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It's called The Last Alpha

Word Count: 2281

~Lavelle

I only allow myself a day of rest before I return to my normal routine.

Finding one here hasn't been easy, but I've been filling my day. Some of the maids let me help them with various tasks, which has kept my mind occupied, although I'm getting restless. Zyre has offered to introduce me to tasks he has to do as Alpha, but that would mean spending time with him.

I need to find out more about my past. I'm convinced it's what will link me to the reason Zyre's brother wants my child.

I'm in my room, sorting through my belongings from home when a maid appears at the door.

"Ma'am, there is someone in the entry hall for you."

"Oh. I'll be done shortly," I say with a tight smile.

She nods and vanishes, leaving me to wonder who would visit and wait in the foyer. Mel visits often, and each time she lets herself in and comes and finds me wherever I am in the palace.

I pad downstairs, brushing past staff going about their days.

Standing in the great hall, is my sister, her head tilted up to admire the gaping space.

My heart drops to my stomach at the sight of her.

She's wearing the same threadbare coat as I last saw her in. Her hair is less matted, but only because a great deal of it has clearly fallen out. Her skin is splotchy and pale, and her eyes are rimmed bright red as they come to rest on me.

This is the worst I've ever seen her. Each time she worsens, but this current state...it makes my stomach churn.

"Caroline?" I bound down the last of the stairs toward her. "What the fuck happened to you?"

"I can't remember the last time I slept inside." She rubs the back of her neck. "That clearly hasn't been a problem for you, has it, sis?"

The cruel look she gives me makes my skin prickle. She resents me, and considering the environment I've spent the last few months in, I can't blame her.

I'm dressed completely in expensive fabrics — this very outfit is one I couldn't afford, let alone my entire wardrobe, before. My hair is smooth and brushed up into a neat updo, and my skin is scrubbed immaculately clean. I even smell luxurious, like spiced oils and clean perfume.

"Things have changed, but not exactly for the better." I rub my arm awkwardly. I hate feeling like I need to justify this life to her.

She cocks her head. "Are you sure? This place is pretty fucking insane, and last time I checked, you're married to an Alpha."

She looks around again with an overexaggerated expression on her face. I roll my eyes, familiar with this routine.

Each time she reappears in my life, she finds something that is going well for me and uses it to justify her plea for money. She is so hard done by, while everything in my life has gone so well.

My life might look great, but it's not, and she has no idea.

"I'm not married to the right one," I mutter.

"Mm, people aren't happy, that is for sure." She grins, amused. "Seems you've been labelled a traitor."

I cross my arms over my chest with a sighing. She had her moment to drink in my misery. It seems she never left town, like she told me she would. Not if she knows everything that is going on.

"What do you want, Caroline?"

"I just thought I would come visit and see my little sister. See her new life." She steps closer, reaching out to push my shoulder playfully.

I brush her off irritably. "Well I don't want you here. You almost screwed me with the necklace."

"Clearly I didn't, otherwise you wouldn't be here, in this palace, married to an Alpha," she reminds me, her amused façade beginning to slip. There is deep, cold resentment in there somewhere, and she can't contain it.

My eyes narrow. "You think I want what has happened—"

"Lavelle, dear," a voice cuts in from across the foyer. "You have a guest."

Zyre strides over, adjusting the lapels of his jacket. A easy, graceful smile is at his lips, but his eyes betray him. They gaze over my sister sharply — it's clear he remembers her.

I clear my throat. "Zyre, you remember my sister, Caroline?"

She gapes at him, jaw slack. I don't blame her for looking, he is beautiful, and here, within the confines of the palace walls, he looks like the true Alpha of this pack.

"Oh it's you, from the bar. The hot one." She looks over him indulgently. "So, this was a plan to sabotage Alpha Avi all along? People's theories are right?"

She points between us, like she's putting two and two together.

"Stop, Caroline. I knew nothing about Zyre was plotting. The only reason I was speaking to him at that bar was because he knew about you, and...it doesn't matter." I wave my hand, exasperated. "Just go."

"Lavelle knew nothing about what I was plotting against Avi," Zyre explains calmly, his shoulder brushing against mine as he stands beside me. "I'm going to ask you not to make accusations like that again in my home, against my wife."

I swallow my surprise. He's sticking up for me?

Caroline works her jaw. "Whatever, I don't care about any of that. I'm here for money."

She looks at me expectantly, like I have access to a massive safe filled to the brim with gold. In my mind, my finances are completely separate from Zyre's. Whatever wealth I've inherited in marrying him is no longer anything I have interest in.

Especially when I have a sister who wants to pillage it.

"Money? You owe me money," I snap.

"The town will be even less in your favour once they learn about our father." She offers a lopsided grin, swinging back and forth from her heels to her toes.

Disappointment blooms in my chest. Every time I see her, and I think there might be a chance I can save her from her own self-destruction, I'm reminded of how impossible the task it. She was always return to me, begging for money, closer to death each time.

"It's always the same thing with you, isn't it?"

Her smile drops. She suddenly looks anxious.
 
"Look...I have nothing. That money you gave me was stolen again." She winces. "I have nothing. Do you really want me living on the streets?"

"Of course I don't, but—"

"Just give me the money. I swear it's the last time," she pleads, anguish tearing her features a part.

A deep ache has settled in my stomach. It hurts, to deny her. I want her to do better, I just don't know how to help her.

"Why don't you stay here for tonight, and have dinner with us?" Zyre offers. His hand rests on my elbow. "If Lavelle is okay with it, of course."

Caroline brightens. "I would love that. A hot meal would be great."

Of course I'm not going to say no to that. Not when she's lost so much weight, and looks in desperate need of a proper meal.

"Yeah, okay. Fine, I mutter.

I let her come upstairs to bathe. She takes her time, and when she comes out, she's clean and smelling half decent. I dress her in my comfiest clothing, and make her sit on my bed while I brush the mats from her hair.

At dinner time, we head down to see the grand table dressed and set. Heaping piles of steaming food covers the surface, and Caroline immediately approaches, filling her plate with everything on offer.

I flash a glance at Zyre sitting at the head of the table before I settle down into the seat on his right.

Caroline settles opposite me, launching into conversation with Zyre through mouthfuls of food.

I eat quietly, watching the two interact. Zyre takes all of her questions and responds with ease — even the uncomfortable ones. When she makes some leud references, he laughs smoothly before diverting to something less embarrassing.

"Lavelle was incredibly clumsy as a kid. Always dropping things and tripping over. It used to drive our father insane," Caroline says with a laugh. She tears a piece of crusty bread apart, sending crumbs flying all over the white tablecloth.

I wince.

Zyre's eyes glisten as the meet mine. "Cute."

"Half of it was because we couldn't afford new shoes and I was wearing Caroline's hand me down's," I grumble. "Her feet are a while size bigger than mine."

"My feet might be big, but I was always smarter than you." She points her fork at me, cheeks bulging from the food she chews.

I shrug. I won't deny that. Caroline performed well in school, until she got involved with the wrong people and dropped out.

"That's true. I'm better with money, though."

"I'm good with money, it just keeps getting stolen." She looks at Zyre, like he might agree.

I pause. "By who?"

"There is someone who doesn't want me to leave the island." She drags her fork through the sauce on her plate. "I'm saving the money so I can get away from here, start a new life. But he doesn't want me to leave."

I straighten in my chair. This is the first I've heard of this. She often tells me about her various lovers, but no one in particular that makes her life impossible. Is this just a ploy, or is there something to her dejection?

"What's his name?" Zyre sounds a little angry.

"I don't know his real name, but he goes by Blue. He lives around the port." Tense lines form around her mouth, her eyes darting between us.

For the first time in a while, I don't get the feeling that she's deceiving me. Whoever this Blue guy is, I think he's real.

"I can deal to that," Zyre tells her assuredly. "I can also have your transportation fees to the mainland covered, as well as any establishment costs. I'll also have you escorted to ferry to ensure safe passage and that your money remains...with you."

"Really?" Her mouth drops open.

"Zyre," I say uneasily. Does he feel pressured to do this?

"I want to," he murmurs softly at me, before looking back at my elated sister. "It's clear that whatever it is going on between you two isn't going to resolve itself in any other way. I'm happy to make this happen."

A few months ago, I probably would have denied his help. I would have told him that I can help my sister out on my own.

But now, I know that's not true. I know I've come to the end of my tether with her.

And this wouldn't be the first time Zyre's helped me in relation to her.

"Deal." She sticks her slim hand out for him to shake.

I watch them shake hands, my mind whirling. I can't believe he's done this for me, for me. It's so unexpected, I'm scrambling to know what to do with myself.

What matters now, is Caroline can move on. This might really happen.

"You'll leave me alone? You won't tell anyone about father?"

"I won't. But they are going to find out eventually," she says, glancing at Zyre. "I'm assuming you know?"
 
"Caroline," I snap. She's pushing it.

Of course, Zyre knows my father is alive, but he doesn't know what my father did in the past. I'm not sure how he would react to that.

Caroline shakes her head knowingly. "So many secrets, sister."

"Lavelle can tell me whatever she likes, whenever she likes." Zyre leans back into his seat. "I kept plenty from her."

Caroline narrows her eyes, looking between us sceptically. I shift under the intensity of her stare, wondering what it is about the both of us that she's noticed.

"So are you guys in love or something?" She questions.

"No, we're not. We hardly know each other," I say quickly. "I'm only married to Zyre because I was married to Avi, and when Zyre became Alpha, I in turn, became his wife."

She smiles a little. "Ah, I see."

"Plus, he has a mistress," I blurt out.

Startled, he gapes at me. "What?"

"Elowen, is her name," I tell Caroline. "It's completely fine by me. It's not like there is anything going on between us."

Zyre's eyes narrow on me, but I ignore him. There's probably some truth to my words, and I want Caroline off my back. I can't handle her thinking there's love between Zyre and I.

"Interesting. Do you take applications for more mistresses?" She smiles at him, her lashes fluttering.

"I don't have a mistress. Elowen is just a friend," he amends tightly, glaring at me.

"Well I don't know about you, but I've finished my dinner." She pushes her plate away. "What do you say about a drink?"

💚••💚

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~Midika 💜🐈‍⬛