"I can't believe it, Myri -- the Prince is to be your mate. THE prince," Syrana mentioned it every single moment they were alone in the shop, and it started to wear on her nerves because it made it sound more and more true.
"N-No, there is no way. I hate the royal family. This is a joke, a cruel joke," Myranda lamented and felt her soul die a little. She wanted a handsome knight, not a Prince... at least not this Prince, anyway.
"Myri, I saw his face, and then I saw your face when your hands touched. You're absolutely meant to be - and it makes sense. Only someone as happy as him could save someone as grumpy as you," she jested and poked her sister in the face playfully.
"Stop it," Myranda complained and reached out to 'slap' Syrana's hands away. "Even if it's true, you heard the Luna. I'm just some lowly bitch..." Myranda paused and then muttered, "...she's the real bitch..."
"I'm so excited for you, you have no idea. When you finally get to know your mate, it's like a whole different level of happiness. I mean, real, true happiness, Myri. You can't just ignore him because his parents aren't great - and besides, you could be our next Luna and change all of that. He even stood up for you, are you blind?" The elder sister attempted to convince her younger one – but her face did not move.
"I'm not blind, just realistic. Even if we were...do you really think his parents would care, or let us be together? This is just the worst luck of my life, are you kidding me? I have to be alone forever now. It's been sealed - my fate has been sealed, and the Goddess hates me," she burst out into tears now. She felt as though this was divine punishment in the harshest way possible.
"Myri, don't say that. Mates are never separated for long if they want to be together. The Goddess has blessed you, you just don't see it yet. This is what you've always dreamed of - a handsome, strong soldier, right? Isn't Metas our biggest and strongest soldier? She literally answered your prayers. Do not snub her, or you will be very sorry and never really find love again," Syrana warned her, but also tried to console her.
Syrana cooed and rubbed her sister's back as she tucked into her shoulder. "Don't cry, Myri - stop, stop now. You are being silly, and you're going to give yourself the hiccups," the elder sister continued with a gentle voice.
"..Uhm.. pardon me, is this the right shop? Are you Myranda?" A timid young female asked from the doorway. She had been there for a bit, but didn't want to interrupt the conversation between two sisters.
"M-Me? I mean, yes that's me," Myranda replied as she wiped her eyes and tried to regain composure. No one wanted to cry in front of strangers, least of all her.
The female had a box in her hand, and a sealed envelope in the other. She offered both over to Myranda and smiled. "These are from his majesty, Prince Metas. He wanted me to deliver it to you as soon as possible. He says you don't have to accept it if you don't want to."
"Yeah, you can give that ba-" Myranda was cut off by Syrana immediately to where she even put her hand over her little sister's mouth.
"Give that back here, hehe - or put, rather. Tell him she sends her thanks, and that the offer still stands to meet him whenever he'd like," Syrana went on as her sister struggled in her grasp to set her mouth free.
The servant seemed to understand exactly what was going on, and she gave a soft chuckle before she placed the gifts on the serving bar. "I'll tell him she was very excited," she followed up with a wink.
"Thank you so much!~" Syrana trilled and waved towards the messenger as she left.
Finally, Myranda's mouth was released, and she gasped for air before she spat out, "what in the hell were you thinking? I don't want that! I don't want anything from him."
Myranda only further protested and crossed her arms with a grumpy face. "You just spoke for me, damn it. You said you'd stop doing that! I'm not a kid anymore..."
"Hush, you're going to wake up Syri." Syrana hissed at first, and lowered her own voice as the excitement wore off. "You can't just write him off because of his parentage, isn't that what you hate so much about the King and Luna? They treat all of us based on our parentage, so don't be a hypocrite, Myri. Open the damn box, I want to see what it is."
At least one of them had a bright disposition about it.
Myranda opened the card first, and began to read it silently until Syrana smacked her arm lightly, and insisted it be read aloud.
The younger sister made a soft groan in response, and then began to read out with apprehension - and as quietly as she could.
"Myranda - I apologize about how my parents behaved today. I am sorry I had to lie as well, but it was honestly just a partial lie. I couldn't keep my eyes off of you. Did you feel the same connection? Can we please meet again? I know we're destined to be mates. I've never felt so excited by anyone, nor can I stop thinking about you since this morning. Please bring me great joy and meet me tonight at the center garden when the moon meets the open eye of the great cave. If you don't want to see me after that, I promise to leave you alone. I hope it isn't too forward, but every ounce of the wolf inside of me said this belonged to you. I found this stone when I was young and always knew it was meant for the one to be my mate. I carved it myself. If you can't accept it, or accept me, keep it anyway. Just knowing you'd have it would make me feel just a little bit satiated to be at your side in some way. Yours, Metas."
Syrana looked to her with eyes wide and filled with sappy tears. "Silas has never written anything like that for me. Myranda if you blow him off, I'll never ever speak to you again. He's a prince out of a fairy tale," she swooned.
"Uhg. It's probably an act. I don't like any of this. I have a bad feeling about all of this," the younger wolf said with hesitation and worry.
"You're just being judgmental. At least go meet him, come on - what can it hurt?" The elder prodded further. Unlike her little sibling, she had knew there was a good omen to this path - and she wholeheartedly agreed with the Goddess' decision.
"Open the box - what's in the box?" She added with excitement.
Myranda sighed out and opened the wrapped gift without much fanfare. However, what was inside was a pleasant surprise. She pulled out a gorgeous purple gem with natural gold molded inside of it. It had been carved into the shape of a sitting wolf (presumably a Luna) perched on the inside of a fully bloomed lotus flower as it howled towards the moon..
"Holy shhhhhugar" Syrana censored her curses thanks to the presence of her child. "Myri - it's beautiful. It's the most beautiful gift I've ever seen. Now you have to go!"
"What!? He specifically said I didn't have to," she retorted with a frown.
"You're going. I will make you. I am not letting you hurt yourself by shutting out what is clearly the perfect mate for you. I swear I will never speak to you again if you don't at least go once," Syrana returned.
"Fine. You're lucky I love you and trust you as a big sister. Just please don't make me go after this if I don't want to..." Myranda groaned and leaned her head back as she gave in to her sister's demands.
"Okay, sure sure" she lied as plans already formed in her head if tonight's meeting didn't go well. She was too smart, and too stubborn to give up on her little sister's happiness - and she cared about her too much to let her resign herself to a fate worse than death.