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.

>

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.

>

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.