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Lily pulled back into the room, her smile bright as she walked toward us. Jason stepped in front of me, heading her off. I watched as he captured her attention, her face softening and freely expressing the love she felt for him. I felt a weird flippy feeling in my stomach, but I ignored it. I didn’t really know what it meant and I didn’t have time to figure it out.
Jason wrapped Lily into a big hug, kissed her on the forehead, and strode out of the room. Lily watched him go, but turned back to me with a tentative smile, wringing her hands. I frowned down at them, wondering if he had told her how I was feeling and it made her nervous. I knew why I was nervous, but she had no reason to be.
“Come on.” Lily extended her hand in offering to me, gesturing to the door behind her. I hesitated for a fraction of a section, something whispering that it was dangerous to put myself that close to a predator, but I shook that feeling off. I grabbed her hand and we walked out of the throne room. Lily led me down the hallway and into the main hustle and bustle of the castle. Servants and royal guards were roaming up and down the halls, carrying things, barking orders, and generally scurrying to get their work done.
Lily squeezed my hand and I looked up at her. “You’re starting to hyperventilate and I can hear your heartbeat increasing. I know you’re probably nervous to be around all of these wolves, but I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. You’ll be safe here.”
I gave Lily my best smile, nodding my head, but I couldn’t really say much else. How did one tell their older sister that they didn’t believe there was any chance of feeling safe or comfortable around wolves? How did one deal with the fact that their older sister, their role model for the first twelve years of their life, had become something they couldn’t accept?
Lily steered me across the hall, dodging and weaving through the people like it was no big deal, and pulled me into what looked like the dining hall. There were two place settings set up across from each other at the end of the long table. I silently breathed a sigh of relief and sent up a prayer to whoever was watching over me in thanks.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I had the kitchen make us up something delicious. Miss Kitty is an amazing cook and I know you’re going to love her cooking. She has some serious talent.”
“Of course not. That sounds wonderful,” I muttered, releasing Lily’s hand and moving to take my seat. Lily did the same on the other side. Once we were both seated, we sat there, staring at each other in silence. Lily opened her mouth a few times, but nothing really came out.
A door behind Lily pulled open and a man came walking in backward, a platter of food balanced on his hands. He turned around and I gasped, our gazes connecting instantly. I realized he wasn’t a man, he was probably the same age as I was, but he was tall. He had broad shoulders, piercing green eyes, and sandy brown hair that made me want to run my fingers through it. A feeling of warmth grew in the pit of my stomach and all I could think about is running into his arms and never leaving.
“Allen? Everything alright?” Lily’s voice broke the spell between us. Allen shook his head, averting his eyes and scurrying to the table. He pulled off a plate from the tray and set it down gently in front of Lily. He kept darting glances up at me through the locks of his hair. I watched him round the table and move toward me like I would die if I didn’t catch every movement he made.
He pulled another plate off the tray and placed it in front of me with practiced ease, his piercing gaze on me the whole time.
“What is going on here?” Lily’s sharp tone made Allen flinch. He lowered his gaze and backed away. I turned to look at her, frowning and annoyed that she’d butt in like that.
“It’s none of your business,” I snapped. Lily frowned at me, glancing between the two of us. She stood up slowly, her confusion and anger vibrating like a tangible thing in front of us. Allen shifted slightly in front of me, his head still on the table in front of him.
“No.”
Allen flinched, but my confusion grew. I ended up pushing away from the table and standing up. “What do you mean no?”
“Allen, she’s twelve. You can’t.”
“I’m thirteen, Lily and he can’t what?”
Lily turned toward me, her eyes flashing. I gasped and took a step back, fear flooding my system. Allen turned toward me, gently gripping my wrist with a large and calloused hand. It caused the fear to immediately dissipate and instead a rush of warm butterflies hit my stomach.
“Allen, you’re not her mate. You can’t be,” Lily said.
“She’s my mate. There’s nothing you can do about it,” Allen said, his voice rough, like he was trying to hold back his emotions. I frowned, not understanding what was happening. Allen gently pulled me behind him, turning to face Lily.
“Allen…”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
6
Lily
I stormed out of the dining room, letting the door slam shut behind me. My wolf was barely under control and I needed to leave before I did something that I regretted or scared Jessica even more. My wolf was ready to break Allen’s legs or tear him into pieces. I knew that was something Jessica wouldn't be happy about, especially based on the way that she was looking at him, but it wasn't something that I completely dismissed.
I made my way down the hall and ended up spotting Shaun standing near one of the doorways. He was wringing his hands and looking incredibly nervous. I walked over to him, my curiosity peaked as I tried to keep my wolf from going back into the dining room. “Shaun, what are you up to?” I asked as I stopped next to him. He turned to me and quickly bowed, averting his gaze.
He glanced back at the doorway behind him before turning to me. “Your Majesty, I am trying to work up my nerve to find Nia.” I was happy to hear he wanted to reach out to her. I knew they hadn't had time together since the whole mess with the rebels. I didn't know where Nia would have gone but I was more than happy to help him find her.
“Where do you think she is?” I asked him. He shrugged, looking sheepish.
“I'm not quite sure. She kind of disappeared off my radar when I was tasked with watching over Amara by the Beta. I was trying to work up the courage to talk to Miss Kitty and find out where I can find her.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. My suspicions were roused even further when I spotted the guilty look on his face and the way he was shifting his weight uncomfortably. “What do you mean you were keeping an eye on her?”
