Chapter 24
Lily POV
The eagle circled overhead; its piercing gaze fixed on the retreating soldiers.
I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched them disappear back into the forest. Then the eagle landed gracefully beside me, its feathers ruffling in the wind.
“Thank you,” I whispered, knowing who it was.
Suddenly, a sleek car pulled up beside me, its engine purring softly. As soon as the car stopped, the eagle made a funny noise and flew into the sky. Celeste leaned out of the window and shouted ‘thank you’ before she leaned across the passenger seat, pushing the door open.
“Get in!” she called out with a smile “There’s somewhere we need to go to urgently p>
I didn’t need to be told twice, I slid into the passenger seat, the leather cool against my skin. I let out a long, shaky breath as Celeste pulled away from the curb.
“Thank you,” I whispered softly, my heart still racing from the encounter with the soldiers. “I don’t know what I would have done, what would have happened, if you hadn’t sent the eagle and shown up when you did. I’m so grateful and will constantly be in your debts p>
“Hey!” she glanced at me, a small smile playing on her lips. “You don’t owe me anything, Lily. I’m just glad you’re safe. I’m sorry, it’s difficult to keep them in line with them being so far away from the pack and you know these men… a few days here alone makes them act like they’re on heat. I apologize on their behalf p>
I nodded, anger and frustration bubbling up inside me. “I know they’re not saints anywhere but I can’t believe they would act like that. They called me horrible names and unspeakable things and they wanted to force I trailed off, clenching my fists beside me. “It’s not like it’s their fault, I am completely useless. No wolf… no fighting skills… I am a good-for-nothing fool. I couldn’t even defend myself p>
“Hey!” Celeste chided me reaching over to squeeze one of my clenched fists on my lap. “Don’t be so hard on yourself okay? Those were trained warriors. They’re practically at the border of our pack, which should speak volumes of who they are. Me on the other hand, I was practically raised on the raining field, so it’s not fair to compare yourself to me or them p>
I sighed, looking out the window at the passing scenery. “I wish I had been trained when I was younger. But my father… he always said I was too fragile and that I couldn’t handle it. Same thing with Lucas p>
“Lucas?” Celeste quizzed.
“My ex-boyfriend,” I supplied. “Same thing with him when I asked him to mark me… he said he was afraid that he would crush me, that I was too tender all because I had no wolf, can you believe it? That was always his lame excuse whenever I asked him to make love to me p>
“Okay, easy there!” Celeste said, “I know your emotions are still raw but maybe you should calm down a little and just chill. You don’t want to spill out sensitive information about yourself now and regret it later p>
“Sensitive information my foot!” I scoffed. “I already admitted that I am wolfless, confessing I’ve never been laid before means nothing to me. All the other girls in my packs had their virginity taken at 14 but here am I, almost raped and about to die an old maid. No one wants me except those sweaty men. Maybe I would have allowed their way? Moon knows I might not get that kind of opportunity again p>
Celeste didn’t say anything, she just continued driving.
“You know what else is funny,” I continued to unburden “The fact that they think I have curves. They couldn’t stop talking about it. They also said I was pretty. No one has ever put me with pretty and curves in the same sentence. Believe it or not, it’s a compliment that I will cherish for the rest of my life p>
“You’re not only pretty, Lily… you’re beautiful,” Celeste said quietly “All the people in your former pack were either blind or bumbling idiots if they didn’t see that and the men were right about the curves. You could kill a man with them p>
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“There!” Celeste smiled “That’s the only sound I want to hear from you all day. Just be happy, okay? Not even a speck of sadness p>
I nodded, feeling the last of the anger gently seep away. A moment of silence passed between us before I spoke again.
“Were you serious about wanting to get trained?” Celeste asked “I mean, they’re mostly younger kids in the training ground nowadays but do you want to? You know, it’s never too late to start training and if you want, I could help you get started. You could start from the basics and I know you’re a fast learner… within months, you’ll be perfect p>
My eyes widened, and a spark of hope ignited in my chest. “Really? You’d do that for me p>
Celeste grinned. “Of course, It’ll be fun. I have lots of free time anyways. Plus, it’s always good to know how to defend yourself and not just from the pack warriors but from everything p>
“Yes!” I nodded vigorously. “Thank you so much. So, when do we Suddenly a memory flashed in my mind. “Oh, damn!” I sighed “Alpha Kai said I needed to take some kind of physical test before I could start any training or patrolling. I told you right p>
To my surprise, Celeste burst out laughing. “Oh yes, the ‘TEST,” she emphasized the last word. “I almost forgot about that. Silly me. Of course, that’s important p>
I frowned, confused by her amusement. “What’s so funny about it p>
She composed herself, though her eyes still twinkled with amusement. “Nothing, nothing. It’s just… well, you’ll see. But yes, you’ll need to do that first. It’s like the last step before you become a full member p>
“And everyone takes this test p>
She shrugged “Well, only the people the Alpha sees potential in but most importantly,” her expression suddenly grew more serious. “You need to learn how to protect yourself because those warriors you saw a few minutes ago, most of them would be your coursemates at college and the taunting won’t stop until you make them learn it the hard way p>