19. The Letter and the Lady

Seff swallowed the knot that rose in her throat and nodded, now only wanting to flee. But Sol pulled her back once more.
“I do have mail for you.”
*Hawthorn*, her homesick mind hoped. But the letter was not a cheap envelope brought from the corner store; it was some expensive stationery with her name on it, but it wasn’t Hawthorn’s writing. “Who is this from, Sol?”
The Beta shrugged and was already walking away. Kiran was still in that room. Seff hurried to follow her, slamming the harem door shut herself, and retreated to her own room. Collapsing onto the couch, she Shifted her forefinger nail into a claw and slit the envelope open.
A tri-folded letter of creamy cardstock was inside. Heart pounding, Seff drew it out and unfolded it.
The letterhead was a moon.
Seff tossed the letter as if burned her. It sailed peacefully onto the floor.
Why would *Selene Hilal* send her a letter?
She closed her eyes and dropped her head back. “Just leave me alone,” she whispered to no one. After a few moments of the suspense killing her, Seff picked the letter back up and steeled herself before reading it.
*Seff,*
It was already informal, as if the two females were perfect friends.
*I apologize deeply*
Seff snorted. When did any Alpha apologize for anything ever?*
for not just my behavior but for Kiran’s the past two days. It has been difficult for us lately.*
What was difficult? Having money, power, sex, and anything else the world provided on platters for them?
*I will be brutally honest in revealing that there has been a death in both of our packs.*
Seff blinked. Selene herself mentioned at the Choosing “lost ones.”
*I killed one of Kiran’s Omegas in retaliation for him murdering mine first. Now my harem has a six-year-old orphaned pup. I do not like the thought of you in the presence of an Alpha content with taking the lives of mothers.
I humbly request you come visit Castle Night. I want to apologize in person as well as treat you to a tour. Perhaps a meal as well, if you wish. Come to the front gate tomorrow night, eight o’clock. My Delta will be expecting you. No harm will come to you, I swear upon my immortality.
I await your presence at moonset, Selene.*
Seff’s fingers crushed the letter in her fist. It was all wrong on so many levels. First, she risked getting a message from the Moon to the Sun; two, she had the gall to invite Seff to *dinner*? At the opposing pack, just a few days after the Choosing, when no one had the chance to settle into their new surroundings? Three: no matter how little loyalty she had to the Sun, she was being asked to betray it, as if it didn’t mean risking Seff’s own life. Four: Selene had done equally horrible things like *murder*, and casually admitting to it, so why would Seff feel comfortable being around her?
Clearly obsession was linked with rage. Seff did not want to be caught between two Alphas.
Seff sighed, releasing her own anger. She named the cons—just the basics—and her instinct told her at least weigh the pros.
It was a chance to escape Kiran and Allium as well as the beautiful gold prison. It was a chance to get answers. Selene seemed willing to offer an explanation to the Alphas’ strong reactions. And maybe she had a secret longing to see Castle Night and its black marble walls. And what was wrong with a nice dinner?
*Fine*. Against all better judgment, Seff chose the sliver of hope. She would go to the stronghold of the Moon pack.
She forgot about the guards.
The next morning, after another fitful—but nightmare-free—sleep, Seff opened her door to find two lesser Alphas stationed at either side. Like windup soldiers, they turned on their heels to face her. “Good morning, Miss Bleize,” greeted the first.
“Lord Kiran instructed us to be your personal guards from now on,” said the second, gold eyes flicking down to her generous exposure of skin and quickly looking up again, struggling not to blush. Seff scented with unease that he was in his rut cycle.
“Is it really a good idea to match an Omega with an Alpha in the middle of his cycle?” Seff inquired, pulling her hair forward to hide as much skin as possible. “*Kiran* approved this?”
The first male wasn’t in heat, but he was just as flustered. “We do not question our lord, Lady Bleize.”
Perhaps it was the stress that made her feel demure. “So I’m a *lady* now? Did he tell you to call me that?”
Their discomfort seemed to grow with each word she said. “Um, yes—Lady. Some of his favorite Omegas are to be called that…Lady.”
Seff raised her eyebrows, which made them look toward and away from her quickly. “What are your names?”
“Altan Oriana,” said the first promptly. His hair, gold of course, was shaved at the sides.
The second, his hair shaggy. “Elio Oriana, my lady. Altan is my twin.”
She dipped her head in greeting. “Pleasure to meet you two,” she said to convince herself to see them as anything but new shadows to follow and report her every movement. But at least they were cute, unlike some of the other lesser Alphas she saw lurking around the Keep who seemed more inclined to do more than follow. She asked them both, “How old are you?”
“Eighteen as of yesterday,” they answered together.
Though they were the same age as her, the twin males seemed very young. If Kiran wanted to “protect” her, why would he put two inexperienced pups in charge of guarding her? And Alphas, no less? For their strength and possessiveness to defend, yes, but there was the chance that they would want to mate with her. Especially Atlan, mind muddled with his rut cycle’s desire to do only that. Kiran would not want anyone even *thinking* of touching one of his Omegas. Unless he threatened them.
“You two seem very capable of your job, very loyal to your—our—lord. He must really trust you with this important task. And if he asked you to call me lady, then I must be very special to him.”
They nodded enthusiastically, eager to prove their loyalty, forgetting their professionalism in favor of basking in her praise. Seff then had a terribly selfish idea. It repulsed her. But she needed to escape this place, and she could use their naivety to get past the Keep’s gates, even if she took no pleasure in doing so. She brushed her hair back, pressing her arms together to push her breasts up. The young males noticed and then pretended not to. “Could I ask a favor of you, then?”
Altan nodded. “He said to grant your every request.”
“Within reason, I’m sure,” she said gravely. “How about a walk in the orchard—tonight, by myself? I need fresh air after being stuck in my room for so long. The night offers the cleanest air. It just clears the lungs, you know?”
Now Elio nodded. “I agree. I think that should be fine, as long as you’re in our eyesight.”
“Yes, of course.” Seff smiled her sweetest. “I trust no other Alphas than you.”
Elio mouthed *Alpha* as if he forgot he was one, pleased. “You can trust us, Lady Seff!”
“Perfect. We can meet, say, at seven o’clock at the gate tonight? I’d love to watch the sunset.”
They exchanged looks again before nodding emphatically. “That fits our schedule, Lady!”
She beamed. But it was short-lived.
The other Chosen weren’t any kinder than they were yesterday. They seemed to think Seff would bristle if they told her that it was proven that Allium was with Kiran while they mundanely ate breakfast—a glorious upgrade to prime deer meat. Simple, delicious deer meat. Endine had to make the joke of what the Alpha and Allium were eating.
Sol actually gave them a tour of the nursery afterward. Cedar and Iris gushed over the puppies—anywhere from newborn to four years old, before they were moved to the next building over. Some of the other Omega females were playing with them, or dressing or clothing, or feeding them. There wasn’t a frown in sight, much less silence. It was noisy with crying whimpers, laughter, yowling, things falling or thrown against a wall in a tantrum. It assaulted Seff’s ears until they went to the next wing; she hadn’t realized how large the nursery was.
Here was where the pregnant Omegas spent their time: in absolute comfort. All the current males or females lounging—another list held their number and date-range of when they would give birth—in a couch pit. Their bellies were swollen, their skin stretched thin and veiny, in all different trimesters. 
Cedar reacted as if she just won the lottery. She bounded over to the Omegas, startling them and causing some bared teeth to instinctually protect their unborn pups. She didn’t seem to notice, immediately launching into babbling out questions. Luckily Iris, Flora, and Endine weren’t so overenthusiastic.
Seff watched them pad over after the Omegas invited them to sit, but she lingered back and watched. Eventually, their bellies would be swelling, living their lives in rooms like royalty, content in the world.
Seff didn’t want any of it. She wasn’t ready to settle. But what was she ready for?
Sol finally shooed them out. They spilled out into the center of the compound where some older pups played games while the mothers or fathers were basking in the sun in their wolf forms.
They were allowed to split and wander—as long as they didn’t bother the nursery again—and didn’t have to converge for lunch or dinner if they decided not to. But first Sol had to point to the building they apparently didn’t tour yet: the actual harem.
Kiran also had frisk floors. And at least a dozen Betas ready to sex up any Omega who trotted through the door. As well as other Omegas if they had no pups to raise.
Even Seff admitted that was nice. She *would* have to expend some energy lest she get too pent-up. Losing herself to bliss was a perfect escape.
Instead, she invited Altan and Elio to her room where they spent the entirety of the day simply chatting. If they were to follow Seff wherever she went, she might as well make friends of them—and maybe ease her guilt just a little. When night came, and they all went to the Keep’s gate and slipped out, no questions asked by the two Alpha guards. The young males flanked her much too closely, but Seff’s irritation was second only to her regret for being so selfish.
They strolled in companionable silence through the orchard. When they were out of eyesight, she stopped, and before the twins could ask what was wrong, Seff swung.
“Sorry,” she said as she punched them both unconscious.