My eyes were deceiving me. It was only Sarah standing there. Adrian and I gave each other a knowing look. We totally got each other. As my cheeks started turning a bit rosy, I scooted away from Adrian, feeling really embarrassed. I quickly looked over at Sarah, praying she wouldn't ask about our private moment. But nope, she went right in. "What's up with the two of you?" she asked with a sneaky smile. I tried to pretend I had no idea what was happening and acted chill. "Nothing. We were just soaking up the chill by the stream." Adrian seemed to get the hint and left us alone. Sarah wasn't buying it though and kept pushing. "C'mon, Lily. I can tell there's something else going on here, right?" I stood up, feeling uneasy and refusing to meet her eyes. "Sarah, seriously, it's nothing. Let's not make a big deal out of it." Sarah could tell I was feeling uncomfortable, so she tried to change the topic. "I heard about Audrey being a bitch to you…" It felt like a punch to the chest
I wasn't sure if I was quite ready for such an important role in the pack, but I also knew that there was no escaping this moment. I had come of age, but I wished the occasion had come at a later time. My father prepared for the journey and it reached a day before they both were to depart. I did tell myself I would try my best to lead our pack in his absence. Though, I didn't know how hard this was until I actually got my first case when the boundary keepers complained about the navigators. Now how the hell was I supposed to fix that? •••••••••• After a grueling afternoon with the boundary keepers, later that day, as the sun began to set, everyone was busy with their duties and I was satisfied that I had completed my tasks for the day. Adrian was confined to his chamber so I couldn't go visit him without suspicion from the guards. I became bored out of my senses so I found myself drawn to my father's study. I had so many questions that I wanted answered from my parents, but my mo
The riddle or prophecy or whatever it was I read the previous night couldn't leave my memory. I kept on saying it to myself. I was almost turning myself to a self-indulged lunatic. Was I making progress? Nope. I asked Sarah to help me search it up, but she gave no results. I also checked it online myself but there was no sensible result. It was on my call with Sarah she had told me something which would go on to disturb me throughout the day. — I noticed Don was awfully quiet that day and less of a nuisance. That was definitely a bad sign. He was busy talking to a Beta beside the detached building and I decided to approach him. I wanted to ask him about what Sarah told me - that he knew about the secret Adrian and I were hiding and why I was protecting Adrian. What exactly does he mean by that and what does he know? I walked towards Don, my heart pounding with anger and frustration. Whatever he was up to, I needed to find out. I couldn't let him get away with it. I needed to con
I flinched, "Of course not." "Then there's nothing to be scared of. Don's just being his usual self. Just ignore him." I knew Jax was telling the truth, but something about how Don said what he said to me made me think further. Whether it was a joke or not, it didn't sit well with me. "Okay, maybe he was joking with me but still I don't like the fact he goes around eavesdropping on my convos. Nobody does that to him, so he should respect himself." "I'll tell him to stop." "Like that will be enough…" I sighed. "Just don't overstress yourself on trivial matters. You're literally as light as a feather these days." He took my hands in his and squeezed the flesh in my palms softly. "Look. Are you even eating again?" "What are you even talking about?" I smiled, "I don't normally eat much. It's just things that have been happening." "Things like?" "Dad and Mom put a huge responsibility on my shoulders when I can barely take care of myself." "And you're doing a great job at it." "Ye
The sun was beaming down as I walked up to Jaxon on the training field, my head still spinning from the mystery of the artifact Aunt Belinda told me about the previous night. I was trying to act carefree, but my excitement about uncovering the truth was written all over my face. "Hey, Jax," I greeted with a playful smile, hoping to catch him off guard. "Had a good night's rest?" He was busy arranging some firearms. "Hardly." "Why?" He raised an eyebrow at me. "Hey Jax, have you ever heard of an ancient werewolf artifact?" Jaxon stopped what he was doing and our eyes connected for a second. He chuckled lightly, obviously amused by my sudden interest in artifacts. "Why are you suddenly so interested in that?" "Cause I am." He looked at me with a sly smile, "Are you sure you've not been snooping around?" My cheeks flushed, "No, what are you saying? Just tell me if you have or not." "Fine, the artifact…." he replied, contemplating. "People used to talk about it a lot before bu
I followed behind my father as he stormed to his study room. I thought of what to do to resolve the issue because I knew it would turn to something worse very soon. Nothing came to my mind and that made the desperation I felt grip me harder. "Father, please, hear me out. Please forgive me for this. It was my fault. It was all my fault. I'll take all the punishment. Adrian is not to blame please…" I pleaded with him, but my words fell on deaf ears. "Do you even know who that man is?! You have no idea who he is and you were there kissing him? So shamelessly?! Do you know his family, where he came from?!! You're acting so loose!" My father yelled at me. "Father, please just hear me out…" "Hear what?!" "Please just spare his life. I'll take all the punishment. I admit I did wrong…" All my pleas were drowned out by my father's furious shouts. "Why do you have no shame? To embarrass me like that in front of an elder?!" he bellowed, his face twisted with anger. "I…I'm sorry, Father…"
And he rose up abruptly, "I am the leader of this grove and my say is final. Guards!" They rushed as soon as he beckoned. "Keep her in her room." I didn't try to fight or struggle. Two of the guards held my hands on either side and led me to my room. How could he believe that subjecting Adrian to such pain and suffering was the solution? I tried to reason with him, to explain that Adrian wasn't manipulating me, but my father dismissed my words. In his eyes, Adrian was the one who had deceived me, and I was merely a foolish girl who had fallen for his tricks. I had silently prayed for a different outcome but I guess those prayers were futile. Adrian didn't deserve such a fate, and my heart ached at the thought of him enduring the torment that transformation process came with. But my father's decision was final. I hated every single moment of my life thereon. The news had already spread throughout the pack like wildfire. Whispers filled the air as people spoke their minds of the
There was nothing I could say in defence. She grabbed my hand and shook my limb, "Get a hold of yourself! What is this man turning you into?! I know we raised you better than this! If your father finds out about this, you know he'd ground you for weeks.., why be foolish, Lily?!" She yanked her hand away from me and turned to Adrian. "I don't know what kind of magic you used on my daughter, but you're gonna pay for the trouble you're trying to cause here. We gave you a place to stay and food, and this is how you repay us?" Adrian looked down and stepped aside from me. My mouth and heart were tied. I realized the consequences of my actions. Adrian was right…I didn't even think things through. I had made the situation worse. I thought I could outsmart the watchful eyes of my parents, but I had been caught in the act. I knew my mom was still going to ground me anyway, so I just took a step back, ashamed to look at Adrian. "Guards!!" Some men came rushing in minutes later to take ho