Lilly Among Wolves

7: School Arrival

"Welcome back, Alpha Hillguard. Let me get your bags for you." The school butler said. Ian nodded, waiting for Lilly to stop staring at the stone-walled castle they called a college. It was impressive, but it was still a college.

"Come on Lilly," Ian asserted, walking up the stairs to the entrance. Ian could hear her heels clicking against the stone walkway. He slowed down, knowing she might trip over the uneven ground.

"This place is amazing," Lilly said excitedly.

"Be careful not to fall" Ian warned, trying to hide the concern in his voice as he opened the entrance to the elite's dorm.

"Avert your eyes to the ground if I see you look up before I tell you. You will get punished." Ian ordered, looking back at her. Lilly's hair was in her face, making her look like Cousin It from the Addams Family. Ian chuckled.

"Yes, Ian." She smirked under her hair knowing she looked silly. Lilly was excited about college. They walked through the first-floor hall where the middle-class supernatural lived. A few were scattered in the halls laughing and drinking. A tall dark-haired gargoyle whistled at Lilly as they passed. Ian growled at him before moving on up the next three flights of stairs to the royal suites. He pulled out his key card, swiped it, and went to the last door opening their room.

"Your school uniforms are in the other closet. Until you get your clothes put away, wear a school uniform. After the day, I expect you to have your proper sleepwear on and in bed by midnight. " Ian said, smirking.

"Okay, don't act like your dad. " Lilly mumbled, touching the silk curtain as she looked out at the setting sun, slightly dazed from the scene. Ian smirked at her comment and watched her for a moment. Her auburn hair shines like fire in the setting sun. Her eyes were shining hazel, her head was tilted looking at the snow-covered mountain. She looked like a goddess in a painting.

Ian fought the urge to touch her. He had loved her long auburn soft hair. Even as a child, he would sneak into her room to pet her hair as she slept. It hurt him when his wolf awoke and hurt Lilly. Ian pushed back the memories before clearing his throat. Lilly glanced at him coming from the daze.

"Dinner is served at seven. You'll be accompanying me to it. Wear one of your school uniforms. I expect you will never leave this room without me. You must always wear a uniform on weekdays. On the weekends you can wear casual clothes," Ian informed. Lilly nodded before taking out one of her uniforms and going to the bathroom to change.

"I want to watch you change pet. " Ian teased, going to his leather chair by the window and sitting down. Unexpectedly, Lilly came out of the bathroom, laying the uniform on the bed before gingerly taking her clothes off in front of Ian. Ian was surprised but kept himself calm watching her. His wolf stirred but let Ian stay in control. Lilly's cheeks were a deep shade of red. She removed her shirt first, and Ian smiled slightly at her. Lilly could feel his desire for her as she moved her hands toward her flower skirt but paused.

"Skirt." Ian purred, leaning back against the chair. She bit her lip before nervously removing the hip-hugging black flowery shirt. She had never done anything like this before. Her skirt fell to the ground, leaving her in her white bra and panties.

"Spin for me." Ian purred, folding his hands together. Lilly could see Ian's wolf at the surface. She did as she was told. Ian could see her birthmark just above the top of her lace underwear. It looked like a smudged paw print. She had a small red scar on her left booty cheek.

"What's the mark on your butt from?"

She tensed but answered.

"Lord Montague's dog attacked me and was put down, " Lilly said timidly. Ian got up and walked up behind her kneeling.

"You will not have blemishes. Now stay still." Ian said, taking his nails and scratching the mark. She whimpered but stopped herself. Ian leaned down, licking away the blood-letting his salvia heal the old wound. It disappeared in a matter of seconds. Ian stood up, turning her to him, placing a feather-light kiss against her neck and shoulder before placing one on her lips. Then, without warning, he cut the mark on her shoulder and licked it. Lilly knew why he did it. He hated the mark he had left on her from the first time he hurt her. She didn't get mad at him for healing the old scar like Ian thought she would.

"Get dressed now before we are late for dinner. " Ian said, pulling away from Lilly and getting dressed in his black uniform with the blue plaid tie.

Lilly got her uniform on in the bathroom to let them have a moment to calm themselves. They had just kissed. Lilly had mixed feelings about what had been happening between the two, but something about it felt right. She felt excited but scared of getting too close quickly. Lilly tried shaking off Ian's behavior of the past, but Lilly was slowly falling right into his game, and she had to be careful, or she would get hurt. Deep inside, Lilly knew her feelings for him would get her in trouble, it always had. Ian was the one to punish her when she got too close to his stone heart.

Lilly knew Ian was her protector, an Elite alpha werewolf. Lilly was protected by him, she knew the odds of them being anything were non-existent due to her being a half-breed. She couldn't help what her heart wanted, even through the pain he caused her. Something wasn't right in her mind, she knew it.

"Lilly come on. " Ian called, breaking her out of her thoughts. He opened the door leading into the hallway and Lilly looked down, trying not to get any attention from others. Ian let her go first before closing and locking their door. He walked before her, taking her down the same route they had taken before. They exited the dorms and into another hall with pictures of the school's deans. Some were vampires, werewolves, gargoyles, fairies, and witches, but no humans. Lilly knew it was because humans were protected and not in power.

"Ian there you are! I was wondering when you would get back to campus." A pretty blonde girl with blue eyes giggled. She was two to three inches taller than Lilly. Lilly stood at 5'7. This girl was shorter than Ian who was 6'1. Lilly caught her smell tensing at it. She had been the one on Ian the other night.

"I had to talk to the pack elders and healer about pack issues. " Ian said coldly as he kept walking. The blonde smiled looking at Lilly. Lilly tensed as she felt her power wash over almost making her heave.

" My name is Sam, I'm sorry for disturbing you the other night." Sam giggled before looping her arm around Ian's. He shrugged her off. Lilly felt anger rise up byte kept herself in check, she kept away from the she-wolf and walked behind them as they entered the huge dining room. She had no chance against Sam. Ian was right. She did need to know how to fight. There were tables everywhere. There were different food places on one side of the huge room. Lilly was out of her element and Ian seemed irritated.

"Lilly go fill you a plate with Chester and come back. " Ian said, looking back at Sam.

"Okay. " Lilly said excitedly before taking off to find Chester. He had already gotten his plate but was happy to help Lilly. Lilly was excited about the sorts of different food choices all at once.

"Trust me, it will wear off in a few weeks, food choice changes twice every weeks, " Chester chuckled at her. Lilly smiled, going to the Chinese booth and letting the chef put beef lo Mein on her plate with broccoli in it as well. She got a salad with ranch, then she grabbed a smaller plate for the dessert table, grabbing a cookie and a small piece of blackberry cobbler. Chester had laughed helping her. Lilly balanced her plates and got her water with lemon before going back to Ian. Ian almost smiled at how much food she had gotten, but he was still irritated at Sam.

" Go sit with Darius and Chester's table. ill be over shortly. " Ian smiled at Lilly before heading to the food booth with Sam. Lilly looked around before spotting Darius and Chester's table again. The room was a bustle of activity now. Lilly walked to the table, barely avoiding bumping into someone. She sat by Chester who seemed happy by her presence.

"Almost too much?" Darius asked, holding his hand out to her to take her anxiety away. She slowly squeezed his hand letting him absorb her emotions. She felt her anxiety fade from his touch. Darius could suck energy and blood due him being born a vampire and not turned.

"Thank you. I appreciate that." Lilly smiled before looking away out of respect since he was of a higher status than her.

"You excited about living on campus? " Darius asks, patting Chester's silver-blonde hair. Chester smiled at him content.

"It's going to be a new adventure," Lilly laughed nervously. Lilly didn't know what to expect, but she was glad to get away from being a muse.

"You got me and the two Elites. Nothing is going to happen to you." Chester smiled bigger, showing his dimples. His bright blue eyes shined, making him look young instead of an 18-year-old.

"I have your back from Ian if he gets out of hand," Darius smirked, looking at his long-time friend who was still talking to Sam.

"Thank you, I appreciate that," Lilly said, looking away from Ian and Sam. A moment later, Sam and Ian came to the table.

"Isn't it that cute the muses are getting along?" Sam chimed in, sitting down on the other side of Ian as he sat down beside Lilly. He brushes his leg against her. Lilly kept eating.

"They should, since Darius and I are around each other a lot," Ian retorted as he began to eat. Lilly smirked, folding her napkin in her lap, and ate her noodles without slurping.

"I still don't think muses should eat with their protectors." Sam blurted, looking at Ian and Lilly narrowing her eyes. She got a glare from Ian and Darius. Lilly wished she had half of Sam's boldness to say what she wanted.

"That topic is getting old quickly Sam, " Darius said, annoyed. Chester and Lilly stayed quiet and ate.

"I'm just saying."

"That's why you haven't got a muse of your own, because you think of yourself and not others. " Ian retorted coldly at her. She huffed, looking away like a spoiled child. Lilly finished her food, trying to ignore the tension between the two wolves. She talked quietly to Chester until Ian was finished.

Lilly was glad, she wasn't jealous of Sam. Okay, maybe a little, but mostly, she pitied her, she was holding a lot of in. Lilly could sense it. She could sense that the two had history, but not Ian and her.

"Want to play the new Call of Duty game?" Darius asked Ian, getting Lilly out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, I need some gaming time and if the muses want, they could come. " Ian said, getting up, and putting their plates and silverware in the dish area.

"Sounds like fun. " Lilly added, a little nervous, not knowing what the Call of Duty game was, she preferred reading to gaming. She knew about consoles but hadn't played them.

"I'll be there after I grab the game. You don't mind if Chester is in his nighties, do you?" Darius asked. Ian rolled his eyes.

"No, do you Lilly? " Ian smirked, walking with Darius back towards the dorm. Lilly didn't know if it was a trick question or not.

"Um, no. " Lilly said, a little confused, as they entered the dorms. Chester and Lilly both looked down until we had gotten to the suite floor. Ian didn't say anything about her answer.

"Lilly, if you want, you can go get changed, and we will be there in a second." Ian addressed her, handing her their dorm key. Lilly took it from him, went to their room, and unlocked it. She placed the key in the black bowl by the door before going to her room. Lilly hadn't got time to unpack yet, or so she told herself. Lilly rummaged through her first bag, finding a pair of black sleeping shorts and a thin blue long-sleeve. Lilly got dressed, putting her uniform back on the hanger. She slipped her slipper socks on and went to the leather couch in Ian's room waiting for them.

Ian and Darius came in along with Chester behind them. Chester was in blue basketball shorts and no shirt. He had a leather choker on that was black leather with red ruby studs in it with a red ring hung in the middle. Lilly looked away, knowing he was happy being a muse. She was glad the Hillguards had made them wear modest clothes.

"Are you ready? " Darius smiled at Lilly, before moving towards the 70-inch TV.

"Um, sure?" Lilly murmured. Ian sat on the couch pulling Lilly against him. They glanced at each other for a moment before Ian cleared his throat, looking away. Lilly could feel her face turning red.

Darius sat on the couch, after getting everything set up, making Lilly fall into Ian again. Chester laid his head down on Darius's crossed legs as he sat in front of him. Darius smiled down at his boyfriend with love in his eyes. Lilly smiled before yawning. Ian grabbed a blanket from behind him and laid it on Lilly.

"Lean on me." Ian offered, not looking up from his game. Lilly laid her head down on his shoulder, relaxing. Call of Duty was a war game that seemed to get intense. She enjoyed watching them play even if she couldn't tell what the war was about. Lilly watched until she got too tired, falling asleep against Ian.

******-*******-******-*******-********

Ian could hear Lily's light snores as she slept against his shoulder. He smiled to himself before finishing the last round with Darius. Lilly had cheered for them to get the bad guys even though he knew she had no clue what was going on. He brushed a few stray strands from her cheek as she slept.

"Have you told her yet?" Darius asked, looking at Ian.

"No, and I'm not going to yet. " Ian answered, looking at his friend.

"That isn't fair. So, what if she is halfling, she is your soulmate, and you know the hunger you're feeling for her is going to get worse." Darius glared at him, shaking his head.

"I still have needs and she can't fulfill them. I'm not going to force her to either." Ian said, feeling like acid was poured down my throat. That had happened to Lillianna's mother, Daliya, and he would not do that to Lilly. He didn't mind Sam, but there was nothing between us. They both knew it, but they kept up the bargain.

"Lilly is 18 now, Sam will move on to Derek, her mate. He only has a few weeks until he can be with her, the poor soul. Then what?" Darius smirked.

"Hopefully she will see I'm serious about treating her right and give me a chance. " Ian murmured, moving Lilly to his bed and under the covers. She groaned, hiding her head under the blanket. Darius was standing in the doorway with Chester in his arms.

" I give you three weeks before you break, and you mark her. If you tried to hurt her. I'll make sure you don't." Darius remarked, holding Chester against him before he left for their dorm room. It was already midnight. Ian yawned, knowing what his friend meant, getting down in his shirt and boxers, and crawling in beside Lilly. Ian rolled onto his side, giving her his back as he fell asleep.