Lilyanne’s pov ;
"One more year," I reminded myself silently. Just one more year, and then I can leave all of this behind me. “What's happening here? And you, why are you in the way of entrance? Get aside,” The teacher said as he entered and I gave him the way. “Sir, Lilyanne is disturbing the whole class,” The cheerleader let out innocently and the teacher turned to me with an irritated face that startled me. “No, sir. I just-” I opened my mouth to explain but he cut me off. “Why are you disturbing the classroom on the first day as a transfer student?” He inquired, believing their words and completely ignoring my dirty clothes. "I'm sorry, sir," I began to explain but seeing his biased expression I stayed silent. "Save it for later, Miss Evans," he dismissed and went to the lecture stand. I know that my any attempt to explain would fall on deaf ears. Without a prestigious family background, I have a little chance of gaining sympathy from anyone here. He began his class and I decided to skip the class. I slipped out of the room and hurried to the bathroom. Once inside, I quickly changed into the spare sportswear I had packed in my bag. After changing, I slowly glanced at my reflection in the mirror, and suddenly I felt uneasy. Skipping class would undoubtedly affect my credits, and I couldn't afford to fall behind. I don't like this but I have to prove to my mother that I have the ability to do good in everything so that she would be reassured to let me go to human college. At lunchtime, I sat alone in a quiet corner of the cafeteria just like most of my classes. It's better to be alone than to be with these arrogant wolves. "I didn't see you in the cafeteria line," I looked up to find Sam who extended a sandwich towards me. Her gaze was gentle, and her voice was warm. I hesitated for a while feeling surprised by her unexpected kindness. "Thank you," I murmured after a long breath, accepting the sandwich. "But why are you being so nice to me?" She shrugged nonchalantly. "Do I need a reason? Besides I can't stand Vanessa," She sat and I gave her a confused look. “Vanessa?” “The cheerleader who slashed that bucket of dirty water on you. She thinks everyone wants those twins, so she goes after any girl that the twins notice.” I frowned, curious about her hatred towards the twins. She seemed to hate them while the whole school was crazy about them. "Why don't you want them?" Her lips twisted into an ignorant smile as she looked at me. "I hate everything Vanessa likes," she replied simply. "Besides, I only need my mate." Wow, that's some confidence right here. I liked this about her. I'm on her side from now on. “You know it's my birthday today,” She muttered and my eyes widened. “Really? Happy birthday,” I let out awkwardly and she laughed. “Thank you,” She glanced at me with hopeful eyes. “Would you like to come to my birthday party tonight?” “Won't Vanessa target you if you befriend me who she hates?” I voiced out my concern, not like I wanted to join her party, but I just wanted to know if it was all right to make a friend here. But she shook her head. "Don't worry," she said confidently. "Vanessa wouldn't dare touch me. We're cousins, you see. My mother is her father's sister, and her mother's company needs my father's help." They're cousins? That surely sounded strange to me. One sister is a rude bitch while the other is kind. Still, her explanation eased some of my fears, and I felt a sense of relief washed over me. “Okay,” I nodded in understanding. “Hmm..” She ate her sandwich after that. “So, what's your thoughts on mate?” My brows drew together at her sudden curiosity. I was reminded of the memories of my mother getting abused by my father, her mate, including me. I couldn't fathom willingly entering into a relationship with someone who held such power over me. I couldn't help but respond with a coldness that surprised even myself. "I have no expectations for a mate," I said flatly. "And if I did, I would certainly refuse him." Her eyes slightly widened at my outburst but she quickly calmed down. "Don't give up the idea so easily," she advised boredly. "You never know when you might meet someone who changes your perspective." I listened to her words, but the scars of my past experiences made it difficult to imagine a future where I willingly accepted a mate. Still, I appreciated her optimism, even if I couldn't share it. Thankfully, nobody caused me any trouble the whole day after that and my school day came to an end. Sam soon caught up to me in the hallways. "Don't forget to come to my house tonight for my birthday celebration, Lily," she reminded me eagerly. I smiled warmly at her, grateful for her friendship. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it." We broke ways at the end of the hallway. She left but I had to leave behind because I was punished with cleaning duty for skipping class. My phone rang, I saw it was my mother calling. “Hello dear, how's your school? Did you enjoy your first day?” She asked excitedly. “Did you get well with your brothers?” "It's been great, Mom," I lied, forcing a smile into my voice. "I'm actually getting along really well with the twins." There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before my mother responded. "That's wonderful to hear, sweetheart," she said warmly. "I'm so proud of you. You have to come for dinner. Your father wanted to see you.” I felt uncomfortable with the word father. I still haven't accepted Alpha Lucus as my father, but I don't want to burden my mother anymore. “Sure…I'll be there.”Lily’s pov ; As soon as I ended the call with my mother, I turned to find Ryder standing nearby, a vicious grin spreading across his face. He had clearly overheard my conversation."Good job, Lily," he smirked, grabbing my arm tightly, and causing an immense pain to rush through my hand. "You really are our good little girl, keeping up appearances like that. I think you deserve a reward."I tensed and tried to pull my arm free. "I don't want anything from you," I snapped with my suppressed anger.Ryder's grin only widened, his blue eyes glowing with amusement. "Oh, come on, don’t be like that. We're just trying to show our appreciation."Before I could respond, he suddenly yanked me closer to him. His dark hair fell into his eyes as he gave me a vicious look. "How about a kiss? Just a little token of our gratitude."My heart raced with anger and fear. "No," I said firmly, yanking my arm away. "I don't want anything to do with any of you.” "Feisty," he commented with a smirk. "I like
Hunter’s pov ; I returned to our room, closing the door behind me with a quiet sigh. Ryder was already rummaging through his closet, pulling out clothes for the party tonight. Sam’s parents have invited us since they are friends with dad. Before getting ready myself, I turned to my twin. “Ryder?” He glared at me even though I'm the oldest. He's a vibrant adventurer who loves outdoor sports and exploration, he's the captain of the ice hockey team at the academy. He likes challenging things which are in our Alpha blood. He may appear sincere and enthusiastic towards people, but in reality, he is very indifferent. He has many female companions, but none of them are his girlfriends. But I can't blame him. He's influenced by my father’s bad choices. Now, he believes that mates and intimate relationships are just an illusion, just like how dad easily abandoned our mother. Ryder no longer expects a partner relationship because we both are above 20 and still haven't found a mate. He
But instead of listening to me, he gripped my hair and pulled my face to the other side, making me wince and let out a painful gasp. Yet, he was far from halting his torment and buried his face in my neck, and inhaled deeply like the crazed dog that he was at the moment. “Why do you smell so good?” He demanded with a furious voice. “S-Stop…” I shuddered as he licked a sensitive spot under my ear, and to my horror, my stomach tightened with a shocking rush of pleasure. "Ryder, stop!" I tried to push him away, but he was too strong. I thought he was retaliating against me for interrupting his moment with Vanessa, but now I don't know anymore. "I didn't mean to—" I began to explain that I was just passing by, but he cut me off with a growl, his eyes burning into mine with an almost devouring gaze. It was as if he already knew everything and still chose to punish me. His hands began to roam down my body and his touch was nothing but rough. My body trembles uncontrol
Lily's pov :I gasped when I fell into the water. I wasn't ready, and I inhaled a lungful of water.My eyes burned, and I struggled to get my head above water, coughing and choking.The next thing I knew, someone was pulling me out of the pool and into the air.I coughed hard, struggling to breathe.I felt the person holding me, and when I managed to clear the water from my eyes, I realized it was Hunter.He had an anxious look on his face, his dark brown eyes boring into mine."Are you okay?" he asked.I couldn't answer and was still coughing. I could barely stand on my own, my knees trembling from the shock."I shook my head, my chest tightening as I gasped for air.I didn't know what happened next, everything was a blur. All I remember is Hunter carrying me in his arms and taking me somewhere.He held me tightly against him, and I could feel his warm body through the cold wetness of my clothes.I didn't know how long it was till I could breathe normally again, but when I did, I was
Lily's POVThe next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. Last night’s events replayed in my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. Ryder’s threats, his kiss, the way he held my hair and sneered at me—it all made my stomach churn. I pushed myself out of bed, my body sore and exhausted. I glanced in the mirror. My eyes were red, proof that I had cried despite my vow not to. A knock on the door startled me. I froze, my heart racing. Was it Ryder again? “Lily? Are you awake?” It was Hunter. I let out a breath of relief but didn’t answer. I didn’t want to deal with him, not after last night. The door opened slightly, and he peeked inside. “I made breakfast. Thought you might want some.” I stared at him, confused. Why was he being so nice to me? Was this another game? “No, thanks,” I muttered, turning away. He sighed but didn’t leave. “Did Ryder come to your room last night?” My body stiffened. I kept my face neutral and shook my head. “No.” Hunter didn’t look conv
Lily’s POVI barely slept that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ryder—his smirk, his threats, the way he had kissed me like he owned me. By the time the sun rose, I felt drained, but I forced myself out of bed. I couldn’t afford to show weakness. Not now. Not ever. When I walked downstairs, the house was eerily quiet. Too quiet. My mother and Alpha Damien had already left for some pack business, leaving me alone with the twins. Great. I grabbed a piece of toast from the kitchen and tried to eat, but my stomach was in knots. Then, just as I feared, Ryder strolled in, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. “Morning, little lamb,” he said smoothly, reaching for the coffee pot. I ignored him. He chuckled. “Silent treatment, huh? Cute.” I tightened my grip on my toast, trying to control my temper. “What do you want, Ryder?” He sipped his coffee, watching me with amusement. “Who said I wanted anything?” I rolled my eyes and turned to leave. But i
Lily’s POV The next day at the academy, Sam found me by my locker, looking hesitant. “Lily…” she started, biting her lip. I turned to her, raising a brow. “What?” She sighed. “I just—I wanted to say I’m sorry. About my birthday party. About Vanessa. I should have stopped her.” I stiffened at the mention of her name. The memory of being shoved into the pool, struggling for air, Ryder’s smirk lingering in the background—it all came rushing back. I forced a small smile. “It’s not your fault, Sam.” She looked guilty. “I should have done something.” I shrugged. “It’s over now.” But we both knew it wasn’t. Because Vanessa wasn’t done with me. Later That Day – Academy Cafeteria I sat alone at my usual table, picking at my food and trying to ignore the stares. People always stared. Whether it was because I was the Alpha’s stepdaughter or because of Ryder’s cruel games, I didn’t know. Or maybe I did. Just as I was about to leave, the sound of heels clicking against
**Lily’s POV** The rest of the day dragged on, but my mind was nowhere near my classes. My thoughts kept circling back to Ryder and what had happened in the cafeteria. Why had he defended me? Since when did he stand up to Vanessa?The questions gnawed at me, relentless and unyielding. Ryder had never been the protective type. If anything, he thrived on seeing me suffer. He’d always been Vanessa’s enabler, her partner in cruelty. So why had he stepped in today? Why had he stopped her? And most importantly—why did Vanessa look scared of him?That was the part that stuck with me the most. Vanessa, the queen of this twisted high school hierarchy, had looked... terrified. Her usual smug confidence had shattered in an instant, replaced by something raw and primal. Fear. Real fear. I tapped my pen against my notebook, staring blankly at my notes. None of it made sense. Ryder had always been a storm, unpredictable and destructive, but this? This was different. This felt calculated, de
Selena stormed into the opera house’s administrative office, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, each step echoing her growing frustration. Her chest tightened with a mix of anger and unease, her mind racing over the events of the past few months. This had gone on for far too long. Ever since she joined the troupe, she had been receiving bouquets of flowers after every performance. At first, she had dismissed them as the gestures of an admirer—perhaps a fan who appreciated her voice or her stage presence. But as the weeks turned into months, the consistency of the gifts began to unsettle her. It wasn’t just the flowers; it was the notes. They were too personal, too intimate, as if the sender knew her better than she knew herself.She had dealt with obsessive fans before. Some had snuck unsettling things into her dressing room: locks of hair, cryptic messages written in red ink, once even a small stuffed bear with its head twisted off. The opera world attracted its fai
Lily’s POVI could still feel Ryder’s presence long after he had left me in the hallway—like a stain that wouldn’t wash away, a shadow that clung no matter how much light I tried to find. I hated him. I hated him with everything in me. The way his voice dripped with arrogance, the way his smirk made my blood boil, the way he seemed to enjoy making me feel small. But worst of all? He was right. No one was going to save me. Hunter tried, but I knew—even he wouldn’t be able to stand against Ryder for long. Ryder wasn’t just a bully. He was a storm, tearing through everything in his path, and I was caught in the eye of it. I slammed my locker shut, ignoring the lingering gazes of the students who had witnessed what happened earlier. Some of them pitied me. Others found amusement in it. But none of them would do anything about it. Because Ryder Kingston owned this school. And me? I was just another toy for him to break. I forced myself to walk toward the cafeteria, ke
**Lily’s POV** The rest of the day dragged on, but my mind was nowhere near my classes. My thoughts kept circling back to Ryder and what had happened in the cafeteria. Why had he defended me? Since when did he stand up to Vanessa?The questions gnawed at me, relentless and unyielding. Ryder had never been the protective type. If anything, he thrived on seeing me suffer. He’d always been Vanessa’s enabler, her partner in cruelty. So why had he stepped in today? Why had he stopped her? And most importantly—why did Vanessa look scared of him?That was the part that stuck with me the most. Vanessa, the queen of this twisted high school hierarchy, had looked... terrified. Her usual smug confidence had shattered in an instant, replaced by something raw and primal. Fear. Real fear. I tapped my pen against my notebook, staring blankly at my notes. None of it made sense. Ryder had always been a storm, unpredictable and destructive, but this? This was different. This felt calculated, de
Lily’s POV The next day at the academy, Sam found me by my locker, looking hesitant. “Lily…” she started, biting her lip. I turned to her, raising a brow. “What?” She sighed. “I just—I wanted to say I’m sorry. About my birthday party. About Vanessa. I should have stopped her.” I stiffened at the mention of her name. The memory of being shoved into the pool, struggling for air, Ryder’s smirk lingering in the background—it all came rushing back. I forced a small smile. “It’s not your fault, Sam.” She looked guilty. “I should have done something.” I shrugged. “It’s over now.” But we both knew it wasn’t. Because Vanessa wasn’t done with me. Later That Day – Academy Cafeteria I sat alone at my usual table, picking at my food and trying to ignore the stares. People always stared. Whether it was because I was the Alpha’s stepdaughter or because of Ryder’s cruel games, I didn’t know. Or maybe I did. Just as I was about to leave, the sound of heels clicking against
Lily’s POVI barely slept that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ryder—his smirk, his threats, the way he had kissed me like he owned me. By the time the sun rose, I felt drained, but I forced myself out of bed. I couldn’t afford to show weakness. Not now. Not ever. When I walked downstairs, the house was eerily quiet. Too quiet. My mother and Alpha Damien had already left for some pack business, leaving me alone with the twins. Great. I grabbed a piece of toast from the kitchen and tried to eat, but my stomach was in knots. Then, just as I feared, Ryder strolled in, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. “Morning, little lamb,” he said smoothly, reaching for the coffee pot. I ignored him. He chuckled. “Silent treatment, huh? Cute.” I tightened my grip on my toast, trying to control my temper. “What do you want, Ryder?” He sipped his coffee, watching me with amusement. “Who said I wanted anything?” I rolled my eyes and turned to leave. But i
Lily's POVThe next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. Last night’s events replayed in my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. Ryder’s threats, his kiss, the way he held my hair and sneered at me—it all made my stomach churn. I pushed myself out of bed, my body sore and exhausted. I glanced in the mirror. My eyes were red, proof that I had cried despite my vow not to. A knock on the door startled me. I froze, my heart racing. Was it Ryder again? “Lily? Are you awake?” It was Hunter. I let out a breath of relief but didn’t answer. I didn’t want to deal with him, not after last night. The door opened slightly, and he peeked inside. “I made breakfast. Thought you might want some.” I stared at him, confused. Why was he being so nice to me? Was this another game? “No, thanks,” I muttered, turning away. He sighed but didn’t leave. “Did Ryder come to your room last night?” My body stiffened. I kept my face neutral and shook my head. “No.” Hunter didn’t look conv
Lily's pov :I gasped when I fell into the water. I wasn't ready, and I inhaled a lungful of water.My eyes burned, and I struggled to get my head above water, coughing and choking.The next thing I knew, someone was pulling me out of the pool and into the air.I coughed hard, struggling to breathe.I felt the person holding me, and when I managed to clear the water from my eyes, I realized it was Hunter.He had an anxious look on his face, his dark brown eyes boring into mine."Are you okay?" he asked.I couldn't answer and was still coughing. I could barely stand on my own, my knees trembling from the shock."I shook my head, my chest tightening as I gasped for air.I didn't know what happened next, everything was a blur. All I remember is Hunter carrying me in his arms and taking me somewhere.He held me tightly against him, and I could feel his warm body through the cold wetness of my clothes.I didn't know how long it was till I could breathe normally again, but when I did, I was
But instead of listening to me, he gripped my hair and pulled my face to the other side, making me wince and let out a painful gasp. Yet, he was far from halting his torment and buried his face in my neck, and inhaled deeply like the crazed dog that he was at the moment. “Why do you smell so good?” He demanded with a furious voice. “S-Stop…” I shuddered as he licked a sensitive spot under my ear, and to my horror, my stomach tightened with a shocking rush of pleasure. "Ryder, stop!" I tried to push him away, but he was too strong. I thought he was retaliating against me for interrupting his moment with Vanessa, but now I don't know anymore. "I didn't mean to—" I began to explain that I was just passing by, but he cut me off with a growl, his eyes burning into mine with an almost devouring gaze. It was as if he already knew everything and still chose to punish me. His hands began to roam down my body and his touch was nothing but rough. My body trembles uncontrol
Hunter’s pov ; I returned to our room, closing the door behind me with a quiet sigh. Ryder was already rummaging through his closet, pulling out clothes for the party tonight. Sam’s parents have invited us since they are friends with dad. Before getting ready myself, I turned to my twin. “Ryder?” He glared at me even though I'm the oldest. He's a vibrant adventurer who loves outdoor sports and exploration, he's the captain of the ice hockey team at the academy. He likes challenging things which are in our Alpha blood. He may appear sincere and enthusiastic towards people, but in reality, he is very indifferent. He has many female companions, but none of them are his girlfriends. But I can't blame him. He's influenced by my father’s bad choices. Now, he believes that mates and intimate relationships are just an illusion, just like how dad easily abandoned our mother. Ryder no longer expects a partner relationship because we both are above 20 and still haven't found a mate. He