Tamed By The Lycan Prince

BACK PORCH

CHAPTER TWO - 2

-WILHELMINA-

After the dinner was finished and satisfied sighs echoed around the room, Severa and I slipped away. Raina shot me a knowing look as we quietly excused ourselves. The night was alive with starlight, painting the earth in hushed tones of silver and shadows. We began our nocturnal adventure into the forest, guided by the familiar paths that were carved into our memory.

The moon, in its haunting beauty, bathed the pathway in an ethereal glow. Its light danced on the leaves, and made the dew drops twinkle like a thousand tiny stars.

We meandered along the trodden trail, our steps quiet against the rustle of leaves beneath our feet. The forest was a symphony of sounds, where the occasional hoot of an owl could be heard harmonizing with the soft cadence of crickets, and each rustle of the trees was an interlude that added depth to the melody.

Our destination was the Old Willow – a generous giant of a tree – older than anyone could remember. Its bark was thick and gnarled, a testament to the centuries it had witnessed, and its branches arched towards the sky like the arms of a seasoned storyteller, ready to weave a tale of the ages. Illuminated by the glowing orb of moonlight, the Old Willow stood majestically, a timeless sentinel against the backdrop of our mortal lives.

We settled on the lush carpet of grass beneath it, surrendering ourselves to the comforting embrace of Mother Nature. Silence fell between us, but it was a comfortable quietude that asked for no words. We sat shoulder to shoulder, legs stretched out in front of us as our bodies leaned against the sturdy trunk of the Old Willow. The cool bark was a pleasant contrast against the lingering warmth of our bodies, remnants of the hearth fire that we had left behind.

We gazed skywards, our eyes tracing constellations that spread out like spilled sugar against the dark canvas of the sky. The majestic Orion's Belt, Cassiopeia's throne, and the Big Dipper were within sight, as if offering their celestial glow for our night-time tryst.

Severa broke the silence first, her voice barely more than a whisper against the nocturnal symphony around us. "I missed this," she said.

I turned to look at her, finding her gaze focused on the stars above, a soft smile playing on her lips. Her eyes reflected the heavenly gleam, carrying within them their own little universe that pulled me in with an irresistible force.

"As did I," I confessed quietly, my gaze unwavering from her. "I haven't been here since you went off to college."

Severa's eyes finally met mine, a soft sadness shadowing their starlit depths. "College," she sighed, as if the word left a bitter taste on her tongue. "Perhaps leaving was a mistake."

"You're not happy there?"

It was more of a statement than a question, yet she shook her head nevertheless.

"No," Severa confessed with a heavy sigh, looking back at the nebula-dusted expanse above us, "I'm not."

I reached out to take her hand in mine, gently squeezing it in silent understanding. The silence stretched between us once again, but this time it bore the weight of unspoken words and unsaid truths.

I had hoped that going to college would bring me peace and a sense of belonging," Severa whispered, barely audible over the sound of leaves rustling. "After Boris cheated on me with that girl, I just wanted to run away from this town and everything in it. But even there, he still manages to haunt me by becoming the damn Alpha."

The mention of Boris brought a bitter taste to my mouth. "He never deserved you," I murmured, the words spilling from my lips unbidden. The night air seemed to stiffen at my statement, as if it held its breath, waiting for Severa's reply.

She let out a soft laugh, more of a huff really, devoid of any genuine amusement. "Maybe," she said simply, but didn't elaborate, her gaze once again lost in the cosmic painting above us.

A silence fell upon us once more and I allowed it to linger. There was a certain kind of intimacy in just being there with her without the necessity of words.

"Looking on the bright side, at least you're taking over as Delta and Weldon is now Beta. With your combined talents, I have no doubt that you'll do an incredible job, and perhaps even keep Boris in line." Severa's words broke the tense silence, as she smiled warmly.

Her faith in me was like a balm to my wounded soul. I nodded, squeezing her hand gently in response. She was right; as the newly appointed Delta, it was my duty to protect and serve the pack alongside Weldon, the Beta. And Boris, despite his personal failings, was our leader now.

"I hope so," I breathed out, turning my gaze back to the stars that blanketed our silent confessions. The enormity of the tasks ahead felt smaller under the vast celestial landscape.

We sat there for a long time.

"We should head back," I suggested quietly after a while, my voice blending seamlessly with the symphony of nature around us.

"You're right," Severa agreed.

Reluctantly, we pushed ourselves away from the rough tenderness of the Old Willow, our shared warmth lingering on its age-etched bark. With a final glance at our celestial spectators, we commenced our journey back to my house.

As we neared the house, the pleasant hum of cheerful voices reached us like an orchestral piece reverberating through the countryside. Laughter rang out, filling the atmosphere with a sense of familial warmth.

In the living room, my parents were joined by Parella and her husband, Matus. To my surprise, Leon and Trisha Gravemaw, Boris's parents, were also there. Their laughter blended together in a sweet melody of happiness that filled the room with joy.

Severa hesitated at the threshold, her eyes casting a shadow of unease. Her gaze flickered to the Gravemaws as she bit her lower lip, contemplating. I understood her reluctance, and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Let's not go in," I suggested quietly, my eyes meeting hers. "We could walk around to the back."

Severa nodded, her features softening with relief. "That sounds nice," she agreed, a much-needed light kindling in her eyes.

So, we turned on our heels and opted for the less-trodden path. The light of the porch lamps grew faint as we ventured further away from the house and deeper into the embrace of the marigold night. Strands of silver moonlight cascaded through the maze of trees.

The gate creaked as we pushed it open and stepped into the backyard. Weldon and Dermon were seated on the back porch, surrounded by a warm glow of lantern light. They were joined by Bellatrix and Rae, their faces illuminated by the soft flicker of fireflies dancing in the night air. As we made our way towards them, Weldon's eyes caught mine. He shot me a discerning look as if trying to convey a message.

Severa tensed up when Boris appeared, accompanied by his sister, Eris, who was sitting next to him. Tension hung heavy in the air, and unspoken words weighed on us as Boris's gaze shifted towards our direction. My eyes narrowed slightly as I held his gaze, the unuttered challenge clear between us. The events of the Alpha Games hung between our locked eyes. A low growl rumbled within my chest, echoing the unspoken warning. Boris maintained eye contact for a few more seconds before flashing an arrogant smile.

"I see you're enjoying the night out as well, Severa," Boris addressed her, his voice rippling with conceit.

Severa stiffened beside me but held her ground. "It's a pleasant night," she responded coldly, her voice barely above a whisper.

In that moment, I felt a surge of protectiveness. My grip on Severa's hand tightened instinctively, and I drew her closer.

Bellatrix and Rae had been observing the exchange with an unreadable expression. As Boris' smile widened, Bellatrix rose from her chair, her eyes never leaving Boris.

"We were just about to head home," she declared, her words slicing through the thick tension. Her gaze shifted to Severa, offering a reassuring nod. "Let's go Severa."

I could feel the relief wash over Severa; it was visible in the way her shoulders dropped slightly, the tension leaving them. Wordlessly, she nodded to Bellatrix, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes.

As Bellatrix and Rae moved towards us, I released Severa's hand, falling back to allow them space. I watched as Severa followed them. Her back was straight, her steps measured, and despite everything, she emanated a sense of indomitable strength that left me in awe.

I turned back to the porch, my eyes meeting Boris's. His smug smirk was still present. My teeth gnashed together, a growl rumbling under my breath.

Boris's smirk widened, an audacious glint sparkling in his eyes as if he savoured the confrontation. "Is that any way to interact with your new Alpha? You know as the Delta, I thought you would know better than to challenge me…especially since you lost our last match," he drawled out, his words heavy with underlying insinuations.