19. Zara
I stretch my limbs, exhaustedly, stifling a satisfying moan. I blink my eyes, once, twice, trying hard not to let the beams of light in. When I crawled in bed last night, I dozed off like a baby without a single care in the world. So much had happened in a day, I'm struggling to catch up.
"We have to go, come on." Lily repeats for what seems like forever. I squint my eyes, desperately trying to go back to bed.
I bring the duvet to my face, muffling my reply, "Just a moment please."
I have said that for the past few minutes and just when I thought she was going to give up, she yanks the material, exposing me to the cold wind.
"Hey," I sit abruptly, hugging my arms to my body.
"Good morning to you too." Lily holds a lilac mid-waist dress to her chin, giggling like an idiot. She is dressed in a green dress that hugs her body, displaying all the curves and elegance. She looks so good it hurts.
"What are you doing here?" The moment Alpha Josh left the room, I slept with a huge grin plastered on my face. I have gotten a confirmation from him, and apology. Perhaps he did it in the most cold way possible, still, that's the kindest he has ever been to me.
"Hey, you spaced out. You okay?" She waves her hand over my eyes and carefully places the dress on the brownish Chesterfield sofa across the bed, angled so close to the wall.
"Yeah." I nod. I try not to laugh or smile at the thought of his retrieving figure, the way he nervously scratched the back of his neck and shoved his hands in his pocket. My wolf was so jolly she spent the night licking her paws and imagining going on a hunt with her mate by her side. That's the most romantic a werewolf can be. On a full moon, the mated souls spend the night in the company of the Moon goddess, basking in the night, surrounding by the stars. Just the thought of it, gets one giddy and enthusiastic.
"Have you ever gone to a hunt with your mate?" Lily smiles at my question. She brushes a few strands of hair and tug them behind her ear. Her cheeks are bright red and her eyes are fixed on the stacks on the parallel blue-coated wall.
"You haven't answered. What are you doing here?" I pick the duvet from the floor and wrap it around my figure. Lily slumps on the sofa, and places the dress on her lap.
She sighs, "We are expected to be at the breakfast table by—" she checks the time on her wristwatch. "In ten minutes sharp."
"Okay?"
"That means we are both expected to be down in a minute and eat breakfast with the others. Please hurry up." She tosses the dress to me and walks to the window. She stares at the horizon, her auburn hair looks more prominent in the light, pronouncing her glamorous appearance. She looks straight out of a Magazine, confidently flaunting her looks.
"Okay." I take the hint, and bring the dress to my chest, checking it out. It has tiny embroidery on the bodice, and a lace covered edge. It looks so pretty I feel like I'm tainting it just by looking at it.
"Zara!" Lily's voice snaps me out of my reverie, I drop the dress, my heart racing uncontrollably.
"I'm so sorry. I will go now."
"Do you know the way to the toilet?" She ask when I reach for the doorknob.
"No," I sheepishly admit, clamming my hands together.
"It's this way." She opens the door, steps aside and let's me out.
"This isn't Alpha Josh's room, it's a study. He stays in here when the Pack work is too much or when he needs a break. Here's the toilet." She motions to the door just by the corner. When she says that, it makes sense. I just don't understand why he has a bed in his study when he could just go into his Wing. I don't think I can ever get used to staying with the Elites.
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"Well, you look so stunning." Lily claps her hands when I step out. She has a wide amile, like a proud mom whose child has gotten a 'A' on a test. She puts a hand on her chins, humming a little when I turn.
"What?" I ask.
"Alpha Josh will like this, here." At the mention of his name, my heart skips, and a fluttery feeling settles in my tummy. My wolf is giddy with excitement at the thought of seeing her mate again.
She clasps her hands in mine and tugs me forward, we walk a few hallways, and toward the stairs that leads downstairs.
"How—" I want to ask how big the Pack house was, but clearly Lily doesn't have time for that.
"Sh...we are almost there." She nearly slips on the last step but regains her stance by placing a foot before the other.
"Well, well, about time." Alpha Josh's father stands in the gigantic room like a stray ant, dressed in black with a red bowtie. There's a long dinning table that looks like it could house an entire army, all they had to do was stay glued to each other.
"Father..." A cold hand touches the back of my dress, squeezing not-so gently. When he leaned forward and whispered, in a voice so deadly inciting, I knew whatever happened last night didn't a change a thing. If anything it's the begining of torture, and I'm not-so ready for it.
His voice pierces through me like a knife:
"Behave, Omega."