My Sister's Mate

Chapter 8: A Mate For Comfort

After she got up, Lilah took a bath and changed her outfit into a simple, A-lined dress. Back to bed, she placed the letter on the bed table under the table lamp.

It was stressful going out again. The thoughts about what happened today flamed through her mind, she gazed at the framed picture standing on the bed table. It was of Asena. Only if she was alive, probably none of these would have happened. Yes, they were different, but not completely different from each other. There wasn't a time when they argued. Asena was very caring and understanding. Asher feels like the opposite.

'He's showing his true colors, anyway.' Lilah wiped out the tears lingering on the side of her eyes. She sniffed gently and grabbed her phone to read.

Lilah loves reading. Apart from learning, and gaining knowledge from research, she gagainsleasures of escaping reality, becoming immersed in another world, and the enjoyment from using her imagination. Lilah clicked on the Reddit app, one of her favorite e-book sites. Reading her favorite genres, which are 'Possessive Alpha Mate novels', seems cheesy and faked compared to reality, but it made her hopeful.

After a while, Conan sent a message. It popped on her phone screen and she immediately slid through it. It was a funny bunny kiss sticker he sent. Lilah smiled at it, replying with another bunny receiving the kiss and passing out.

"Where are you?" He asked.

"At home."

"Shouldn't you be at work? You said you were going to work today, right?"

"Yes, I did. I just came back because I was having a terrible headache." She explained, sending a sad emoji.

"Aw! Sorry about that. Should I come over?"

"Umm... Yes." she controlled the heap of anxiety growing in her. "We could just go for a stroll tonight. I'd love to tell you something."

"Okay. I'll be at yours by 9:00 p.m."

"Yeah. See you later, then." She smiled before pressing the end call button.

The thought of opening up to Conan might be helpful. Lilah needed a friend to open up to. Eliana might not take it in. Perhaps nobody should be close to a wolf-blood like his or her own mate.

Later that evening, Benita and Rafael came back from the restaurant. Her mum walked up to her room and asked why she didn't come over to help them in the kitchen. She complained she had a headache, so she left work early. Hiding the truth from her parents, especially her mum, was a tough decision. Lilah knew that she would have to tell them at some point, but not now. She needed a backup plan.

A black Honda Civic sedan packed up right in front of the Wulfric's mansion. Conan hurried to the door, ringing the doorbell.

Benita replied as she welcomed him in.

"Good evening, ma'am. How work and family?"

"Fine, thank you. How's Jordan Company doing as well?"

"Fine," Conan replied with a small smile. "Is my Lilah inside?"

"Yes, dear." She replied to him. "Would you like to sit while I call her or?"

"I'd like to check on her myself." He smiled and Mrs. Wulfric raised her head in defeat.

A small smile lit up Conan's face as he walked upstairs. Gently tapping on her door, Lilah opened it. A hand covered her dull face. She'd been sleeping all day.

"You look so moody. Is everything alright?" Conan asked, taking a seat on her soft bed. Lilah closed the book she was reading, placing it under her pillow.

"I don't know, Mate. I feel so weird. Sometimes, I wonder why I have to go through a lot at a very young age. I just wonder why me?" tears filled up her eyes as she explained. Conan stared at her, placing a hand on her jaw. She looked sad and her temperature was warm compared to his.

"We can not be happy every day. There's always a part of us that would be down. With fear and anxiety of tomorrow that we do not know." Conan clarified. His thumb wiped out Lilah's tear-stained face. Soft moans escaped her lips through the suppressed sound of hiccups.

"We don't know the future. That itself is the level of anxiety. We just have to keep reminding ourselves that faith will keep us going with calmness. We are half human, half beast, Lilah. Nothing is normal in our lives, nothing."

"My parents live a perfect life." She sniffed softly at the words, stopping the tears. "Although it's not all beautiful, I want to help them. I want to fulfill their dreams and be there for both of them. I'm the only one left for them now and I feel so useless."

"Shh!" Conan placed his hand on her lips. "You're unique just the way you are, okay? Nobody is perfect after all. You don't have to worry about everything. It's not in your place to judge destiny, my love. Let's go for a walk outside."

Lilah held onto his hands, and he helped her out of bed. She was wearing a simple round-neckline single and Jean shorts.

Taking a step outside, the gentle breeze blew through the lovers. Lilah placed her head on his shoulder as they stepped out. The night gave a fresh air and Lilah felt a little relieved now that Conan was here by her side.

"Um, give me a minute. I left my phone in my car." He told her while she waited for him in the distance.

Standing alone in the darkness, a passerby jerked and snatched her phone. "Hey! That's mine!!" she called, immediately running after the guy.

Although it was dark, she could see him. He had dirty blond hair that was unkept and green sparkling eyes that looked greedy. Lilah picked up a stone and threw it at him. He ducked and continued running. Lilah wouldn't stop, she ran after him.

The guy was faster because she was feeling down; she wasn't strong enough but she could meet up with him. Suddenly, he stopped. Catching heavy breaths. Then two other guys came from the pavement, holding her by both arms.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Lilah snapped, knowing it must be planned.

"Finally, we have Wulfric's only daughter to ourselves. I hope your dad could pay a good ransom for you."

"Get off me." She pulled away from their grip. They clenched her tightly, not letting go.

Looking at the guys behind. They looked built and ready. Their tobacco breath lingered in the air as they crackled out a malicious laughter.

"I said get off me!" Lilah struggled once more, to no avail.

The guy with dirty blonde hair, who seemed to be their leader, wore a wide toothy smile at her while stepping forward. He deepened her phone into the side pocket of his ragged jeans and halted right in front of her. The attacker was three inches taller than her. He grabbed her jaw, and she flinched.

Disgusted by his presence.

Lilah glared at him, trying to let out her wolf, but it wasn't coming. Although she's 23 years old, Lilah still finds it difficult to transform on her own will. It only gets easier under the full moon.

"Grrr!" she growled at him and he busted into an unexpected laugh. Others joined. It looked like watching a cat meow.

They were having fun with Lilah. And this was humiliating for her.

'What is taking Conan long?' Lilah wondered, looking behind for help, but it was quiet. Only the sound of stray dogs, barking in the neighborhood was heard.

"Grrrr!" She gritted her teeth at the guy before her but he didn't laugh this time.

"Enough of that drama, princess!" He placed a hand on her head and grabbed her raven-black hair from the nape.

Lilah closed her eyes to the pain, groaning from the excruciating dilemma. The guy with a stinky breath pulled closer. About to place a kiss on a lip, a sudden hit whooshed forward and then Lilah realized that someone kicked him from behind. The strange guy flew against the wall like a piece of trash. His body dropped as he grunted painfully, trying to raise his gaze at who it was.

It was Conan. His thick eyebrows furrowed and it was obvious from the look of his boiling red eyes that he was ready to teach them a lesson.

The other two guys from behind still hold, trembling. Lilah grabbed them with both arms and pushed them forward to Conan.

Raising a fist at them they dropped to their knees, begging, with saliva drooling out of the corner of their mouth. It looked as if he could not run.

"Grr!" Conan growled and his sharp canines grew out of his Jaws like knives.

Watching this in terror, the attackers passed out. The guy with dirty blonde hair grabbed a brick, wanting to throw it at Lilah but Conan to face him. The heavy brick scattered on Conan's face as he tried covering it.

At once, he jumped on the blonde guy, raining his blows on his face. Agitated by his guts. Lilah placed a hand on his shoulder and he stopped.

Just then, Conan noticed how lifeless the blonde guy looked. The beatings already disfigured his face and he was out of breath.

"Let's go," Lilah whispered and Conan turned to her in concern.

"Are you hurt?"

She nodded her head negatively to reply to him.

He cradled her in a hug, as the thickness of his breath softened. "We need to be careful with these bloody humans. I shouldn't have left you alone. I'm sorry."

Lilah pulled out of his hug and touched the corner of his lip. He quickly pulled back.

"You're bleeding." Lilah pointed. "Let's get you home. I'll clean it up for you."

A line of moonbeams slanted through her opened window. They walked back in and Lilah took Conan upstairs into her room. He sat on a wooden stool, facing her mirror while Lilah brought out a cotton bud, deepened it into a methylated spirit, and then used it to clean up the bloodshed.

"Auch!" Conan shrieked.

"What's that? I haven't even touched you yet."

"That's painful." He admitted, moving closer. "Go easy on me, please."

Raising her eyes to his, Lilah looked away.

She felt if she unclenched her jaw and relaxed her shoulders, she would probably dissolve like salt in water. She stared at him and suddenly looked numb. Avoiding his scare as if in pain. The hand holding the cotton bud dropped on her thigh and her bottom lips quivered, holding an overwhelming sadness that suddenly filled her mind.

Lilah chewed and swallowed in her lungs as her shoulders dropped in resignation.

"Mate... Are you okay?"

"Good people can make themselves happy. I'm a horrible person." She muttered slowly in a lower voice. "You're so nice; you deserve better company than me."

"What are you saying? I can't hear you." Conan clarified, pulling closer.

"It's all my fault. Everything is all my fault! You don't understand." Lilah sniffed, wiping her tears vividly with the heels of her palm.

"Understand what?" he raised an eyebrow to the question.

"Asher hates me. He isn't treating me the way he used to when Asena was alive." Lilah confessed, as more tears washed down her eyes.

"I should give him a break. I'm being so needy right now... It's my fault you're being hurt again."

"Why would Asher hate you? Did you do something wrong?" he stuttered.

"I do not know."

"Should I speak to him about it? You are going through a lot already and-"

"No... No, Conan. Please don't interfere. Asher would get curious. If I leave work for a while, maybe he won't mind so much when about my presence. I think I need a break from these." Lilah assured and burst into tears.