Alpha’s Pink Luna

Chapter 4: Introductions

Just as the little boy finished announcing the King’s arrival, he rushed across the room to fetch a stool—though calling it a stool felt like an insult. It was far too ornate, covered in velvet and gold trim, clearly built for royal use only.

The Queen Mother bent gracefully, helping the short red-bearded king climb onto it. His grand train of red and white fur spilled over the floor like a waterfall, glittering with silver thread. Everyone in the room stood still, heads bowed in reverence, waiting for their monarch to speak.

Everyone but me.

I stood there awkwardly, painfully aware of how out of place I was. My gown shimmered under the chandeliers, my new pink eyes probably glowing like a beacon, and all I could think was how desperately I wanted to melt through the floor.

Rose stirred in the back of my mind, curiosity humming through her voice.

‘What’s going on? They haven’t done anything to scare you. They’re small, yes, but harmless. None of them would dare hurt you—because if they did, I’d take away their one-in-a-lifetime chance to find their fated mates on the full moon.’

Her words froze me. I’d thought Rose’s only role was to reveal my fated mate… but now she was casually admitting she could control fate itself.

I saw her roll her eyes.

‘I can hear your thoughts, child. And no, you clearly don’t understand the extent of my power. You’ve just awakened in this world—you truly expect to know everything already?’

Her tone was sharper now, almost scolding.

‘Don’t feel stupid, but remember this: knowledge can be dangerous. If you knew everything I know, you might act out of line. You could say something foolish, something that would get us executed. I refuse to die because you can’t control yourself. Fear drives people mad, pain makes them cruel, and too many bleed their suffering onto others. So don’t become a problem for yourself, because if you do—it will cost you double. Understood?’

I stopped moving entirely. Her words echoed through me, heavy with truth and authority. She was right. Every bit of this world was dangerous and unfamiliar. Yet, beneath my understanding, a flicker of annoyance stirred.

Did she really have to sound so possessive? So commanding?

My chest tightened with frustration. She might have been right, but that didn’t mean I had to like her tone.

Thinking she was done, I heard her add—without a single care in her tone—

‘Finding problems is easy. The real challenge is changing one’s mindset and heart to move forward in life. From your memories, it’s clear this was something you struggled with before. It’s easy to find problems, to create them, to feed them… but as long as you’re alive, you still have the power to change—to be better, not worse.’

Her words hit harder than I expected.

They made me feel like a complete jerk for being angry at her audacity. But the truth was—I wasn’t just angry. I was tired.

Tired of always being the problem.

Tired of being the solution for everyone else but never for myself.

Tired of surviving and calling it strength.

It hurt realizing how often I’d carried everyone else’s weight while pretending mine didn’t exist, like what my dad wanted over mine. I’d silenced my pain for so long that it had become normal—expected.

And even now, with a wolf living in my head and a queen glittering across the room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that freedom was something other people were allowed to have… just not me.

‘And that’s how I know you don’t deserve to have it all.’

Her tone was sharp, but not cruel — more like a teacher tired of repeating the same lesson.

‘Work with what you have now. Once you embrace yourself as you are, you’ll grow into the time when you’ll have more to give. Until then, all you’ll share is pain, sadness, and disappointment. If you’re tired, learn to care for yourself until you attract those who add to your healing — not those who only want what you’ve struggled so hard to build.’

Her words left me completely speechless.

I felt like a child being scolded — and worse, I knew she was right. I just wished I could enjoy my life without it turning into another moral lesson. Apparently, even in a fairytale world, self-work came with no escape clause.

Before I could respond, Rose pushed forward again, her attention snapping to the front of the room.

The King raised his short arms dramatically, his movements full of royal energy as his long robe swished behind him. When he finally spoke, his high-pitched voice hit me like a broken flute.

“Welcome to your new home, Princess Mishka!” he boomed — or rather, squeaked — with all the pride of a man twice his height. “We are beyond blessed to have you among us! Your arrival marks a glorious chapter for our kingdom, and we are honored to assist you, my dear child!”

I tried not to flinch at the word child.

Rose snickered in my mind. ‘Well, at least he’s enthusiastic. Don’t laugh, Mishka — remember, he’s got authority, even if he sounds like a talking teapot.’

I bit the inside of my cheek, fighting the urge to giggle. This world really didn’t make sense, but one thing was clear — I’d need every bit of self-control to survive it.

Hearing my thoughts spiral, Rose spoke again, her tone sharp with irritation.

‘If all you want is to survive, then you’re on your own, Mishka. If you refuse to help yourself, nothing anyone does will matter. You’ll hear the truth, but it won’t stay with you.’

Her words struck me like a slap I knew I deserved. I understood what she meant—and worse, what she could do if I didn’t listen.

If I resisted, she could take control again.

She’d already proven that.

A lump rose in my throat as I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod even though she couldn’t see me. My agreement seemed to please her; she made a low, humming sound—something between satisfaction and warning—like a growl of confirmation that reminded me exactly who held the power here.

Then her voice softened, almost smug.

‘Good. Now, tell our king the following: “I am pleased to be taken care of by His Majesty and his gracious staff.” Then bow, Mishka.’

Before I could even question it, the words spilled from my mouth—smooth, rehearsed, not my own.

“I am pleased to be taken care of by His Majesty and his gracious staff,” I said, my voice steady though my heart thundered inside my chest.

Then I bowed.

Gracefully. Perfectly.

Like I’d done it a hundred times before.

Inside my head, Rose purred in approval.

‘That’s my girl.’

Annoyed by Rose’s smug tone, I barely had time to think before the King squealed with delight, his voice so high it could’ve cracked glass.

“Such wonderful news! Please, join us alongside the Alphas who have been waiting to meet their future fiancée!”

My stomach twisted. Future fiancée?

I was about to meet the men destined to marry me—four Alphas I’d never seen before in my life.

Part of me wanted to know who they were, what they were like, if they were anything like the men I’d known back home before my death. But Rose quickly cut through my curiosity.

‘They have no importance right now,’ she said sharply. ‘You aren’t ready for a mate. You need to work on yourself first. Believe me, you’ll only embarrass yourself if you try to play the part.’

She wasn’t wrong… but still, I wanted to see them. Maybe I could do both—learn about them and work on myself. I just needed her to help me, not control me.

I hesitated. “I can handle it,” I thought stubbornly. “If you help me behave, maybe—”

‘That may be true,’ Rose interrupted, her tone cooling into something unsettling. ‘But I can make sure you behave exactly how you need to, whether you want to or not. I won’t let you destroy my chances at happiness, Mishka.’

Before I could react, the world shifted.

It was like being pushed into the backseat of my own body. My limbs moved, my mouth formed words, and I watched it all happen through my own eyes—helpless.

Rose had taken control again.

My pulse thundered in my chest, panic clawing up my throat. I wanted to scream, to fight her, to do something—but my body no longer listened to me.

And for the first time since waking up in this world, I realized how truly powerless I was.