by Juniper Hart
Sol regarded his son pensively. “That’s great,” he said without enthusiasm. “It sounds like Lily has her work cut out for her.”
Cruz bit on his lower lip to keep from screaming at his father.
“Lily doesn’t think I’m a lost cause.”
Sol shrugged, sauntering out of view. “She’s young. She doesn’t have the experience I have with you, but she’ll learn she’s wasting her time. Or rather that you’re wasting her time.”
Cruz scaled the second-floor balcony and landed in the foyer, chasing after his father.
“Dad, I’m telling you that I’m trying! Why are you treating me like this?”
Sol whirled and glared at his only child. “You have made claims like this before and not followed through. What do you want from me, Cruz? It’s too late. The decision has been made. Dex is coming, and there is no undoing that now. It doesn’t matter how many ploys you come up with between now and then. I am done.”
Cruz stood statuesque in the entranceway, watching his father retire to his library, his heart hammering in his chest.
He means it, he thought with dread. Signing up for school did nothing. He is serious. I am out no matter what I do. I have lost my chance at becoming pack leader.
He threw his head back and released a howl which reverberated the windows.
His future was ruined.
Chapter Five
There was a knock on her bedroom door, but Lily ignored it, throwing the comforter further over her head.
She had no interest in getting out of bed that morning. In fact, she had no idea what time it was, but she sensed it was late.
“Lily? Are you in there?”
There was another pounding on the door.
“Why are you breaking my door down?” she yelled at Ryland.
The door opened, and her oldest brother poked his head inside, his face a mask of surprise.
“You’re still in bed? Are you sick?” he asked, stepping inside. He looked uncomfortable being in her room.
“What do you want, Ryland?” she demanded.
He seemed embarrassed as he opened his mouth. “I thought you had class today,” he said lamely.
She pushed the white blanket aside, and she sat up to glare at him. “Are you my keeper now?” she demanded. “What the hell difference does it make to you if I have class or not?”
Ryland’s mouth parted, but no words escaped.
“Close the door behind you.”
Slowly, Ryland backed out of the bedroom, his eyes fixated on his youngest sister as if trying to figure out who was laying in her bed.
When the door closed, Lily flopped back onto the bed, her eyes trained on the ceiling. She had been in bed since leaving Cruz’s house the previous afternoon, ignoring the repeated calls to dinner.
Ryland was not the first family member to check on her. In fact, everyone had come to check on her except Josephine.
She is probably happy she doesn’t have to see my pathetic face, she thought angrily, turning onto her side to stare toward the window.
The morning sunlight seemed unnaturally bright that morning, but Lily was not motivated to close the blinds.
These walls are filthy, she thought as she critically examined them. When was the last time I washed them?
She wondered if she was looking for a distraction, but she could not help but notice every marking on the white paint as if they were screaming her name.
Sighing, she turned onto her other side and saw her cell phone lighting up as she did.
Why doesn’t everyone just leave me alone? Lily wondered sullenly. She wanted to be left in peace to silently contemplate what she had done with Cruz Aube.
Of all the men to hand off your virginity to, it was him. You knew he was up to no good when agreed to help him. You are such an idiot. Why didn’t you see right through it?
The problem was, Lily didn’t regret her actions, not really.
It had felt so good, so right, and Cruz Aube was a catch even if he had been caught by everyone in the pack.
Then why am I lying here, wallowing in self-pity?
Lily couldn’t come up with a valid answer. She wasn’t feeling used, but she was feeling indescribably tired and lacking motivation. And very, very grumpy.
Lashing out at Ryland was unlike her, especially since he seemed genuinely worried about her, but it was if her tongue had a mind of its own.
It was also uncharacteristic of her not to spring from bed, ready to seize the day, but she was so comfortable in the depth of her mattress.
Maybe this is what happens when everyone loses their virginity. I just need a day of recovery.
Her phone was vibrating again, and Lily grunted, reaching for it.
Who the hell is it?
Her mood was sour, and her body was aching. I’m getting sick, she decided. It certainly explained her surly disposition and body pain. I’ll take a Tylenol and go to class this afternoon, she thought, but Lily had a feeling she wasn’t going anywhere for the rest of the day.
The text was from Cruz. I just wanted to make sure you’re ok.
Sighing, Lily cast the phone aside without responding.
I’ll message him later and let him off the hook.
For some reason, she took a perverse pleasure in letting him sweat.
It serves him right for pretending to need my help, she thought. But even as the devious idea entered her mind, she knew that what she and Cruz had shared had not been part of a plan devised by Cruz beforehand.
It was just easier to think of him as a villain than to think of herself as naïve.
There had been a naked plaintiveness in his words when he spoke about his father, and the revelation itself was private. No one else knew about Sol’s intention to bring in someone to replace his son.
If it was common knowledge, Lily was sure that her siblings would have mentioned it.
For the first time since Lily had known the arrogant man, she had seen a sensitive side to him. He didn’t seem like the promiscuous jerk she had grown to know over the years.
She didn’t believe it had been an act, but what did she know?
No, what happened was spontaneous, and I have no one but myself to blame for my moment of weakness. But it happened, and it’s done now.
Lily was painfully aware that she needed to use the bathroom. She had not left the comfort of her mattress in over fourteen hours, and her bladder was screaming in protest.
And I’m starving!
Begrudgingly, she threw her legs over the side of her bed and padded out of her room toward the bathroom she shared with Josephine.
To her chagrin, the door was closed.
“Are you going to be long?” she called to her older sister, but there was no response, although Lily was certain her sister could hear her.
She gritted her teeth and knocked on the door again. “Jo, are you going to be a while?”
“Screw off, Lil.”
There were three other bathrooms and a powder room in the Benz home which Lily could have used, and if it had been any other day, Lily would have simply turned and found one to use.
But something was different. As she stood staring at he closed door, a flash of indignant fury coursed through Lily’s veins. Before she could consider her move and as if guided by an unseen force, her foot flew up.
The kick was so forceful, it splintered the doorframe, and Jo stared at her sister in horror from her spot on the toilet where she was pouring through her cell phone.
“What the—”
“Sorry,” Lily said conversationally, leaning against the ruined doorway. “I couldn’t hear what you said through the door. What did you say? Are you almost done?”
Draven flew up the staircase, pausing at the landing. His face contorted in confusion.
“What the hell happened?” he demanded, rushing toward Lily. “How did that happen?”
“Get out of here!” Jo screamed, her face red in anger and humiliation as she remained stuck on
the toilet.
“What happened?” Draven asked again, but Lily had already retreated down the stairs, leaving her sister exposed and furious.
She slipped into the powder room under the stairs.
Without flipping on the light in the windowless room, Lily found herself staring clearly at her reflection.
Her green eyes shimmered surprisingly bright despite the darkness of her surroundings, and she smiled grotesquely at herself. White teeth were almost blinding in the dimness, and her gums seemed to be throbbing dully.
She heard Draven descending the steps above her head, and she waited, sensing he was directly outside the door.
He did not speak, and Lily sighed.
“Draven, I know you’re out there.”
“Come and talk to me when you’re finished doing whatever you’re doing,” he told her.
Lily grimaced and sat on the toilet without answering or turning on the light.
She washed her hands and walked directly into the kitchen where Draven sat with Ryland. They stopped speaking abruptly as she walked in and grinned nervously at her.
“How are you feeling?” Ryland asked.
Lily arched an eyebrow and turned toward the fridge without speaking.
“You’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday,” Draven commented when he realized she wasn’t making conversation.
“What? Now you guys are the fashion police and truancy officers. You really do need hobbies, both of you.”
The men exchanged a look and then stared back at her.
“Did anything happen last night, Lily?” Draven asked. “You didn’t come down for dinner, and you’ve been in bed.”
She turned to face them, a jar of pickles in her hands. “No.”
She opened the jar and pulled out a pickle, crunching on it for effect.
“Where are your glasses?” Draven asked.
“Is this an intervention?” Lily asked, smirking at them as she set the container down on the counter. She turned her back and touched her face, realizing that she was not wearing her bifocals for the first time since she could remember.
But I can see everything so clearly, she thought, her heart beginning to thump. As her hand lowered, she noticed her nails were unusually long.
When was the last time I cut them? Did I mark up Cruz with these bad boys? I really need to take better care of my appearance.
“Lil, come and sit down,” Draven urged.
“Can’t. Going back to bed,” she replied, whirling to leave the kitchen.
Josephine was flying down the stairs.
“You crazy little bitch!” Jo screamed. “What the hell were you thinking?”
Lily shrugged indifferently.
“I told you. I couldn’t hear you,” she replied nonchalantly.
Jo reached over to slap out at her, but Lily was ready for her sister’s hand, catching her mid-air and twisting her wrist ruthlessly.
Jo yelped in pain, but Lily did not release her.
“You have to control your temper, sister,” Lily hissed, forcing Jo to the ground.
Screeching, her older sister dropped to her knees, her face a mask of shock. Lily dropped her arm and sauntered away, taking another bite of pickle as she ascended the steps to her room.
“Jesus Christ,” she heard Draven gasp as she hit the landing. “She opened a sealed jar of pickles without blinking.”
“She kicked in the door like it was a can in her way,” Ryland added. “I think you know what this means.”
“No!” Jo snarled. “No way!”
Lily had reached her room by that point, but she could still hear her siblings speaking as if they stood directly at her side.
It means I’ve had enough of your shit, Lily thought grouchily, slamming the bedroom door in her wake. The gesture shook the house.
***
In her dream, she ran naked through the streets, her breath even as the hot summer air caressed her body. People stared at her, their eyes lit with fear, but she barely acknowledged them, their faces becoming a blur as she fled toward something. All the buildings were familiar, but Lily could not see what she was looking for although she could sense it just in reach of her.
Past the library she ran, the moon full above her head and screams beginning to fill her ears as she ran toward the outskirts of Pierre, into a brush. There it was, just ahead. Its bright yellow eyes were darting about in fear as it looked to make its escape, but there was nowhere to run.
I’ve got you now! Lily thought as she pounced.
“There it is!” someone screamed from behind her and she whirled to look at a pair of men in uniforms.
She turned back to the rabbit, who had escaped. It’s soft white fur disappearing into the night.
The policemen raised their rifles and two shots rang out. One landed in her shoulder, knocking her breath away.
“Don’t shoot!” she tried to yell but her voice was not her voice. A guttural growl filled the air as she lunged toward them, blood spurting from her wound as she flew through the air.
Suddenly, she was cast aside mid-air, landing in the bushes.
She turned her head to watch as two wolves encircled the men with guns, back on their haunches. Their teeth gleamed brightly, and the darker of the two animals swatted out, knocking the men to their feet.
The men turned abruptly and ran, while the dark wolf ran towards Lily.
She was snatched up in strong jaws by the neck and carried away into the darkness, leaving the screaming people behind. The brush scratched at her face, but the pain in her shoulder seemed to subside as she was half dragged, half carried to safety.
When the wolves carried her inside a cave, Lily backed up to the wall, watching the black wolf approach. She knew him. Slowly, he began to transform before her eyes, and Lily saw it was Ryland. She exhaled in relief.
“Thank you,” she breathed. “They were going to kill me.”
“They can’t kill you,” he told her, but she could sense he was angry. “But they can catch you. What were you doing out in the middle of town?”
“I… I don’t know,” she replied, confused.
The strange, dream-like haze which had fallen upon her seemed to have lifted.
“That was stupid,” Ryland told her flatly.
The second wolf appeared, and Lily recognized him as well.
“Jesus Christ Lily,” Draven growled. “You are going to get us all hunted!”
Confusion swept through her, and she felt her knees buckle.
“What is happening?” she whispered. “What’s going on?”
Draven drew toward her, half formed.
“It’s okay,” he told her. “It’s your first full shift. You’re okay.”
Dizziness swept through her.
“What?” she said, pinching herself again. “What are you talking about?”
She looked at her brothers uncomprehendingly.
“Looks like you were a late bloomer after all, sis,” Draven told her. “But you have to be more careful.”
“I…” she didn’t know what to say. “This isn’t a dream?”
The men chuckled.
“No,” Ryland replied. “This is no dream. It’s official. You’re a full-blooded Lycan now, Lil.”
Chapter Six
Josephine Benz could not be certain when the loathing for her passive sister had begun precisely. Perhaps it was upon the time of her birth when Jo realized she was no longer the baby of the family and, more importantly, the only girl. Her hate had only grown with the understanding that Lily was bright and obedient and would fall perfectly into place with the pack.
When their mother had left the family and the rumors began to circulate that Lily was the offspring of a mortal affair, Jo had been ready to murder her small sister.
If not for Klein, Jo would have likely been very successful in her endeavors. Since that time, her hate only grew. She just couldn’t accept Lily as her sister or a member of the pack. Although Jo had a hard time admitti
ng it, she was also jealous of Lily’s natural beauty.
Truthfully, Jo was no more than average in appearance, but she took extra care with her looks. Despite Lily’s bookworm tendencies and thick glasses, it was obvious to anyone she was the more attractive sister.
It had taken many years of nurturing Lily’s deep-seeded insecurities to make the youngest sibling believe that she was undesirable, but Jo had been relentless, breaking Lily down until she was a shadow of anyone she could have been.
It had been Jo’s personal belief that she had singlehandedly stunted Lily’s ability to morph like the others. Privately, she rejoiced in the idea.
Being Lycan required a certain confidence, and without that aspect, it would be difficult for Lily to overcome her insecurities with Josephine whispering her flaws endlessly in her ears.
It had been dumb luck that their brothers also delighted in teasing little Lily, but Ryland and Draven were not inspired by the venom Jo had acquired over the years. To the oldest siblings, they were doing their brotherly duty of bugging their baby sister.
But something had changed overnight.
How had she managed to morph suddenly? Jo wondered, her blood boiling with rage. What has changed?
“You’re lucky you caught her when you did,” Klein told his sons as he looked over Lily’s wounds. “You’re sure you weren’t followed?”
“We weren’t followed, Dad,” Ryland assured him. “And no one got hurt.”
Klein nodded and sat back sighing.
He offered Lily a sheepish grin.
“This is my fault,” he declared as he studied his youngest daughter’s face. “I had given up on you. I didn’t see the need to watch over you because I didn’t think you’d ever shift.”
Lily shrugged, seeming indifferent to what was happening around her. Dawn had broken, and everyone had reconvened at the house.
“This isn’t your fault!” Jo snarled angrily. “She has been around enough of us to know what happens when we change. She should have been prepared for it!”
To Jo’s annoyance, all the men laughed.
“You tried to kill Lily the first time you morphed,” Klein reminded her. “The second time, you ended up in a tree, eating the Johnson’s cat. You’re really not one to be judgmental.”
