Lilly Among Wolves

9:Confusion

Lillianna stretched, feeling like she had been punished for writing in business class and history. It had already been a week, and she hadn't seen much of Ian other than at dinner and after practice since their movie night. In history, they were pre-post-apocalypse era, nothing new to Lilly. Her body was sore from the self-defense training that she went to every day. Ian started acting differently around her again. He would only heal her and then leave quickly. Ian had refused help from her when she asked him about his homework. He had even given her a slave for her bruises. She sighed, feeling annoyed at herself for thinking they were going to be super close like when they were kids just because of last week. Lillianna sighed and switched to her light blue workout tank and leggings before knocking on Ian's door.

"Yes?" Ian answered the door, looking at her tensely. Lilly swallowed as she kept from snapping at him.

"Could you take me to the gym?" Lilly asked, smiling at him. Ian relaxed, leaning against his door frame and smiling back at her.

"need to run?" he asked.

"yeah."

"Let me change. " Ian acknowledged, shutting the door and coming out a moment later in a cut-up shirt and gym shorts. Lilly couldn't help but glance at the exposed chest muscle that his shirt wasn't covering. She quickly looked away, waiting for him to lead the way. He took her to another building that was smaller than the main school building. Ian led her down a hall and into a huge gymnasium that had a second-floor workout area with a running track around the gym. Lilly was impressed but was sad they didn't have an obstacle course like the Hillgaurds did.

"Not as impressive as the one at home, but it gets the job done. Ian said, leading them up the stairs to the workout room. Lilly was excited and began stretching to run.

"I think I'm going to do a few laps before I do my reps. " Lilly replied before taking off on the track. She couldn't help but smile when she ran. It was her freedom from feeling different. She pushed her legs as she came around the first corner, going faster. She was in a full grin when she passed Ian who was leaning against the wall watching her. Lillianna ran three more laps before jogging two laps. Ian had started jogging with her when two bulky fae males went inside the workout area.

"Do you want to keep running or work out?" Ian asked as they approached the entrance of the workout area.

"We can work out for a bit. " Lilly said, a little breathless. She missed having Ian around her. She slowed down catching her breath before they went into the workout area. Lilly went to the mats and got one to do stretches. Ian grabbed 50-pound dumbbells and started doing arm reps beside her, keeping a close eye on the two males in the gym. Lilly couldn't hear them talking to themselves, but Ian could with his heightened ears. Lilly did her stretches and some yoga, making sure she could see the guys in the back. After she was done, she cleaned the mat. Ian stopped her and took the mat from her to take it back. Lilly took the moment to get some water from Ian's water bottle as he did. She couldn't help herself when a small moan came from her mouth from the cold water hitting her dry mouth. She hadn't realized she was that thirsty. Lilly heard a growl making her look towards Ian. He was watching the two males who had their eyes on Lilly. Lilly looked down as Ian walked towards her. He was tense. Lilly touched Ian's arm lightly before smiling at him. He smiled at her, gently pulling her in front of him and out the door quickly.

"You, okay?" Lilly asked, feeling the tense air around him.

"you know you are trouble?" Ian asked, looking at Lilly.

"Just me being alive is trouble," Lilly said looking away, blushing.

"You're the sweetest troublemaker I have met." Ian laughed and slipped his fingers between hers, squeezing gently; Lilly gently closed her fingers around his welcoming his touch. She could feel her face turning a shade brighter. Ian seemed to relax from her touch.

She never had any romantic interests because she had always wanted to be with Ian, but that was a fantasy due to interspecies laws. The law stated protectors couldn't get intimate with their ward or muses without certain actions taken. The elites were usually exempt due to their status.

"Won't we get in trouble?" Lilly whispered, slightly worried. Ian laughed, startling her. It was a husky, deep laugh.

"You're such a good girl. I'm an alpha, I have ways around the rules." Ian whispered in her ear, causing her to shiver.

"What is the naughtiest thing you have done?" Ian asked as they walked back to their dorm.

Lilly thought for a moment before smirking.

"Probably when I broke your mom's Chinese blue porcelain vase. She sent me to work a boot camp for a summer." Lilly explained. Ian was a little stunned but not what he was asking.

"Mom did spend a lot on that vase. How did you end up breaking it?" Ian asked as he opened the dorm hall door. Lilly got behind Ian as they went through the hall.

"I may have taken the blame due to Rose throwing a ball and making it fall over. It wasn't that bad. That's how I got my upper ear pierced. One of the girls that I bunked with knew how because her elite was a great tattoo artist, Mat bon D.

"You don't know who that is, do you?" Ian commented. Lilly giggled and shook her head.

"No idea, but she was a pretty cool chick."

"You probably have titanium silver in your ear, it's safe for any creature under the sun. The titanium seals the poison factor of silver to werewolves. He even uses silver ink for wolves and UV ink for vamps to make a permanent tattoo." Ian explained.

"How does it not poison you after a while?" Lilly asked as they entered their dorm suite.

"He has a special ink formula that doesn't cause us damage, just like ink doesn't harm human skin after a while." Ian corrected. Lilly hadn't forgotten that they were still holding hands, but she didn't want it to end yet.

"Do you have any tattoos?"

"Yeah, I have the family crest in the center of my back. " Ian said, moving his shirt for her to see the blue and gold crest with a Lilly and rose behind a black wolf with blue eyes. It looks almost as if it might come off his skin. Lillianna let go of his hand to touch the black ink. Ian stood still as she traced the wolf's outline to the lilly and the rose. Her touch was almost too much for him.

"Do you want to take a shower first or me?" Ian broke the silence, getting Lilly out of her little trance. Lilly pulled her hand gently away, slightly embarrassed.

"I'll let you go first. " Lilly replied, glancing back at him before disappearing into her room. Lilly was overloaded with thoughts of him, and she needed to calm herself. Lillianna fell on her bed, grabbed her iPod, played Lynsey Sterling, and did homework until her thoughts weren't on Ian. It was turning out to be hard for her. She took her earpods out, sighing in frustration. She didn't like that they were in a weird stage. What were they? She feared his werewolf state and the full moon was in a few days. She could tell he was feeling it each passing day as it got closer. She had even chalked it up to his behavior. She didn't know how he was going to handle it since they were at college and not at the pack house.

She heard a faint knock on her door.

"Yes."

"Showers all yours." Ian's husky voice came through the other side of the door. Lilly could hear Ian's footsteps moving away, almost making her sad. Lilly got her clothes and bathroom caddy before going into the bathroom. Lilly bit back a moan as she got into the bathroom. Ian's scent was everywhere, and it smelled heavenly, the hint of smoked cedar with a hint of mint. Lilly took it in for a moment, feeling herself getting hot. She quickly shook her head and started the water, getting undressed.

Lilly let the cold water calm her thoughts of Ian. She quickly scrubbed her hair and body before getting out due to being cold. By the time she was done, the bathroom smelt of both. Lilly couldn't help but inhale a deep breath, memorizing the smell. Her honey vanilla soap with his smoked cedar and a hint of earth. She knew the fantasy wouldn't last due to him finding his mate. Was it wrong for Lilly to like the attention he was giving her? She didn't know but knew she wanted to act on them. She had to keep her heart protected. She didn't want to end up a mistress or, worse, heartbroken.

Lillianna sighed, leaning against the bathroom door; wondering if she was making a mistake in letting him hold her hand. Lilly got dressed before leaving the bathroom to get ready for dinner.

A knock came on her bedroom door.

"Are you ready for dinner?" Ian asked. Lilly opened her door dressed in her uniform, smiling at him.

"Are Darius and Chester eating with us today?" Lilly asked, closing her door behind her.

"No, they won't be eating with us. They are helping get my wolf chamber ready for the full moon. " Ian commented, opening the cafeteria doors for her.

"Does it hurt you to change?" Lilly questioned. Ian smiled, shaking his head.

"At first, it hurts like hell, but you get used to it after a while, " Ian admitted. They got their food and sat down at their regular table looking outside the courtyard.

"Glad I don't have to go through that. " Lilly mumbled as she began to eat. Ian snickered before covering it up with a cough. After they ate dinner, Ian took Lillianna to walk to the center courtyard. There were a few rose bushes and some trees, but it was a large open grass square in the middle of the school grounds. People were lounging on the grass lawn making out and talking among themselves. Lilly tried ignoring the thought of Ian kissing her a few days ago.

"Have you ever done anything romantic with anyone?" Ian asked as if he had read her mind. Lilly blushed, looking away from him.

"No, never. " Lilly said quickly, scared others would hear them. Ian smirked, sliding his hand into hers. Lilly's face turned red, making Ian laugh lightly.

"You know you're cute when you blush. " Ian confessed, kissing her red cheek. Lilly rolled her eyes, hiding her face from him. Ian laughed, walking them further into one of the trees' shadows. Lilly was biting her bottom lip, lost in her thoughts. was this okay? Ian leaned himself against the base of the tree, pulling Lillianna to him. She gasped, looking up into his blue eyes. Ian's eyes were glowing embers in the dark. Lilly was mesmerized by the slight coloration, making them glisten.

"Kiss me." Lilly hadn't realized she had said it before Ian pressed her to him, kissing her softly. She moaned against his lips. Ian held her to him as he licked her lips for access to her mouth. Lilly accepted, letting his tongue lightly dance around hers. She could feel her heartbeat quickening as his hand slid under her shirt to her bare hip. She wanted it to keep going when Ian pulled away, smiling at her.

"Damn." He murmured, leaning against the tree and holding her to his chest. Lilly kept her face hidden in his chest, trying to calm herself from the amazing kiss. She felt high from the kiss.

"It's getting late. We had better get inside. " Ian mumbled, breaking the silence. Lilly moved away only to get pulled back to Ian for one last kiss. Lilly couldn't help but smile and kiss him. Ian broke off the kiss, leading her back to their dorm. Lilly didn't want their time to end just yet. Ian was already unlocking their dorm suite.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" Lilly blurted out before he could open his door. Ian glanced back for a moment.

"Want to have a sleepover?" Ian countered. Lilly bit her lower lip.

"Let me get changed, I'll be in there in a few minutes." Lilly smiled, going into her room. She closed her eyes, grinning like a fool before getting dressed in her pink silk night shorts and top. Lilly knew silk wasn't stretchable, but she loved the feel of silk. She had begged her grandma Wanda and Maria to switch all her pjs to silk for her 16th birthday. They had even got her silk summer nighties. The top she had on was a size up, making the v-neck less prominent, and showing slight cleavage compared to her summer sets.

The short had a slit on the outer hip on both sides so she could move in her sleep. She took down her hair, brushing it out before putting it onto a side braid. She grabbed her blue and white sleeping robe, wrapping it around herself before leaving her room to go into the small living area in Ian's room. Ian had made popcorn for them and had a bottle of red wine. Lilly smirked at Ian.

"Does drinking make me naughty because I've drunk before? " Lilly admitted, taking the glass he had held out for her to take. Ian laughed.

"Before the post-apocalypse, it was illegal to drink under the age of 21. " Ian recalled clinking their glasses lightly before taking a sip. Lilly took a swig, sitting down by Ian.

"I'm a rebel. " Lilly said, kissing Ian's cheek. He laughed, pushing the play on Scott Pilgrim vs. the world. Lilly settled beside Ian. He offered her popcorn; she gladly took a handful. Ian was glad Lilly was enjoying herself around him. She was interested in the movie he had picked, making him pleased. It was one of his favorite rom-coms. Ian knew girls liked rom com, and he could at least stand them if they weren't musicals.

It was his way of giving her a cold shoulder for the last week. He had just couldn't allow the bond to tighten around his wolf. It was almost torture being around her, knowing she wasn't changed nor marked made Ian crazy, but Lilly was opening up to him.

He hadn't seen Lilly this relaxed around him in a very long time. Ian had missed this side of her. He pressed her closer to him as he kept sipping on his brandy. It had been the same coloration as her favorite wine. He couldn't stand wine. Thankfully, Daruis had her taste in his stock in his room. Lilly already was on her second glass through half the movie; her cheeks were starting to flush red.

"We still have school tomorrow, you rebel princess." Ian laughed, taking her glass from her. Lilly growled at him playfully before giggling uncontrollably; Ian knew she was tipsy. He got up, got a bottle of water from his mini fridge, and gave it to her. She frowned at him but drank the water he offered her. She sighed after she drank it.

"The movie is ending." Lilly pouted.

"What did you think of it?" Ian asked, picking up after them. Lilly stretched before handing him the popcorn bucket. He dumped the bucket into the trash, then rinsed their glasses out in the bathroom with soap.

"Hmm, I think it's sweet that Scott is proving his love for her, and she proves that she loves him in the end." Lilly giggled, rubbing her eyes before she took off her robe, laying it on the couch. Ian had to look away to get control of himself. Ian placed the glasses under his nightstand with the almost empty bottle of wine to distract himself. Lilly smirked, still feeling the alcohol; she climbed into his bed, getting under the covers.

Ian got in shortly after. He went into his closet, switching to the cut-off shirt and basketball shorts before turning off the light. Lilly knew Ian could see fine in the dark, but she couldn't. She waited for him to get in bed before reaching out to find him. Ian gently grabbed her hand, guiding her to his chest. Lilly nuzzled against him, finding the perfect spot to fall asleep. Ian waited for her to get comfortable. She settled herself against his right side, laying her head on his shoulder. Ian kissed her forehead lightly as she drifted off to sleep. It had taken him a moment for him to follow her to dreamland.