Word Count: 1841

~Lavelle

This is a dreadful feeling.

I lie with my head on Mel's lap, fisting the pale green layers of her dress. Her hand runs soothingly down my hair, occasionally wiping at my damp cheeks.

I haven't cried in years. Not like this. It's made me realise how much I actually care about Avi and our growing relationship. Knowing it is doomed has caused me more heartache than I could have imagined.

"I'm ruined." I dab Mel's embroidered handkerchief under my eyes.

"You're not ruined. Don't be silly," she chides softly, her hair hanging down around her face in waves as she peers down at me.

"He's going to learn that I've sold off a family heirloom that has probably been passed down by Alpha's and Luna's for centuries, and he's going to kill me for it." I slap my hand over my eyes, shaking my head.

I should have found another way to get Caroline the money. I was so desperate, and now everything is falling apart around me.

Mel pulls my hand away from my face. "That's a bit dramatic."

It doesn't feel dramatic. It feels perfectly reasonable.

"If he doesn't kill me, he'll terminate our courtship and ensure I never find myself a match again," I groan.

I'm not sure why I'm so worried about that now. I never had good prospects to begin with, but now...I'm afraid I'm facing the reality that I'm going to be alone together.

Even worse, I'm going to be without Avi forever.

"I'm sure if you explain—"

"To explain it is tell him I am of low station, and that my sister that I never told him about is threatening to expose me." The former isn't a big deal, but admitting I let my sister manipulate me like that...I can't.

Mel watches me with sullen eyes as I sit up. My head is pounding from crying so much and my throat feels raw.

"All this secret keeping is only making your situation worse, Elle. You must tell him," she insists.

I drag my hands over my eyes, wiping away the last of my tears. There is no point continuing to be emotional.

"I plan to. I just...I'm about to meet his parents. Things are getting serious, and I'm happy about that." I bow my head, wondering how quickly my life can go from absolutely magical to back to its usual mess in an instance.

Mel rises, offering me her hand. "He won't mind. Now that he knows you, it won't be an issue at all."

I take her hand, letting her pull me from the floor. I sway, a little woozy. Mel's skirt has a wet patch on the front from my tears, marring the creamy pearl satin.

"I'll tell him, but after I meet his parents." I wring my hands together. "They'll never accept me otherwise."

Maybe I can hope Avi will pity me when I arrive to his dinner with no necklace resting against my chest. Perhaps I can delay an explanation until after the dinner, so I can share my life with Avi in private.

Mel smiles. "Good. You cannot create a relationship based on a lie."

"You're right. And I want to be honest with him. It's just, I've never had anything good in my life other than you, and this feels like a chance to live the life I've always dreamt of." I look around her room, at all the wealth and splendour she has been afforded in life. I'm happy for her, and I hate that I want just a piece of the comfort she has.

She watches me with a pitying look. "You're going to get that life, Elle. I promise you."

"Not unless I can get this necklace back."

Her perfectly straight teeth bite down on the flesh of her lip as she thinks. She gets this distant look on her eyes whenever she is considering something in incredible detail.

"Perhaps you could go back to the market you sold it at, and get it back." She wanders to her vanity, picking through her jewellery like it might reveal a replica of what Avi gifted me.

"I gave half of what it's worth to Caroline. She will be long gone by now." I sit down on Mel's bed with a huff, entirely trained of energy. "I can't afford it."

She meets my gaze in her mirror. "I'll help you then."

Panic rises in my throat, clamping down like a hand. I immediately shake my vigorously, already feeling the guilt of accepting her help when I've never really done much before to deserve it.

"No...No I won't let you."

Her expression falls. "Why not?"

"You shouldn't have to pull me out of a mess I got myself into," I exasperate. "You were gracious enough to let me date Avi, and you've allowed me to be dropped off at your home after every date, and let me wear your dresses."

She stands, approaching me. There is a controlled mellowness about her suddenly that I'm unused to. She grabs both of my shoulders, giving me a little shake.

"Avi was never going to want me. He wanted you, and I couldn't be more happy about that," she exclaims earnestly. "I haven't minded helping you in the slightest. Not when it keeps me within reach of ample gossip."

She winks at that, as if gossip is comparable currency to gold. Perhaps to her, it is, but to me, I don't have enough money to sate her if she ever changes her mind.

I shake my head. "It's too much."

"Trust me, I can afford the necklace," she says breezily, looking pointedly at all the lavish items in this room in turn.

I shift anxiously. So much so, it forces Mel to lower her hands from my shoulders. If I can't trust Mel to help me, then who can I? Avi isn't someone I'm willing to gamble on.

"I would pay you back of course. I'll work every day until it's done—"

"Elle, you're going to marry an Alpha. A fucking wealthy one!" She laughs brightly, giving my shoulder a nudge. "You'll pay me back in invitations to the palace and connections to the finest matches across many packs."

I smile weakly. "I would do that anyway."

Not that Mel needs my help. She has endless courtiers, but she is too picky to settle. She wants a noble from far away lands, who can bring her a whole new world.

"I know." Her eyes glisten. "That's why you're my best friend. Now come on, we need to get to the markets before it gets any darker out."

I grab her arm, forcing her to look at me. "I love you Mel. Seriously."

Her eyes soften, but only for a moment. "I love you too. Now hurry!"

After she floats a short cloak over my shoulder and pulls the hood over my head, we start off the market. A dusk pulls the village closer toward night, shadows gather in corners, making the buildings seem larger and more haunted.

We find the market teeming with people despite the waning hour. I come here often enough, so navigating the narrow and curving streets is no difficult feat at all.

Mel stays pressed close to me, feeling less comfortable the further we walk. Unfortunately, the vendor I pawned the necklace off to doesn't offer his services in the open. We have to find him mingled amongst other, more legitimate businesses.

The vendor immediately looks up from where he was adjusting the decoy jewellery items on his market stand.

"I'm sorry ladies. I sold the necklace this morning," he announces.

I stop abruptly, nearly knocking a group of people behind us off course. Mel and I hustle close to the stall, looking hopelessly at the ageing male on the other side.

"Are you serious?"

"That is what I do. I buy and sell my wares." He stretches his hands over the jewellery before us, although we are both aware that the fine and expensive stuff is hidden. "That necklace fetched me plenty of money. I can buy a horse for my daughter now."

"That is wonderful, sir. Truly," I exclaim. "Can you tell me who bought the necklace?"

He scratches his spare facial hair thoughtfully.

"I didn't see much of his face. I think he's come from far and took the necklace straight out of the pack," he explains woefully. "He was insistent about buying, and paid me more than it's worth."

"No..." I groan, glancing at Mel.

Of course it was bought right away. The necklace was stunning. The buyer may have even known it belonged to the Alpha's family and is taking it to resell elsewhere, in other packs.

"It's okay, Elle. We can find this man." Mel rubs my arm soothingly, although her smile falters.

"How?" It would be like chasing a ghost. "He's clearly wealthy, probably a trader."

"Then we travel to the port and ask about him. If he's a trader, he probably took a ship to the mainland," she insists.

My stomach aches. This is utterly hopeless. We've lost, and my chance with Avi is gone. It's what I deserve, I suppose, but it's difficult to comprehend.

Life is cruel, giving me everything then taking it away.

"Then what?" I rub my face, the back of my throat feeling raw from the effort of not crying again. "We can't get to the port and back before Saturday anyway."

Mel's expression is only growing warier. "We have to do something."

I shake my head. I have to face reality and accept that I've made a mistake, and I can't go back. Avi deserves to know the truth about his family heirloom, and I need to face the consequence of his reaction.

"It's okay. I'm going to tell him the truth," I state decidedly.

"Perhaps you could make up an excuse? Tell him the necklace gave you a rash." Mel shrugs, searching for an answer she won't find.

"It's time to stop lying now, Mel."

She sighs through her nose before she nods. She can see this for what it is.

"Very well." She dips her head. "I admire you for that."

"You'll get the debrief straight after the dinner, if I'm even going to still be invited." My stomach aches at the thought of appearing at the dinner, only to be told to leave right, disgraced before Avi's parents.

"I'll dress you for the occasion." She offers a smile, but it's pitiful. "You're going to look fit to marry an Alpha, and those damn people are going to know it."

We walk away from the markets together, arms wound around each other's back. Only time will tell how this will turn out.

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If you want to read ahead, you can find this story on Inkitt 15 chapters ahead! The first five chapters are available for free (:

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~Midika 💜🐈‍⬛