Lilly Among Wolves

2:Dinner

Lilly finally decided to get out of the bath. It was fifteen minutes before dinner started. Lilly gasped, getting out of the tub, and quickly dried off, slipping on her pink dress. It still fit perfectly against her plump chest and hips. Lilly had been worried about outgrowing it, but her exercise had kept her in shape to fit it. She looked more mature than she had at 15, making her feel more like a lady. She smiled, giving herself a twirl before putting the choker on and doing a once over before heading downstairs to dinner.

Lilly quickly sat at the walnut table with Rose and waited for their guardians. Rose was dressed in a baby doll blue dress with a bloomer under it and black shoes with white frilly socks that went to her knees. Her blonde hair had been curled, and a bow was placed at the back of her head to make her look like a living doll. Lilly smiled at her nine-year-old sister before the dining room doors opened, and their guardians came in.

Lilly held her hands together and stood up as their guardians took their seats. Alistair sat at the head of the table, Maria to his right. Her grandmother is to his left. Ian took the chair next to Lilly's at the end of the table. Rose sat on the other side of her. Lilly was alert to Ian's presence beside her, making her heart skip.

Ian had changed some since the last time Lilly had seen him at the summer party. His blonde hair had faded to a sandy brown color and cut into a military cut, showing his clean square jawline. He had bulked up a bit or his black suit was a bit too tight; Lilly didn't know but tried ignoring her attraction to Ian she had always felt towards him.

"You may be seated." Alistair's deep voice said before the sound of chairs was moved and replaced. Lilly helped Rose in her chair before taking hers, ignoring how close Ian was.

"Is Lilly going to Crescent College?" Ian remarked, looking at Lilly. Lilly stared into his ocean-colored eyes but stayed quiet, knowing he was hoping she wasn't going. 'Why did he have to be so selfish?' Lilly thought; cutting up Rose's food for her.

"Yes, she passed the test with flying colors. Plus, she may help get your grades up before you graduate", Maria said, smirking. Ian frowned, glaring at his mother. It was true; Lilly had passed with flying colors. But then again, Lilly had been taught in six different languages; science, algebra 1, geometry, English, history, and proper etiquette before she turned 16 and Rose was being taught as well.

"I do plan on training Lilly to defend herself. I still have a life outside of school." Ian said, bored. Lilly clenched her hands, knowing he was trying to shake her, but it wouldn't work. She had passed the test and was going to get away from being a muse.

"If she learns to protect herself, she won't need a protector," Ian remarked, if it was that simple, even though he knew the guidelines for halflings to attend.

"She is under our care, and you will be protecting her. " Alistair said, taking a drink from his scotch glass, and giving his son a stern look. Lilly hated the fact she would have to rely on Ian. He was trying to make it clear he didn't want her near him.

"Yes, Father. " Ian said, leaning his elbows on the table. Lilly could feel his agitation coming off him in waves. Lilly hid her smirk as she helped Rose with her napkin.

"Lilly, you must have questions." Maria insisted, trying to make the situation better, but Lilly knew it wouldn't work. Ian was already in a foul mood. The foul the mood, the more he closed himself off to everyone. The more he targeted her to get relief.

"I really can't think of any at the moment" Lilly admitted, giving Ian a sheepish smile. He glared back at her. Ian's blue eyes held her gaze for a moment. Lilly could feel his wolf dominance wash over her, making her feel like prey. Lilly quickly looked away from him, ignoring her heart racing with slight fear.

"Shame." He smirked, satisfied at scaring her before leaning back in his chair to finish his food.

"Jerk" Lilly whispered under her breath. Ian smirked, sliding his hand on her thigh, making Lilly tense. Lilly could feel the small tingles where his hand lay. Her mind was racing. He was too close for comfort, but Lilly wanted him to trail his hand down her thigh. Lilly cursed at herself, glaring at him before moving her leg away from his hand.

Ian smirked and sat back in his chair pleased with himself. Lilly hated the small touches because it was a tease of something she couldn't have. She was a halfling and Ian was the upcoming alpha of Sterling's pack.

It didn't stop Ian from trying to toy with her.

==============

Ian had sat at the end of the walnut table by Lilly to see if he could scare her from going to college, but she was learning to stand her ground.

Damn, she was still gorgeous, the pink number she wore barely hid her long pale legs, and when Lilly was helping Rose eat her roasted lamb and carrots. Ian got a glance at her cream-colored breast. It took a bit of Ian's strength to keep himself under control. Usually, he could keep himself in check, but the closer her 18th birthday came, the soul bond grew stronger. Her wolf was dormant still, her pull was a lesson if she felt it at all. But his was at its peak. It almost felt like he was starting to get a bit mad. Maybe he was. He had waited years to be able to be around Lilly unsupervised if he claimed her, it was his right as her mate.

Ian knew that she was still scared of him. He made her think he enjoyed seeing her scared. Truthfully, it was a ruse, he wanted her to be close to him, and she was his mate. But it was against their laws to court your mate until the age of 18.

Ian knew his parents had made him her protector because of it. They knew from the moment Ian tried marking her when he was nine. They knew if he couldn't protect her from other Immortals, then their pack would be weak and fall to the mutated hybrids. It was one of his last tests before he fought in the ring for the right to be alpha at the age of 25.

"She was in more danger than she knew, he was the one she might have to watch out for." Ian thought as he finished his dinner.

"I'll have to sign her up for her classes, don't I?" Ian asked, watching Lilly's reaction. She kept eating, acting like he hadn't said anything. He smirked, thinking she was like an obedient pet. My father laughed.

"Would you do that for me, honey? You know I'm not good with technology like you are." Ian's mother, Maria said, giving him her sweet voice. Ian looked at Lilly, but she didn't seem to be listening to their conversation. She was wiping Rose's mouth before Lilly took her last bite of food.

"As long as Lilly helps with her information, " Ian said, smiling at my mother and then his father, who was finishing his scotch. Alistair raised his brow at Ian like he was trying to see what Ian had planned but couldn't.

"Lilly, will you go with Ian to the library and help him fill your academic classes before you start in a few days? " Maria said getting Lilly's attention. Lilly nodded, placing her napkin on her plate.