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“Issa, this will save our family.” My mother says as she adorns my hair with golden ornaments and ribbons. “Your father and I thought long and hard before making this decision. It wasn’t easy.” “Perhaps for you. For Stepfather, I’m not so sure.” I say in a resigned voice. The pins poke my scalp unpleasantly and I resist the urge to claw them out. The collar of the satin gown is tight around my neck and my body feels heavy from the weight of fabric and situation. I catch my mother’s eyes in the mirror. The familiar glint of frustration is clear in her gaze and I fall back into silence. My half-sisters, Arnet and Lilly, are at my feet, scrubbing away at my toes and heels with a mixture of milk, honey, and oats. My youngest half-sister, Misa, rubs lotion on my arms and exposed shoulders, carefully avoiding the dress's fabric. “Girls, please leave us a moment.” Mother lets the last curl of my hair fall across my left shoulder and rubs gentle hands along my arms. My sisters leave the room and I remove my feet from the unpleasant texture of the gray basin. I lean forward and towel off the moisture, trying to avoid the conversation I knew was coming. My mother comes to stand in front of me and lifts both of my feet onto her lap. She applies lotion and in the dancing light of the candles, I can see her age. Her once smooth, caramel skin is lined with wrinkles. Her eyes are sunken and dark from lack of nutrition and sleepless nights. Her hair, dark curls falling to her shoulders, lacks the shine and luster it used to have ten years prior.. That was when our life started to go downhill. Our fortune squandered by my step-father, my mother cast out of the pack for mating with a rival clan, and my sisters ousted for not being my father’s offspring, and losing all future marriage prospects. Then there is me, the only true daughter of the pack leader being sold off to another clan for money. My father tolerates me because I am useful. I am the only one of his children that can shift at will. This is what they seek. “You know, when you were born, the clan celebrated for three days and nights. We feasted, danced, and caused such a scene the elders had to come down from the mountains to quieten us.” She chuckles softly and slips my feet into the crystal-adorned, crimson heels. “You were my first child and your father adored you so much. We all did.” She gets quiet and I can feel the waves of guilt and anguish from her skin. It brushes my body like a cold wind. I rub my arms and stand to look at myself in the mirror. I can hardly recognize myself. My wild, ebony curls are tamed into an updo of ringlets and pins. My dark, mocha skin glows subtly in the candlelight, made brighter by the gown's red. My lips are painted ruby and gold eyeshadow glitters when I blink. I look like my mother and I hate myself for it. “I know this is my fault, Issa. My decisions got us here. I fell in love with another man and now our family is destitute. Your father is only agreeing to help us because your marriage will be fruitful.” She turns me away from the mirror and locks her gaze with mine. “Your father does not hate you because of what I did. He hates that you look so much like me. It pains him and I can’t be angry about how he feels. I betray everything we stood for and now I am paying the price. We all are.” There is a soft knock at the door and Misa pokes her head inside, “They’re here.” The door closes softly behind her and my heart pounds in my chest. I feel short of breath and the world begins to swim around me. I sink into the chair and clutch at my throat, fighting for a single breath. The scent of lilacs and cedar fills my nose and I am instantly calmed. My mother holds me tight against her body and releases her pheromones. I breathe in the familiar fragrance and allow my tears to flow for the first time since I heard I was being sold. I breathe deeply as though I can pull her into me and take her with me. I cling to her as I had not done since I was young. The cotton of her dress is itchy, but I don’t care. All I care about is that she is holding me, comforting me, and treating me like her child again. “It’s going to be okay. I hear the Ryeok Clan is a very kind family of Alphas. They treat their members well and you will never want for anything.” She pulls me away and wipes my tears from my eyes. “I know this alliance is for money and security, but I hope you won’t close your heart to the idea of love. Don’t make my mistakes. Be smart and know I love you more than life itself.” Her tears trickle down her cheeks and I nuzzle her hands. We rise together and leave the room. I take one last look at the wooden walls, tall candelabras, and floor-length mirrors. My bed is still unmade as though I would return to it that very night. My closet stands open and empty, all of my belongings long since sold or shipped off to my new home. I hated the room when I first arrived in this rundown manor, but now…I wish I had more time within it. The door closes on my old life and I turn to face something new.