"Ah! You are here, can you come to help me in the market?" Hesse, Seha's younger sister, asked, just about to slip through the slight crack she made on the front gate to the pack house by sticking her hip out and kicking it. Its brown wood glows golden in the bright sunlight.
Celeste reached for one of the big boxes of oranges she had balanced on her hands. It's heavy.
"Oh, yeah, I came to see you, anyway," Celeste said to which Hesse gave her a big toothy smile of hers, chin jutted out a little, rossy lips wide, and eyes crescent.
For the past week, it was pleasant there, Celeste had no problem with always tagging along with Hesse to every single place she had to go.
She liked helping Hesse, even on the farm or gardens or in the kitchen or this, going to market with her. Hesse, just like her brother, was a kind and bright soul. And Celeste started to like her more with each passing day.
She was so easy to like.
Hesse pushed the raven lock that fell on her face and twisted her head toward Celeste. "So, this one doesn't have a hood, I see."
"Yeah, this was made before I requested for the hood." Celeste nodded her head to herself.
Hesse tilted her head to the side, "But you still have something on your head, though."
"Of course, I have told you, the sun can really do some good damage to my skin." Celeste sniffled a laugh, nudging Hesse's side.
Celeste was dressed in a pale blue, silk gown with long sleeves that almost covered the tip of her fingers and a soft pink satin scarf that draped on her head. White hair braided neatly underneath, save for a few locks loosely falling down the side of the face.
While Hesse had worn a sleeveless black silk gown that reached just below her knees paired with big boots that touched her calves. Hair up in a messy bun. A gold chain that had a moon pendant etched on it rested on the gold skin around her neck.
She barely recalled her Grandmother telling her stories about how wolves see the moon as their goddess.
By the time they had reached the market, the sun was at its peak, cascading its heated golden rays down on the people. Celeste squinted her eyes when the wind blew the scarf out of her head.
She was quick to reach for it and readjust the scarf over her head again, but the blazing glint of the sun still pierced through her skull like a thousand tiny needles, drawing a wince out of her pursed mouth.
Hesse snaps her head to the side, "You okay?"
"Is it always this hot here?"
Hesse let out a laugh, "Not always, really. But today the heat is very unforgiving."
"And that makes you wear sleeveless dresses?"
Again a laugh from Hesse, this a little louder, "No, I don't burn like you."
Celeste froze at the choice of her words. Her eyes widened the slightest bit, but she schooled her expression before she gave away something that wasn't supposed to be given.
Celeste stuck out her elbow and nudged Hesse's ribs, yielding a surprised yelp out of her.
Most of the women are dressed in almost the same way as Hesse did and it made Celeste stand out too much for her liking. And seeing them glance more than one time in her way made her hands clammy and legs jittery.
They probably think she was a freak.
Hesse dropped the boxes in her hand on the wooden counter with an exasperated sigh making it protest at the hard shove, Celeste did the same but a little gently.
"So, after this?"
"We have to stay here actually. The lady is at our house, eating." She rolled her pretty eyes, long lashes fluttering as she whispered, "I'm sure she's going to take more time than usual because we are here."
Celeste shrugged her shoulders, "Fine by me."
"Of course, I was sure it would be. But I am not that fine, just letting you know."
"Why, planned to go see your lover boy?"
Hesse rolled her eyes harder this time, slapping her palm on the counter. She mumbled a defeated yes.
Hesse straightens up, eyes on something behind Celeste. She followed Hesse's eyes, landing hers squarely on a man's face. He was walking toward them.
"Oranges?" He asked as he got closer, a hand holding the counter as his eyes ranked all over the oranges draped on the counter.
"What does it seem like?" Hesse asked back, tone cold, but a sickeningly sweet smile played on her lips.
"Oranges?"
"Then yes, it is oranges."
"And this one over here?" His honey colored eyes had a mischievous glint in them when he lifted his head up from the oranges. Celeste's hand clenched the fabric of her gown under the counter when they landed on her. "A new one?"
Celeste could sense the anger prickling Hesses's skin next to her. "Yes." She said.
"Oh, what is your name, lady?"
"Celeste."
He cocked his head a little to the side, eyes traveling up and down her, "An omega?"
Celeste froze.