Chapter 39
Lily POV
I hesitated, wondering whether I wanted to go down this path. I knew that more questions would come up once I answered this first one but I didn’t know if I was ready to share that part of my life. I wasn’t sure I had the emotional capacity to do that, yet, this girl had helped a stranger like me. Someone who she barely knows.
Finally, I nodded, drinking from the free bottle of water provided. “Yeah, I’m from another pack. My father is an Alpha, but things were… complicated there. I ended up here and I’m still trying to figure out where I fit in p>
The girl seemed to understand. She leaned back in her chair, studying me with a thoughtful expression. “I get that. It’s not easy being the new one, especially when there’s so much history and expectation tied to who you are p>
I sighed fighting the tears that simmered at the corner of my eyes. “It’s much more than that, my friend,” I gave her a weak smile “I was abandoned by my family probably because I was too weak. You see I trailed off wringing my fingers while trying not to cry “I don’t have a wolf. I haven’t shifted, so I get why they didn’t want me. hell! I wouldn’t want a liability like myself p>
“Don’t say that Lily,” the girl said quietly “Not having a wolf doesn’t make you any less of a werewolf p>
“Easy for you to say,” I smiled through my tear-filled eyes “But since I came to this pack, I’ve felt more at home than I ever did in my pack. So maybe it’s a good sign. I didn’t ask for any of this – I didn’t ask for the luxury of having a friend, talking and you know just existing without being reminded that I am wolfless. I just want to find a place where I can belong p>
She smiled at me sympathetically as she reached out, placing a comforting hand on my arm. “I’m so sorry, you had to go through a lot but that shouldn’t define you. You’re anything but weak. And I assure you, in a few weeks, it’ll feel like you’ve lived here, done all these things for a long time. This too will pass, okay p>
I smiled, genuinely touched by her words. “Thank you, I really appreciate that p>
“Besides,” she continued, “You’re safe here now. Our pack is strong and Our Alpha is formidable. No one would dare harm you under his protection p>
At the mention of Kai’s name, my heart skipped a beat. “Kai – I mean Alpha Kai,” I murmured almost to myself. Then louder. “What… what do people think of him? Of Alpha Kai?” I repeated.
The girl’s expression turned thoughtful but after a few minutes, she responded. “Well, he’s a force to reckon with obviously, to be honest. He rarely appears in public or any of the public pack events and many people are afraid of him. There’s this aura of power around him, you know? And that scar on his face… it’s from a battle, years ago p>
I leaned in, trying not to show too much interest but my curiosity has been piqued now and I was dying to hear the rest of the story. I’d noticed Kai’s scar, of course – both he and his wolf had it. It was a jagged line that ran from his left temple to his jaw. It did nothing to diminish his handsomeness; if anything, it only added to his air of mystery and danger.
“Well the girl hesitated “Some say, that he got the scar in a fight against his own father but no one knows for sure p>
My eyes widened at the revelation as I tried to picture Kia locked in a combat with an older version of himself and the image sent a shiver down my spine. I heard his father had died. Did he kill him?
“But despite the rumours,” the girl added hastily, “Everyone respects him. He’s brought peace and prosperity to our pack. The only thing that is miss she trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
“What?” I pressed dying to hear the words.
“Well, he hasn’t been able to find his fated Luna,” the girl finished. It’s unusual for an Alpha of his age and power to be unmated and you know having a Luna is another way to strengthen your pack p>
On cue, Kai’s fiancée – Briella’s image flashed in my mind – beautiful, poised, and perfectly suited to stand beside an Alpha. The ache in my heart which was becoming a constant companion these days intensified as I thought about Briella and Kai together.
I’ve tried to convince myself that it didn’t matter and that I was just attracted to him because he was handsome and maybe I was still heartbroken over Lucas’s betrayal but… I was not fine. My heart keeps aching whenever I envision a future with Briella and Kai together.
“Lily My friend was shaking my hand “Are you alright?” she asked snapping me out reverie.
“I…I’m not feeling well,” I said abruptly, rising to my feet. “I think I need to lie down. Thank you for the company and the conversation. Let’s do this tomorrow, okay? And I promise I’ll buy you that drink p>
“Sure thing,” she nodded gazing at me with concern but she didn’t press the issue or ask more questions. “Of course, Lily. I hope you feel better soon p>
I was too overwhelmed with my emotions to go back to classes and I could feel the onset of a headache brewing at the back of my head. Why did Kai’s unmarried status affect me so deeply? And why did my feelings… I didn’t even know what feelings grew strong with each passing day.
When I arrived home, I just went straight to my bedroom and dropped on it, hoping by the time I woke, I’d be fine.
But by evening, the discomfort I had felt from earlier today had bloomed into a full-blown headache. It was so severe that I couldn’t come down to eat dinner. I curled up in my bed, turning and tossing, unable to find a perfect position that would ease my growing discomfort.
A soft knock on the door made me quieten. I could feel it was Celeste. “Lily,” she called out “Are you alright p>
I struggled to sit up, my limbs felt unusually heavy. “I’m okay,” I called back, though my voice sounded weak even to my own ears. “I’m just tired p>
The door creaked open and Celeste peered in, concern etched on her face. As soon as she saw me, her eyes widened. She immediately pushed the door open, and in a few strides, she crossed over the room to where I was trying to stand up and greet her. In one swift move, she touched my brow and gasped.
“Oh Lily,” she breathed “You’re burning up. You’re having a fever p>
I blinked, surprised. I did feel warm, now that I thought about it. “I’m sure it’s nothing,” I murmured “Probably, just exhaustion from the training session this morning maybe I’ll be fine when I sleep p>
But Celeste didn’t look convinced. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, a new voice filtered into the room, joining our conversation.
“What’s going on here p>
I looked up to see Celeste’s grandfather standing in the doorway, his face creased with worry.
“I think, Lily has a fever,” Celeste reported. “She says she’s just tired from training but p>
In one quick stride, Grandpa was at my bed, his sharp eyes scanning me like a scanner. “How do you feel dear?” he asked gently.
I tried to focus, cataloguing my symptoms. “My heart is racing” I admitted “And my arms and legs ache. It’s not like any exhaustion I’ve felt before p>
A knowing look passed over Grandpa’s face as he smiled at me. He reached out, taking one of my hands in his.
“This isn’t exhaustion, my dear,” he said, his voice a mixture of excitement and apprehension. “I believe you’re about to shift for the first time p>