Alpha's Beloved Virgin Wife

"Be fast with it, Shilah! You're so slow" Ina rasped from the table where she sat.

"She walks like a snail...."

The 23 years old Shilah said nothing as she climbed down the creaky stairs to the archaic dinning where the rest of her family sat comfortably, some already eating. Dressed in drabs of grey, she almost felt like an outsider to the family as her sisters were looking much better than she was.

Round white eyes with grey balls were her unique features which complimented her round shaped face and longer hair. Despite how tired and weary she looked, anyone could see the underlying beauty in it all.

"I hope you added enough sauce to it?" The other asked, but the naive Shilah said nothing, still.

Her eyes were lowered to the floor as she walked towards the dining which was surrounded by 6 people - her father, step mother, three step sisters and just one step brother.

"Sorry I took long. Had to heat it up" Shilah said as she finally stood in front of the dining and Ina - who'd requested for the sauce - snatched it roughly from her.

"You should be sorry" Ina cut her eyes heaven ward and started eating, a bristle of her hair flopping over her left eye.

There were about seven seats in all round the table, just 6 were occupied, but Shilah knew the 7th seat wasn't for her.

"I think that is all. You can leave". Her step mother suddenly said, signalling Shilah to leave. And with humility, she bowed and started walking away.

"Why doesn't she just join us? At least, for today?" Vanessa - her second sister - asked and Shilah stopped walking, waiting to hear a response.

Eating with them... that would have been nice.

"What is wrong with you, Vanessa? Why would she eat with us? This is a table meant for Mountain Lions - not an empty lady, posing as one" Ina snapped in, her words tearing Shilah's heart apart.

"Ina....!"

"What?" She scoffed. "I didn't tell a lie, did I? It's the popular bitter truth. Shilah's the only WOLF who hasn't shifted. She's the only WOLF who doesn't have a single ability. She's just dumb - like a mere human. If it isn't for the fact that father claims she's the daughter of his first wife, I'd have sworn she's not from this family - not from the lineage of the wolves!"

"That's enough, Ina". Their father chipped in and turned to Shilah who was now looking pale.

"You should leave".

And with a tight gulp, she turned around and resumed walking away.

Vanessa's mood had gone ruined as she lowered her head to the floor. She couldn't understand why her family's been treating Shilah that way ever since her mother died. She didn't deserve such hatred from them; she should be treated as a member of the family.

Shilah's heart was so heavy; her eyes glistened with tears she wasn't ready to let out. She had to walk carefully for fear of tripping. It wasn't the first time she was getting bullied by her family, it wasn't the first time she was getting insulted, but each time, they hurt differently.

She headed for the kitchen first, took her meal and proceeded to her snug, lonely room.

It wasn't like the usual kind of room where you'd see a cool bed, a closet, some arranged chairs and a bed. Hell no. The only good thing Shilah had in her room was her bed.

Her appetite had completely gone cold. So, she dropped the wooden plate of meal on the table and went to the bed to sit.

One good thing she loved about her bed, it was so close to the window and gave her the privilege to enjoy some cool air from it.

She stared out the window for sometime, wishing her worries could just blow along with the wind, but sadly they couldn't.

Alas, she only had one friend - just one person she could talk to. She turned away from the window to the bed, taking up the doll lying await.

Yeah, that was the only friend she had - a doll; a toy.

She smiled as she stroke it's yellow scanty hair. It's fake eyes were staring at her. Well, maybe not at her, but she wanted to believe it was staring at her.

"They wouldn't let me eat with them at the dining today - as usual" she continued.

"Vanessa had tried convincing them....but they wouldn't listen."

She paused and exhaled deeply.

"Why am I so unfortunate?" She asked, her voice cracking a little.

"I wish.... I wish someone could explain it to me; explain why I'm the only one without my wolf abilities - why I'm a wolf, yet don't feel like one. Am I cursed or something?"

She paused and sniffed.

"I wish mother was alive; maybe I wouldn't have to go through these....".

Shilah's prayer was abruptly cut short by a knock on the door.

She didn't expect someone to come to her at this hour. Setting her slight surprise aside, she stood up and opened the door. It was Vanessa standing outside.

Shilah ushered her inside, and the two sat down on the edge of the bed.

Vanessa anxiously clasped the hem of her dress and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry you couldn't join me for dinner. I just grabbed a quick and immediately came here to accompany you."

Hearing this, Shilah felt a warmth wrapping her heart. The grievance she had just suffered instantly vanished with Vanessa's comforting words. For Shilah, a genuine concern was a priceless treasure.

With a bright smile, Shilah replied gently, "Thank you for speaking for me and coming to see me. I'm more than happy."

"They are too picky. I don’t want to stay at home." Vanessa let out a long sigh.

"Today is the No Movement Day. We can go out tomorrow. But why did the Alpha King declare today as the No Movement Day anyway?"

To this day, the Alpha King remained the object of terror for every breathing soul around the mountain fears. No one dared to defy his orders.

Vanessa shook her head and was about to say something when a noise came from outside.

"Oh, Pia was losing consciousness! What do we do!? " The step mother - Madame Walter - screamed.

Pia - who was the last daughter of the house - was putting her family in a tight corner as her ailment had gotten worst. Although, she'd been showing some symptoms of sickness the previous day, they had no idea it would get so worst.

The father hurried to carried her on the bed and then returned to the table.

"It is No Movement Day. The entire mountain is on lockdown. We can't get any physician or anything from the market. But....if we could get some hem leaves, I think it should help calm down the fever to some extent." Her father said.

"Some hem leaves? But there's no hem leaves around, father. And we can't get one unless we go to the area close to the cave." Ina asked.

"Are you trying to say it's impossible saving Pia's life? Please...! Someone needs to go get it." Her mother wept.

Vanessa and Shilah just stood to the side without saying anything. After learning that Pia was very ill, the two fell into a gloomy mood. However, with the No Movement Day order, nobody dared to disobey it.

A longer time passed as they all stared helplessly, and suddenly, Ina came up with an idea.

"Mother, Why don't we ..send Shilah to go for us?"

Shilah’s eyes widened in shock after hearing this. Before she could even refute, Vanessa stepped forward to defend her.

"How can we send Shilah?? It doesn't make any sense or change the fact that she would also get killed as soon as she's caught." Vanessa flinched.

"Well, we don't have an option, Vanessa! What do you suggest we do?" Ina grumbled.

"Pia is dying, and since neither of us can go out to get the leaves, Shilah should go for us. Besides, she's always been the messenger".

Vanessa turned to look at her parents, seriously hoping they weren't trying to consider it .

"Vanessa, we don't have an option." Her father paused for a few seconds and answered with his hands on his waist.

"Shilah," The step mother called her.

"Listen to me, and listen very good. As you can see clearly, we're losing Pia and I will don't want that to happen. So, we need some hem leaves and need you to go get them for us".

Shilah went dumb. The hem leaves can only be found around the cave...

"But....the Alpha King has declared a total lockdown. No one's expected to leave the house..." Shilah stuttered, her heart beating so heavily.

"Well, I can't lose my daughter, Shilah. So, you need to go get it for us".

There was a stunned silence. Then, her father walked up to her.

"I understand how you're feeling, Shilah. But you have to do this for us. It's important. Don't worry...the moon goddess will be with you; you won't get caught." He stated calmly.

"But father, I can't do what you're asking. What if I get caught? Or the Alpha senses someone disobeyed his orders? I'll definitely be killed...."

"Just listen to me Shilah, and do as you're being told!" He said raucously.

"Consider this as a request from your Father and go! Leave!!"

Shilah shook a little in fear; her eyes were already glistening.

She couldn't believe this. Her own family trying to send her to her death? What has she done to deserve this?

"Go, Shilah! We're running out of time. Go!" Madame yelled.

In a confused state, Shilah ran out of the house. Maybe, this would be her last day alive.