5
2150 Words
Serayah Morgan.
The last bit of strength in my hands gives out as I stand on the ladder, balancing on my toes and gritting my teeth to fix the final picture on the wall. It is a massive rectangular frame, so wide that my arms feel laughably short against its weight. Once it’s secure, I nearly collapse, gripping the ladder for dear life while my lungs burn from shallow breaths.
Sweat drips from my forehead. I counted—on one hall, there were one hundred and fifty pictures of Quinn. And these walls? There are three halls of them. Three. And not a single person lent me a hand. I dragged the ladder from one hall to the next, even down staircases, because it didn’t fit in the elevator. Housekeepers passed and glanced at me out of the corners of their eyes.
I lean against the ladder after I get off it. My legs like jelly. It’s night now—10 p.m, the clock says. My dress is soaked by sweat and now it clings to my body like a shrink-wrap. I can barely move my arms; they’re so weak and shaky that even flexing my fingers feels impossible.
I close my eyes and stand there for what feels like forever, ten minutes at least, trying to collect myself. But when I lift my head, I catch sight of them. Riva and Riv.
They are leaning against the staircase balcony.
From the moment I woke up this morning, they had this planned. If I were a real Royal Luna, set up by legal rules and protocols, they wouldn’t have the guts to do this. But I’m not. I’m just some girl that doesn’t belong here.
When they catch me looking, they begin to saunter over with grins as ugly as their intentions.
"Good job. You finished, Royal Luna!" Riva chirps.
"Royal Luna?" I breathe. "Is this how you treated Quinn?"
Riva slaps a hand over her mouth, but it’s no attempt to hide shock—just to stifle a laugh.
"You are not Quinn! And as the Alpha said, within these walls, you are nothing more than Morgan Milton’s daughter. If the Royal Alpha is angry at you, we follow suit. If he’s happy with you, we’ll treat you that way too.” Riv smiles.
“The both of you set me up! —”
"We set you up? Did we force you to give the order?”
“Did we ask you to carry your legs to the nursery!?”
They chant at the same time and I feel my eyes sputter. I am on the verge of crying as I have been doing since I landed my feet in this hell.
“Save your tears for another day! You still have to report to the Royal Alpha that you are done with your work. Look at you, sweating all the way to the roots of your hair. The Royal Alpha despises dirt. Go change. We’ll be waiting by your door to escort you to his office.”
“Good. I will make sure to tell him what both of you did!”
I walk into them and make them part.
Riv smirks. “Go ahead. You are just a little thing who can’t even hold eye contact with the Royal Alpha. I will like to see you try to expose us. In this castle, we all follow orders—”
“Riv!” Riva hisses, grabbing her arm to cut her off mid-sentence.
I blink. What was she about to say? Something about rules...The way Riva stopped her, the quick panic in her eyes, tells me there’s more to this than they’re letting on.
"Following orders? Did someone order to do this to me?" I ask.
“She didn’t say that” Riv clamps and digs her fingers into my chin so hard it stings.
"If you want to leave this house one day with the same skin you came in with, the same beauty you arrived with. Then, you better think twice before repeating anything back to me!”
She shoves my face away and I stumble back a step. Inside, Sera growls, urging me to strike her back—to not let this blatant disrespect slide. My hands twitch at my sides but my nails curl into my palms to stop myself.
“Take a f*****g shower before I find a hose and blast you in the face!”
I don’t need to be told twice. I rush past them to keep myself from doing something reckless—something that might make Royal Alpha Roar hate me even more than he already does.
After freshening up, I slip into a pair of jeans, a white singlet and a soft brown cardigan. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s comfortable enough to face whatever comes next. As I close the door behind me, Riv and Riva are already there.
“The Royal Alpha is having dinner late tonight. He’s in the dining area.”
I don’t bother to look at which one of them spoke. My hand instinctively moves to my stomach as it lets out a quiet growl. I haven’t eaten all day. All the strength I used earlier came from reserves I didn’t have to begin with. Now, I feel weak and hollow.
Sera is just as drained as I am. I can feel her faint presence in the back of my mind, barely stirring. It’s always been this way for me. When other wolves my age would run through the woods for hours, hunting, playing, or just reveling in their strength, I stayed behind.
Born from gamma blood but cursed with a frail wolf, I’ve never been up to par—not even with omegas. I was the sick child, the one who sat out on pack outings because a day at the park could end with me fainting or worse.
It’s why I pursued Phytotherapy in college—to discover remedies through science that could strengthen my wolf and help others facing the same struggles. The day my father abandoned his post as Head of Frost Distribution wasn’t out of neglect—it was because he prioritized saving me from the attack.
The double-lined open and I step into the dining room. To my surprise, Royal Alpha Roar isn’t alone at the table. Good. I will simply report that I’m done with the task and leave.
"Evening." I mutter, keeping my gaze high enough to notice when Roar's cold eyes sweep over me.
“I am Venus, Head of Castle Operations,” a woman introduces herself.
I nod in acknowledgment, unsure of what else to say.
An older man speaks next. “We met earlier today… at the scene. I’m Jeremiah, Roar’s uncle. Please, take a seat.”
I glance at Roar instinctively, unsure if I’m allowed to sit without his permission.
He sits with a plate of steak before him. The Royal Alpha’s dark, silk-like hair is tied in the roughest bun I’ve ever seen. They consist of stray strands escaping as if even they fear being confined. Scorching blue eyes burn against his anchored shoulders. His hands rest on the table, glinting with silver rings—thick, ominous bands that seem more like warnings than accessories.
I take the farthest seat from him.
“And you’ve fixed my wife’s pictures back?” his voice is an offering of thunder, something that sends ice to my lungs.
“Ye—yes.” I pinch myself from stuttering like a fool.
“Please, eat,” Venus encourages but I can’t imagine putting food in my mouth, not with him seated here, dissecting me as thoroughly as the steak on his plate.
“I am not hungry, thank you.” I lie.
“I’m weak, you need to eat something.” Sera prowls.
“Um—since the bond between you and the Royal Alpha was such a speedy event, there are some rules, obligations, and necessities that are required of you as Royal Luna of Moon Grave Castle. Normally, the Royal Alpha’s mate is supposed to attend compulsory lessons that I, along with a few others, will teach you. These lessons cover how to be an example to the whole country, but...” She pauses, glancing between Roar and me. “...Well, the Alpha bonded you in a rather fast manner.”
“What she’s saying, Serayah, is that…the seat you hold as Royal Luna is very important,” Jeremiah takes over. “Every single person in United Algoria, our country, and even those outside of it, have their ears peeled to who you are. We know you weren’t expected to be thrust into this, but we want to make sure you’re not lacking, as your duties require you.”
I blink.
“From your background, we saw that you are a Phyto therapist… You will be too busy with your job here to focus on that.” Venus taps her automatic pen on a tablet, ruling out something on the screen.
“Wait, my job is important to me.” I say, letting her know I will not compromise on that.
“Important?”
I hear Alpha Roar’s voice.
When I look at him, there's a dark smile on his face, one that makes me feel like I’ve just handed him some weapon to use against me. I immediately regret speaking. I shouldn't have said it, not when it’s given him exactly what he needs.
“A Royal Luna’s job is to serve the Moon Grave. Therefore, I wish that you would quit that job. Now.”
His word is a sworn bullet sent to sink into me but it’s the eyes that shows a wicked gleam—there to remind me of the hundred wishes he has bound me to.
“Luna S-e-r-a-y-a-h?” Roar repeats in a mocking manner.
“Yes. I will… I will quit.” I answer, not daring to look up. I don’t want to see the satisfaction he gets from my discomfort.
“I don’t want you to quit.” Venus starts to say.
“She will quit as she has said herself. Her new job is to take care of the castle, bring more pups into the world and entertain our family. So, go on, move to the next thing!”
“We have to host a ceremony for your new bond,” she continues. “It will be in two weeks, which means Luna Serayah has to learn the names of attending dignitaries, presidents, governors… the world will be there. We will be announcing you to the whole world.”
I nod but I don’t hear anything.
“Um,” Venus pauses, glancing at Roar, as if seeking permission. “You’ll also have dance lessons with the Royal Alpha. You will dance on that day. Several waltz and christmas carol dances.”
My heart drops. I don't know if it’s from the pressure, the expectations, or the fact that she is saying we will be in close contact.
Alpha Roar scoffs.
“Um, you have marriage counselling which in in fact tomorrow—”
“Are you f*****g insane!?” Alpha Roar slams his fist with such force that I flinch in my seat,
“Mind your language Roar.” His uncle dissects.
“No one here is two years old! And you might as well rule out that stupid counselling!” He points at Venus.
“Alpha, the board of tribunals seeks it. The way you bonded her has them questioning things. If you want them to stop asking questions, it’s best to follow the guidelines, or they will raise concerns.”
“I am never going to touch or lay hands on this girl. What use is marriage counselling for someone I completely abhor, someone I hate?” He points at me as if I’m nothing more than a target for his fury.
“He will attend it! Next please—” Jeremiah says.
“And last, we must change her surname. It will bring great controversy if people find out that she is the daughter of Milton Morgan who you have in prison.”
“I’m sorry what?” I ask in haste.
“I already took care of that.” Jeremiah says.
“What?” I stare at him in complete horror.
“Your mother and brother cannot be seen anywhere with you in public. We’ve taken down every bit of information that could reveal you are Milton’s daughter. On the day of the ceremony, someone else will stand in place of your father, and your mother…”
Words die in my throat.
I glance at Roar who is already looking at me.
He is taking everything from me.
He is taking everything from me.
I push myself up from the seat and I run. I run like everything’s chasing me.
- Writer
