Chapter 29
Lily POV
The guy rose to his feet when he saw me approaching a broad smile on his face.
I and the girl’s gaze met and a smirk appeared on her lips, startling me. Did she know me?
As I sat across from the guy and the girl, I felt growing discomfort, because they were both staring at me as if I was a work of art.
“I’m sorry,” I started, my gaze on the boy. “Earlier, I forgot to introduce myself and also ask for your name. Anyway, my name is Lily. What’s yours p>
“Are you serious?” the guy chuckled “I can’t believe we spent the entire morning with each other without introducing ourselves. Anyways, my name is Kevin and before you hear it from someone else I am Alpha Kai’s cousin p>
“Wow!” I nodded realizing that he wasn’t an ordinary student like me and it could be one of the reasons those warriors had let me go earlier when he arrived.
“I’m honoured, Kevin and thank you once more p>
He nodded and turned to the other girl at the table. “Lily, I’d like you to meet Briella. You and her have one thing in coming – she’s also new here and today is her first day in school p>
Briella looked up at me, I could tell she was slightly irritated by my presence but she was good at hiding her emotions. “Nice to meet you p>
“Pleasure is all mine,” I said with a wooden smile.
As we began to eat, I found myself caught up in a whirlwind of conversation mostly happening between Briella and Kevin. Kevin was trying to keep me looped in and I was grateful for his kindness.
Suddenly, Briella paused and turned to me. “So, Lily,” she said, her fork poised mid-air. “How are you finding Royal Hunter Pack? Is it to your liking p>
“Yes,” I nodded “It’s a nice place and I’m still getting used to it too p>
“Are you going to live in the dorms on campus or outside?” Briella pressed on.
“Definitely in the dorms for now… I do have accommodation but, it’s a journey from here and I wouldn’t want to impose on my kind benefactors. What of you?” I inquired.
“I live with Kai and it’s the pack house, the place is beyond perfect,” she sighed sweetly.
My fork paused midway to my mouth, as I tried to keep my expression neutral but the sudden tightness in my chest was hard to ignore. I forced myself to ask,
“You…You’re leaving with Kai? Asin Alpha Kai p>
“Yes,” Briella nodded as if she was telling me that the sun was yellow. “I’m living under the same roof as the Alpha of Royal Hunter’s pack. His mother insisted though,”. She added.
The casual way, she dropped the information made my stomach churn. I could feel a heat rising to my cheeks but I quickly concentrated on my food p>
“No way!” Kevin’s eyebrows shot up with surprise and disbelief. “Really? Are you and Kai he shrugged, his eyes glinting with a known look that Briella seemed to understand. “Is he going to choose you as his mate p>
Briella shrugged a delicate, almost practised gesture. “Nothing is confirmed yet. For now, we’re just getting to know each other p>
“In his house?” Kevin teased “You’re lucky, Brie p>
My stomach churned as the words hit me like a physical blow. I hadn’t known Kai for long, but the thought of him choosing someone else as his mate – especially someone like Briella sent a pang of jealousy through me. I tried to focus on my food, ignoring the ache in my chest. I had no claim on Kai.
“That sounds… nice,” I managed to say.
Briella eyes sparkled “Yes, it is,” she replied smoothly.
The conversation shifted again. This time, it was Kevin who turned to ask me a question.
“So, Lily, where are you from? What was our previous pack like p>
I hesitated for a moment, before answering. “I’m from Golden Moon Pack p>
Briella’s eyes widened slightly, and she leaned forward, her tone suddenly curious. “Golden Moon Pack? I heard the Alpha there had a… how should I put this she trailed off and tapped on her teeth with her perfectly manicured nails “Had a useless daughter… a daughter who wasn’t exactly living up to expectation. Do you know her p>
Briella’s voice had gone up a notch higher and I could feel several other students looking in our direction. I felt a cold sweat break out on the back of my neck. I knew what this question was all about and it made my blood boil. But instead of reacting angrily, I took a deep breath and met her gaze head-on.
“Yes,” I said calmly. “I knew her. She was me p>
The table went silent. Briella’s smirk dried off her lips and even Kevin looked momentarily taken aback. The students at the nearby table who had been chattering away moments before, also grew quiet to hear what was going on.
My heart pounded, but I didn’t waive. I wasn’t going to cower like I did in my former pack. Back then, no one cared for me but here, I had Celeste and her grandparents and even the Alpha… which in total was the largest group of persons I’ve known all my life that cared about me genuinely.
Kevin was the first to break the silence, his voice warm and reassuring as he placed a hand on my arm. “Don’t let what others say about you hold you back. You’re in a new place now, with new opportunities. You’ll discover your talent here, I’m sure of it p>
I glanced at Kevin and for the first time since I’d sat down, I felt some of the tension ease from my shoulders. His smile was sincere and the kindness in his eyes was real. I managed a small smile in return, greatly for his support.
“Thank you, Kevin,” I murmured.
He reached across the table and took my hands, giving them a gentle squeeze.
“You know, if you ever need any support or someone – even a shoulder to cry on, I’m here for you. Don’t you dare hesitate to ask? Okay p>
My heart fluttered at the unexpected gesture. There was something about the way Ethan looked at me, the way he spoke to me that made me feel both comforted and slightly uneasy. I wasn’t used to this kind of attention.
Gently, I pulled my arm away, offering him a polite nod.
“That’s very kind of you I said. I will not forget it. And thank you so much, I appreciate that. Really, I do p>