Chapter 1: The Beginning
1099 Words
Lily’s POV
“But Lionel, you promised you would pick me, and we would spend some time together before my party tomorrow…” I trail off as I hear a heavy sigh coming from the other end of the phone. I bite my lips, knowing what that sigh meant and what usually came next after it.
“You’re being childish, Lily,” I roll my eyes at the all too familiar expression, but stay silent nonetheless. “I have a lot to do and I can’t just drop everything at your whims. You may not know this, but the pack cannot run itself. As the future Alpha, I have a lot of responsibilities and I cannot shirk them.”
“But…”
“Your father expects a lot from me, you wouldn’t want me to disappoint him, would you?”
I let out my own heavy sigh, “No…”
“That’s my girl. We’ll see each other tomorrow, okay? Happy birthday, Lily.”
I open my mouth to respond, but he has already ended the call. I stare at the phone in my hand, before tossing it carelessly onto the bed and flopping backwards into my bed and pulling the covers over my head.
“He’s not coming?” My best friend, Scarlett, asks from where she was seated at my vanity, rubbing a swatch of dark red lipstick over her lips. I stare at her, wishing i could pull off that colour. The last time I had tried a similar colour, Scarlett had laughed herself hoarse, before advicing my to stick to the safe, muted colours.
“No, he’s not. I’m not surprised. He always does this anyway,” I reply.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh? He is the future Alpha afterall and he has a lot to do. He can't always be at your beck and call,” she stands and walks over to tthe bed, standing over me with a disapproving look on her face.
“You always take his side and that’s not fair. My dad is the Alpha still has time for other things. I’m on the council as well, I’m the pack’s unofficial healer and I still find time to run my business, spend time with my family and friends. Lionel has always been like this, it makes me think he doesn’t really want to spend time with me and just has no choice but to tolerate me… maybe, I should put off the engagement announcement…”
“No!”
Scarlett’s voice comes out so sharply that I jolt upright beneath the covers, staring at her in surprise.
She looked almost horrified.
“No,” she says again, firmer this time as she folds her arms over her chest. “Lily, do not start overthinking things the night before your ceremony.”
I frown. “I’m not overthinking.”
“You absolutely are.” She points at me accusingly. “Lionel has always been busy. You know that. He’s preparing to become Alpha someday and your father practically throws half the pack’s responsibilities at him already.”
I open my mouth, but she keeps going.
“And honestly, postponing the announcement because he missed one afternoon with you is ridiculous.”
My cheeks warm slightly.
When she says it like that, it does sound childish.
“I just thought…” I sigh softly, picking at the edge of my blanket. “I thought maybe he’d want to spend time with me before tomorrow.”
Scarlett’s expression softens immediately.
“Oh, Lily.” She sits beside me on the bed and nudges my shoulder lightly. “Of course he does. Men are just stupid sometimes. Especially powerful ones.”
That pulls a small laugh out of me.
“There’s the birthday girl,” she says with a grin. “Now stop sulking. Tomorrow is a huge day for you. You are not spending your birthday hiding in bed because your emotionally constipated fiancé is terrible at romance.”
“Scarlett!”
“What? Am I wrong?”
I shake my head, still laughing softly as I sit up properly.
Maybe she was right.
Lionel had always been this way. Serious. Reserved. Focused on responsibilities. It wasn’t fair to expect him to suddenly become someone else overnight just because I wanted more attention.
And it wasn’t like he treated me badly.
He just… didn’t always know how to make me feel wanted.
A sharp knock suddenly sounds against my bedroom door before either of us can speak again.
“Come in,” I call.
One of the younger pack wolves pushes the door open carefully, bowing his head the moment he sees me.
“Alpha’s daughter,” he says respectfully. “There’s been an accident near the eastern border.”
I sit up straighter immediately. “What happened?”
“A patrol group ran into rogues.” His face tightens slightly. “A few wolves were injured. Alpha Cedric asked if you could come.”
I am already climbing off the bed before he even finishes speaking.
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
He nods once before leaving. I walk over to my mirror and quickly tie my pale hair back, ignoring the faint shadows beneath my eyes.
Scarlett watches me quietly for a moment before speaking again.
“You really should stop running yourself ragged for everyone.”
I glance at her through the mirror. “They’re my pack.”
“Whatever. Go save lives, moon princess.”
I shake my head with a helpless smile before heading for the door.
The moment I step into the pack hospital, the smell of blood hits me.
The waiting room was already crowded, wolves moving back and forth with hurried steps while low groans and strained voices filled the air.
“Lily!”
One of the nurses rushes toward me the second she sees me, relief flooding her face. “Thank the goddess. We’re overwhelmed.”
“How many?” I ask quickly, already reaching for the disinfectant tray sitting on the counter.
“Six were badly injured. Three with deep claw wounds.”
I exhale slowly before nodding once. “Okay. Start boiling more water and bring me fresh bandages.”
She hurries off immediately while I move toward the nearest bed where one of the patrol wolves sat, clutching his side, blood soaking through the cloth wrapped around his waist.
The next thirty minutes pass in a blur.
I finish wrapping a bandage around one wolf’s shoulder when another voice suddenly speaks up from the bed behind me.
- Writer
