03|There Are No Bad People
1330 Words
Alina faced Anis with a puzzled expression.
Her lips parted and then pressed tightly together. She walked toward the large window in the big space. The view below was beautiful, but her heart wouldn't stop pounding for a different reason…Lucien.
Lucien, her husband and the Alpha of Darkfur, was a strange man.
First, he didn't show up at the wedding, and now, he still stayed away on his own wedding night. What a joke!
Last night's events came back slowly as she tried to assess what had happened.
***Flashback. Hours after the wedding***
Alina had been so tired at her wedding party yesterday when Anis came close and whispered in her ear.
“It is time.”
Anis helped her up, adjusting her dress as they moved towards the east wing of the palace. Other maids joined as they walked into her mother-in-law’s quarters.
Luna Phillipha had already ordered her bridal bath, and Alina held her breath as the women surrounded her.
The four handmaidens began undressing her and brought her naked before Phillipa to be examined. Her breasts and intimates were checked by the priestess who nodded toward her mother-in-law.
A satisfied look appeared on Luna Phillipa’s face.
“You will call me mother from now on, Alina. I am pleased with you.”
“Bathe her,” she ordered.
While the women bathed Alina, Luna Phillipa walked around her with incense and offered prayers to the goddess.
“This is done to ward off the evil eyes and spirits” she explained. The towel was soft on her skin, but beneath the excessive attention on her body which she was not used to, Alina could only manage a nod.
After bathing with lavender and jasmine and dressing in a white lace nightie that revealed her cleavage, Alina felt thoroughly exposed and started to pull the fabric together closely around her chest. This action only brought chuckles from the maidens.
“Your husband prefers them like that,” said Philipha.
“Take her in at once.” Another order came from her.
Anis cleared her throat, jolting Alina back to the present.
Why did Lucien not show up? Alina thought.
“What does this mean, Anis? Do you think he disapproves of me?” She voiced her opinion out loud, raising her eyebrows as she turned away from the window to stare at Anis.
Anis frowned. “I don’t know dear, but everything about him seems unusual. Now quit worrying about where it all went wrong and let’s set you up for the day.”
Alina’s worry only escalated. What could be more important to the Alpha than seeing his new bride and being at their wedding?
Anis touched her back to soothe her, understanding what she was thinking.
“Let’s go to your chambers, Alina. I know you must be hungry enough to eat a whole castle by now.”
True to Anis’s words, her stomach rumbled.
She followed Anis, stepping out of the grand room, only to pause with surprise a minute later when she found out her assigned room was only a stone's throw from her husband’s chambers.
Alina stepped inside and she jerked her head back from the bigger surprise before her.
Her room was magnificent, fit for a queen. What else were they plotting? she asked herself.
“Anis, I hope we have this place to ourselves. Did you check for holes? You need to know whether it’s safe to talk…” She was spiraling but it was always better to make sure.
The Darkfur pack may be clueless regarding their true intent, but one may not know what plans they had in place.
Anis gave a curt nod. “We are safe, Alina, I made sure to check. If you are in doubt, we could always use mind links.”
“And what if the Dark Alpha claims me?” Alina asked, half laughing, even when her vein throbbed from nervousness. If Lucien claimed her, then their plan would suffer a huge crash.
“I heard he wouldn’t.” Anis washed down the idea. “He has never claimed anyone nor gotten his mate ever, so I guess you wouldn’t be any different.”
“There is nothing to be afraid of, consider him a friend at the beginning, and it would make you relax. Now, please eat.” Anis said sternly.
Food was brought in and Alina grubbed it down. She was so hungry. The last time she ate anything was yesterday before the wedding.
After eating, she had another bath, with only Anis helping out this time. Thank goodness, yesterday was almost like torture.
She wore a fine silk dress in red,and decided it was better she let her hair down
She set out with Anis to the east wing to seek Philipa, her mother-in-law. She saw some court ladies on the way, who quickly bowed in greeting. Some spoke to themselves in low voices under their hand fans. Such vultures!
They were really lucky she was not the troublemaking type. Else their tongues would have looked delicious on a spike.
I would just assume they do not exist. She thought to herself.
She’d gotten close to Philipha’s chambers when a sudden coldness hit her core.
She slowed down. Looking up to see Phillipa standing with the same man she’d seen yesterday.
Fabian.
He stood so tall in his dark leather pants and had his back turned to her. Something about him made her feel uncomfortable, but she couldn’t quite place it.
She moved close enough to notice there was a woman with them, but his broad features almost swallowed her small frame.
“Shut it, Joanne, don’t overstep! I could have you hanged for such words, but your father of blessed memory is so so dear to me,” snarled Philipha who appeared to be pissed.
Alina’s brows raised, but the trio must have sensed her presence, because Luna Philipha immediately switched her anger to the sweetest version of herself when she reached them.
Whatever the other woman had said really upset her. She was almost out of character. There are no bad people she thought to herself, only bad actors.
‘So mother-in-law can’t be trusted at all, she has better moves than a snake.’ Alina made a mental note, then bowed in greeting all of them.
Fabian only nodded, while Philipha extended her hand, taking Alina’s in hers and smiling. The other woman on the other hand still looked beaten from arguing obviously.
She eyed Alina as she moved away to who-cares-where.
Alina looked closely and recognized her at the wedding. Oh the blonde! she thought, wide-eyed.
Maybe the nose flaring would have made her recognize her instantly, she should do it more.
This was getting interesting. She was eager to know what was going on with these people. It’s good that they all seemed strange, her assignments here will be done swiftly, and she will feel more comfortable doing it.
“I see you enjoy the drama, Stone.” Fabian’s voice seeped through the air, pulling her out of her thoughts as if he’d had the power to read her mind.
Alina turned to him and gave him the most innocent expression. “How are you doing today?” she asked him, totally ignoring what he had said earlier.
“I am well, and how is the new bride doing?”
Philipha answered before Alina could.
“She is thriving, Fabian. And Alina, how did your night go? Come in and tell me all about it.” Phillipha pulled her along into her chambers.
“He didn’t come, Phillipha.” Alina bit her lower lip, portraying the exact image of an offended, worried bride.
“He was absent, not even a whiff of him.” Alina continued, her lips quivering, “I—”
“I would have, if she weren’t a tribute bride.”
A voice spoke curtly from behind them.
“Lucien!” Phillipha gasped.
- Writer
