I'll Never Meet You...

The day of the royal visit had arrived, and for that morning Myranda made her family's treasured treats that had been passed down from generation to generation. On the bright side, as the new head of the shop, the youngest of her pack could at least run things the way she wanted to.

Part of that desire was to not have to bow down to the Alpha and Luna - let alone their jerk son ( she had never met him, she just figured he was distasteful). Regardless of how she felt, it was still her obligation to represent her sector in the massive city she lived in.

All carved in the mountains centuries ago, the Lycan Kingdom was an old one - and a grand one at that. Their castle and homes were artfully carved into the side of the great rocky barrier, and had been inhabited for as long as anyone who currently lived could remember. It was a fantastic fortress, but it often kept each clan and pack to their own sectors, which meant they didn't get to meet one another often unless it was a celebration, holiday, or special event.

This was one of said special events, and she hated it.

She had baked so many tarts, breads, sweet loafs, buns, cookies, and cakes that she felt would represent her family, that perhaps she had made far too many. With her siblings off in their own lives, and their parents passed, it was now supposedly her honor and duty to uphold the family's name and represent them with pride.

Just as she finished up her display case with some still-warm pastries, a young girl entered into her opened shop with a stuffed lion tucked under her arm tightly.

"Auntie Myri!" She trilled as her dark red hair trailed behind her. The child was four now, and even more excited than ever to visit Myranda on such a big day.

"Syri!" Myranda chimed out as she picked her up and twirled her around briefly. "Did you run ahead of your mom and dad again? You need to stop learning to run so fast," she giggled softly and placed her niece down before she gave the top of her head a scruff.

"Did you make me a special pastry? Huh - did you? Did you did you?" She asked as she bounced on the balls of her feet.

"Of course. I always do, and it's right here," Myranda answered and reached up to the shelf and pulled a lion-shaped cookie wrapped in a delicate paper that was exclusively used for Royal treats.

"Yay!" The small girl trilled out as she danced on the balls of her feet and held the cookie joyfully.

"Myranda - is Syri in here with you?" Came the voice of her sister as she entered through the doors and held a large sack of what looked like presents and keepsakes.

Myranda came to her with outstretched arms. "What did you drag down here? Let me help you..."

Once she felt how heavy the package was, she made an 'oof' and grunted. "Where is Silas? Wasn't he supposed to help you out today?"

"Silas got a promotion. I meant to write you or come by to visit, but I've been very busy. He's going to be promoted to General Harbinger's right-hand wolf. Thanks to his help and good word, he was able to help our big brother into a higher rank. So Jyriah will now be at a new post, and he is welcome to an upgraded home at that. Oh - and our big brother has a mate now, too" the older sibling went on as they both walked to the back of the storefront and into the back living quarters.

"You know, it really sucks you guys live in the upper caves. Jyriah even lives in the barrack hovels and I live all the way down here. I never get fresh news...So what's she like, how did they meet?" Myranda prodded with interest. Even if she was the youngest sister, she was still quite protective of her big brother.

"The barrack hovel isnt' exactly nice, Myri."

"It's up there - it has to be better than down here," she argued stubbornly.

"It's not. That is why Jyriah getting a promotion is great. He gets his own small place now. It's smaller than the bakery, so you can think of it as a positive. His mate is fantastic for him, too. They met by chance in the textile clan. Very handsome, as well." The elder sister tried to paint everything in a warmer light in contrast to her younger one who was vastly more jaded.

Myranda sighed and put down the collection of items onto her bed. She sighed again (this time harder) and then conceded briefly. "I don't need the sunshine pep-talk ...but I still appreciate that you're here, Syrana. It's great he found someone finally. It gives me just a little hope that maybe I'm a late bloomer. If I don't meet him soon, I might just resign to being alone and stop going to those 'meet your mate' parties. I'm getting too old to go, you know? Anyway, what is her name?"

"Like I said... he is very handsome. His name is Joss. He's quite smart and very funny. You're going to love him." Syrana assured with a smile.

"Oh... Oh! I'm dumb. He does sound pretty great. I'm happy he found someone...but... I wish I could too."

"You're two hundred (about 20 in mortal years) - there are some who attend those meetings up to age four hundred, sometimes five. Don't start with this pity party again," Syrana started as she placed down the bags and boxes she had brought with her as well - but set hers on the floor instead of the bed.

"I'm not trying to be a pity-partier. You found Silas when you were one hundred and ninety - and I just... I wish I had mom's beauty like you do, that's all." Myranda confessed.

"Dearest, you are beautiful. Just because you have a spotted coat, doesn't mean you're not beautiful. That's a dumb trend, and it will fade -- plus, your mate won't care. They'll want you just as you are," the older sister comforted her younger one and kissed the top of her head.

To say that Myranda could compare with Syrana's beauty would be a lie. Syrana had always been the most beautiful of her entire clan, and of their pack. She inherited their mother's deep burgundy coat, and her beautiful golden eyes. When she was in her human form, her hair was long and shiny, and her body was lovely and toned. Her face was slender and came to a defined point at her chin which always looked elegant when her hair was styled over to one side.

Myranda had inherited more of their father's traits - except she was the only one in decades to have a spotted coat as a wolf, and hair that was half white, and half black when she was human. She had been blessed with part of her mother's looks, though - in her one left eye that was gold. The other eye was a light blue that was almost white. Many found it off-putting or scary at a first encounter. It was hard for anyone to meet her gaze without a gasp outside of her family and clan.

"Yeah... sure.." she let slip from her mouth dejectedly.

"Mommy - Auntie - they're yelling outside..." Syri said with a mouth full of cookie, and with two hands that tried to hide the other treats she had stolen while her mom and aunt had been busy.

"Ah, the leader must be telling us the royals are on their way -- quick, quick - up to the front," Syrana urged as she pulled her little sister by the shoulders, and then pushed her towards the storefront. "Syri - stay here and play in the back, please."

The child did not like the instructions she received, and gave them a sad, pouty-face. "Okay..." she resigned

"Ow - aww, you made me drop that scarf I was looking at..." Myranda complained as her elder steered her towards the shopfront.

"Quiet. You need to impress the royals so they don't find someone else to run our family's shop. You know how the Alpha can be..." Syrana warned in Myranda's ear softly.

Myranda just groaned out softly in reply, and stood still as the sounds of chatter and pleasantries were exchanged in the hallway.

"Look, I'll at least welcome them in for you, but don't you dare let me down when they get in here. You pretend they're the best things in the entire universe, and pretend really, really well" her older sister hissed again.

"I don't want to have--uhg, whatever...fine," the younger conceded.

"I can help," Syri offered to her aunt and tugged at the apron she had around her waist.

"No, you're going to stay in the back like I told you to," Syrana repeated towards her pup and warned her with a darkened glare.

Myranda smiled down to the child at her side, but swallowed a hard, dry lump in her throat as she heard the voices grow louder, and her sister greeted the rulers with a smile as they came towards the front doors. "She's right - just go play in the back. Trust me, it will be so much more fun than sitting here with us."

Syrana closed the door to the back of the bakery where the 'home' part of the section was and hoped it would keep Syri quite while they attempted to make this a perfect visit. She did a graceful slide to the front and opened the doors with a soft bow.

"My Alpha, my Luna, my Prince, welcome to our home bakery. We and two other families are the clan responsible for ensuring we all have delicious pastries to eat. Please come in, and enjoy anything you'd like,"

--and just like that, everything changed as the scent in the air turned her skin into prickled peaks. Someone out there was meant for her - maybe a guard, or another pack leader's son? She waited with baited breath as the King, Queen, and Prince came through her doors as her sister welcomed them in with the same respectful gesture.