The Red That Runs Like Rivers

Alina awoke to a knock on her door. "You may enter," she declared with a grown, glancing at the clock. It was only just past six-thirty, and she wanted nothing more but to roll over and get some more rest. But that was a fleeting thought as a maid stepped into the room and began preparing her things for the day. She yawned and stretched as she rolled over, sliding out from under the warm plush blanket and lowering her feet onto the cold wood floor. "What's on tap for today?" she inquired and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "The little miss would like to go shopping today to prepare for the upcoming Alpha ball," the maid informed her. Ah, right. How could she have forgotten? It's all Ashley has been talking about these days. Christ, it was going to be a long day. Ashely was the "princess" of the Lunar Blood Moon Pack, and technically Alina's older sister. Although no one referred to them as such. They all knew better if they wanted to keep their tongues. Alina had been adopted. Taken in out of compassion and pity by the Alpha and Luna. She had been raised alongside their own daughter as her companion after being found abandoned on the outskirts of the pack territory. The only thing left to her was her name, scrawled hastily on a note card pinned to the blanket she was swaddled in. Alina- meaning alone. Only roughly three months apart, the girls grew up very closely. Alina may not have been treated quite like a princess herself, but being raised alongside one had its perks. Anything Ashley outgrew or got tired of, Alina often got first pick before it was tossed to the omegas at the pack house. Designer dresses, shoes, and jewelry filled her drawers and closets. And she had a beautifully decorated suite in the alphas mansion, instead of being left in a shared room with the omegas at the pack house. Yes, due to reasons beyond her understanding, she got to enjoy a life of luxury without the responsibility it held. All she had to do was smile, bow her head, and bare her neck a little. So why bother questioning it. She may not have been exactly treated like one of the family, but she didn't mind being a pet. She wasn't one to bite the hand that feeds. Alina had learned her place from a very young age. She had often been left out or forgotten in her years growing up at the Alphas estate. The Alpha and Luna couldn't have meant anything by it. They didn't mistreat her after all. They just held her at arm's length. And Ashley was kind enough to her, for the most part. Alina had come to realize it was best to avoid the little miss when she was in a bad mood and had adapted to counseling her when she could. But Ashley's temper often got the better of her, and Alina found herself her unwitting target more times than she could count. Especially while they were still young. She learned to stand out of the way when she could. However, the harshest lesson was learning not to outshine her. Even if it wasn't on purpose. She had once received praise from an instructor for doing better than ashley during a piano lesson. As a result, a small thin line now stretched a couple of inches into her hairline, a constant reminder of the meltdown that had ensued. It was easily hidden by Alina's thick, wavy ash-brown hair. But it had left its mark unseen, deep inside Alina's Psyche. It had taken two days for alina to recover from falling down the stairs, and then a week of confinement as punnishment. After that, she never saw the instructor again, nor had she touched a piano since. It was a harsh lesson for someone so young, but Alina had learned not to stand out. From this, she also had grasped how to read a room. This adaptability earned her the title of Alpha's daughter's lapdog. Ironic, since she was wolf-less. Not having a wolf made her much smaller than other kids growing up. It also often made her a target to those jealous of her situation, but in turn, it made it easier for her to hide. Since, oddly enough, Alina had no scent. Eventually, she found she could blend in perfectly, like a wallflower. Or, in reality, it was more like she was a piece of furniture. Her lack of origin or scent had unsettled some of the pack members at first, but they quickly were quieted. The last bit of protest snuffed out when she had failed to shift at 14. After all, how could a wolf-less nobody be a threat? So, rather than suspicions, it garnered her more pity and annoyance. The maid who had entered silently helped Alina get dressed. Handing her a yellow and white plaid baby doll dress with a pleated collar and lace trim. Alina eyeballed it for a second and sighed. Ashley must have picked this one out for her to wear. The material was nice and soft, but the design looked Lolita and definitely would have been more appropriate for someone almost half her age. The bodice was pleated and had short, puffy bell sleeves, and the skirt stopped just above her knees, revealing her short legs. The maid pinned back her hair in a half-down style with a matching bow as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was still small for being almost 19. At only 5'4" and 162 lbs, she had a round face and large green eyes. There were pups not of shifting age larger than her. She almost seemed human, if not for her ability to heal so quickly and her her strength, which was no match for most wolves but was definitely greater than your average human. if only she had a better constitution, maybe then the moon godess would have granted her a wolf, and maybe then she would be prettier too. Tilting her head, she examined her features. She supposed she was pretty by normal standards but was rather plain compared to her packmates. She was sort of pale with a smattering of freckles across her nose. A bit softer in physique, not quite round but not quite fit either with an average-sized chest. She couldn't help but feel insecure. Werewolves, by nature, were known to be gorgeous creatures. Naturally athletic and tall due to their wolf counterparts. Higher-ranking wolves often took top spots in Hollywood's hottest listings. And lycans, she had heard, were comparable to Gods. Not that she'd ever get a chance to meet one Alina didn't mind being plain so much. Plain helped her blend in. Plain was safe. But being plain didn't stop Ashley from dressing her up like a doll every chance she got. Hey, if that kept Ashley happy, then Alina would certainly oblige. She would be the perfect doll with a smile on her face and her lips sealed. With a final sigh, Alina pulled on the provided white silk socks, the cuffs of which were adorned with little yellow flowers, and slipped into the matching white Mary Janes, completing the ensemble. "Might as well get the day started." she mumbled. The sooner it starts, the sooner it ends. And who knows, maybe our little princess will be feeling generous today. Plastering on a proper smile, Alina stepped out of her room and followed the maid down to the dining hall for breakfast.