3

Tallula settled into life in Oscar’s pack. Her new home was a huge estate hidden deep in the woods. The first few days were filled with introductions and formalities, the pack members welcoming her with gifts.

Her husband, however, remained distant. His attitude had shifted almost immediately after their arrival at the pack, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.

For weeks, Tallula found herself new to a life that felt both strange and isolating. Oscar’s absence became a constant in her daily routine. He was always busy, always had something important to attend to, always unavailable.

At first, she tried to think about it, he was the king, after all, with many responsibilities. But the excuses never ended, and she couldn’t help but grow restless.

One evening, standing at the edge of her window, looking out into the trees, she hugged her arms around herself, wishing she could go back home.

“Enjoying the view?” a voice said, startling her.

She turned to see her chief maid, Monica, approaching. The latter had been kind to her since her arrival, often checking in on her when Oscar was away.

“Yes, it’s beautiful,” Tallula replied, forcing a smile. “But it doesn’t feel like home yet.”

Monica nodded, her expression sympathetic. “It takes time. The place can be overwhelming at first.”

Tallula sighed, looking back at the forest. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel at home here. My husband is always so busy. It’s like he doesn’t even remember my existence.”

Monica’s eyes shifted. “He has a lot on his plate, you know.”

Monica’s words gave her a small sense of confirmation. She wasn’t imagining things. There was a problem, and she knew it.

That night, she decided she would talk to Oscar, to understand why he was always away. Not that she cared much about his presence, but she was just so lonely.

She finally managed to catch him alone in his study before he retired to his bedroom because she wouldn’t see him again until the next evening.

King Oscar was going over some documents with his brow furrowed.

“Hi,” she said hesitantly,”

He looked up, his expression forming a deep frown. “Is something the matter, Tallula?” he asked heartlessly.

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “I feel like you’ve been avoiding me. Ever since we arrived, you’ve been distant. Is there something wrong?”

Hearing her words, he leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as well. “Well, I have responsibilities, Tallula. Being king isn’t easy, and I can’t afford distractions.”

“Distractions?” she responded. “Is that what I am to you? A distraction?”

He sighed, rubbing his knuckles. “That’s not what I meant. But you have to understand, this is how it is. I have to prioritize the pack.”

Tallula suddenly felt grateful she didn’t have to share a room with him, seeing how overwhelming his presence was.

She simply nodded in response to his words, though she felt far from reassured.

The days went by, and nothing changed. Oscar continued to be absent, and Tallula’s worry grew.

She could feel the whispers among the pack members and the estate workers, rumours that she couldn’t quite catch but felt were about her.

She started to feel strongly like an outsider, even more isolated than before.

<< Flashback>>

She remembered the day she came to the pack first. Tallula had stood at the entrance of the estate, her heart pounding in her chest. She clutched the sleeves of her dress, feeling utterly nervous. This was her new home now, and there was no turning back, she had thought.

King Oscar had led her inside, his expression kind at first. But he barely looked at her, his mind seemingly occupied with other matters that were not about her a tad bit.

“This is your room,” he had said, opening the door to a spacious but well-furnished bedroom.

At first, she had wondered why they didn’t share the bedroom, just like she saw her father and mother did growing up.

“I have important matters to attend to. Make yourself comfortable.” Oscar’s words had pierced her thoughts. Before she could respond, he'd turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the doorway.

She merely sighed and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. The room felt empty, much like her heart.

She sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window at the dark sky. The journey to the estate had taken them the entire day.

Hours flowed into days, and days into weeks, and Tallula struggled to adapt to her new life.

<< End of flashback >>

Oscar’s terrible behaviour grew increasingly, especially after her confrontation. He was just never around, always busy with pack business or other vague excuses.

When they did see each other, their conversations were brief and formal to each other, and it was mostly during dinner or breakfast if she was lucky enough to catch him before he left the house.

Most of the day, she spent exploring the huge estate, getting to know places and hopefully people around.

As Tallula continued trying to find her place, the more she learned, the more she saw and overheard, giving her clues to how things were done in the pack.

That afternoon, while walking through one of the hallways leading to the kitchen area, she overheard a conversation between two people.

They spoke in hushed tones, but their words sent a chill down Tallula’s spine.

“The Alpha’s new Bride, do you think she would learn that the alpha is only using her as a facade, knowing well she would never be accepted in the pack?” one of the persons asked.

“I don’t know. But she’s bound to find out eventually,” the other replied. “It can’t be hidden much longer.”

“She’s a mere human female, you know. I still can’t believe he married her and even offered money and alliance to her father, just for that,” the first person voiced.

Tallula’s heart almost stopped as she heard them talk. She quickly retreated, their words mercilessly stabbing her in the chest.

***

Tallula made a concerted effort to integrate herself into the pack, believing that forming friendships would alleviate her loneliness, particularly upon discovering she had been married for a ridiculous reason.

She approached the maids and other females in the estate with warmth, but her efforts mostly were met with cold reactions.

A few responded kindly, while others remained distant, their stares cold and mistrusting.

One morning, an undeterred Tallula sat in the kitchen with a few maids who were peeling potatoes for dinner. She tried to strike up a conversation with Monica, the young maid who had seemed particularly nice to her.

“Monica, have you worked here long?” Tallula asked, keeping her tone friendly.

The maid glanced up, her expression polite. “A few years, yes,” she replied and then returned to her task.

Tallula insisted on, determined to break through to her. “It must be quite an experience, living with such a large pack. I’m still getting used to it.”

The other maids exchanged glances, and one of them, an older woman named Mary, spoke up. “It can be challenging, Luna, especially for someone new. I remember when I first came here 20 years ago myself.”

Tallula smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Mary.” She said. “I appreciate your kind words.” Even though she knew Mary wasn’t trying to be kind.

***

On a few of the many occasions when Tallula was alone, she would spot a woman entering the house at night and heading towards King Oscar's quarters. Tallula didn't think much about it at first. But the visits became more frequent, and in secret, she observed. She came curious, a lot of questions racing in her mind regarding that unknown woman.

Who was it that was sneaking in and out of Oscar’s room?

The next day, Tallula couldn’t hide her anxiety. During breakfast, she tried to test Oscar’s mood, hoping to spark a meaningful conversation with him, but he remained as stiff and unapproachable as ever. She decided to confide in Monica, hoping the maid would offer some insight.

“Monica, can I ask you something?” Tallula began as the maid came in.

Monica looked up from where she stood. “Of course, Luna. What’s troubling you?”

Tallula hesitated and then took a deep breath. “I’ve seen someone going in and out of Oscar’s quarters at night. Do you know anything about that?”

Monica’s expression became serious. She glanced around to make sure no one was listening before she leaned in closer. “There are many secrets in this estate. Things that are not spoken of openly! King Oscar has his reasons for keeping a lot of matters private.”

“But what about the person always going into his room?” Tallula pressed. “It doesn’t seem normal … or right.”

Monica sighed. “I don’t know the specifics, but I’ve heard talks of… arrangements the Alpha makes with his uhm… concubines.” The maid said.

Tallula’s heart sank. She had hoped for a radical answer, but instead, she had been hit with more confusion on the matter.

“It’s best not to pry into the Alpha’s business though, for your own safety.” Monica then quickly added.

Tallula thanked the maid and the latter returned to her task.

As she sat by the window, she felt more trapped than ever. Oscar had not just married her for show, but he also entertained other women in his bedroom and never her, his wife.

She didn’t know anything about him. The only thing Tallula knew for certain was that she couldn’t trust anyone, especially her own husband.

Determined to know the truth some way, Tallula became more vigilant. She would watch, listen, and gather all information, until she could piece everything together.

Over the next few days, she kept a close watch on Oscar’s quarters.

She noticed more comings and goings, but there wasn’t much she could think of doing. She needed a plan, one that wouldn’t leave her in the dark.

…

One night when she actually saw a figure going into Oscar’s room, she was unable to hold her curiosity any longer, so she decided to follow. It was late, and the estate was quiet. Tallula slipped out of her room, her heart pounding in her chest.

She moved silently through the hallway, heading toward Oscar’s quarters. Just as she reached the door, she saw the figure hurrying down the corridor and slipping into one of the rooms.

Tallula followed, her steps fast but quiet. The figure moved fast, disappearing into another room.

Now inside Oscar’s private quarters, Tallula was just about to catch up with the figure when suddenly, the lights went out, causing the entire estate into total darkness.

Tallula froze, her breath wheezing in her throat as she breathed. The darkness was thick, and she felt a wave of fear wash over her.

She could hear footsteps walking in the distance, and she cursed the cause of the power outage. Placing her hands along the walls, Tallula slowly made tried to make her way out of the room.

She stood in the dim hallway, her heart pounding in her chest as the lights flickered back to life. She quickly scanned the area, but the mysterious figure was gone. Frustrated and surprised, she turned back towards the door.

As she approached the door, she saw her husband already standing there. He had swung the door open and was about to enter when he saw her. His eyes narrowed as they locked onto her.

“Tallula,” he said sharply. “What are you doing here?”

Taken by surprise, Tallula took a step back, shaken with fear by his tone. “Uhh… I saw someone going into of your room. I think I see the person almost every night. I wanted to know if everything is okay.

Oscar’s expression hardened. “And what makes you think it’s any of your business? This is my private quarters. You have no right to snoop around.”

“I wasn’t snooping,” Tallula protested, feeling the sense to defend herself. “I-I was worried. I had a feeling that there was some kind of situation covertly unfolding in this vast…”

Oscar crossed his arms, his gaze piercing, “You need to know your place. This is not your concern. Stay out of my affairs and never come to my room again.

Tallula’s eyes widened with confusion. “Why are you being like this? I’m your wife. Don’t you even want to try trusting me?” she said, not thinking before speaking.

Oscar took a step closer, his figure tall and intimidating. “Trust? That’s strange coming from someone who’s sneaking around in the middle of the night. If anything, you’re the one who’s being suspicious here, Tallula.”

She felt a lump form in her throat. She had never imagined that Oscar would turn things around on her like this. “I was only trying to help, okay?” she said, rolling her eyes in frustration.

“Go back to your room, Tallula. And remember what I said… stay out of my business.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the hallway, feeling more lost than ever. She slowly made her way back to her room, tears gathering in her eyes.

‘How had things come to this?’ She wondered.

Even though she had married Oscar as her father asked, and because of Jake’s betrayal too, she had still hoped for a fresh start with Oscar, but now instead, she felt trapped in a web of secrets.