Eclipse On Alpha

Chapter-4

[Irene Miles POV]

“Prince…” I looked in his eyes and they changed from bright blue to amber. Awestruck, I lost myself to him. Our eyes knew no other. The world disappeared. The music guided our steps and even while dancing, we found a way to remain eye locked. The mask covered all our tears. Being so close to him, I could see the drops sliding down the corner of his eyes and disappearing somewhere in the mask. I wondered why he was crying and above all, why did his tears trigger my heart to bleed, too. I wanted to see his face.

Since the second, I heard the harp music and that song, those memories kept on flashing back and forth in front of me. Gradually, the music faded with the last string being struck and our steps stopped. The tip of my shoes were only inches away from his. Panting, we kept on looking at one another.

I was asked to stand behind him after the dance and wait for other girls, but dancing in those shoes had exhausted me. I had no strength left to walk, but I tried to move away from prince Zane’s sight. He matched my step and stood in front of me, his hand raised to my mask. I widened my eyes. The mask had somehow provided me the courage to face the society, but I knew once it was taken off all that waited was embarrassment. My breaths stopped as his finger reached out behind my head to unfasten the ribbon holding my mask in place.

“Prince Zane!” I heard the queen’s voice, and the prince withdrew his hand. Seeking the opportunity, I hurried behind him. He turned and looked at me. His gaze made me stiffen my body, but the distance between us assured he wouldn’t hear my heart.

The other girls joined me, and we stood in a semicircle behind prince Zane. Queen stood beside him, “well done, all the ladies.” A round of applause filled the ballroom. As the noise settled, queen and prince talked about something in privacy. Prince Zane’s lips weren’t moving much. During the whole chat with the queen, it seemed as if he spoke only one word. Queen walked to us. The surrounding ladies were all looking at me. Why wouldn’t they?

“All of you were very cooperative and elegant, ladies. Your talents are unique and commendable, like your uniqueness in the world and in the Lycanaria society. Prince has chosen the girl he wants as his bride — as his mate,” she walked to the girl beside me. Before I could take a sigh of relief, she held my hand and pulled me to the centre of the hall. My body was numb all over and my heart was beating like a drum. “Irene Miles, I, the queen of Azalea, Inara Eliezer, wholeheartedly accept and invite you to be an important pillar of the Eliezer pack.”

I blanked out. Nobody told me what to do when I was chosen. Why was I chosen in the first place? There was no time for me to understand or do something when the hall filled with greetings and cheers. The girls who were with me came and congratulated me. All the noise and crowd triggered my panic attack. I felt as if I was breathing in a small closed room with no ventilation; the chandelier spun in front of my eyes and darkness spread throughout my senses. My lungs were hurting and I couldn't breath even if I wanted to.

The moment I opened my eyes, I was in a completely unfamiliar room. Its ceiling was made of white and blue marble and was much higher than the one I stayed in earlier. The bed was grand and everything in the room was carved out from beautiful white stones. The thing that caught my attention the most were the musical instruments that floated right above a magic circle made of blue marbles. There was a harp too.

I sat and looked around; the room was empty. I felt my face with my fingers and my mask was gone. “I was chosen…” the thought was very depressing, but I couldn’t deny that the prince chose me. I remembered the dance with him. “Those memories… Why are they badgering me so much?” I talked to myself when the queen came in. I got down from the bed and stood with my head held low.

“There was no need, my dear. You should rest more. Zane is reckless at times. Both of your strengths differ. He doesn’t understand that. Please forgive him for making you dance for so long,” the queen said. I wanted to tell her it was nothing, but I couldn’t. Words just wouldn’t come from my mouth. But she was so sweet and calm like the sound of the rain.

“This is Zane’s room. Do you like it?” I looked at her. “I know you talk little, but I hope you will make yourself at home. This room will soon be yours, too. By the way, Zane was the one who picked you up and brought you here. I was planning to take you to another room. I had especially prepared for you. But... never mind!” She chuckled dryly.

I bowed. And when I lifted my head, prince Zane walked in from the door. He was wearing his mask. “How are you?” Bells rang as soon as I heard his voice. It reminded me of the voice I heard last night. The voice was soothing, but cold. Healing but hurting. I turned and glanced at the harp.

Then I bowed to the prince, “t-thank you, prince.”

The queen let out a cold sigh, “finally! You said something. I thought you couldn’t speak. My son remains silent most of the time, too. What a perfect pair.” She looked very excited.

“I asked how you were!” His anger filled voice sent chills down my spine. I tensed my eyebrows in nervousness, breathing heavily, I looked at my feet. I thought he was angry after seeing my face and that he had to marry an ugly girl like me due to whatever reasons. Hearing his rough voice, I felt like crying when he asked again, his voice still deep but angrier, “I asked if you are ok!”

I nodded, “I-I am completely fine, prince Zane.” My voice trembled. Too scared to look at him, I held my head low.

The queen laughed nervously, “my dear Irene, do you have a family? You will stay in the Liezer palace from now on. Do you have a family or someone special you want to say goodbye to?”

I looked at her with a gasp, “my… father… he lives in the Sin Garden.”

“My dear! Your voice mixes honey in my ears. So sweet. Tomorrow, your private maids will take you there. You can visit your father and invite him here. We can establish a good relationship.”

“My father… never leaves the Sin Garden and especially not his hut. I am sure… he…”

“Oh, I understand. He must be a monk, right? It’s ok. You can meet him tomorrow. After that, we have marriage rituals that the Alpha and I expect you and Zane to complete together.” The queen was excited, but I wasn’t even sure if my father would be happy or mad at me when he heard about all this. Regardless, I wanted to meet him. I don’t know why I thought it might be the last chance to meet him.

“Now, let’s get you to your room, Irene. Come with me,” the queen walked to me and I walked with her until the prince held my wrist and stopped me. I gulped and my eyeballs froze into nothingness.

“The harp… do you like it?” Even though he was asking a simple question, it seemed as if he was scolding me for doing something wrong.

“L-Last night… I heard a song and the melody of the harp. So it fascinated me to see one here,” I said, avoiding eye contact with him. He dragged me to the magic circle. Queen Inara said nothing. He reached out his hand for the harp and it came floating in his fingers.

“I think you two should spend some time together. It will help you build a good relationship. I will take my leave,” queen looked sad. She gave me a painful smile and walked out of the room. The door closed, and it was just me and the prince left all alone. He held my wrist in one hand and the harp in the other and took me to the balcony beyond the magic circle. I tried my best to match his pace.

He sat on the sheet of grass covering the balcony and loosened his tunic. I gulped and sat at some distance from him; he was still wearing the mask. My eyes kept on looking at his face, trying to make out how he would look behind them. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath before his slim, fair fingers slid on the strings. I was immediately teleported to last night. It was the same song, same lyrics, same voice and the same melody.

I was brought back to my senses and then was deprived of it for the next second. My wish had come true — my wish to hear the song again had come true. I wonder if I could get answers to my questions too. He was like the bright moonflower blooming in the darkest night and I was like the only firefly being attracted to it like a magnet. I wanted to see his face.

“I wish… I could see your face…” I thought I was only thinking, but I had said it out in whispers that he heard. The song stopped, and he took off his mask, my eyes fixed on him. “Y-you are him!”

The face that had existed only in my dreams was existing in reality as prince Zane Eliezer.