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Because evidently, Lili means a lot to them.
And now it makes sense. Why they weren’t attacking that night in her pack’s territory. They were probably looking for her all along, even if no one is sure why just yet. Who can tell what goes on in a witch’s head?
“All right, let’s go.” I start off for the western end, followed by Forrest and—to my surprise—Benedict.
My surprise is short-lived. “You’ll be the one most likely to find her,” he explains as if I asked why he’s following us. “With your bond and everything.”
“You’re telling me she never knew anything about where she came from?” Forrest asks as we practically jog our way down the street. I don’t see any reason why she would visit the training center, but I wouldn’t put it past her if she’s exploring.
“Never,” Benedict insists. “And as far as I know, she’s never shown any tendencies, either.”
“I need you to explain this to me like I’m a pup.” It isn’t easy to hide my irritation with him, but I’ll struggle with it for her sake. That, plus the fact that the man is clearly going through hell at the moment.
He’s hardly my favorite person, but he loves her. He didn’t abandon her completely when her wolf didn’t arrive on schedule. The memory of his panic when she was under attack isn’t far from my thoughts, either. He was prepared to challenge his alpha over her safety, something we don’t take lightly. Other fathers might have abandoned her, especially those in a high-ranking position.
“Her mother, my first mate, was a witch. She was fierce and powerful, but rather than use her power to dominate or manipulate, she was always benevolent. Loving and kind.”
“That sounds like someone I know,” I growl as the three of us enter the center. I don’t smell her here, but we walk through anyway. I don’t want to leave any stone unturned, just in case.
“Yes, Lili has taken after her more than I ever would have guessed. She shares her mother’s nature, and as far as I know, Lili is unaware of her existence.”
“What happened to her? Your mate?” Forrest asks.
“She died.” And it’s clear the fact still brings him pain. “Lili was only an infant.”
“And the mate you have now, she never…”
“Never. She’s always treated Lili as her own.” True, I can’t remember sensing any ill feelings when I witnessed them interacting. She seemed to treat both girls equally.
“Vivian and I were always close, and if it hadn’t been for my meeting with Lili’s mother, I would have chosen her even if Fate hadn’t put us together. As it turns out, she was my fated mate all along.”
“With all due respect,” Forrest murmurs as we continue down the street. “How did you expect Lili to never figure out who she really is?”
“She never showed any tendencies,” Benedict insists. “Never once. The first few years of her life, we waited, watching her. It was like going through life holding our breath every minute, waiting for some sign of her powers emerging. We breathed easy when she turned ten without a single mishap or unexplained oddity. It happens, you know. Witches have been known to beget offspring with no power.”
I’m sure that once her wolf didn’t show up on schedule, they imagined it was her lot in life. Or that the wolf blood and witch blood canceled each other out. People will tell themselves whatever they need to if it means being able to sleep at night.
The library seems like a likely place for her to wander around, and I enter the building with renewed hope. She’s bound to be in here, wandering the stacks, picking up books for the pups. She’s always thinking about others, all the time.
“No, she hasn’t come in here today.” The female at the front desk looks back and forth between us.
I believe her because I don’t feel her or smell her. Damn it.
All this time, and she never knew. I wonder if the other wolves sensed it in her, the members of her pack. The way she’s made it sound, she was already an outcast or at least an outsider before she came of age. Did they feel it? Something they couldn’t put a name to?
I never did, but then I haven’t known her as long as the rest of them.
Still, there’s no denying there’s something special about her. I felt it from the beginning, didn’t I? Down at the lake. Something drew me to her and planted her in my mind like a seed that quickly sprouted and took root. It wasn’t anything as sudden and earth-shattering as a fated bond, either—but it was there, just as unyielding and true.
Still, my mind didn’t immediately go to witchcraft. Why would it?
“That was why I wanted her to have nothing to do with you,” Benedict confesses, though I figured that already. “I knew it would mean her coming here and possibly being exposed to those of her kind.”
