Chapter 16
Lily POV
The sun dipped below the horizon casting a beautiful shadow on Royal Hunter Pack when I arrived at Celeste’s house.
I sucked in my breath as I took in the big house that seemed to have green lands that stretched behind it forever. It filled me with the nostalgia of running through the fields back at home, soaking up the morning sunlight and the dream of running with my wolf but it was a stupid dream because I was never going to get my wolf. I was too old for it anyway.
Although big, the house had a humble aura around it. I could feel it. The doors of the house opened and Celeste came out wearing a big smile as she came towards me.
“I see you lived!” she chuckled, giving me a once over “The way you were scared of being alone with him, I was tempted to stay back just to make sure he doesn’t bite off your head p>
“Well,” I blushed red lowering my gaze. “He was kinder than I expected,” I admitted softly. “Alpha Kai, from all the stories that I’ve heard of him seemed like a dangerous person– mothers in my pack use him as a threat to stubborn children and his name is like a death sentence. So, I thought he’d be more p>
“Terrifying? Domineering? A complete alpha-hole?” Celeste supplied with a mischievous grin.
I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. “Something like that, yes. But he was… different. Almost gentle in his own way p>
Celeste’s eyebrows shot up, as an amusing glint settled in her eyes. “Is that so? How very interesting! What happened to the girl that was quaking some minutes ago about being eaten alive? Don’t tell me you like my brother. Or is it because you saw him naked yesterday and p>
I felt heat rising to my cheeks and quickly changed the subject interrupting her. “I feel so terrible imposing on you like this but it was either staying in the pack house with him or you and I’m sorry I choose you again. As a way to repay you for all your kindness, let me help with all the chores, I’m very good at that p>
“An Alpha’s daughter who actually knows what house chores are?” Celeste shook her head sadly “You’re an interesting person Lily but please don’t worry about it,” she said with a casual flick of her wrist as she steered me in the direction of the house. “Something tells me your expenses are already taken care of. C’mon in, let me introduce you to my grandparents, they’re around p>
“You live with your grandparents?” My eyes widened with surprise.
“This was like our family house until my parents abandoned it years ago. I recently renovated it and furbished it and my grandparents happen to be visiting. I don’t know how long they’ll stay and I don’t really care. Will it make you feel uncomfortable, I can p>
“It’s fine!” I stopped her. “I’m just thrilled that you have a lot of your family around. I wish I had that p>
That sounded so pathetic and I was about to apologize when the door opened again and a grey-haired woman who had similar eyes like Celeste came out. She was going to talk to Celeste but paused when she saw me.
“Oh my!” she clapped her hands in glee “Who is this beautiful lady, Celeste? I should marry her for your grandpa p>
“I wish you’d be kind enough to do that, Elena,” a man’s voice sounded from inside the house as he came outside to join us. His gaze rested on me and he whistled turning to stare at his wife “But I’ll risk death to have this beauty. Is she my birthday gift, Celeste p>
“Don’t say stuff like that, Grandpa!” Celeste glared at them, “You’ll scare her away,” Then turning to me, she gave me a bright smile and muttered through her teeth. “I’m so sorry about that. They don’t have filters p>
“We heard that,” the old man snorted and shoved his hand in front of my face, a smile on his face. He looked like the older version of Alpha Kai, only that he smiled more. “My name is Marcus Ryker and I’m Celeste’s grandfather. Nice to meet you, dear p>
“Thank you, sir,” I bowed my head and took his hands with both of mine. “It’s nice to meet you too. My name is Lily Stone p>
“And I am Elena!” the grey-haired woman came forward, her smile was so bright that I felt my heart easing “Any friend of Celeste is welcome to our home,” I stretched my hands to shake her but she pulled me in for a hug. For the first few seconds, it felt so awkward but after like five seconds, I relaxed against her, closing my eyes as her warmth enveloped me.
I didn’t know it felt so good to be hugged. Aside from Lucas, no one has ever hugged me. Tears pooled in my eyes – making me untangle myself from her embrace. It’ll be difficult to explain why I am crying plus they looked like really good people.
“Thank you for the warmth,” I murmured bowing my head.
“Come, I’ll show you to your room,” Celeste said dragging me away from her grandparents “Celeste needs to soak up and regain some of her strength you can chat with her later p>
“That’s good dear,” Elena called out as we walked past them towards the stairs “Come right down after you’re done. It’s nearly time for dinner p>
The guest room Celeste took me to, was cosy and welcoming and it overlooked the sea. I knew just gazing out of the window which was a favourite habit of mine would put me in high spirits.
After showing me around the room, Celeste left promising to come fetch me in half an hour. Thirty minutes later, I smelt like freshly plucked roses and never felt more energetic than I felt right now. I managed to brush my stubborn hair into a bun, loving the transformation I saw in the mirror.
“Wow! Look at you, you look beautiful,” Celeste said as soon as she entered the room and that dress fits you better than it would me p>
“I appreciate the dress and the bathing gels… thank you so much, Celeste p>
“Anytime girl,” she winked “C’mon, let’s go down, dinner is set p>
As we descended to the dining room, the aroma of home-cooked food wafted up to me, making my stomach growl appreciatively, reminding me I’ve not had anything significant for two days straight.
But was struck me was the warm, inviting atmosphere in the house. It was a far cry from the coldness back at home. Celeste’s grandparents saw me to my seat and I had barely sat when they started offering me almost everything on the table, complaining that I looked so thin and had to eat.
Despite Celeste’s efforts telling them I was not a new doll, they kept pushing food towards me. I found myself more relaxed in the presence of these strangers than I’ve ever felt with family or friends. The conversation flowed easily, occasionally punctuated with laughter.
“So, Lily,” Marcus began gently after a while of discussing random things. “How do you know our Celeste? How did you come here to be with us p>
I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. Celeste must have sensed my discomfort and jumped in. “it’s quite a tale, Grandpa, actually, my little feathered friends told me most of everything she had to go through p>
I listened in astonishment as Celeste told them my story from how I had left my pack, and declared a rogue by my father and how the rogues had nearly killed me. I noticed she didn’t dwell too much on Kai’s part.
“That’s incredible,” I breathed when she finished. “That’s exactly everything that happened. Your gift with communicating with birds is truly amazing p>
Elena beamed with pride. “It runs in the family, dear. The women in our lineage have always had a special connection with animals. My mother – Celeste’s great-grandmother -could speak with horses. She was quite the warrior in her day p>
“Really?” my eyes widened. “That’s fascinating. Is she still alive perhaps p>
A shadow passed over Elena’s face but was quickly replaced by a warm smile. “No, they died in battle but they died as true heroes p>
After the meal, I went up to my room, a big, fulfilled smile on my face. This was the best day I’ve ever had in a long while. As I lay on the bed, the events of the past two days flitted to my mind.
Tears gathered in my eyes at the realization that my family truly wanted me dead and it ached my heart so much that I thought I would die from just thinking about it. First, it was my mate that was taken away from me by my sister. I was practically disowned by my own family, stripped of the title of an – Alpha’s daughter and declared a rogue. Everything I’ve known to be mine was painfully taken away from me in 48 hours.
“I need a plan,” I whispered to myself wiping my eyes. “I can’t just exist here forever p>
Thankfully, Alpha Kai had offered me a scholarship to any of the universities in his pack, all I needed was to find a part-time job to support myself. I would no longer rely on people.
With that thought on my mind, I drifted off to sleep not before wondering what Alpha Kai would be doing now.