Chapter 26: Unexpected Familiarity
1279 Words
Daliha’s POV
THUD.
The sound of the girl hitting the wall echoed through the food hall, silencing every conversation around us.
For a moment, I couldn’t move.
One second, she had been wrapped around Reeda’s neck, and the next, Ruby had surged forward with such force that she had ripped the girl away from him and sent her flying across the room.
My heart jumped into my throat.
Ruby!
She touched our mate.
“I know, but you can’t just throw people into walls!”
Ruby gave an indignant growl, completely unapologetic.
I didn’t have time to argue with her.
I rushed towards the girl, who was slowly pushing herself away from the wall, one hand going to the back of her head.
“Oh my Goddess, I’m so sorry!”
I reached for her hand.
“Are you okay?”
She blinked at me, clearly still trying to understand what had happened.
“I… think so.”
I helped her to her feet.
She glanced towards Reeda, then back at me.
“One second I was hugging him, and the next I was flying.”
I winced.
“That was Ruby. I’m really sorry. She reacted before I could stop her.”
“Ruby?”
“My wolf.”
Lilly’s eyebrows lifted.
“Ah.”
Then her expression brightened.
“Wait. You’re Daliha, aren’t you?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
A huge smile spread across her face.
“Oh my Goddess. You’re Reeda’s mate!”
I couldn’t help smiling.
“Yes.”
“Well, that explains everything.”
I gave her a curious look, but before I could ask what she meant, Reeda’s voice came from behind me.
“Daliha.”
I turned.
He was still standing exactly where he’d been, looking as though his mind was only just catching up with the scene in front of him.
Our eyes met.
Are you okay?
His voice brushed through the bond, warm and concerned.
I’m fine. Lilly’s okay too.
I watched the tension leave his shoulders.
Thank Goddess.
He finally stepped towards us, his gaze moving to Lilly.
“I’m so sorry.”
She laughed softly.
“For what?”
“For Ruby throwing you across the room.”
Lilly looked towards the wall and then back at him.
“I’ve had worse.”
I stared at her.
“You’ve had worse?”
She shrugged.
“Warrior training.”
That answer somehow made me feel slightly better.
Reeda’s mouth twitched into a smile.
“Of course.”
Lilly looked at him more closely.
“You really didn’t recognise me at first, did you?”
Reeda frowned.
“I knew you looked familiar.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“I haven’t seen you in years.”
“Exactly.”
She grinned.
I looked between them.
“You two know each other?”
“Of course,” Lilly said.
Reeda nodded.
“Lilly’s family has visited Summerfield Pack for years. She’s the daughter of the Beta from the Sunset Pack.”
“I’m the Beta’s second daughter,” Lilly corrected cheerfully. “And Tilly is my sister.”
Reeda nodded.
“I remember.”
“You better.”
She gave him a playful shove on the shoulder.
He laughed.
The awkwardness from moments ago was finally disappearing, replaced by something much more familiar between them.
Lilly turned back towards me.
“And now I finally get to meet you properly.”
“Properly?”
She nodded.
“Reeda has talked about you.”
Reeda immediately groaned.
“Lilly.”
“What?”
“Please don’t.”
She laughed.
Daliha’s eyes widened with amusement.
“Oh, now I definitely want to hear those stories.”
“Don’t encourage her.”
“Too late.”
Lilly smiled at me.
“Honestly, I’m glad he finally found his mate.”
Something warm settled in my chest.
“Thank you.”
She glanced at Reeda.
“Although I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting Ruby to welcome me quite so enthusiastically.”
I covered my face with one hand.
“I am never going to hear the end of this, am I?”
“Nope.”
Reeda’s POV
The room seemed to come back to life around me.
Voices slowly returned. Chairs scraped against the floor. Conversations started again as everyone realised the commotion was over.
I looked at Lilly properly for the first time.
Lilly.
Of course.
The second-oldest daughter of the Beta of Sunset Pack.
I’d known her since we were children. Our families had crossed paths countless times over the years, and she and her sister, Tilly, had spent plenty of time here at Snowflake Pack.
I couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognised her immediately.
Then again, the last thing I’d expected when walking into the food hall was to watch someone I knew get launched into a wall by my mate’s wolf.
Ace was unusually quiet.
That was Ruby.
I noticed.
I looked at Daliha.
She was standing beside Lilly, still looking slightly mortified as she made sure she was alright.
I walked over and took Daliha’s hand.
“You really don’t have to keep apologising.”
She looked up at me.
“I threw your friend into a wall.”
“Technically, Ruby did.”
Her lips twitched.
“Ruby is part of me.”
“I know.”
I squeezed her hand.
“And Lilly is fine.”
Lilly nodded enthusiastically.
“I’m completely fine.”
She paused.
“Mostly.”
Daliha laughed.
I smiled.
The tension had finally disappeared.
Lilly was exactly as I remembered her—bright, outspoken, and completely incapable of making an entrance quietly.
She looked at Daliha again.
“So, how long have you two been mates?”
“Not very long,” Daliha answered.
Lilly smiled.
“That makes sense. Reeda only recently stopped complaining about never finding his mate.”
I groaned.
“I never complained that much.”
“You absolutely did.”
Daliha looked at me with a teasing smile.
“I’d like to hear more about this.”
“No.”
Lilly laughed.
“Yes.”
Before I could defend myself, footsteps approached from across the food hall.
A female’s voice called out.
“Lilly?”
We all turned.
A young woman was walking towards us with hurried foot steps. Light brown short hair, slim face and a slim figure.
“Oh my Goddess, Lilly are you okay?” When she reached us.
“Oh yes! I remeber now”. I thought to myself.
This is Lilly’s older sister Tilly. Her expression became increasingly concerned as she took in the gathering around her sister.
She looked at Lilly.
Then at Daliha.
Then at me.
“What happened?”
Lilly pointed casually towards the wall.
“Ruby.”
Tilly’s eyebrows rose.
“Ruby?”
Daliha gave an embarrassed nod.
“My wolf.”
Tilly looked at the wall, then back at her sister.
“You were thrown into a wall by Daliha’s wolf?”
Lilly shrugged.
“Apparently.”
Tilly stared at her for a moment before letting out a laugh.
“I leave you alone for five minutes.”
“Technically, you left me alone for less than five minutes.”
“Somehow, that makes this worse.”
Daliha laughed beside me.
I looked down at her, and she gave me a sheepish smile.
I couldn’t help smiling back.
The chaos was finally over, Lilly was unharmed, and Tilly was already giving her sister the kind of look only family could give.
For a moment, everything felt easy.
Just friends, family, and a very possessive wolf who clearly believed she’d made her introduction perfectly clear.
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