Chapter 2 Lily- The Outcast of Blue Pack.

Lily's lungs burned as she pushed herself forward, her feet pounding against the damp earth. The early morning breeze whispered against her skin, carrying the scent of pine and wet grass. She had been running for nearly an hour, not because she enjoyed it, but because it was the only time she could escape-both physically and mentally.

But no matter how far she ran, she could never escape reality.

She was wolfless.

She was an outcast.

And in five months, she would turn eighteen-the age when wolves found their mates. The problem was, she wasn't sure she even had one.

The grand Blue Pack house came into view, standing tall and imposing in the heart of their territory. Once, it had been her home, a place filled with warmth and love when her father was still alive. Now, it belonged to Alpha Morgan-her uncle, her father's betrayer. The man who had taken everything from her family and left her with nothing but the cruel whispers of a pack that no longer saw her as one of their own.

Lily wiped the sweat from her brow and climbed the front steps, pausing just before pushing open the heavy doors. The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread drifted from the kitchen, mixing with the familiar sounds of warriors preparing for their morning patrol and omegas rushing to complete their chores. She stepped inside, blending into the background as she always did.

But before she could slip away unnoticed, a voice stopped her.

"Back so soon?"

Lily turned to see her mother, Eleanor, standing by the staircase, arms crossed with a knowing smirk. Even in a simple blue robe, her mother still carried the elegance of the Luna she had once been.

Lily rolled her eyes, though a small smile played at her lips. "If I stayed out any longer, someone might think I ran away."

Eleanor chuckled. "You'd never make it past the border."

Lily sighed, dropping onto the nearest couch. "You're probably right."

No matter how much she wanted to, she could never willingly leave her mother behind. Eleanor was the only reason she endured the torment, the only person who had stayed by her side after her father's death.

Her mother sat beside her, tilting her head. "You know, if you weren't always running alone, maybe someone would actually care if you went missing."

Lily let out a dry laugh. "Oh, you mean like the same pack members who pretend I don't exist?"

Eleanor smiled but didn't argue. "Still, things could change. You're almost eighteen, Lily. If the Moon Goddess blesses you with a mate, maybe-"

"Maybe what?" Lily cut in, her voice sharp. "Maybe I won't be a wolfless outcast anymore? Maybe people will suddenly start respecting me?"

Her mother's expression softened. "I know it's hard-"

"Hard?" Lily scoffed. "That's an understatement."

Before her mother could respond, another voice filled the room.

"Well, well, look who decided to come back."

Lily didn't need to turn to know who it was.

Lucia.

Her cousin stood near the doorway, arms crossed, lips curled in a smug smile. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders in perfect waves, her eyes gleaming with the same superiority she had flaunted since they were children.

Lucia sauntered closer, her voice dripping with fake concern. "You know, Lily, you should really stop running around like that. You might actually run into something dangerous. Oh wait-" She tilted her head, mock sympathy in her gaze. "You don't even have a wolf to protect you."

She burst into laughter, the sound sharp and grating.

Lily clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay calm.

Eleanor's voice cut through the tension. "Lucia, don't you have something better to do?"

Lucia shrugged, unaffected. "Just checking in on my dear cousin." She winked before turning on her heel and strutting away, her laughter still ringing in Lily's ears.

Lily exhaled sharply. "She's insufferable."

Eleanor sighed. "She's just jealous."

Lily scoffed. "Of what? My lack of a wolf?"

"No, Lily. You know you are better than her in everything. You are more intelligent, more beautiful, and calmer. Even with those qualities alone, she will always be jealous of you," Eleanor said, squeezing Lily's hand.

Before Lily could respond, her phone rang, cutting through the heavy silence. She grabbed it quickly, glancing at the screen. Annie.

A real smile broke across her face for the first time that morning. She pressed the answer button. "Annie!"

"Finally!" Annie groaned. "Were you avoiding me or what? It's been forever since we last talked."

Lily laughed softly. "Never. I miss you."

"I miss you too! Seriously, since you're stuck in that castle with the devil himself, I was beginning to think I'd have to break in and rescue you."

Lily chuckled. "Don't remind me."

Annie gasped dramatically. "How are you still alive? Did Lucia kill you yet?"

"Almost. We even had drama just before you called."

Annie burst into laughter. "I knew it! She's been evil since we were kids."

"Tell me about it."

Annie sighed. "You could always come stay with me."

Lily's heart clenched. "You know that's not an option, Annie. Morgan would never allow it."

"Then I guess I'll just have to suffer with you when school starts in two weeks."

Lily groaned. "Really? Don't remind me."

"Oh, come on! You love school. You're the most serious student in our class, remember?"

"Not when I have to deal with Lucia every day."

Annie huffed. "She's an idiot. And you're smarter than her. That's why she hates you."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Tell that to the rest of the pack."

There was a pause before Annie spoke again, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Anyway, you'll never guess what happened."

"What?"

"Joe marked me."

Lily's breath caught in her throat. "Wait... what?"

"He's my mate, Lily. The bond-it's real. The Moon Goddess actually gave me a mate."

A mate.

Something Lily had dreamed about, but deep down, she had little hope for herself.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to sound happy. "I'm so happy for you, Annie."

Annie hesitated. "But?"

Lily exhaled. "What if I don't have a mate?"

Annie's voice softened. "Lily, don't think like that."

"I'm turning eighteen in five months, Annie. What if... what if I don't feel anything? What if I never find my mate?"

Silence stretched between them before Annie spoke, her voice firm. "You will, Lily. I know you will."

But as Lily stared at the towering pack house-the place that had never felt like home-she wasn't so sure.

Would she ever find her mate, or was she truly meant to be alone?