Chapter 76 Beauty Killer

Chapter 76 Beauty Killer
Rosia's POV 

The dining hall table is nearly invisible beneath the dozen dishes holding the feast I had ordered to be prepared for my family. It already feels like a new, bright dawn in our lives and I want them to forget the awful time they spent as slaves and build new better memories here with me. I want them to have the luxury they have been robbed of their entire life.

I'm glad to see my mother eating with all the joy. "This is so delicious," she muffles between bites. "I haven't tasted anything like this since I was... well, since the days with Alpha Howard. I keep thinking I’ll wake up in Alpha Nolan’s dungeons and find out this was all a dream."

"You’re never going back there, Mother," I promise, reaching over to squeeze her hand reassuringly. "We are starting over. You and Rhea will have everything you need. I’ll make sure of it."

I turn to my sister. Now that she is in clean, fine clothing, her beauty is even more breathtaking. I have already heard servants gossiping about her beauty.

Then, I notice she's barely eaten her food.

"Rhea, Is the food not to your liking?" I ask. "I can have the servants prepare anything you want. Whatever you dream of eating, just say it."

She gives me a sweet, small smile. "I find I really haven't had much of an appetite lately. My stomach feels... full already." She says. 

I find her lack of hunger strange.
A girl who has lived on little awful food her whole life should be devouring this food. "Are you ill? I can bring the palace doctor to check on you."

"Oh, don't mind her!" Mother chimes in, waving a hand dismissively. "She hasn't been able to sit still since you mentioned she'll get chambers of her own. She’s mostly looking forward to seeing the jewelry and the dresses you promised her. She won't think of anything else."

We all laugh. I understand that feeling perfectly. When I was younger, I used to be jealous of the gowns and jewels my stepsisters had. I always wished I had the same. I'm glad I can get them for my sweet sister now.

A servant enters and bows. "My Lady, Princess Rhea’s chambers are prepared. Everything has been arranged according to your instructions."

Rhea shoots to her feets instantly. "May we go see them? Please?"

"Of course," I smile, standing up. I will show her to her room and then return to keep my mother company. I am dying to know everything that had happened to her while we were apart and I am curious to find out exactly how old Rhea is now.

We make our way out of the main Palace and into the next building meant mostly for the esteemed guests.

"I thought my room would be in the main building, close to yours," Rhea says, a tiny hint of disappointment in her voice.
She hadn't mentioned that when we talked earlier. She had only asked for a "big" room.

"I thought you wanted a big room. There were no big rooms left in the main Palace as all are allocated to the palace officials. I promise you’ll love this one. You just haven't seen it yet."

"I realized I know so little about you, Rhea," I say as we make our way down the hallway. "What was it like for you growing up? Did you have any friends?"

Her face immediately turns sad and I realize maybe I have asked that too soon.

"It’s okay," I say quickly. "You don't have to talk about it now. We have all the time in the world to get to know each other."

We reach.the double doors at the end of the hall. I push them open, to reveal a literal paradise.

The ornate, hand-carved furniture has been covered with luxurious cushions, their fabrics being either velvet or brocade. The spacious floor is covered with rich, colorful rugs. Two large, leaded glass windows on the left wall let in the morning sun's soft light. 

There is a cozy fireplace with an elaborately carved mantelpiece at the far head. A lavish seating area sits beside it.

"Come see the bedroom," I say and lead the way to the next lavish room.

The four-poster bed is draped in heavy, expensive fabrics. But it is the closet that makes Rhea gasp. The doors are wide open to reveal a fortune’s worth of fur coats, silk dresses, and shimmering ball gowns.

"You can tell me if anything isn't to your liking," I tell her. "I’ll have it replaced gladly."

Rhea doesn't answer with words. She turns and throws her arms around me in a tight hug. "It’s so beautiful," she says, her voice full of joy. "I think I’m going to be very happy here."

I hug her back, feeling a wave of pride. I want her to feel safe. I want her to feel loved.

"I’ll leave you to try on the dresses," I say, pulling away with a smile. She is already moving toward the closet, her fingers reaching out to touch the rich silk. I make my way out.



Mother and I walk out to the gardens behind the massive palace. We find a quiet stone bench under the warm sun.
I have a ton of questions for her, but I need to make sure she is alright before I start bombarding her with them.

"I heard Cassandra's mother died in this palace, by your mate's sword. Is it True?" she questions.

I nod and she let out a long breath. "It might sound wrong of me to say,wicked, even, but I am so relieved to hear that woman finally got what she deserved."

"There’s nothing wrong with being relieved that someone who hurt you is gone for good," I say, taking her hand. "She made our lives a living hell."

"Rosia,” my mom says after a while. “I’m so sorry.” She reaches over and tentatively takes my hand. I can feel her pulse racing through her touch. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that you went through.”

I swallow hard, feeling my intestines lurch. "It's not your fault. I...I know you tried to protect me."

She shook her head. “I should have tried harder.”

I don't want her to feel responsible. She did what she could, I watched her do it. 
"It was all on my father, don't blame it on yourself." 

She smiles, but it looks forced, like she has to work really hard to make the corners of her mouth curve upward "There are things I wish to confess to you Rosia. Things I’ve carried like stones in my heart for twenty years.I never thought I’d see you again to tell you... things that might destroy everything you think is true."

"You can tell me anything," I promise. "I've heard the worst already." 

She looks at me, her expression sorrowful, "Alpha Howard... he was never your father."

You know one of those moments that time seems to stop? Well, I'm having one of those moments right now. I wasn't the daughter of that monster? "Who is my real father, then?"

"I was promised to Alpha Howard when I was only seven," she tells. "At fifteen, I was sent to his pack house. Cassandra’s mother loathed me instantly because I was young and I had the Alpha's attention. But I was terrified. I hated the man I was forced to call my husband."
She stares at the ground, a sad smile on her lips. "I used to walk through the plantations every morning just to avoid having breakfast with him. Three days before the wedding, I met a human slave named Reeve. He was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen, and he was kind I fell in love instantly. I decided the Alpha would never have my purity. On our wedding night, while everyone in the pack was drunk and celebrating, I snuck away to find Reeve. That was the night you were conceived."

I sit in stunned silence. So the rumors were true. I wasn't a "failed" werewolf. I was the proud daughter of a human.

"Two weeks later, I knew I was pregnant," Mother continues. "Howard was happy, thinking he had an heir, but I was terrified. I prayed you would be born a wolf so he would never know. But Cassandra’s mother had seen me with Reeve. She told Howard, but he didn't believe her... not until you were born. I couldn't hide it anymore."

"Where is he now?" I ask. "I’m sure the Alpha killed him on the spot when he found out."

Mother shook her head, tears gathering into her eyes. "Howard told me that if I gave him the name of the slave, we could start over. I refused. He grew so mad he ordered my execution instead."

I look at my mother, feeling a wave of sadness. Her whole life had been awful just like mine. She was sold as a child, hated as a wife, and enslaved as a mother. 

"I’m so sorry," I choked out, throwing my arms around her. "I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that for me."

"Don't be sorry, Rosia," she whispered into my hair. "Looking at you now... seeing you in this palace, free and loved... it was worth every struggle."

"Do you think he's still alive?" I question after pulling back. Nothing would excite me more than to ever see my real father. To see what he looked like.

"I don't want to give you false hope, dear. He was a strong man, but Howard was very cruel to his slaves. I don't know if he survived."

"I will ask the Kings to help me find him," I promise. "Now that all slaves are being freed, we will search every pack."

She finally smiles genuinely. "I can't begin to tell you how much I am proud of you dear." She says. "Every human owes you their life. Me and Rhea owe you our lives. I don't know how much longer Rhea and I would have survived in Alpha Nolan's pack with all the weird things happening."

"What weird things?" I ask. 

"Just before we left, seven women, slaves and servants disappeared. They were all known for being very beautiful. They were found later... murdered. Gruesomely. Some of their body parts were missing. Everyone said a monster was targeting beautiful women. I was so scared for Rhea."

My eyes widened. A monster that eats beautiful women? "That's horrible. I’ve never heard of anything like that."

"When did you have Rhea? How old is she now?"

"Rhea is just three years younger than you," Mother replies.

I do the math in my head. Rhea is eighteen. I'm glad she's safe here now.