The days went on, but the strange feeling in Lily’s chest only grew stronger.
Maya had noticed her being distracted in school.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked for the third time that week, sitting next to Lily in the courtyard during lunch.
Lily nodded her head to answer.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired" She replied.
“Tired from what? It’s not like you’re pulling all-nighters for school,” Maya teased, but her eyes were filled with concern. “Look, I know things have been tough with the twins, but something feels off. You’ve been acting weird.”
Lily sighed, leaning back against the tree they sat under.
“It’s not just them,” she admitted. “There’s… something else.”
Maya frowned.
“What do you mean?” she asked almost immediately.
Lily hesitated, unsure if she should even bring it up.
She didn’t want to sound paranoid, but the feeling of fear had been in her mind for days. Finally, she decided to tell Maya about the person she’d seen outside her window.
“I think someone’s been watching me,” Lily whispered. “A few nights ago, I saw someone standing by the trees outside my house. They were just… there, watching. And then they disappeared.”
“You saw someone? Who? Was it one of the twins?” Maya asked as her eyes widened in surprise.
“I don’t know. It was too dark to see their face, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was either Liam or Lucas. Maybe this is their sick way of trying to get me to become more terrified" She replied.
Maya’s face turned paled.
“Lily, that’s… really creepy. I'm scared for you" She said. "Maybe you should tell someone."
“Tell who?” Lily asked, her voice filled with pain. “No one in the pack cares about me. They’ll just think I’m making it up. And even if they did believe me, why would they do anything to help?”
Maya didn’t have an answer for that. They both knew the pack wouldn’t lift a finger to protect Lily.
She had been an outcast for as long as anyone could remember. No one cared if she was scared or in danger.
“Maybe it's not any of the twins,” Maya suggested. “Maybe it was some random person passing by.”
Lily didn’t believe that for a second, but she didn’t want to worry Maya more than she already had.
“Yeah, maybe" She said.
Still, the memory of the person haunted her. And as her eighteenth birthday drew closer, her anxiety grew.
It was finally her birthday and the Moon Goddess Festival preparations were in full swing.
The entire pack was buzzing with excitement, especially because this year, the Alpha twins would come of age.
The festival would mark the moment the twins were officially named as the next leaders of the pack.
The thought made Lily sick.
She sat through another boring history class, staring blankly at the board as Mrs. Davis talked about some ancient werewolf legend.
She barely paid attention, her mind too busy racing with thoughts of her escape.
In a couple hours, she would be gone. She just had to make it through the festival without drawing too much attention, and then she could slip away while everyone was distracted.
Just as she was about to let her mind wander completely, the classroom door swung open.
Everyone turned to see Lucas standing in the doorway, his usual confident smirk disappeared. Instead, his face was blank, his eyes unreadable as they scanned the room.
Mrs. Davis stopped teaching and looked at him, clearly surprised.
“Mr. Lucas, is there something you need?” she asked.
Lucas’s gaze locked on Lily, and she felt a chill run down her spine. He didn’t answer the teacher’s question. Instead, he walked into the classroom.
He was certainly acting weird. He wasn't him usual hateful self.
Lily’s heart pounded in her chest. What was he doing? He never showed up to random classes like this.
Lucas walked straight to her desk, ignoring the curious stares of their classmates.
He stopped in front of her, standing over her. His presence felt suffocating and Lily couldn't help but be afraid.
“What do you want?” Lily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas didn’t respond right away. He simply stared at her, his piercing blue eyes searching her face as if he was trying to figure something out.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
“You need to be careful,” he said quietly, his voice so low that only she could hear.
Lily was confused at his words.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Just watch your back,” Lucas added, his tone serious.
Without another word, he turned and left the classroom, leaving everyone, including Mrs. Davis, stunned into silence.
Lily stared at him as he left, her mind racing.
What was that about? Lucas had never said anything like a warning to her before. Usually, he was the one causing her trouble, not warning her about it
Maya leaned over from her desk, her eyes wide with confusion.
“What the hell was that?” She asked.
“I have no idea,” Lily muttered. She was just as shocked as everyone.
Lucas’s weird warning left her shaken.
It was like he knew something she didn’t.
In school, Lily couldn’t concentrate. She mind wasn't listening to any word coming from her teacher's mouth because her mind was filled with questions.
What had Lucas meant? Why did he care if she watched her back? Was he playing some kind of twisted game with her?
As the classes continued, she found herself thinking more and more about the person she had seen watching her.
What if Lucas knew something about that? What if he had seen the person? Or perhaps he knew who it was? But why wouldn’t he just tell her?
Frustrated and exhausted, Lily finally got up from her seat and went to the restroom.
She washed her face, trying desperately to calm herself and focus on her escape plan instead of thinking about Lucas.
Suddenly the door to the restroom opened and Lexa walked in with her large group of friends.
They were laughing about something Lexa had said but as soon as they saw her, their laughter disappeared.
Lily’s heart raced. She didn't want to be anywhere near these girls because they were just as mean to her like Lucas and Liam.
She attempted to leave but the girls blocked her passage.
"You've got some nerves" Lexa began. "I honestly don't know what the twins see in you to even bother talking to you."
"That's exactly what I wonder too" Lily said, trying to act cool instead of being afraid.
Lexa raised an eyebrow then landed a slap on Lily's face within seconds.
Lily held her face, staring at Lexa with astonishment written all over her face.
"First of all, I'm not the twins that you can just talk to" Lexa applied lipstick to her lips. "You're beneath me and that means you shouldn't even look at me. Well, when the moon goddess picks me to be the twins mate tonight, I'll make sure your life here becomes worse than hell."
Lily wanted to retaliate but she knew it will only make things worse for her. She needed to just endure everything even if it meant being humiliated in the girl's bathroom.
"Now apologize, you wolf trash" Lexa's friends said, pushing Lily from different corners.
Lily didn't want to, but if she disobeyed them, she wouldn't be able to handle the consequences.
"I'm sorry" She said, bowing her head to avoid staring directly at Lexa.
Lexa smiled, pleased with herself.
"Whatever, I don't care about anything that comes out of your filthy mouth"
She pushed Lily out of her way and walked outside.
Lily stared angrily as tears fell from her eyes.
She was done enduring this horrible treatment.
