The Alpha's Cellist

Soft, melodic music sifted lazily through the stone halls of Delhakida, the only castle to still stand on the northern cliffs of Aggade. After the fall of the tribes to the East, many of the sacred castles had been sacked, and left in ruin. A small, thin young woman sat in the lower halls, chained by her ankle to a carved marble bed post, a worn cello leaning against her as she played. Her long, honey brown hair falling to her knee as she ran the bow across its strings with a fluidity many had never been able to achieve. Her fingers plucked at the strings so softly it almost seemed as if she hadnt even touched them. Her fingers, calloused from years of playing non-stop, flew along the strings, the melody curving and swaying along with her as she leaned into the music as though it were a friend. She played a soft, mournful melody, beautiul, but a hint of longing played at the edges, dropping the tone and reverberating through the halls. The door to her room slammed open, starling the girl, her bow striking the strings, causing it to shriek loudly in the room. "Lyra!" A voice shrieked from the doorway. The girls shoulders fell as the woman continued to yell, "The Alpha and I have told you repeatedly not to play such depressing music! It brings down the entire household, and nothing gets done!" The woman stepped into view, her curvy, pale body wrapped in too many layers of chiffon, making her look like a cupcake with too much icing. Her thin lips were pressed into a line of irritation. "I'm sorry, Luna Zara, i-it won't happen again.", the girl named Lyra stammered. "See that it does not, girl. We only keep you around for diplomatic reasons, we don't have to keep you." the Luna sneered. "Alpha Kane would love to have you thrown to the Rogues." the snotty woman leaned over Lyra, "And I wouldn't mind helping." Lyra flinched. She had been captive in this castle since the final tribe had been taken,and forced to play for their Alpha whenever he needed something to go his way. Lyra's abilities lay well beyond musical prowess. When she played, she was able to gently touch the emotions, and manipulate them, of others if she played certain ways. She didn't fully understand why, but she was told it had to do with an Empathic ability her mother was born with. This pack had used her to gain wealth and prosperity by lying to and manipulating everyone they deemed worthy of serving them in some way. Rolling her eyes, the Luna waved her hands at the girl. "Get cleaned up and dressed, we meet with Alpha Rowan and his team this evening, and if you mess this up for us, you will wish we'd thrown you to the Rogues." Lyra nodded and silently stood to begin preparing for the meeting they had been planning for weeks. Alpha Kane needed an alliance with Alpha Rowan in order to begin trade systems for their resources. The pack was growing too fast for the infrastructure Alpha Kane was currently able to provide, and soon, he would need more land as well. He fully intended on taking it from Alpha Rowan for little profit on Rowan's part. Lyra hated her talent being darkened in such a way. She wanted to make people happy with her music, not make them do unspeakable things. But Lyra didn't have a choice. The Rogues were no better than savage, unlawful beasts, killing, eating, forcing anyone they wished their lust upon. Shuddering at the thought of being tossed to one of their groups, Lyra sighed and pulled on the only elegant gown she owned. It was hideous,a shiny brown, it made her pale and sickly looking, but modest enough to play for their guests without raising questions. She covered the bruises on her ankles from the cuff links with ballet style slippers, the ribbons wide enough they covered the cuff link shaped wounds. She pulled her long hair up into a semi high pony, the waves cascading down her back in a thick rope to her lower back. She took a few moments to check her bow, strings and cello, made some adjustments and dusted it off gently with a cloth. Ready, she picked up her cello and stood beside the door, waiting for the Luna's handmaiden to retrieve her for the meeting. When the handmaiden, Prya, arrived to take her to the great hall, she bowed her head and followed her silently. Prya didn't speak to her either, they weren't allowed to speak to one another. They made their way to their seats in the hall, and Lyra's gaze slowly made its way across the room. She recognized a few of their pack, the Gamma, one of the Omegas there to assist the team, but she had never met Alpha Rowan. He had been appointed after shed met the the first team. Her eyes landed on one of the men she didn't recognize and her heart skipped a beat. His shoulder length oak brown hair was resting on broad, strong shoulders. His top lay loose and open against his bare chest and his smile as he spoke with his Beta was...distracting, to say the least. His eyes suddenly met hers, and she watched in dismay as they darkened and his smile fell. She cringed and hurried away to her spot, where she quickly sat and began playing her song, immediately trying to soften the room. The evening progressed and everyone began milling around happily as dinner was called. As they ate they all began chatting and some of them had imbibed a bit too much, obviously. They were all loud and laughing, talking about boundary walls and Rogue packs causing trouble. Lyra continued playing her soft, gentle melodies. The room began to calm after awhile and talk was turned to alliances and resources. Alpha Kane called for coffee and dessert, which was Lyras cue to play her next song, her fingers shifting the song so effortlessly no one even questioned if the song had changed mid bar. Suddenly the room was filled with a thick, forceful feeling, pushing against the will of the people in the room, making their wills more pliable, more trusting. Alpha Kane began pressing for more, with his pack putting forth less effort and assistance than Rowan's pack would ever actually be comfortable with. As Lyra played, the Beta and Gamma of Rowans pack began to agree, but Rowan seemed frustrated with them. Questioning why they would even consider such a request. "You think I'm a fool, Kane? Those numbers are ridiculous, we aren't a charity, we have to see something from such a deal as this. What else can you offer us?" He questioned, irritated.Kane glanced at Lyra, an angry, questioning look, sending daggers through her as she pushed against Rowan's will a little more. But something was off. It wasn't working on Rowan. Lyra's heart raced. If she blew this she was dead. Panicking, she played harder, Rowans Beta and Gamma beginning to argue with their Alpha. Grimacing, Lyra knew shed lost control of the situation, but couldn't understand why. What was so different about Rowan?? "Perhaps, if you'd give me the night to confer with my advisors, we may have gotten our numbers mixed up. I apologize, Alpha Rowan, if you'll accept my hospitality, I'll have a gift sent to your room for the evening." Kane said, standing and offering Rowan his hand. Rowan nodded, grasped his hand firmly and stood. "I expect to move forward with things in the morning, Alpha Kane." The Alphas bid each other good night and Lyra was silently led from the room once more by Prya, who cuffed her ankle and left her in her room alone, quiet, waiting to find out her fate from the Alpha and Luna over this massive failure. But when the Luna finally unlocked the door and stepped inside, she didn't have fury in her eyes, it was more fear and confusion. "Get presentable, quickly, girl. Alpha Rowan has asked to meet the musical player of the evening." She was wringing her hands, clearly nervous. After her failure to manipulate the Alpha, Zara should have been furious with her, but she seemed more like a mouse backed in a corner. "Yes ma'am." Lyra said and quickly made herself as presentable as possible and followed the Luna through the stone halls, into the West Wing, where the diplomatic suites were. They stopped outside one of the doors and Luna Zara looked her over, straightening here and there. "Now, make us proud, child." She said, half smiling, awkwardly trying to be encouraging. Alpha Rowan was known to be ruthless, and they all knew they'd taken a major gamble with this one. Nodding, Lyra held her cello and bow and turned to the door. Zara knocked and after a second the door opened, Rowan stood in the doorway, and held out an arm, inviting her in. "Go on." Zara encouraged. Lyra stepped softly into the center of the room, and Rowan closed the door behind them. Alone with Rowan, Lyra was suddenly afraid. Why HAD he requested her?? Rowan stood, facing the door until he was sure Zara had left. As he stood there, Lyra spoke softly. "My Lord, did you wish for me to play for you?" She asked. Rowan stood against the door, his palms pressing firmly against it, and a soft, growled "No." sent fear through her core. He turned around and when her eyes met his, she stopped breathing. Suddenly she smelled him. And understood why he'd asked for her. "Mate." They said softly together, his eyes darkening, as hers shined a bright silver. Oh she was in SO much more trouble than she thought...