Chapter 2: Lily

***Mia

Two days ago I sat on the cliff’s edge, overlooking the creek bed. It was our favorite hideaway, nestled between aged boulders, blanketed by foliage. The sound of a rippling brook ran below as I dangled my bare feet. My wolf and I preferred the quiet, away from the town gossip and bustling traffic. Lily was always with me... from as early as I could remember.

See ordinary wolves didn’t appear until one’s 18th birthday, but not Lily. She was special... When I was just seven years old, my precarious self decided to slip away one winter night. My family followed my scent to a nearby frozen lake, only to find cracks above the surface, leading to a lone hole.

The icy depths sat eerily silent below, no child in sight. Panicked, they crawled on the top layer of ice in search, praying to the Goddess to find me alive. But as the minutes passed by, despair began to set in.

Just then, a beautiful white pup burst through the frozen cover. She shook the frigid water from her coat and fell in exhaustion. Slowly, my wolf pup shifted to reveal my tiny frame, pale and lifeless. As they pushed the water from my lungs, I stirred slightly, blinking my light gray eyes in recognition. But my hair... my raven black hair had turned white, as light as my snowy guardian.

Well, after that, we were legends. Gift from the Goddess herself, the town praised. Brought back from the dead, they all cried. Who knew how long I floated under that ice, clawing at the surface... gasping my last breath. Pack members would stop to stroke my shimmering hair, hoping to spurn some luck or good fortune.

As a child, I shied away from the unwanted attention. Onlookers constantly gawked and whispered amongst themselves. They’d ask me to shift but my wolf never returned. That is, not until my 18th birthday. What did remain through the years was Lily’s companionship. I never told anyone that I could hear her... even at seven. She was my protector, never leaving my side.

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I leaned back against the rocks and tucked myself between their crevices. I pulled out a worn book from my backpack and began thumbing through the tattered pages. They recounted the history of the Moon Goddess. I was infatuated by tales of love and the idea of a true love match.

One day, I, too, wished to be blessed by the Goddess.

My wolf yearned for our mate. Ever since my 18th birthday, she whined with constant agitation... we needed to find him. However, I didn’t sense him among our pack. He could be anywhere. Maybe even dead. Many gamma warriors died defending their packs at an early age. What if my fated mate was gone before I even had the chance to meet him? My brows frowned, contemplating the possibility.

Mother told me that finding one’s mate was a bond so deep that instantly, you would know he was your destiny, the Goddess’ choice. I hesitated at the idea. A connection that strong... well, I had never felt that way for a boy, nor a man for that matter. Men often looked at me a certain way, but their stares only made me more uncomfortable. Their ravenous eyes lingered when I would walk to school or help around my mother’s shop.

And the boys my age... they couldn’t decide if they were afraid of me or enamored by me. They sneaked glances in the hall. Their eyes strayed towards my direction in class. But none spoke to me, other than basic pleasantries. But either way, I had no time for intimidation. I wanted the stories that filled my daydreams. The fantasies that made my breath pause. No one did that. No one made my heart flutter.

I wondered what it would it feel like to stand in our true mate’s presence? To smell his musk. To need his touch. Did I want a man to have that type of control over my mind? My body? My fingertips curled lightly against my skin in want. My breast heaved a little and a small breath released my lips.

But not all received the Goddess’ miracles.

Today, Hallow Den pack was preparing for Courting Day. It was an annual ceremony to honor the Alpha King Godric. He ruled High Moon and oversaw the other seven packs within his territory. Once a year, he traveled through the realms, in search of unmated maidens. If a woman, 23 years or older, had not yet found her mate, her attendance was required for the King’s consideration.

Of course, women feared their 23rd birthday, afraid to be taken from their homes, never to be seen by their families again. He told them it was a privilege to be his mistress... but we all knew the truth. This was no honor. These women would become his slaves, added to his brothel and shared among his warriors.

I had never seen him in person but he was said to be giant in stature and far more ferocious than any other alpha. Rumor had it that his wolf removed the head of his own father when he challenged him for the throne. The King reigned through years of violence. Tales of his brute and intolerable nature were spread through the countryside, ensuring no one would cross him. His pack of unruly wolves protected his fortress, said to be the bastard sons of his concubines.

Yet, it was his witch that gave me pause. He traveled with the finest and greatest warriors but the sorceress followed his every footstep, speaking in tongues meant only for his ears. They said she could see into your soul and make you do unspeakable deeds with her black magic.

I shivered at the thought. I had never met a witch and surely had no plans to do so any time soon. Dark magic was taboo in any pack. But the King clearly had no qualms inviting such darkness into his life.

But that was a concern for another day. I was only 18 years old... free from any worry of Courting Day. Free from the Alpha and his Red Witch.