"Can I really go to the palace?" the young girl asked, her voice full of both excitement and doubt. It was none other than eight-year-old Melissa.
"Yes, the Luna Queen wants to see you, Melissa," Raya, the lady-in-waiting who had been assigned to look after the young girl, replied kindly.
"But Father says I can't leave here. Last time, I accidentally stepped outside the gate..." Melissa whispered, her eyes downcast, fear creeping onto her face as she clutched the frayed edges of her dress tightly.
"The Alpha King will not punish you this time," Raya reassured her gently. "The Luna Queen is his wife, and she wants to meet you."
Melissa's eyes brightened as she lifted her head. "Will she love me? Will she keep me in the palace?" she asked, hope filling her small voice.
"Oh, she will, dear," Raya said with a warm smile, feeling a wave of fondness for the innocent girl before her.
