Chapter 6: The Upper Hand

In the courtyard, Dylan assembles all the staff and immediately everyone is there he said, “Deprive Lily of nothing.” “Accord her the respect you would accord to me.” He continued. “Am I clear?” He asked. They replied positively and with that, he walked out to head to the kitchen.

Dylan gave orders for a light meal to be prepared for Lily and after it was prepared, a maid followed behind him with the meal to Lily’s door.

Dylan hesitated a little before knocking and waited for a response. There was no response and so he turned the doorknob.

“I guessed you might be hungry and asked the……”

“Did I told you I was hungry? Please take out! “I will eat when I want to.” She cut him off for the second time in one day.

Dylan sighed in disappointment because he knew there was nothing he would say that would persuade her to eat.

“Shut the door on your way out.” She said without looking up. Quietly, they both worked out and Dylan retired to his quarters.

Night came and the room was lit by the moon peeping in from a corner of the window. Lily laid on her bed with her phone in hand.

“I know why I’m here. I have a mission,” Lily typed.

“Good, I like that.” Gabriel replied. “I have to go now, I'm famished.” She replied, placing her hand on her growling stomach.

“Good night then, I await feedback from you.” Gabriel responded. With that, Lilly stood up from the king–size bed and headed for the kitchen.

Gracefully walking down the hallway, she noticed the uncontrolled stares and quiet mutterings from the palace staff but she didn't care. She felt even more satisfied to have become the center of every discussion. With that thought, she smiled discreetly.

Entering the kitchen, there was someone brewing tea at the counter. She was a female and her long hair covered her face from Lily's view.

Ignoring her, Lily turned to the microwave to see what she could heat up and eat. “Welcome back to the Fireflies pack.” Lena said, smiling deceitfully.

“Thank you.” Lily replied, hands busy with the dish she was trying to prepare for herself.

From the little distance between them, Lena observed Lily, every movement she made was graceful and majestic.

Inwardly, the fear that this lady, standing right in front of her, coming out from nowhere might one day, overthrow her and end up as Dylan’s mate.

Standing up straight, she cleared her throat and said, “join me.”  Still without looking up, Lily said, “Don't worry. I don't drink tea brewed with ginger.”

With that, she walked out of the kitchen. Staring straight out the door that Lily left, Lena slowly tighten her hand into a fist, but said nothing.

Going back to her chambers, Lily continued to stare at the walls around her.

The hallway fell quiet as Lily passed through.

Eyes followed her.

Whispers trailed behind her.

“She came back stronger.”

“Her aura's so different.”

“She's changed.”

Lily heard it all.

She didn’t stop.

She didn’t slow down.

Back in her room, her stomach growled again – this was a familiar feeling. Almost comforting.

Hunger had been her companion for a long time.

She set the food down and stood still for a moment, grounding herself.

Today’s events replayed in her mind.

She measured her reactions.

Adjusted her plans.

While she was still at that, her phone vibrated.

It was a message from Gabriel.

“Do not forget the reason you are there.”

“I will not. I promise.” She replied.

Dropping her phone quietly beside her meal, she began to eat. Lily took her time to chew on each bite – an old habit that never left.

Sunlight crept  in from the windowpane, radiating brightly on Lily's face.

She turned to the side. Then to the other.

When she was tired, she got up from her bed.

Taking her bag, there was no rush in her movement to prepare. When she finally stepped outside, her expression was calm – yet alert.

Downstairs, voices drifting from the council room.

She paused.

Then pushed the door open.

The elders were seated.

The Alpha was present.

The room fell silent.

Lily stood at the entrance, unreadable, until the Alpha lifted his gaze and met hers. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes signaled for her to come in.

He gestured toward a seat.

“Here.”

Not too close.

Not too far.

A place where she could hear everything.

The elders stiffened in shock, but no one spoke. No one dared to question it.

 The meeting continued.

“Our next move is to go after the Black Moon's Pack. We need their weakness.

One strike. Complete Victory.

“Let's send in spies. They monitor and report back what they know.” One of the elders suggested.

“That will not work.” Lily said, staring at her nails uninterested.

“Black Moon's Pack is heavily guarded. Your spies won't even sniff its gates.”

The Alpha leaned forward. “Then what are you suggesting?”

Lily lifted her gaze.

“We enter the pack.”

Murmurs rippled through the room.

“That’s impossible,” one elder snapped.

“No outsider can—”

“There is a way,” Lily interrupted.

The room stilled.

The Alpha’s voice lowered. “Explain.”

She stood.

“Why would I?” Lily said calmly. “I never declared loyalty to Fireflies – and I don’t give information for free.”

“What do you want in return?” Alpha Dylan asked.

“A favor.” Lily replied without hesitation.

“In exchange for Black Moon’s weakness.”

The elders erupted in hushed outrage.

“What kind of favor?” the Alpha asked.

“I’ll make my request tomorrow afternoon,” Lily said.

 “You’ll have from noon until the following evening to decide.”

“And if we refuse?” someone demanded.

Lily turned toward the door.

“Then I won’t say another word.”

She didn’t wait for permission.

She walked out.

Leaving the room heavy with silence – and the unsettling certainty that she held the upper hand.