ALPHA QUEEN

FOUR.

(In the picture is Rosalina's look for the ball!)

...

When Lily and I came to the castle, it was already 4 p.m., so we decided to kill some time in the library. We sat there, drank coffee and I told her the story about my mate and why I am slowly dying. We also talked about my duties for tonight. I have to hold a speech to greet all the Alphas and then I have to talk to every single one of them. I wasn't nervous about the tiny speech I had to hold. I was nervous about meeting all those Alphas and finding him among them.

"I can't believe you guys crossed paths two years ago. How did you hide it for so long?" Lily and I were still discussing my I-am-dying-because-of-my-mate problem.

"At first, I was taking witch herbs to stop the pain. Later, I had to work out more. Running made me feel so much better, but the pain would return and all I could do was push myself further. I managed to hide it until yesterday. Everything went downhill and I told my dad all the details. Who would have thought that the mate I didn't want would be the only thing that can save my life and this kingdom? Just three hours after I said I hated him, I was thinking of how to find him." I never spoke this much to anyone in a very long time and Lily was a great listener. I loved her so much already.

"God, you are such a strong woman; I admire you so much." She took my hands and I squeezed her's in appreciation.

"I'm nothing special. This stupid title I have; it defines me. Before people see me or meet me they already think I'm a spoiled brat. I don't want that. I want people to see beyond those boundaries; I want them to see the real me, the Rosalina who is broken and who lives a hard life. Some understand the weight on my shoulders, some don't. It'll always be like that." I stood up and approached the window of the library which was overlooking the beautiful flower garden behind the castle.

"I completely understand and that's why I'll be honest with you. The moment I heard about you, those exact mean words came to my mind but, when I started to live here, I saw what you have to deal with. I saw how much people respect you and I truly admire you for helping them with everything. Since I got the chance to meet you in person, to talk to you, I would really like us to be friends because I wish to be someone you can confide in and I want to help you. Also, I want to be the one and only who will kick your mate's butt if he even tries to hurt you. Friends?" I turned around with tears in my eyes. This girl is just...wow. I'm happy that my best friend got her from the Goddess because she is absolutely amazing.

"Friends." I smiled and she ran into me to hug me. I laughed at her bubbly persona – she was contagious. Then, she dried my tears with her cardigan and pulled me out of the library.

"Lily, where are we going?"

"It's already 6:45 p.m., we have an hour to get ready." My eyes widened and her's did too once she realized what she said.

"Oh, my God, I can't be late! Go take a shower in my room and I'll take one in the guest room." We parted our ways and I quickly took a shower. I wrapped myself in a towel and ran down the hall to my bedroom. Lily exited my bathroom just as I closed the door.

"Less than 10 minutes; I'm impressed." I chuckled and she sat me down in front of the mirror.

 "What kind of hairstyle do you want? I'm a hairdresser, so anything you want I can do."

"Cut my hair off."

"Are you kidding me? Rose, no Alpha Queen had short hair! It's the tradition!" She looked at my serious face in the mirror. I just took scissors from my drawer and put them in front of her face.

"I'm all about breaking tradition." She nodded, defeated, and carefully took the scissors.

"Okay. First of all, these are for paper and not for your beautiful hair. I, somehow, need to fetch my bag with all the equipment I have at home. How will we do that in a matter of 45 minutes?"

"I have an idea. You stay here, I'll be back before you blink." With that being said, I jumped out of my window, from the third floor of the castle.

...

I was back 15 minutes later, with Lily's bag between Athena's teeth. I came back through the front door and luckily for me, nobody saw me. When I entered my bedroom, I found Lily freaking out on my bed.

"What if she died? Dear God, what will her parents do to me? What will I say; 'I didn't mean for her to jump out of the window from the third floor?' How will I tell Hector I killed our best friend? I just met her!" I shifted back into my human form and was already out of the shower for the second time, but she didn't notice me at all. When I called her name, she let out a scream.

"Rosalina? Did you come to haunt me?" I laughed and shoved her bag into her arms.

"No, I came here so you could give me a haircut. Oh and, don't worry, I started jumping out of that window the moment I shifted; I'm completely fine. Now, come on, we have half an hour left." She let out a breath of relief and took what she needed from her bag. My back was facing the mirror so I couldn't see what she was doing.

"Do you have something in mind or do I get to cut your hair how I know it will suit you?" She asked and I told her to do as she pleases. While she was cutting my hair, I was trying to polish my nails. Somehow, I succeeded. Once all my nails were polished to perfection and dried, Lily was done.

"Don't kill me, okay?" She turned me back to face the mirror and I opened my mouth in shock. She cut my hair so it was above my shoulders and I looked so good.

"Are you serious? Kill you for making me look amazing? I love it, thank you so much!" She smiled and I moved from the chair so she could deal with her hairstyle for the night. I offered to style it for her, but she told me to get dressed so I wouldn't be late. I took out my emerald green dress and my black heels from the wardrobe. I got ready in the bathroom and sprayed a little bit of my vanilla perfume behind my ears so it would last longer. I exited the bathroom and found Lily waiting for me in a cute black dress and beige lacy heels. Her hair was shorter and it looked just like mine. She looked stunning.

"Wow. You look marvellous, my Princess."

"When did you have the time to cut your hair? Mine took forever!"

"You had very long hair and I just cut off the split ends." The hairstyle she picked for the both of us suited us pretty well; we looked awesome.

"Thank you once again for helping me. Unfortuntely, you have to leave me now, Lily; Hector is waiting for you downstairs because I have to descend on my own. We'll see each other in a bit." She hugged me once again and left me alone. I took the crystal crown from my dresser and placed it on my head.

The clock struck eight.

It's time to break the tradition.

It's my time.

Time to shine.