Lilly Among Wolves

16: Aftermath

Lilly sat on the window bench. it had been a few days since Ian's attack and still hadn't faced him. Lilly still couldn't protect herself, She felt weak since Ian's assault. Ian had said they were mates but he had attacked her. Because Lilly didn't know how to take it. Lilly didn't even truly know what mates were. They didn't teach muses about mates they were the entertainment of elites.

"Sometimes Ian is an i***t and lets his wolf think. I know you don't know what mates are but they are like your other half."Darius assured lightly taking her hand.

"I-I didn't mean to reject him. I didn't know what he meant." Iilly said crying again. Lilly hadn't felt this scared ever. She didn't know what was going to happen between them now.

"It's ok Lilly everything will be ok I promise. "Darius reassured her hugging Lilly before letting her go.

"you're going to stay with us until Ian gets his s**t together. He has a lot of apologizing to do before he gets you back. if not, your vacation with us might be extended" Darius said smiling.

"You can have the window seat as a bed since you like it so much. There are extra blankets in the closet if you get cold." Darius added. Lilly smiled at him.

"Thank you, Darius. " Lilly said feeling tired again. Lilly had been sleeping a lot more and doing nothing other than going to class where she sat away from Ian. Chester put a few pillows on the large window seat. Lilly could stretch out and still not touch the other side. The weather was still nice enough. One blanket would do for her.

"Is there anything else you need? " Chester asked concern. Lilly shook her head happy her friends were there but she wanted to be left alone.

"I would like to sleep now if that's fine. " Lilly asked yawning again.

"We will be in Darius's room if you need us. " Chester said smiling at Lilly. Lilly smiled lightly before crawling into the window seat and curling up. Lilly heard Darius and Chester leave the room. she sighed letting more tears fall like she had done previous nights.

Lilly felt scared and confused every time Ian tried talking to her. Lilly knew she had accidentally rejected Ian and he attacked her. but why couldn't he of told her on her 18th birthday when he could have courted her? Was the necklace he gave to her their unspoken bond?

Lilly sighed in frustration before hearing the door open. She sat up quickly with one of the new hair pens that Darius gave her in her hand. Ian stood at the door looking at her smiling sadly.

"I brought you Rocky so you don't have to sleep alone. " Ian said putting him on the floor. Lilly stayed silent watching him, waiting for him to attack her. Lilly didn't trust him anymore. She felt exposed to him and she didn't like it.

" Thank you." Lilly managed without trembling her words.

"Lilly I'm so very sorry. " Ian begins. Lilly held her hand up stopping him.

"Please leave Ian. not now. " Lilly said feeling tears fall again. Lilly hated crying it made her feel like a child.

"I'll understand if you want to go back to my parents. " Ian mumbled making her gasp.

"No, I'm finishing school... "Lilly said not knowing what to say to be kept from being a muse.

" If you give me a chance to make it up to you. "Ian added.

"I didn't mean to reject you but what you did was wrong. I don't even know what mates are." Lilly said feeling herself getting mad. She wanted to lash out at him but kept herself in check. She would use it in a self-defense class.

"I can help you understand when you're ready Lilly. but I know you need time to heal. " Ian said giving her a sad smile. Lilly glared at him waiting for him to leave. He left closing the door behind him. She waited a few moments before grabbing Rocky and going back to the window seat. Lilly relaxed, lying down and looking outside. It was too dark to see anything other than an almost full moon. She sighed knowing Ian would have to go back into the wolf chambers again soon. Lilly sighed curling up with her stuffed dog trying to relax enough to fall asleep.

"Wake up Lilly it's time for class." Lilly heard Chester's cheery voice. Lilly wanted him to go away with his happiness. She rubbed her eyes before getting up. Lilly put her school uniform on and waited for Darius and Chester, who were still in the bathroom getting ready.

They finally came out looking great. Lilly probably looked like death, which She didn't care, she felt dark so she dressed dark to match her mood.

"Lilly when are you going to talk to Ian it's almost the full moon. " Darius said looking at her concerned.

'When I feel like it hurt less. I'm not sure today is the day, do you? " Lilly asked giving him big puppy eyes. Lilly wanted to make sure Ian got the point. She was tired of him hurting her and she went back for more.

"Yes, I think it has been almost three weeks. You will walk with him today. You are a tough cookie arent you. " Darius said straightening his back and holding his head high smiling at Lilly.

"He could eat a tough cookie with no problem. But i have theses " Lilly smirked touching her hairpins Darius gave her.

"Yes, Stab him girl. its self-defence." Chester added.

Lilly couldn't help but laugh at chester finger snap and hip swing as he said it. Darius rolled his eyes bringing Chester in for a hug as they waited for Ian to come out of his room. He looked like he hadn't slept well.

"I need coffee. " Ian said yawning. He looked a bit shuffled instead of his neat style. Lilly looked away.

"Yeah, that's what you need. " Darius said jokingly. Ian glared at him before walking off. Lilly kept her distance from him as they walked to their classes.

Lilly's English class went to the library to finish their research paper for semester finals. After Lilly was finished, She roamed the library to find a few books on mates. Lilly read over what mates were, which made her intrigued. It was very intimate as it showed the wolf bonding ritual and bite.

Lilly pushed the butterflies down. She had to focus, not get flustered. Lilly looked for the history of human extinction since she was going to have to wait til next semester to find out, and she wasn't patient when it came to historical information. It was the past in the past she didn't have to wait to read it. The librarian helped Lilly check out the books before she hid them in her bag, not wanting Ian to see what she had borrowed.

"I'll get your food, " Ian said before going and getting it. He was acting nice, but Little wasn't going to be fooled like she had before. Lilly saw Sam snuggled up to a big guy who was as smitten as Sam was. Lilly was still pissed that she had come into her room and taken her perfume, but the wrench stayed away from her. Lilly would be happy for life. Lilly still didn't like fighting. Lilly smiled while talking to chester about what they were going to do after the rest of the classes. They still had self-defense, but Lilly was happy to learn more if it helped keep Ian from her. Darius and Chester were going to walk around campus and asked if Lilly wanted to come after class.

"Maybe next time I don't get much sleep and need to catch up on it." Lilly smiled, knowing she was going to be reading instead of sleeping.

"Ok, sleeping beauty." Chester joked. Lilly rolled my eyes. Ian had gotten her favorite coffee crème cake and steak with mashed potatoes and salad. Lilly smiled timidly at him before eating. After lunch, they went to three more classes before I got dropped off at the defense class.

"Good afternoon class, please go with your assigned partner. Today we are going to be learning how to defend yourself if you are at a disadvantage and you will be graded on it ."

Chester giggled, looking at Lilly as she was paired up with him.

"Wouldn't that help you? " Chester joked.

Lilly glared at him before pinning him like the teacher instructed them to do a little harder than she needed to.

"You know if I was into girls. I might like this." Chester squeaked out.

Lilly snickered at him, trying to not get Sensi attention. Sensi didn't like it when the pair were together since they were best friends.

" Now try to kick your opponent's legs from under them," Sensi instructed.

"But wouldn't that make them fall on us?" One of the other girls said.

"Yes but when they fall they are at a disadvantage, and you can pin them down instead." Sensi countered. Chester kicked Lilly's legs from under her, making Lilly fall. Chester rolled them over with him on top.

"I might try that on Darius. " Chester said wiggling his eyebrows. Lilly bit back laughter and rolled her eyes.

"Gross, I don't want to know what you guys do. " Lilly said, blushing. Chester laughed before she kicked his legs out from under him and got on top.

"you should try it. it's fun," Chester said, smirking. Lilly glared at him.

"Very well now, if your opponent has you pinned, wait until they get close enough and head-butt them. Now if they have you on a surface. And have you pinned? Knee them or kick as high as you can to hurt them." Sensi said, looking around the class at his students.

Lilly listened carefully, wanting to know how to defend herself if Ian lost control again. Lilly didn't know how much effect it would have on him since the last time he had overpowered her easily, but she didn't have silver hairpins to protect herself.

"Next, we will be learning to throw your opponent with your body. It is a matter of how you shift your weight. So don't be intimidated. Begin."

Chester laughed as Lilly ran at him. He used his body to roll her to the other side but caught her arm and pushed Lilly to the ground.

"Uff. Ok Hercules" Lilly said getting air back into her lungs. Chester giggled before helping her up. Sensi looked at them sighing.

"switch opponents. Chase with Lilly. Chester with Nina" Sensi Liam instructed. Lilly smiled. She could let all her pent-up energy out. She had waited a month to get back at Chase for hurting her. Sensi had kept them apart since Chase had hurt her, but Lilly asked if he would pair them today. She was tired that the wolves were stronger than her even though she was part one.

Chase sensed her anger coming off her before getting close to her. He knew he could still take her, but he knew Ian had assaulted her a few weeks back. Chase would let her take it out on him. He was used to fighting since his pack was rougher than Sterling's pack. They were Elites and his pack were Warriors.

"Don't hurt my pretty face, princess," Chased joked before looking serious as he came closer to Lilly who gave a half smile to him. He was missing her bubbly personality, he didn't like this masked-off version of Lilly.

" I'll let you take your anger out, but this is the only time I'll do this for you Kitten. " Chase whispered to her, lightly touching her arm. Lilly was shocked by the softness of his tone. Lilly nodded, moving from Chase. Chase charged at her half-speed. Lilly dodged his attack and slung him over her. He landed on the floor. Lilly jumped on top of him and started hitting his chest with her fist. Chase didn't fight back, letting her take her frustration out.

"Let it out, Princess." He murmured before wrapping his arms around her and pinning her with his body. Lilly was holding back tears again, but she didn't let any fall. Chase had made it look like they were fighting for control, letting Lilly have a moment before moving from her. Lilly looked into his green eyes, she saw unspoken words but understood.

"What happened to cause this much pain to you kitten?" Chase murmured, letting Lilly flip them back over so she was on top of him.

"It hurts too much still. " Lilly said, looking away from Chase. He sighed, pulling her into a hug. Lilly tensed but let him hug her for a moment. She felt herself relax a bit from his pine smell. She hadn't noticed how nice he smelled. Chase pulled away from her and helped her up. Chester came over as soon as he was done and kept an eye on Chase. Lilly hadn't minded this nicer side of Chase since the last encounter he had hurt her.

Ian came over to her but didn't touch Lilly. Chase came over, glaring at Ian.

"If you ever hurt her again, you will regret it. " Chase Smirked as Ian growled. Lilly rolled her eyes but was happy Chase had stood up for her. Chase had turned into the class alpha in self-defense. He had not hurt any other students since her. Instead, he had been helping teach what the students could do better against him.

" I can handle myself. " Lilly said, not directly looking at them. She heard them laugh. Lilly would get stronger and show them. They all walked towards the dorms together.

"Would you like me to heal your bruises?" Ian asked, breaking the silence. Chase cleared his throat, getting Lilly out of her thoughts.

"I don't think that would be a good idea. " Lilly said, looking at Ian for a moment.

"I could heal you. " Chase smirked, looking at Ian. Lilly blushed, looking at chester who was grinning like a fool. He wiggled his eyebrows at her. Lilly rolled her eyes.

" Thanks, but no, " Lilly said.

"I promise to only heal you and that's it. " Ian said, glaring at Chase's advance. Lilly sighed, glaring at Chester, who was no help at all. Chester was smiling innocently.

"Fine, but I will be leaving after you heal them, Ian. " Lilly said, keeping her voice even. Chase went to his room one floor down and Ian gloated as he passed him. Chester handed Lilly a spare key to Darius's room. Lilly smiled before putting it in her skirt pocket.

Lilly followed Ian into their dorm room, went to the bathroom, and searched for where she had bruises. Lilly had one on her upper arm, her back, and her shoulder. Lilly sighed, holding her shirt in front of her with her hairpins, which Darius had given her, if he tried anything. Lilly sat on the bed. Ian stood by the door until she was still.

"I have something for you to protect yourself from me. " Ian said, going to the bedside table and getting a wooden box out. He sat beside Lilly and handed it to her. Lilly opened it. Inside were hair pins with sharp slim knives at the end that had Lillies as handles.

"It's pure silver, if you touch me with it I'll get burned. " Ian said, watching Lilly. Lilly touched them, feeling the smooth cold metal against her skin. Of course, silver didn't bother her since she was a defect.

"I don't want to have to hurt you, Ian. " Lilly said, closing the box and laying it on the bed.

"I don't want you getting hurt because of me again. I'm supposed to protect you and instead, I attack you. Please wear them for protection, Lilly. " Ian said, pleading. Lilly sighed, taking them out of the box and putting them in her messy bun.

"Please don't make me use them on you. " Lilly said sitting back in front of him.

Ian nodded before gently cutting her bruises and then healing them.

"There you are bruised free. " Ian said smiling slightly at her.

"thank you. " Lilly said putting her shirt back on and standing up ready to leave. Ian opened the door for her.

"Thank you for trusting me enough to heal you. " Ian said reaching to touch her cheek but dropping his hand. Lilly stayed for a moment looking at him before leaving.

"Good night Ian. " Lilly said going to Darius's room and shutting the door. Lilly sighed feeling her heart relax back to normal. Ian looked broken because of her, but he had caused it. He got her back to being scared of him. Lilly still couldn't get seeing his gold eye out of her mind they were filled with hurt and anger when he had spoken that night. Lilly shuddered before getting the book She borrowed out of her bag and began reading to get from her thoughts.