Chapter 2 The Pack's Expectations

Author's POV

Tobias knew that he could not control himself anymore and could not keep himself away from her. So instead, he tried his best to look elsewhere and think of something else. But Lily was not making it easy at all. When she noticed he was a bit hesitant and was moving away from her, she got even closer to him.

She lifted her chair up and put it close to him, handing over the booklet to him. "Now teach me everything. I want to know everything. I don't want to stand there and be like a novice when they ask me all these questions," she said in such a relaxed mood.

Tobias stared at her and then down at her lips. It was getting more intense, and now he was more than sure that Lily was doing this intentionally. This was not her just acting normal the way she normally does. This was an intentional act from her, and he had to stop her before she went any further. Or does she think her movement has no results in him? He laughed at her and stood up.

"Do not worry, you can learn this booklet on your own if you want to. I have other important things to take care of. I'm not petting over a princess," he said to her as he dropped the booklets on her lap and turned around to go.

But just as he was about to step out of the veranda, she yelled, "I will tell my brother you did not teach me, and if I should not get anything right, it would be fully your fault."

He turned to her in confusion and hurriedly rushed towards her, being so close to her that they were just a few inches away. She smiled again, and that was when Tobias got to realize she was intentionally doing all this.

"Yes, you heard me right. I would tell my brother you don't want to teach me. I will tell him you are not ready to let me learn everything I need to know about being a princess and, if possible, being the loner of this park very soon. So are you going to teach me that booklet, or are you going to try to avoid me just because I pecked you on the cheek? It's not like I can do you anything. I was just trying to show you my favor as your friend. Or aren't we friends?" she asked.

Tobias did not know what else to do. He felt so frustrated. But he had to gut it in and hold in his urge as he angrily stepped backward, sat down on his chair, and jacked the booklet from her. Opening through it, he did not even know where to start. Even he found all this meeting very annoying. But he still needed to tell her what to do.

"Fine, I will teach you. But after I teach you, please don't pester me anymore. Don't come around me anymore. Just let me be. I plead with you," he said to her as she giggled seriously.

"I just need you to teach me. I won't force you to do anything more," she said as he started going through the book. It took them a while, and when they were done, it was already evening, and Tobias was already so exhausted. Even Lily felt like she had regretted asking for a session on what to do or the booklets as she stood up hurriedly before him and ran off, leaving only Tobias, who was also exhausted, as he watched her figure rush away.

Just then, two of the guards hurriedly rushed towards Tobias as they had been waiting for him to finish his session with Lily.

"What is wrong?" he questioned.

"The Alpha wants to see you, and it is urgent," the guard said to Tobias, who nodded.

"Since when has the Alpha asked for my appearance that you are just coming now to tell me?" he said to the guards in such an authoritative mood that you would never realize he acted all cheesy and lovingly with Lily.

"Just a few minutes ago, he had called for you, but we realized you were busy tutoring Lily, so we had to go and come back. That is why we are here," he said.

Tobias hissed and then walked past the guards. After that, he got himself ready before knocking on the Alpha's study room.

"Come in," the Alpha said.

He opened the door and slowly walked towards him. "I hear you needed my attention, and you need me to help you with some things," he said to the Alpha.

"It is not something to go and take from me, true. It's nothing serious. I just need you to be awake as early as possible, and once you are awake, I want you to go straight to Lily's room and get her ready. She needs to be agile by tomorrow. Her mate would be found tomorrow," the Alpha muttered while still going through some of the documents he needed to answer before tomorrow.

But Tobias was still surprised because this was like unexpected news. "Alpha, I don't understand. Is she going to... does she already have a mate, or are you planning on arranging one for her? Sorry, I am asking," Tobias questioned.

The Alpha soon looked up at him with a smile. "We can't wait anymore. She is not going to stay young forever, and from the looks of it, she really needs to get in touch with whoever her Alpha and her mate are going to be. She needs a companion. I think if she gets a companion, she will be more serious about her duties as the next queen of this park, which is very important, and I want you to be the one guiding her. I want you to be the one leading her through the right path. I don't want her to do anything wrong, and I don't want her to make any mistakes, and the only person who can do that for me while my heart is at ease is you and you alone," he said to Tobias, who was speechless.

He bowed at the king one more time before turning around as he walked away. Just as he was about to step out of the study room, the Alpha called him again.

"Tobias."

He turned slowly towards the Alpha, hoping that he was not about to give him another heart-wrecking news.

"Do not worry; this time around, I would give you the break you need once she's able to seal her bond with whoever her mate will be. Tomorrow you will be given an off. You have really tried a lot. Now I'm giving you another job, and it is going to be quite difficult," he said as Tobias smiled back before walking out.

Tobias had a sleepless night because he couldn't stop thinking about everything and what was happening. Why would it be this way? Why does he have to watch Lily get married? He did not just watch her grow up, but now he has to watch her even get married. It felt so frustrating, but he had no choice. After all, his job was to guard her as the better of the park.

He woke up the next morning very early as he hurriedly rushed towards Lily's chambers. Once he got close enough to her chambers, he knocked gently but got no response. He knocked once again, and the door was swung open by Lily, who looked even more agile than he was meant to make her be.

"I knew you would come to see me. I heard the good news. My mate was going to be arriving today. I am going to get mated today. I just have to find the right man, right?" Lily said as she spun around and went back into her room.

She laid on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, giggling to herself. Tobias did not say a word as he walked towards her and sat beside her on the bed.

"You seem very happy to finally find a mate, and that's a good thing. At least you need to be positive. Maybe if you finally have a mate, you would be more serious about your duties," he said as she giggled, looking at him.

"Who said I am happy? I am not really happy, but I think it is time for me to fall in love," she said. And that was when Tobias realized something. Their gaze was fixed on each other, and they were just a few inches away from each other. In short, he could already inhale the elegant fragrance of her breath on his skin as they stared at each other keenly, unable to say a word.

"Lily," Tobias found himself being lost again in Lily's eyes as they locked together for a moment, their breaths hitched.