Chapter 3 - Lila

“I can’t believe she did this to you.” Valerie clicks her tongue while she wraps the bandage over my chest. I wince when she pulls tighter to seal it below my armpit. When she’s done, she steps back with her brows furrowed in deep concern.

“You were right about her, Val,” I say regretfully. “Cynthia hasn’t changed at all.”

Valerie shakes her head as she tentatively wraps her arms around me, careful not to put too much pressure on my chest. “Cynthia has changed. She’s turned into a monster.”

I sigh as Valerie steps back and offers me the herbal tea she prepared. To say that I’m relieved to have my best friend nurse my injuries would be an understatement. After not listening to her suspicions about Cynthia’s motives, I was surprised when she visited last night.

I guess that’s what best friends are for. Even when we’re mad at each other, we can never stay apart for too long.

“I hope you’re planning on telling Miles about this,” Valerie says sternly as she watches me sip the tea.

I shake my head, allowing the warm brew of aiding herbs to soothe my throat as I slip a dress over my head before saying, “No. He doesn’t need to know about any of this.”

Valerie sighs disappointedly. “I know that you’re worried that it’ll ruin his friendship with Flynn, but Cynthia’s getting out of hand. Your life is in danger, Lila.”

I take another sip of herbal tea, deliberating my choices. I’ve always been able to hide the abuse from my brother, not wanting to give him the full details of what I’ve been through. It would only mean that I’d have to tell him that his best friend is the worst of my abusers, his vile words in front of his female admirers causing them to further taunt me.

Truthfully, I might have been able to stay invisible if it wasn’t for Flynn. Because he’s the Alpha’s son, the pack’s attention went wherever his flowed, and it always ended with him berating me in front of the others.

The only time I'd been safe was when Miles was around. That’s the only reason I look forward to the return of the Blood Moon special ops soldiers. Once my brother is back, I’ll dodge Cynthia’s bullets while steering clear of Flynn, using my brother as my shield.

“I’ll be fine, Val,” I assure her with a smile, reaching for her hand. “I have you and Miles to protect me.”

“It’s not enough, Lila,” she sighs. “It would be if you had your wolf abilities.”

“I’m almost nine years out of the running,” I chuckle nervously. “I’ve tried everything, Val. Maybe I was born without one.”

Valerie shakes her head fervently. “I refuse to believe it. We have to try again.”

I purse my lips, disheartened by what happened the last time I tried to connect with my inner wolf by seeking answers from the Moon Goddess. I didn’t get a dream or clear sign; instead, I was led toward greater ruin when I mistakenly called Flynn my mate.

How stupid could I have been? All the incessant ringing in my ears muddled my mind and had me believing that a foolish childhood crush could mean more—something as important as the mate bond between a male and female werewolf.

I’d forgotten, for a moment, that I didn’t even possess a wolf. How could the future Alpha of Blood Moon be my mate? I’m destined to be a spinster. Ever since that moment of foolishness, I’d given up the quest to actively seek out my inner wolf and turned my attention to toughening up my human mind.

I know it does me no good when this body is still vulnerable to attacks like Cynthia’s hot soup spill, leaving burns that now have to be nursed over twenty-four hours later.

“What’s left to try, Val? There’s nothing in the Grime that points to my condition. Wolf-less werewolves aren’t supposed to exist in Blood Moon.”

Valerie shrugs. “That only serves to prove that you do have a wolf.”

“What if I’m a rare phenomenon in Blood Moon? You did say I was different.”

“Not in that way, silly,” she rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, I know,” I giggle tersely. “Still, there’s no record in the Grime that points to a werewolf being disconnected from their inner wolf. Maybe Omegas like me were not important enough to record.”

Valerie takes my hands and stares into my eyes. “You are important, Lila. And I’m not gonna let you imprison yourself in this cabin again.”

I raise a skeptical brow, having heard those words before. Two years ago, to be exact.

When I sobbed my heart out in bed and swore that I’d never go outside again, Valerie was the one who patched up my courage and prompted me to become strong enough to face the pack again.

After Cynthia’s sneak attack yesterday, I’d much rather wait for my brother’s arrival before going out again.

“I don’t wanna go out there, Val,” I practically plead when she pulls me toward the front door.

“You’ll be fine, Lila.” She tosses a smile over her shoulder as she throws the door open. “Your brother is on his way, and you’re gonna be the first to meet him in the woods.”

A smile tugs on my lips when Valerie informs me that Miles sent her a mind link requesting we meet him on the south end of the Zafra forest. It hardly fazes me that I’m not able to receive such a special message since I’m not connected to the telepathic waves shared by the Blood Moon members; all that matters is that I’ll see my brother soon.

Valerie and I arrive at the spot behind the cabin that was once special to us. Before the incident at the pool of water, when Flynn deftly caught me and steadied me on my feet, and before I muttered the word “mate” when I stared at him in awe, we’d come out here to swim and hide away from the others.

Ever since that fateful incident, I’ve been avoiding this spot to dodge the memory of my humiliation. Even now, as Valerie and I linger near the body of crystal water, I have to mentally guard myself so that the memory remains tucked into the far recesses of my mind.

The crushing of leaves beneath heavy paws signals the arrival of the group of male werewolves. Valerie glances at me with a grin, giving my hand a gentle squeeze of excitement.

“They’re here,” she beams, but the tiny voice in my mind mentally corrects her statement with an affirmation of my own.

He’s here…

Miles is here, I think with anticipation brewing in my chest just as the front row of trees sway their branches like a curtain on a stage that opens up to their entrance.

My gaze flits around in search of the familiar chestnut brown wolf when a pair of piercing honey-golden eyes glow in the shadows. The eyes are so intense that they grab my attention and keep my gaze pinned as if I’m spellbound. I can’t break away from the eyes of that particular wolf, even when it reveals its glossy armor of jetted, sleek fur.

The black wolf is none other than Flynn Lycoan, the future leader of our pack.

“Lila! Come on!” Valerie urges as she tugs my hand and pulls me forward toward the woods.

I’m snapped out of my daze, having to focus on my footing until we approach the group of werewolves just as my brother breaks away from the group to meet us.

He doesn’t stop walking forward, first on the brown paws of his wolf, then shifting mid-step and continuing on human feet. Valerie releases my hand and I’m propelled into a sprint, the weight of not seeing my brother for almost two years overwhelming me.

“Miles!”

“Lila!” he opens his arms and rushes forward, lifting me off my feet as he spins me around in the air.

I wince from the pain on my chest when he embraces me, but give nothing away when he sets me back on my feet and I smile widely at him. It’s almost as if he’s grown taller; I have to crane my neck to stare at his face.

“Wow!” I marvel, reaching out to touch his creamy cheek. Everything about my brother is different, like his buzz-cut blonde hair that spikes like stubble on his head, and the pair of blue eyes that appear firmer and more distinct. “You look so…different.”

“So do you,” he muses with a grin, patting my head and fluffing out the shorter locks of my hair. “I guess I’m not the only one who got a new haircut.”

I giggle as I blow away a stray hair that’s fallen into my face. His voice and cheerfulness haven’t changed, and the spirited big brother I always knew still exists as he greets my best friend with a hug and playful jest.

The smile I’m wearing slips off my face when I breathe in the scent of jasmine that carries through the wind. The sweet fragrance pulls my attention from my brother, and I turn my head just in time to catch the black wolf shifting into Flynn’s human form. My heart skips a beat, my breath snatched from my lungs when his amber eyes meet mine.

Behind him, the group of soldiers shifts in a blur as if the lenses of my eyes have focused only on Flynn. I notice that Miles isn’t the only one who dons a buzz-cut. It only adds to his allure, Flynn’s sharp facial features prominent without the veil of dark hair sweeping across his temple. Brows like blades tighten into a frown, his plump lips forming a precarious line as he stares at me with solemn conviction.

With every step he takes to come closer, the thrumming in my eardrums grows louder until Miles and Valerie’s voices fade away. Flynn stares back at me through glowering depths like golden fireballs, and for the first time, I fear he might ridicule me in my brother’s presence. But then he blinks as he approaches, turning his attention to my brother.

“I thought we agreed that our arrival would be a surprise.” Flynn narrows his eyes suspiciously at Miles.

My brother chuckles, playfully patting his best friend’s shoulder. “You know I couldn’t resist the urge to see my sister first.”

Flynn doesn’t spare me another look, giving me time to press a finger to my left ear in an attempt to wiggle away the humming inside. The last time I had ringing in my ears, my mind became muddled enough to make a complete fool of myself in his presence.

I press my eyelids shut, gulping and mentally suiting up with the armor I created to protect myself. I’m able to will my mind to stop overworking, my heart to become cold and numb. That’s when the ringing disappears and I hear Miles’s voice clearly.

“Lila?”

I open my eyes and quickly turn to Miles. “Hm?”

He’s frowning at me, shoulders lifted expectantly. “Will you not greet Flynn?”

“Oh…right…” I turn to Flynn, not wanting to raise Miles’s suspicions. “Hi, Flynn. It’s good to have you back.”

Phew!

Mentally, I’m doing cartwheels, even if my body trembles as if it’s about to combust with the torrent of emotions I’m holding back. Apart from the ruthless, foolish sense of being attracted to Flynn, I despise him gravely for how he always treated me behind Miles’s back.

All he’ll ever get from me is this cold layer of ice I wear. Even in my brother’s absence, I’m certain I’ll be able to deflect his torture without letting it eat away at my self-esteem.

Which had been hanging on a thread around him.

Flynn looks up at me, then glances at my brother before turning back with a smile that’s obviously forced.

“Don’t I get a hug?”

“Oh, um—”

Flynn gives me no warning before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around me. I’m only grateful for the loose embrace for the sake of my burns, but I despise myself for nearly sighing when my senses become enveloped by his manly scent, like sandalwood and mint. My eyelids flutter closed until I catch myself and remember that I hate his guts.

All I can do in defense is tense my body before he steps back.

Flynn clears his throat, fumbling awkwardly with his hands as he turns to Miles. “I’ll leave you to it. I’m gonna go surprise my parents with my arrival.”

“Catch ya later, bud,” Miles says with a gentle pat on his shoulder.

I’m only able to breathe again once Flynn walks away, letting out the breath I’d been holding. Miles frowns at me and opens his mouth to say something when Valerie interrupts.

“I should get going, too,” Valerie announces with a smile. I return that smile, grateful that she’d prevented Miles from questioning the awkward tension in the air. “You two need some time to catch up.”

I gulp hard as I nod, then quickly plaster a smile on my face for my brother’s sake. “I can’t wait to hear all about your time in Ouachita.”

He eyes me suspiciously but nods as we make our way past the little dam of water. I know I’ll have to work hard to avoid the subject.

It’s a good thing Miles has two years' worth of catching up to do.