure faces me. It's Solaria. She had finally dropped that nice demur she was keeping all week for me. Now staring back at me with a stern gaze of her eyes. "I get it. You miss your family. We all miss our families. But you will have to let it go. You'll see them again."

"How will I see my sister again when the aloha wont let me leave this forsaken place."

"This is my home." Solaria snakes herself clear. "To you it may be hell, but there is nothing forsaken about my home."

I cross my arms together. "Thanks for the words of encouragement," I say sarcastically.

"I'm just trying to tell you the right thing because we all know you're stubborn."

"Letting myself be the alphas slave is now called being stubborn? I can't believe you. No wonder why you are okay with Madam Fara verbally abusing you–"

"You don't get to tell me how I'm being mistreated. I have not choice but to be here."

"And what about me?"

"Your situation is different. At least you get to live in a palace, with maids taking care of all your needs. All you have to do is–" Solaria cuts herself off. "Never mind. You'll just make a fuss if I go into details."

I stand from the seat. "No, say it to my face."

"I'm saying that you are just the alpha's mate now. Life will be easy from here."

My face turns red. "Easy? Life easy for me? I had suffered my entire life. I almost died multiple times, trying to provide for my family and your saying my life is easy–"

"Girls please stop fighting. It's only morning." Ophelia steps in between us.

I still train my glare at Solaria stepping aside. She lets out a heavy single breath. "Ophelia is right. Let's just not fight. I don't want to go home with our argument in the back of my mind." She brings out her hands. "Are we okay with each other?"

I pause then shake her hands back. "Yes."

"You may not leave be able to leave the palace, but I'm sure you may have some peace of mind knowing the alpha will be the way for the Harvest Moon."

"Harvest–what?"

"It's an event where the moon is a really pretty shade of white. It says it symbolizes fertility and wealth. It's a time where we spend some time with our loved ones," answers Ophelia.

"Yes, and I cannot wait to see my family again."

"Oh so the Harvest Moon is like Christmas. We cook some food, share gifts, and spend time with the family while we watch the snow falling outside."

"That sounds lovely. We will have to celebrate Christmas together." Solaria says.

I chuckle. "Perhaps, in the coming months."

The door opens, a single maid enters the room carrying a tray of food. The tray is a lot larger than the other meals I usually get. I open the silver dome and I'm immediately overwhelmed by the amount of food severed to me.

"Why are you looking like that?"

I place the tray down. "It's a bit too much," I tell Solaria.

"The alpha requested you eat more. He doesn't want you to lose any more weight."

"Why would that be a bad thing?"

They both share a look at each other, and I get an uneasy feeling steaming from my body. The both of them just say their goodbyes to me, without answering my concerns. I place the dome top down. I only take it from a green leafy vegetable. All vegetables look the same to me. Besides, I never needed to learn the names of most vegetables when anything that can fit in my mouth is food.

My stomach growls, and I continue eating the rest of the meal until I get full.

~

After dinner, and lounging around for a while, I leave my room to go look for Solaira and Ophelia. Now that my sister is not here, I found myself bored. Both Solaria and Ophelia are the only source of entertainment I have to keep my boring day at least interesting.

I hear muffled yelling in the palace walls. For such a large place, I can almost hear everything that takes place. Even the mouse roaming in the walls.

I crack open the door where I find the noise coming from. I peak out and see the room is filled with the council men. The Alpha sits on his throne. Annoyed at the council member telling him. At any moment, he looks like he will rip him to shreds.

"Why don't you just settle for a nice woman instead of that human. She's weak."

"I settle for whom I want to."

"She is making us look weak. Once the Krae region finds out they'll–"

"Do not speak of them." He growls.

The main councilman sighs, "Listen, Alpha Rhy's we are just telling you that it is not too late to back out on this. If you love the human so much, you can keep her while we find another worthy–"

"I said shut your mouth." He breathes. "You know what, everyone leave."

The rest of the councilmen prepare to leave the room. All except one. He stares back definitely at the Alpha who seems to grow agitated every second the councilman looms. The councilman takes a step back, turning his dark gaze one last time at the alpha. "I'm warning you Alpha Rhy's. This human will be the downfall of Wolvedom."

I shut the door and hide somewhere once the group of councilmen start exiting through the door. They were all whispering among each other. The main councilmen with their usual pointy ears like an elf storm into the group. The hidden rage he held in politely, now spilled out of him. He hits the wall, breathing heavily.

"His stubbornness is going to kill us all!"

"Councilmen, Leo, let the Alpha be. He will never listen to us no matter what danger we present him with."

"Then let him suffer the consequences of picking that human as his mate. I won't be here to tell him so." Councilman Leo straightens his sleeve.

"You're not suggesting…"

"Yes, I will desert my position as councilman if any form of threat comes our way."

"But you are the head councilman."

He faces the rest of his comrades. "It will only be temporary once the alpha is harmed for his actions. But then we should have a more competent ruler of Wolvendom."

Are they planning to kill the alpha? I ask myself, starting at the councilmens talking amongst each other. Once they leave, I come out of my hiding spot. Once single though that echo in the back of my mind kept me at shock. Not everyone is okay with the alpha mating me. They might harm me in a place of revenge against the alpha.

The door opens behind me, and I quickly hide in my original hiding spot. I watch the alpha stepping out of the room. He still wore a scowl painting his face. "Who are the councilmen telling me how to rule this nation?"

He steps into the main hallway then stops in his tracks. "Mel, I know what you are."

I eventually reveal myself. "How did you know?"

Rhy's taps his nose. "You have a distinct smell."

"Then how come the councilmen didn't smell me?"

"You were spying on the councilmen?" He cocks his eyebrow.

"Sort off…"

"Let me guess, they were talking about how stubborn I am and make such a bad alpha, blah blah blah."

"Kind of." I flash an awkward smile. Wait until he finds out they want him dead. Wait, why am I talking with him? He took my sister from me. "I have to go now."

The alpha holds my arms. "Wait, we just started talking."

I wank my arms away from him. "There is nothing to talk about after what you have done."

His lips spread thinly. "Your sister overstayed her visit. I would have sent her home regardless of what took place last week."

"So you admit it. You were using my sister to get close to me huh?"

"You're just talking at this point." The alpha lets go of my arms. "Go."

"Glady." I storm through the hall.