Lilith's POV
"And why is that?" she asked angrily. I lifted up my face and looked at her for the very first time. A rush of anger swept through me, but I kept my cool.
"Maybe if I wasn't sore all over my body and covered in bruises, it wouldn't be so difficult to go to the bar and serve customers all day!" I wanted to say.
"Mother, I don't want to go to work looking like this. I would become a laughing stock all over again," I said, my eyes burning with unshed tears. Like I wasn't already a laughing stock? Like the scars on my face weren't already enough reason for people to laugh and scorn at me?
"You, my dear, would have to go to work. Certainly, people would understand that there are consequences for some actions," she scorned as she glared down at me. "Next time, you will think twice before coming back home so late," she spat.
I bowed my head down again, thoughts swimming through my mind. She turned around to leave, and just as she got to the door, she looked over her shoulder, "make sure you get my food ready before you leave, and be fast about that."
I sat on my bed with my head in my hands. I couldn't even get myself to cry because crying wouldn't solve any of the problems I was currently facing. I went and looked at myself again in the mirror. How was I going to cover all these bruises?
"Just wear big clothes; that way, no one will see your bruises," my inner thoughts reared. Yes, that is right. I would do just that. I will hide my bruises in clothes.
I managed to have my bath, but dressing up was a struggle as I couldn't wear clothes to cover my bruises. The pain when I tried was unbearable. I eventually wore clothes that allowed my wounds to be bare and breathe.
I went downstairs and cooked breakfast for my mum before leaving for the bar.
********
"Who did this to you? What happened?" Joseph, my beta manager, asked. He wore a frown on his face as his brows furrowed. I thought of giving him an excuse, any excuse at all. How could I tell him a mother had done this to her daughter? I couldn't even bring myself to say something like that.
"I fell down on my way home yesterday," I blurted out. He looked at me, totally confused. I played back what I had said in my head and realized that it made no sense. It was not possible for one to fall and get wounds like that. Maybe I should have just said I got attacked on my way home.
"Yeah right, can't you come up with any good lies at least, if you must tell a lie?" Joseph quizzed, folding his hands across his chest. He wasn't going to budge; he wasn't going to let it go until I told him what happened.
He was a caring man; having worked for him for years, I knew that at least. He tried as much as possible to be involved in the lives of his workers. He had often spoken ill of my mom for always maltreating me.
Yes, I had told him before how my mom would make me do everything and beat me if I made any mistake, but I had never told him how I came about my scarred face.
One time, after I came to work with a red cheek and told him it was my mother's doing, and that she had slapped me because the food I cooked was not to her taste, he was very angry and told me he would go home with me and talk to my mother about her behavior, but I had begged him severely not to do so.
I didn't want trouble at the time. Going home with me would make my mother very angry. She would probably pretend in front of him, but once he left, I would be sure to get the beating of my life.
She had often threatened me that if I breathed a word of what happens behind closed doors to anyone, she would have me killed. I was scared of her. A woman like her was not one to joke with; she just might carry out her threat.
"Talk to me, Lilith! Who did this to you?" Joseph growled. If he was angry before, right now, he was extremely furious. I couldn't talk; I didn't know what to say. I needed to think fast.
"I was attacked yesterday, I was attacked by a wolf on my way home," I said, my eyes brimming with tears.
"You were attacked? By who?"
"I don't know who it was, it was a wolf that attacked me. I shifted into my wolf too but couldn't fight back," I sobbed. I looked up at him, a worried look etched on his face. I continued with my lies; it seemed to be working, having its effect on him.
"It was obviously a male wolf; if not, how could he be so strong, digging into my flesh with his claws?" I brought out a handkerchief and wiped my tears. I was proud of myself for a job well done when I heard his voice.
"These wounds were not inflicted by the claws of a wolf, Lilith, you forget that I am over 100 years older than you," he said calmly, looking at me with concerned eyes. I couldn't meet his eyes. I had been caught lying again. Maybe I wasn't really a good liar; maybe I should just quit lying totally. The corner of his mouth twitched, and his question knocked me off balance.
"Did she do this to you?" he asked. I stiffened. Again, I couldn't say anything; I just looked at him with raised brows, as if I was completely unaware of what he was trying to say. Seeing that I was confused, he added, "Your mother, did she do this to you?"
My eyes burned. He had finally figured it out himself. There was no point in lying anymore. I didn't even want to lie. I resigned myself to the tears as they fell freely while I nodded my head in response to what he said.
He shut his eyes and pulled me in for a hug.
"Oh poor dear, it is a pity you have to go through all this at the hands of a woman you call mother," he said. The other workers were now beginning to come, one after the other, customers came too. They looked at me with pitiful, mocking eyes. Joseph, seeing what was happening, took me to his office.
My co-workers knew better than to bully me when Joseph was around. They knew he tolerated nothing of such at all. One time, he had sacked a colleague of mine, stopping him from coming to work because he had made jest of me, saying I would never find my mate with my face like that.
It had been very painful, for a while, I believed what he said and dwelt on it. Unknown to him, Joseph had overheard him from his office and called him aside later on. It wasn't until a week later that I realized he had stopped coming to work.
Rumors spread from one of his friends that he was sacked because he said something about me. He told them to be careful and tread lightly with me. He even mentioned that Joseph might actually be my father for looking out for me so much.
The thought made me chuckle. If only that was true. Growing up without a father had had its toll on me. It is every girl's dream to have a father figure in her life. Someone to teach her how she deserves to be treated. I had often wondered what it would be like to be "daddy's little girl."
"Sit down," Joseph ordered as we got to his office. I obeyed and sat down. He went around and sat behind his desk. He was obviously still angry about the revelation he had just uncovered himself.
We sat in silence as he gazed at me, probably thinking of what to say and how to say it. I waited patiently with my hands in my lap, wondering what he would say.
"This has to stop, I know it has been going on for a while, but we have to put a stop to it now before that woman kills you," he said. I gaped at him. "How are we supposed to do that?" I thought.
Was it even possible to make her stop? She had made it clear several times that nothing I do would make her love me. She hated my mere existence and wished I was never born. In her words, "I completely ruined her life."
I sighed at the thought swirling in my mind before shaking my head at what Joseph had just said. "She will never stop, Joseph, no one can make my mother stop," I said, my voice cracking.
"Even the king?" he asked, his brows raised. I gasped.
"The king?" I asked, utterly confused."Yes, the king. Let's lodge a complaint about your mother to the alpha king," he said, standing up and pacing around the room. "It is the king's duty to ensure his subjects are safe," he continued, approaching me, bending down to meet my gaze at eye level."If we tell him what your own mother has been doing to you, I am sure he would act in your favor," he said, rising to his feet and returning to his seat. I waited until he was seated before I spoke."We can't go to the king, we just can't," I said."And why is that?" he asked. I thought about it, recalling the time when my mum told me after beating me that getting pregnant with me ruined her chances with the king.He was the love of her life, the man she had given her heart to, but my arrival stopped everything that would have happened between them. Who knows, if I hadn't been born, she would probably be the king's third mate. I sighed."It is a long story, Joseph. I just don't think it would b
Alpha Joe's POVAs soon as I saw who had come in, I stepped back, letting go of my stepmother's hand."Father," I said as I moved farther away from her. He came right at me and delivered a thundering slap. My cheek burned, but I didn't rub it."What do you think you are doing?" he asked. I knew no explanation would suffice to justify the scene he had just witnessed. Regardless of what she had done, I should have never laid my hand on her, even if it was an act of self-defense.My stepmother immediately saw an opportunity and used it to her advantage. I wasn't surprised; she was an author of mischief."Thank goodness you are here, Leonard," she said, running towards him. "Your son just threatened to kill me," she sobbed. I looked at her in awe. I knew she was a good liar, but I didn't expect her to go this far with her lies. Kill her? Why would I want to kill her?"Father, you know I can never do such a thing," I said, waiting for him to say something to back me up, but he didn't. He w
Lilith's POVI walked into the room, gently closing the door behind me before greeting him."Good evening, Alpha Andrew," I replied. He was no longer a mere visitor in our home; in fact, he always made himself feel at home whenever he came over. He was one of my mother's flings, the longest one she had ever had.Most of them usually didn't last more than three months, but she has been seeing him for about two years now. He glanced at my body and saw the scars but didn't say anything.He already knew about the toxic relationship between my mother and me. He had even witnessed her beating me once, and yet he did nothing to intervene. That was one of the reasons I loathed him so much."It's a good thing you're back. I am famished, and I believe Andrew is too," my mother's voice rang out from the sofa in the sitting room. As we approached, she looked at Andrew and smiled before returning her gaze to me, "Get us something to eat," she said coldly.I muttered words of greeting to her, but s
Lilith's POVI returned his handshake, utterly confused. He mentioned he had heard so much about me, but I couldn't recall where I had seen him before."Sorry, are you a customer? And how did you hear so much about me?" I asked.He chuckled at my question and was about to answer when my manager, Joseph, came out from his office."I see you two have met," he said, walking close to us. That was when it clicked; they looked very much alike—blond hair, blue eyes, everything. The only difference was that one was younger than the other.He must be Joseph's son, I thought. Although, I hadn't seen any woman around claiming to be Joseph's mate. If he had a mate or a son, they would have been coming around to his bar, but nothing like that had happened in the twelve years I have worked here."You must be wondering who he is," Joseph said with a smile, cutting through my thoughts. I simply nodded my head, feeling a bit uneasy with two strikingly handsome men staring at me—one I was already comfo
Alpha Joe's POVI wondered what important thing we needed to discuss. Looking over at Jay, it was obvious he was also oblivious to the purpose of our summons."Now that we are all here, I would begin," he said, looking over at Jay and then myself. My stepmother looked like she already knew what was about to be discussed."The Queen reminded me that 5 days from today will mark the anniversary of the day we had our mating ceremony," he smiled and looked at her, placing his hand on her shoulder. He continued, "We have been together for 25 years, my love." She chuckled at his words.Where exactly is this heading to? I thought. Bravo, they have been together for 25 years, did he call us just to tell us that? I doubt that; my father isn't that kind of person. For him to summon my stepbrother and me, there must be more."Well, to mark the remembrance, we have decided to throw a party with all the members of the pack invited to celebrate with us," he said.Finally, so that was what it was abo
Lilith's POVI opened the door, and he walked in – the man who had captured my mother's heart. He had been visiting our house frequently these past few days, after staying away for about a month or two."Good evening, Alpha Andrew," I said coldly, not meaning to sound that way, especially after the way he had stood up for me the other day. But anyone associated with my mother deserved as much scorn from me as I could give."Evening, Lilith," he replied, disregarding my tone. "Is your mother at home?" he asked with a raised brow.Thankfully, I didn't need to reply, as she walked out of her room and headed in our direction."Just the man I wanted to see," she said, giving him a kiss and a long hug. I moved away from them to the kitchen to prepare dinner as usual.From the kitchen, I heard smooching sounds coming from the living room where they sat on the couch. The living room was very close to the kitchen, making it easy to hear everything going on there from the kitchen."Oh, get a ro
Lilith's POVWe arrived at the palace soon enough, though we were a bit late, as most members of the pack were already seated. Adrain led me to an empty seat on the second row, and we sat down.From where we sat, we could clearly see everything that was going on on the stage. Everywhere was beautifully decorated to mark the occasion.Alpha Joe stepped onto the stage to make an announcement. Upon seeing him, the whispering in the crowd stopped as everyone paid rapt attention to what he wanted to say."Greetings to you all, the wonderful people of Starfall Pack. We are extremely delighted to have you all here tonight to celebrate with the king and Queen as they mark their 25th mating ceremony anniversary," he said, looking across the crowd as he spoke.He stood with so much poise and elegance. He would indeed make a great king one day, I thought. I could feel my wolf recoiling with sadness inside me. She had been rejected by her mate, and I could understand her pain.I could still feel
Lilith's POVThe voice caused Seline's hand to freeze mid-air, and she retreated instead of slapping me again. I looked up to see who it was, just as my attackers spun around to see who had intruded.My eyes widened in shock; it felt like they would pop out of their sockets. It was the crown prince. What was he doing here? I thought. Had he been summoned by the bond between us? My heart skipped at the thought.He looked at me intently before coming closer and helping me stand up. My heart kept pounding; it felt like it would break out of my chest any minute now. His steady hand supported my back as I stood up, and I felt weak in the knees.My mate was there, he had come to my rescue! I suppressed the urge to scream to anyone who would listen that the Crown Prince was my mate. "Aren't you just stupid?" my inner thoughts sneered. "You'd scream to anyone who'd listen that the crown prince is your mate?Please snap out of it already, or have you forgotten how he marked another in front of
Lilith's POV Prince Leo came to inform me that the king had summoned us. I was in the middle of breastfeeding little Sam at the time, so he kindly told me to continue and join them in the courtroom once I was finished. Leo planted a gentle kiss on my forehead and then bent down to kiss little Sam, who was busily suckling on my right breast, before he left. He was an incredibly kind and caring man. Sometimes, I couldn't help but wonder what I had done to be blessed by the moon goddess with such a wonderful partner. I felt entirely at peace with my decision to marry him. After feeding little Sam, who was the last to be nursed since my other babies had already been breastfed, I carefully dressed and made my way to the courtroom. Leo had emphasized that the matter was of utmost urgency, leaving me curious about what it could be. As I reached the door to the courtroom, I felt an inexplicable pull, a strong force drawing me in. It compelled me to step inside. A few steps in, I turned tow
Alpha Joe's POV As I pondered my next words, doubt and uncertainty swirled within me. Should I disclose Lilith's identity and risk potential complications with the Frostwood pack? Or should I come up with an alternative reason for our visit, giving me time to secretly reunite with Lilith? It was a difficult decision to make. In the end, I chose the latter approach. I decided to act as if I had come for a different purpose, allowing me the opportunity to spend some time in the palace and secretly plan Lilith's return with the members of my pack who had accompanied me on this journey. After much contemplation, I realized that concealing the truth could lead to a potentially devastating conflict between Starfalls pack and Frostwood pack, something I couldn't afford. The risk of war was too great. So, I made the difficult choice to speak the truth, hoping that we could resolve the situation peacefully. Inwardly, I considered the possibility that Lilith might be working within the palac
Alpha Joe's POV I turned to him and took a deep breath. "This morning, the Stargazers visited the courtroom to deliver news to my father and me," I began. His brows furrowed, showing his heightened interest. "Lilith is no longer within the boundaries of Starfalls pack," I revealed. His mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened in shock. "Wait, I'm a bit confused. How did the Stargazers come to know this? Did they go searching for her?" he asked, his curiosity evident. His questions were understandable, and anyone would wonder the same. After all, the Stargazers were known for studying stars, so their news typically had a celestial connection. "They are Stargazers, Adrian," I replied calmly. "Their duty is to observe the stars and report significant findings to the Alpha King," I explained. "As they conducted their observations, they noticed the sudden disappearance of four stars that symbolized protection over our pack. These four stars represented Lilith's four young children."
Alpha Joe's POV Their eyes darted between one another and then focused on me. Austria, their leader, cleared his throat before speaking, "My Prince, we have an urgent matter to discuss. While studying the stars, we observed the disappearance of four crucial stars from the sky." He exchanged glances with his colleagues before continuing, "These four stars hold immense significance for the Starfalls pack. Their absence foretells impending danger, and if they are not returned to their rightful place here within our pack, the doom of Starfalls Pack is inevitable." Austria's words left me perplexed. He had spoken in riddles, expecting me to decipher their meaning. What did these four stars symbolize? I needed a clear explanation to understand the gravity of the situation. "I apologize, Austria, but your words seem rather cryptic," I remarked, fixing my gaze on him. Austria turned to my father, who nodded in agreement. "My Prince, I believe you are aware of the situation. The woman you
Lilith's POV I watched as an incredibly beautiful woman walked in. She stood about 5'9" tall, with silver hair and captivating ocean-blue eyes. She looked stunning, like a goddess. Is this the woman Prince Leo is married to? I was completely astonished. A quick glance at the people I had come with showed that they were equally awestruck. I composed myself as she approached Prince Leo, hugged him, and planted a kiss on his cheek. She respectfully bowed to the King and Queen before turning her attention towards me with a warm smile. I swallowed hard as she drew nearer. Her eyes remained fixed on my face, and her smile never wavered. She took my hands in hers, and the entire room's attention shifted to us, eagerly watching to see what would unfold. "I've heard so much about you from the prince, Lilith. You look absolutely stunning, far more beautiful than I could have imagined. It's truly wonderful to finally meet my co-wife," she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight embrace. My eyes wi
Lilith's POV I glanced at everyone, and they all appeared as apprehensive as I felt, except for Prince Leo. His calm demeanor didn't surprise me; this was his home, after all, and he was about to see his father, the king, again. He probably saw him before leaving the house in the morning, so he had become accustomed to it. "Usher them in," a deep male voice resonated from within the courtroom, sending shivers down my spine. Prince Leo held my hand with his free one and whispered, "Don't be scared, my father doesn't bite," he chuckled. I took a deep breath and walked beside Prince Leo, with Sam, Robert, and Clara following closely behind us. As I gazed at the throne, I saw the king seated majestically. He commanded a substantial presence without the need to stand up. He appeared astute and imposing, in stark contrast to Leo. Yet, there was something remarkable about him, a shared trait with Leo: his kind green eyes. I surmised that Leo probably took after his mother in terms of loo
Lilith's POV The next day arrived, and I had barely slept a wink the previous night due to my anxiety. Today, I was scheduled to meet the members of the royal family. I couldn't help but wonder about their perception of me. Would they accept me with open hearts? Or would they merely pretend to like me? I remembered the Prince mentioning yesterday that they were looking forward to meeting me. Personally, I suspected he might have played a significant role in their expectations. He probably convinced them of his fondness for me, leaving them with no choice but to go along with it and feign affection for an omega wolf they had never met before. I couldn't quite understand why, but being in the lowest rank among the werewolves always carried a certain stigma for me. This feeling was compounded by the fact that I had grown up in a home and pack where I longed for love from the people who mattered most. Life had been undeniably challenging until I met Joseph and Adrian in Starfalls Pack
Lilith's POV He gently brushed his fingers across my face, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "You are breathtakingly beautiful, unquestionably the most radiant young lady I've ever had the pleasure of seeing," he said, a sensuous smile gracing his lips. His smile made him even more handsome, and I felt my cheeks flush at his compliment. "Let's go and share our decision with Sam and Robert," he suggested, taking my hand and leading me back toward the house. When we arrived, Sam was outside, hard at work cutting firewood. He looked sweaty and exhausted in the sunlight. Spotting us, he wiped his brow with a nearby cloth and came over. "My Prince, you're both back," Sam greeted with a playful nudge to the prince's shoulder. The prince smiled and replied, "Yes, we're back, and I have something important I need to discuss with you and your father." Sam's expression shifted to one of surprise as he briefly glanced at me, and then he looked away. I avoided making eye contact wi
Lilith's POV The prince and I were scheduled to have a meeting later today. He had mentioned that there was something important he needed to discuss with me. He emphasized that the outcome of our conversation would decide whether he'd meet with Robert and Sam for a follow-up discussion. I had no idea what he wanted to talk about, and honestly, I didn't care. I was willing to do anything to spend some precious moments alone with him. As the time for our meeting approached, he arrived and led me to the garden, our customary meeting spot. "Lilith, there's something important I need to share with you." I listened intently, my eyes fixed on his handsome face, trying to read his somewhat solemn expression. "We've been spending time together for a while now, and I'd be dishonest if I told you the only reason was to be friends," he said, shifting his gaze to meet mine. "It's more than that, Lilith. I want us to be more than friends; I'm deeply drawn to you." My eyes widened in astonishmen