Chapter 2: Lily

Leana and I are watching all the werewolves milling around, trying to find their hookup after Rich’s Alpha ceremony. All of our families are here, celebrating the first of the next generation to become Alpha. If I had been a male, I would have taken over a couple of weeks ago when I turned 18. Since I’m not, Rich is the first.

“So, we haven’t had a chance to talk. What happened with Aolis on your birthday? I was surprised that you didn’t have his mark on your chest the next day.” Leana says.

She is my best friend. She’s Rich’s sister and only six months younger than he is, making her about seven month’s younger than me. Not having any sisters of my own, she’s like a sister to me. Her sisters are all much younger, having two brothers, Xander and Cayden, between her and them. So, we’ve always been close and we share all our secrets.

“It was weird, Lea. He’s like a brother to me. Imagine if I was mated to Rich or Emerson. Or if you were mated to Cohen. It’s just…weird.”

‘It’s not weird, you’re just making it weird. He is meant for us, and I want him.’ Hera, my wolf, says to me. She’s been furious with me ever since I didn’t claim him on my birthday.

‘Hera, it’s not the same for me as it is for you.’

“Just know, if we lose him, I’ll never forgive you.’ She snarls before walking to a corner of my mind and shutting me out.

“Okay, when you put it like that, it does seem weird. I mean, I really like your brother, but…ewwww.” Leana says to me.

“Right? I mean, I can’t imagine my life without Aolis, but…I don’t know. I do know I need to figure it out. He’s waited for me for a long time. It’s not fair to him and I do care for him. Hera wants him. She was ready to mark him the moment we smelled his glorious scent.” I know my eyes roll back in my head. Aolis always smelled good, but once we recognized him as our mate? His scent of freshly fallen snow was mouthwatering.

“So, how did you leave it? He’s not here and you’re not there.”

“I asked him for time. I told him that I feel the mate bond, but I need time to decide if I’m ready to leave my pack and my family to move to Araphyra.”

Leana grimaces. “And how did he take that?”

“About as well as you’d expect. He told me he’d already waited for me for eighteen years and if I needed more time, he’d give it to me. But he was clear that he wants me, and he won’t wait forever.”

“What are you going to do?” She asks, just as Rich walks up to the bar where we are sitting.

He kisses both of us on the tops of our heads before he orders a drink. Since Leana and I are having a serious conversation that we don’t want him listening to, we begin to harass him about having to call him Alpha now instead of Rich.

As soon as he gets his drink, he goes to see his brothers, not wanting to hear any more of our harassment.

"It’s almost too easy.” Leana says as we watch him walk over to where Xander, Cayd, Cohen, Clint and Emlyn are talking. Our brothers are definitely on the hunt for their flavor of the night.

“They’re such dogs. I hope their mates can forgive them.” Leana says, which makes me feel bad again for not immediately accepting Aolis.

The man is ten years older than me, and I know, I’m positive, that he has saved himself for me. Whether by choice or by lack of options, I have saved myself for him as well. I just need to get over this whole brotherly feeling.

“So, back to our conversation, what are you going to do?” Leana gets us back to our conversation.

“I don’t know Lea. I truly don’t. I just know that he’s waited long enough. My hand reaches up to touch the necklace he gave me for my birthday. It was so perfect. A crescent moon with a heart shaped gem the exact color of Aolis’s eyes. He told me that it glows with his love for me.

“Am I heartless, Lea? Should I just accept him and see what happens?”

“I don’t know, Lils. I’ve never been in your situation. I’m not old enough to feel my mate yet. Maybe, if he’s willing to give you time, you should take this time and really decide what you want to do. But I would say, if you know you don’t want to live without him in your life, you are going to have to get over the whole brotherly thing and accept him as your mate.”

“I know.”

I didn’t have too long to worry about it. A week later, Shadow Falls was attacked by rogues. The Guardians have taken to moving around all three packs and practicing with the warriors helping them to become stronger, faster, better fighters. Originally, because me, Lea and Emlyn were the oldest females and there was one from each pack, our parents had wanted us to divide our time, one of us in a pack, rotating each week. However, Lea and I had begged to stay together, since our time together would be impacted greatly if we were separated for sparring. So, instead, they included Emlyn in our group of three and we travel around the packs together.

This particular week, we are in Shadow Falls and it is good we are. The rogues come out of nowhere and are strong fighters. They were taking down Rich’s patrol guards when we arrived. The three of us didn’t hesitate. We jumped right into the fighting, Rich right behind us.

Lea and I didn’t see it, but Emlyn jumped in front of Rich, taking down a wolf that was after him. In true Alpha fashion, Rich was pissed. It’s how all of our fathers and brothers act when one of us steps in front of them to take on their fight. They hate it, but there’s nothing we can do to stop it. It’s in our blood, just as leading a pack is in theirs. Yet, for some reason, they think we can change who we are.

“What do you think of those rogues attacking us?” Lea asks me.

“It’s odd, right? It’s well known that our three packs are full of Guardians and was it me or were they better trained than normal rogues?”

“My thought exactly.” Lea says, just as Emlyn comes walking back into the packhouse. I can see that she’s jumped into the lake to rinse off.

After making sure that Emlyn was okay, Rich felt the need to scold her privately, and waiting to see if Rich learned anything from the rogues, Leana and I head to Canyon Ridge. We wanted to speak to my father.

As soon as we enter our packhouse, my father is there.

“Are you alright? I heard Shadow Falls was attacked.” He pulls me into a hug. I’ve always been a bit of a daddy’s girl. Being the oldest and the only girl, my father may have doted on me a bit.

“Yes, dad, we’re fine. There were three of us there. But, we wanted to talk to you. Have you heard from Rich?”

“Not yet. Come to my office, you can get me caught up.”

As we pass the kitchen, I see my mother speaking to the omegas and sprites making dinner for the pack. She looks up as we pass. “Are you girls alright? I heard there was a battle at Shadow Falls.”

“We’re good mom. Didn’t even get bitten.”

“It’s good that you were there. Rich might have lost some warriors if you weren’t.”

I hear my father’s low growl behind me. My mother looks past me to him. “We’re Guardians, Rik. It’s what we do.”

“It doesn’t have to be MY daughter.” He mumbles as he turns to walk to his office.

“I heard that and yes it does.” My mother calls to him.

“See you later, Aunt Cara.” Leana says as we follow my father.

“Are you staying for dinner?” Mom asks.

We look at each other. “Yes!” We say in unison. Canyon Ridge still has the best food of all three packs.

“Hey Lily, hey Leana. Quick question. Did either of you get bitten or scratched in the battle today?” David, our resident bookie comes up and asks. Canyon Ridge is known for betting on nearly everything that happens among the three packs.

“What’s the bet on us?” Leana asks him.

“Three to one, no bites, no scratches.” He says, pulling his book from his back pocket.

“Never bet against a Guardian.” Hera pushes forward to give her input.

“Hey Hera. I would never bet against you, or you, Kella.” I turn and see Kella, Leana’s wolf, shining in Lea’s eyes. Our wolves are very proud of their Guardian heritage and become aggravated when others don’t show them the appreciation and respect they deserve.

“But some did, or there wouldn’t be a betting pool. Now I get to go remind those that bet against you that it’s never wise to bet against a Guardian.” He turns, whistling as he walks away.

We both shake our heads as we turn and walk into my father’s office to discuss the battle.