Alphas Three

The soft glow of the early morning sun streamed through the arched windows of Amaris’ room, spilling golden light across the pristine cream and silver décor. Her quarters were spacious yet warm, with soft velvet drapes pooling like liquid silver onto the polished wooden floor. Delicate moonflower vines etched into the crown moldings cast faint shadows on the high ceilings, hinting at her mother’s taste for subtle elegance. A roaring hearth in the corner filled the room with a cozy warmth that did little to calm the chaos unfolding within. Three maids fluttered about like busy sparrows, each with a purpose. One carefully folded rich gowns and nightdresses into a travel trunk embossed with the family crest, her hands gloved to avoid smudging the fine fabrics. Another meticulously arranged Amaris’ favorite toiletries into an elegant leather vanity case, lining up perfumes, creams, and the oils that kept her hair soft as moonlight. The third worked diligently behind her, tightening the stays of Amaris’ corset until the girl gasped for air. "Not so tight, Margret," Amaris chided softly, her pale knuckles gripping the vanity for support. "Forgive me, my lady," Margret replied, loosening her hold slightly but glancing nervously toward the door. "Your mother will not abide a crooked corset at such a grand occasion." Amaris rolled her hazel eyes, their gold-green depths glinting with restrained exasperation. Before she could offer a retort, the door swung open, revealing her mother, Lady Helena, her presence as commanding as the crisp morning air that followed her inside. "Amaris, darling," her mother said, her voice as bright as a sunbeam, "do you realize what an honor this is? To be personally invited to the Binding Solstice!" Lady Helena’s excitement was evident in the way her hands clasped together, her polished nails glinting like tiny mirrors. She was a woman who carried an air of regal elegance, her auburn hair swept into a timeless chignon, and her sapphire-blue gown tailored to perfection. Amaris sighed, shaking her head slightly. “Mother, I’ve told you—I do not wish to be paraded like cattle before men, no matter the grandeur of the occasion.” Her mother laughed lightly, brushing off the remark as if it were a childish whim. “Nonsense, my dear. Do you think the Supreme Alpha himself would allow just anyone to attend? The guest list is curated, darling. Your name was among the first, thanks to your father and—” She paused, a proud smile softening her features. “And thanks to you.” “Me?” Amaris asked, surprised. “Yes, you.” Lady Helena moved to the vanity, lifting a silver hairbrush with delicate etchings of crescent moons. “Do you think your insights at those meetings have gone unnoticed? The Supreme Alpha has taken your advice on more than one occasion, and I dare say you’ve made an impression. Even with your humble silence.” Amaris said nothing, her expression unreadable, but her mother’s praise left a faint warmth in her chest. She stayed quiet as her maids slipped the gown over her head—a masterpiece of silk and lace in a pale silver hue that seemed to glow against her moonlit skin. The empire waist accentuated her graceful figure, while the delicate embroidery along the hem and neckline shimmered like stardust. When the maids stepped back to admire their work, Amaris waved them away with a flick of her slender fingers. “I’ll do the rest,” she said firmly. “You never seem to flatter my hair or skin the way I like.” Lady Helena chuckled, watching as her daughter took command of her own preparation. Amaris pinned her silver-white curls into an intricate updo, leaving a few soft tendrils framing her delicate face. She reached for the palette of cosmetics, carefully accentuating her hazel eyes with soft gold and green tones and brushing a touch of rose onto her cheeks. “Darling,” her mother sighed wistfully, “you are truly a vision. If only your father could see you now.” Feeling her mother’s gaze linger, Amaris glanced up at her through the mirror. “Is something the matter, Mother?” Lady Helena hesitated for a moment, then smiled softly. “I’ve been thinking... your father and I have considered having another child. Perhaps a son. What would you think of that?” Amaris paused, her hands stilling mid-curl. Then, a delighted smile lit her face. “Oh, Mother! I would have loved a sibling growing up. Someone to play with while you and Father were busy. I think it’s a wonderful idea, and I would be honored to be a big sister.” Lady Helena let out a relieved breath, her hand brushing against her daughter’s cheek. “Thank you, my darling. Your father and I wanted to dedicate our time to raising you properly, but now... I think your father would be thrilled with a son.” Amaris stood and embraced her mother tightly, whispering, “You did an amazing job with me, Mother.” Lady Helena broke down briefly in her daughter’s arms, her emotions spilling out in a rare moment of vulnerability. When she composed herself, she kissed Amaris’ forehead and said briskly, “Enough of that. Finish your makeup. We must leave within the next twenty minutes. Your father is already at the Aerodrome, ensuring the luggage and passports are prepared.” Amaris chuckled, watching her mother bustle out of the room. She turned back to the mirror, her expression softening as she finished her preparations. Once satisfied, she slipped on her silver heels and took a final look around her room. The moonflower vines seemed to bid her farewell, their delicate blooms catching the morning light. With a final breath, Amaris closed the door behind her, stepping into a future she was both hesitant and curious to face. The car ride to the aerodrome was filled with chatter, with Lady Helena practically glowing as she discussed baby names and nursery themes, her excitement bubbling over at the thought of expanding their family. Amaris indulged her mother’s gushing with polite smiles but couldn’t help rolling her eyes when the conversation turned to the Binding Solstice. “It’s a degrading tradition,” she declared, crossing her arms over the bodice of her carefully chosen dress. “A month-long parade of women flaunting themselves for men’s approval. I’m only doing this because Father insisted, and I’d rather not have you both sulking at me for the rest of the year.” Lady Helena arched a perfectly groomed brow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, thank you, my dutiful daughter, for deigning to humor your poor, old parents.” Her teasing faded into wistfulness as she added, “But just imagine, darling. What if you’re the moon-kissed mate of one of the Supreme Alpha’s sons? What an honor that would be.” Amaris groaned, throwing her head back in mock agony. “Don’t set your sights so high, Mother. It’s far more likely I’ll end up paired with someone entirely unremarkable. That’s if I’m even chosen at all.” Helena chuckled, patting her daughter’s hand affectionately. “We’ll see, my love. Destiny has a way of surprising us.” When they arrived at the aerodrome, Amaris’ father, Lord Cedric, was waiting, his usual calm demeanor laced with impatience. But the moment he caught sight of his daughter descending from the car, his expression softened. For a moment, he looked at her not as a young woman on the cusp of her debut, but as the little girl he had cherished and protected all her life. “When did my baby grow up so fast?” he murmured, his voice tinged with both pride and sadness. Before she could respond, he swept her into a warm embrace. “You look radiant, my star. Truly. Your mother and I couldn’t be prouder.” Amaris flushed under his praise, managing a soft, “Thank you, Father,” before he ushered her and Lady Helena toward the sleek private plane waiting to whisk them away to Lucerithia’s remote palace. Once aboard, Amaris slumped into her seat, pulling out her cellphone and scrolling aimlessly through messages from friends who were spending their winter holidays skiing in Althurion or relaxing on the beaches of Viremontis. Anything seemed more appealing than an archaic festival meant to secure mates. And yet, a small, secret part of her longed for the romantic ideal of the Binding Solstice. What would it feel like to be someone’s moon-kissed mate? To share a bond as unshakable as the love her parents had for each other? Another thought crept in, unbidden yet thrilling: what would it be like to shift into a wolf? To finally meet the other half of her soul? As the plane soared above the clouds, Amaris gazed out the window at the endless expanse of sky. Though she told herself she dreaded the upcoming month, a flicker of hope glimmered within her. Somewhere in Lucerithia, destiny awaited. Whether she liked it or not. At some point during the flight, Amaris drifted into an unintentional sleep, lulled by the hum of the engines and the rhythmic sway of the plane. Dreams swirled in her mind—of snowy landscapes and shadows that moved like whispers, their voices echoing faintly with words she couldn’t quite understand. When she felt the gentle touch of her mother’s hand shaking her awake, her eyes fluttered open to a world transformed. The cabin had grown colder, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly. “Here,” her father’s deep voice broke through, as he pulled a thick fur-lined coat from the plane’s wardrobe and draped it over her shoulders. “You’d forget your head if it weren’t attached,” he teased lightly, but his eyes were warm, a reflection of his care. Amaris sighed with relief as the soft fur enveloped her. “Thank you, Father,” she murmured, her voice still laced with sleep. She hadn’t even considered the winter chill of Lucerithia. Her home in Eldoria was mild this time of year, the rare frost gone before sunrise. She was utterly unprepared for the biting cold she could now feel seeping through the cabin windows. The captain’s voice crackled over the intercom, announcing their descent. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be arriving shortly. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.” Amaris glanced out the window as the plane began its slow descent. The view stole her breath. Below them stretched an endless expanse of snow-covered mountains and forests, their peaks and treetops glistening like diamonds beneath the pale winter sun. Frozen rivers cut through the white landscape like silver veins, winding toward a grand palace that stood in the heart of it all—a glittering crown atop the pristine wilderness. She had visited the palace before, but never during the Solstice. Never when it was transformed into this otherworldly winter wonderland. As the plane touched down smoothly on the icy runway, a shiver ran down Amaris’s spine, though not from the cold. There was something about this place—its ancient beauty and the quiet power that seemed to hum beneath the snow-covered earth—that made her feel... alive. Stepping from the plane onto the frosted tarmac, the icy air hit her like a slap. Her cheeks flushed pink, and her breath puffed out in small, visible clouds. A sleek black car waited just beyond the runway, its engine purring softly. The driver, a tall man with sharp features and a polite smile, stepped forward to greet them. “Welcome to Lucerithia, Lord Cedric, Lady Helena, and Miss Amaris,” he said with a slight bow. “I’ll be your driver for the duration of your stay. If you need anything—transportation, recommendations, or assistance of any kind—you need only ask.” “Thank you,” her father replied, his voice carrying the natural authority of a man used to respect. As their luggage was swiftly unloaded and stowed in the car by attentive attendants, Amaris climbed into the warm, leather-lined interior of the vehicle. She settled into her seat by the window, staring out at the endless white expanse as the car pulled away from the aerodrome. The snow-covered landscape seemed to stretch on forever, rolling hills and towering pines blanketed in white. The world outside felt untouched, almost sacred, as if time had slowed to preserve its fragile beauty. Amaris leaned her head against the glass, watching the trees blur past, their branches heavy with frost. The snow sparkled like crushed starlight in the weak daylight, and for a moment, everything else faded away—the apprehension, the tradition she despised, even her mother’s hopeful chatter from the seat beside her. “It’s so beautiful,” she murmured to herself, her breath fogging up the glass. It was more than beautiful—it was ethereal, like a place pulled from the pages of a storybook. And yet, as she stared out at the vast, pristine wilderness, a strange warmth bloomed in her chest, a feeling she couldn’t quite explain. It was as if the land itself was calling to her, welcoming her in a way no place ever had. Amaris couldn’t shake the odd sensation that she was coming home—not just to Lucerithia, but to something deeper. Something ancient. Something that had been waiting for her all along.