ONE

~Faye 

The paper is as fine as silk between my fingertips.

Sunlight dances through my window, a sheen of glitter shimmering across the surface like the many facets of a gem. It almost seems to frame the swirling cursive test with faux pleasantry. 

Darling daughter,

I’m positive the Goddess would like to hear you sing today. 

~Mother

Singing to the Moon Goddess is something I have done ever since I was a young child. As ruler of our land, the Goddess makes full decisions on our futures, and to help her make positive ones for my Pack, I sing to her. She feeds off the harmonies, the melody.

It’s not something I enjoy, though. Singing to a pillar on my knees for an hour can get tiresome after awhile. 

I let the paper fall from my hand and flutter back onto the surface of my desk. This happens most mornings, but clearly today she wanted to stress it. This must be her twisted way of considering forgiving me for what I did last night. Sneaking out, in her opinion, is not living up to my duties as an Alpha. I'll never understand her wicked reasoning.

The moment I leave my bedroom, two of my favourite female Guards begin to follow me. They are my favourite because they know when I need space, even when I don’t say anything. 

I just hope this Huntsman, Cal, is like that.

The building where I sing was made years ago for my great, great grandmother, when she was an Alpha. Hearing my mother sings always makes me feel uncomfortable. her voice stunningly beautiful, and I doubt I even come close to her talent. 

The temple is on an open platform, multiple marble pillars carved into whirling patterns and shapes of creatures and native trees from the Independence Pack. Magic warms the air, snow capped mountains in the distance suggesting that the air would otherwise be brittle with cold.

Brushing through the sheer curtain's that frame my private room, I leave the Guards at the behind. They aren’t allowed in here when I sing.

This place is beautiful, really. It’s dressed in colours of purple and gold, the drapes hanging across the pillars glint with the morning sun streaming through. The tapestries and art on the wall has been explained to me before, and as per tradition, I acknowledge each piece before I kneel on the flat mat mother once told me was weaved out of real gold thread. 

Maybe that’s why it’s so uncomfortable. 

Drawing in a breath, I stare down at the floor, the inscriptions that have been carved in are polish everyday, depicting a language I've been made familiar with since I was a child. Apparently it poses as a direct portal to where the Moon Goddess is. As much as I believe in her, I’m not exactly sure if I serves anything more than a ceremonial purpose.

Three candle are placed on the ground in front of me, a small box of matches beside it. I strike one, lighting the scented candles so they glow brilliantly. 

Then I begin to sing. 

The scented smoke comes from candles that have been engineered in the Wisdom Pack to assist my voice. Every time I sing to the Goddess, I must make sure I’m at my best, giving her the positivity she needs to continue on, giving her blessings to my Pack. It’s a beautiful thing, for the first ten minutes. 

I don’t really get that far. The feeling of eyes on my back is so heavy my shoulders almost slump from the weight of it. 

My singing ceases, as I turn around. I would expect my mother on a normal day, having been wheeled out by her healer to ensure I've partaken in my daily duty. Only those of my bloodline are allowed to witness my singing, otherwise the link between myself and the Moon Goddess will be broken, trust the most important component.

Which is why it's so appalling as a figure enters the room.

It's a man, standing with the curtains at his back. He isn’t familiar in the slightest, and most definitely isn't from my Pack.

His most striking feature is his eyes, the colour of autumnal leaves, soft and warm as they glide over me, over the space. His hair is an oak brown, slightly too long as if brushes against his eyebrows, shifting as he moves. I'm suddenly too aware of his broad stature, how tall he is.

I’m swiftly on my feet, my dress twisting with my legs. “You shouldn’t be watching me sing.”

“I’m not watching you sing, I’m listening,” he replies, raising a dark eyebrow at me. I'm stunned speechless for a moment, wondering how this stranger go near the estate let alone in my place of worship.

“And who are you?” I question. 

He shrugs, stepping further in the room. At this point, he’s ignoring me, gazing around the room, taking in all the colourful artwork, before he concentrates on the golden mat, candles and the pillar. He doesn’t look confused, only slightly amused by it all. 

I sigh, “You need to leave. This is a ritual that is not meant to be interrupted.”

“You're singing to the Goddess, how fascinating,” he continues. I watch him carefully, making sure he wasn't going to make any suspicious moves or blow out my candles. “How long do you, as the Alpha, have to-”

“Who are you?” I snap, cutting him off.

“I work here.”

I'm not fully familiar with everyone who works in my residence, however, I'm sure I would remember his face if he did. My suspicion only grows, knowing my staff know never to interrupt this important ritual. I should be angry with him, yet I can't bring myself to be.

“As?”

“I'm merely a simple servant here to walk you back to your room,” he tells me. Noticing my raised brow, he continues. “As per your mother's commands, of course.”

Oh.

Readjusting my skirts, I blow out my candles, watching the tendrils of smoke drift up as I consider the guilt swirling in my stomach. If mother demands to see me, I must go, regardless of what I am missing out on.

The stranger watches me with careful eyes as I speak. “She wants me to stop my singing now?”

I don't mention to him the note. I try not to give everyone an idea of much she controls me, even though I am the Alpha. I doubt this man cares much, as he motions for me to follow him. I can't decide if I'm intrigued, or if it bothers me that he seems so unfazed by the fact that I am the Alpha and he could be punished for coming in here.

“Fine. Can I have your name?” I ask, noting his attire isn't common place here for most of my staff. He wears a dark tunic and pants, no Independence Park crest anywhere to be seen. Not to mention his skin has clearly seen more sun than is possible if he actually grew up here.

“I'm simply a lowly servant to you, Alpha Faye,” he says airily, although I note the hint of amusement, as if this conversation greatly entertains him. I narrow my eyes upon him, his earthy loam and lemon scent mingling with the jasmine incense that catch on the light breeze.

"Alright," I murmur uneasily.

I'm not sure why his identity bothers me so much. He brushes the curtains out of the way for me to step through, the heat of his body making me flush until we step back out into the main courtyard, the central garden buzzing with life.

“You don't seem so happy about this?” He notices, as we begin to walk side by side toward my room. I'm not used to that. Usually they trail behind, not wanting to generate any kind of conversation with me. 

I don't release my breath until we are beyond the line of sight of those who dwell in the garden space, enjoying the morning sun that has become a rare occurrence recently. They will all want to know who this handsome stranger is walking by my side.

“I don't need one. I'm the Alpha, I can look after myself,” I mutter, as we make it back inside the main building.

“I understand, but the Silent's are a real problem here. They are highly, trained, dangerous, and none of them have remorse. They sign up to horrible missions to kill, under the order of Alpha Kael. All of them are cowards, who would rather have their throats slit than talk about a single fact of their origin,” He tells me sternly. 

I've never heard someone describe them like that. I've been told to forget they exist, and let my Guards deal with it. 

“That's why I sing,” I tell him softly. “To keep myself and my Pack safe.”

He doesn't say anything for a moment. When I glance at him, his brows are furrowed, eyes dark. His features are sharp, the contours of his face lined with shadow, eyes suggesting they have seen more than the simple life of a servant.

We keep walking. I hate the fact that my mother's room is situated so far away from where I sing, since I go there almost everyday, in a ritual dress that has me sweating in a few steps. It's not necessarily very pretty either, the emerald colour of the Goddesses eyes.

“So, Alpha, explain an average day in your life,” the man asks, changing the conversation to something of a lighter note. I falter for a moment, wondering what has compelled him to ask me such a thing. I'm used to meekness from those who work from me, who fear me. His charisma is mildly irritating, yet refreshing.

I think about that for a moment. “In the mornings I sing, always. A Guard typically accompanies me for a walk around the gardens. Then its lunch, study and business. Sometimes on the weekends I'll visit the villages within my Pack.”

“Sounds utterly uniform,” he comments, tilting his head.

I couldn't agree more, although I would never admit that. Especially not when

“I like it,’ I lie. 

“Sometimes life is better being free,” he says and I cast my gaze up to him, knowing there is no use to explaining to him that I don't get much of a choice.

At this point, we have made it to the edge of my quarters. I'm more focused on the man in front of me. All I want to do study him, find out who he is, and his job here entails. Instead he bows graciously, and backs up a few steps. 

“I shall see you soon, Alpha,” he says, before he turns and walks away.