Tingles vibrate through my chest as I hear a soft “good morning” tickle my ear.
I try to feign sleep, surely it’s not truly time yet.
“I know you’re awake” Lily sings playfully beside me, her fingertips moving to roam across my chest.
I groan in reply, admitting that yes I am, but I don’t want to be.
“It’s nearly seven Cole” she informs, before turning her nice wake up into a more harsh one, getting up and taking the blanket with her.
I sigh, slowly opening my eyes before pulling myself to sit on the side of the bed.
I thank the goddess that my hands cover my eyes as I hear Lily open the drapes that previously blocked the sun before coming to sit down behind me.
Her hands wrap around my waist as I sigh in defeat.
“How long will you be gone for this time?” She asks as her head comes to rest on my back.
“Probably a couple of weeks” I reply, holding back that it may be much longer depending on the damages.
“You sure I can’t come along this time?” she whispers.
“Lily. . . the Red lake pack is not safe right now” I say gently but strongly for what seems like the hundredth time as I free myself from her grasp, turning to kiss her forehead before going to shower.
Whilst allowing the hot water to soothe away some of the tension I link my Beta, Hugo, to check he has everything prepared for our departure.
“Yes boss, although, you sure you want to drive? Four hours could turn into two if we ran” he links back.
“We will need our energy when we get there” I reply bluntly before cutting the link.
In truth, I see the drive as an opportunity to rest, maybe even sleep.
My temper has been getting shorter by the day and, although I recognize it, stopping it is entirely another matter when I don’t seem to get a second without someone asking something from me.
As if on cue the door creaks open to reveal a bare Lily.
I’m captivated by her shamelessness and can’t help but stare.
She begins to stalk towards me, her hips swaying.
My eyes move to slowly rake down her body as my d**k twitches in hope.
Her perky breasts and n*****s call to me, my mouth salivating at the thought.
My gaze glides further down but as it does the spell is broken.
Memories from that day instead invading my mind.
My stomach immediately turning as sick rises in my throat.
“All yours” I barely whisper as I quickly grab the towel before leaving the room, shutting the door harshly behind me.
I sit, still reeling as the water slowly drips off me onto the carpeted floor of my wardrobe.
When I’m eventually ready, I head out to see Lily is too, this time in light ripped jeans and a black shirt, if you could even call it that.
Her wet hair now loosely held in a bun as a small smile plays on her lips.
Before I can say anything she curtly defends her choice “I will change before leaving the house, but I at least wanted to dress like myself for our little goodbye” she smiles wider before leaning up her petite frame to kiss my cheek. Acting as if the events of the last hour are another bad dream that solely belong to me.
I sigh before deciding to play along with her game, nodding I take her hand and lead us down to the private dinning area.
Once there, it isn’t long before breakfast is served and interruptions begin.
Petra, my Gamma, being the first.
I hear Lily sigh obviously annoyed but Petra never interrupts without cause, and I’m on a tight schedule this morning.
Petra apologizes to Lily before beginning, “Alpha, there was an attempted breech on the western border last night. Patrols captured the three men and they are now in questioning.. . . “.
Petra pauses, stealing a glance at an annoyed Lily before informing me quietly “but they say they will only speak with the Alpha”.
“Oh for goddess sakes, can’t you just send Hugo in there? Make him pretend he is the Alpha?” Lily whines before I give Petra a little nod to let her know she can go.
“I’ll make time before I leave this morning, have them ready”, “thank you Alpha” she replies through the link before I severe it.
“Change of plans.. .. We will run, send the rest of the convoy now” I link Hugo, closing my eyes as I attempt to rub away the migraine that's already forming.
“Will do. Also Alpha Williams just called asking how many beds we will be needing and our expected arrival time” Hugo replies. “Call him back, around forty of our members will need beds, and we hope to arrive around eleven. Also inform him we will be arriving in wolf form, don’t want to startle his patrols”.
Hugo chuckles at the thought “yes Alpha”.
“You can’t speak to her like that Lily” I say simply, refocusing my attention on probably the last food I will see till nightfall.
Even after four years she doesn’t seem to have matured, become the Luna I need her to be.
“I’m not going to see you for weeks Cole, surely the pack can do without its leader for a measly breakfast” Lily replies as she walks towards me.
‘Maybe if you took on some of the duties. . .’ I snide to myself.
Ever since my parents left to enjoy their retirement, my mother handing her duties down to Lily, my workload has seemed to triple. My mother had tried her best to train Lily but after a year I relented, releasing her from her duties in the hope I would slowly pass them over to my mate.
When she reaches me, she pushes away my still mostly full plate and sits in its place.
Ares, my wolf, growls in my mind, the thought of going without food again is enough in our exhausted state to make him want to nip his own mate.
“Are you sure I can’t come with you?” she asks, lowering her voice for only us to hear. “Or join you in a week or two?” She continues whilst climbing down to straddle my lap.
“Lily” I say simply in warning. I swear we just had this discussion.
“Cole” she replies with a smile I know means she hasn’t listened whatsoever.
“Lily it’s not like I’m going on holiday. I’ll be working. Hard. Probably only pausing to sleep. You’ll get bored. Besides, the convoy has just left, I didn’t cater for the extra warriors that would be needed to guard you. Why don’t you spend some time with Petra, study some of the packs upcoming events to start organizing for them?” I ask with the little hope I can muster.
Lily rolls her eyes as she sighs “What so I can be bored out of my brains and lonely? Yeah, no thanks”.
She climbs off my lap, retrieving her cell from her pocket as she mumbles “wonder if Hannah and Amber are free today, or maybe I can go see mum”.
I internally groan, the more time she spends with those three the worse of a mate I become in her eyes.
Lily smiles up to me before asking sweetly “you don’t mind if I have people stay to keep me company whilst you’re away do you?”. “Not at all” I muster up a half smile before kissing her cheek and turning to leave “be back soon” I half-heartedly promise as I go to meet Petra and our new detainees.