Chapter 2 Stolen fate

A heavy silence descended upon the great hall. Lily felt as if the floor had been torn out from under her, plunging her into a pit of incredulity and rage.

The burning intensity that had sent chills down her spine moments before had vanished, but she could still feel the Alpha King's eyes on her. No. Now, with the bewilderment and irresistible pull of the mate bond, his golden eyes were fixed on Amelia.

Lily's bond with her mate. The realisation that Amelia had stolen her scent hit her like a wrecking ball, causing her stomach to knot. It was not feasible. It was not meant to be feasible.

Nevertheless, Lily knew there was no error as she stood there and saw the Alpha King's eyes soften as he took a deep breath.

Desperate to right the injustice that was being revealed to them, her inner wolf howled and scratched at the edges of her awareness. However, what was she able to do? She had no evidence. Nobody would take her seriously.

Her pulse thundered in her ears as she forced herself to stay motionless and took a slow breath. Alpha Damien moved forward, grinning artificially while clearing his throat.

"My King, this is Amelia, one of our most talented she-wolves and the best warrior in our pack." Lily thought she was about to get sick.

Amelia kept her head down and was silent. The faint smirk at the corner of her lips, however, was visible to Lily.

The twitching of her fingers, as though she were just about to reach for the Alpha King. Lily's fists clenched. Her tongue tasted bitter from the betrayal. Once, Amelia had been her best friend.

When the world had turned against them, they had confided in one another, trained together, and grown up together. She had been trusted by Lily. Nevertheless, here she was, taking Lily's place. stealing her property.

The Alpha King narrowed his eyes as he studied Amelia. "You are my partner?" His voice was smooth and deep, but it was tinged with an unintelligible quality.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Amelia looked up into his eyes. "Yes, Alpha." Lily took a sharp breath and held it.

It was a falsehood. A cruel, egregious lie. Lily noticed the Alpha King's hands clenching at his sides, but his face remained unchanged. For a second, she hoped-thought-that he felt something was off.

That perhaps, just possibly, he would discover the lie. However, he nodded and let out a slow exhale. "After that, you will accompany me to the capital." Lily's knees grew weaker.

Like that? No hesitancy? Not a second thought? He did not even question the fact that her partner had been taken from her? Murmurs broke out in the room as elite wolves and warriors exchanged excited and envious glances. The Silverfang Pack had never experienced such an honour.

The Luna Queen would be their own Amelia. It was suffocating to Lily. She needed to leave that place.

As she was about to turn around, Alpha Damien's voice interrupted her. "Where do you think you are going, Lily?" Her heart slammed against her ribs as she froze.

She slowly turned back to face the Alpha's intense gaze. "Pardon me?" she said in a steady tone. Damien tilted his head slightly and grinned.

"There is a reason you were picked to be here. Avoid being impolite.

Her nails were digging into her palms as her fingers shook at her sides.

Inconsiderate? After all she would just been through? She raised her chin a bit. "I guess I am not needed here, Alpha, with all due respect." A few wolves chuckled, but as Damien's face darkened, the laughter soon subsided. With a tone of subdued authority, he declared, "You belong to this pack, Omega." "You will stay where instructed." It served as a reminder.

A caution. Here, she was nothing. Nothing. Nevertheless, Lily came to the realisation that she no longer cared as she stood there with the world collapsing around her.

She was finished. She is finished waiting for the pack to recognise her value.

I am done wishing that one day she would be seen as more than a weak Omega. Her voice was steady as she looked directly into Damien's eyes.

"I will not be a problem." After examining her for a considerable amount of time, he waved his hand dismissively and nodded slightly. After turning, Lily left the hallway.

Every stride was a triumph. She had herself even though she had lost her partner. And she would not allow anyone to take that away from her.

Lily did not go back to the hospital. Rather, she travelled to the boundary of the pack's domain, where the forest extended for miles in all directions.

A brief relief from the oppressive weight in her chest was provided by the tall trees, which greeted her with the aroma of pine and moist earth.

She had to think. to take a breath. However, a deep voice interrupted her before she could move forward.

"You will not stand up for him?" Lily's pulse spiked as she whirled around.

A man's dark eyes gleamed in the moonlight as he stood at the edge of the shadows. Tall and wearing a leather jacket over his broad shoulders, he exuded authority but also seemed oddly... familiar.

Her wolf shifted uncomfortably. She narrowed her eyes and said, "Who are you?" The man took a step closer, grinning.

"Someone who understands the pain of losing something that was rightfully mine." Lily scowled as she looked at him more intently. Her pack did not include him.

That much was obvious. However, there was something else that chilled her, something about the way he moved, something about the acerbic look in his eyes. He was a threat. Nevertheless, he did not seem dangerous.

With caution, she enquired, "What do you want?" Something sombre took the place of his smirk. "I can assist you in regaining your partner."

Lily took a deep breath. She ought to have left. She ought to have told him she did not give a damn. However, her wolf growled in agreement deep within, beneath the layers of pain and betrayal.

Because despite her best efforts to persuade herself otherwise... Some things weren't meant to be stolen. And she was ready to take back what was hers.