Seven.

Lilah’s POV

My mouth drops open. I knew I couldn’t. The Moon goddess had been so fed up of mates rejecting each other over the years. Over two decades ago wolves and Lycans began to discover they couldn’t reject each other. She had made it impossible for us to say those words. There was always a reason she chose the couple.

“I…. I….” I try to say the words, but they don’t even form. 

“Can’t, can you?” He cocks an eyebrow at me.

“Li….Lil….Lilah” I keep trying. Hoping that the words would start coming. I was stunned into silence. When I couldn’t even get out my whole name.

“Trust me, Lilah. I tried. For the first year of you being on the run. I tried over and over to reject you, because you were a child. But I couldn’t. For some reason, the Moon Goddess wants us to be together. I know you hate it. I feel it with every fibre of your being. You make it more than clear that you don’t want to be around me. But I promise, I will never hurt you.” He smiles and shoots a wink at me “Not unless you want me too.”

“Is that why you wouldn’t leave us alone? Why you always came after me? Because you want us to live together, like some happy family?” My voice hitches up and he smiles. He did have a nice smile. “Was that the only reason?”

“No!”

“You didn’t actually want me though?”

“You were a child. The most I wanted to do was protect you.”

“You were going to keep me as some child bride?” I was disgusted by the idea.

“No, I tried to tell your father that. All I wanted to do was keep you safe. Until you were old enough.”

“Why? Why was it such a big deal to keep me safe? I was with my mum.”

People appear in the foyer, they don’t stay for long, but it’s enough for Alpha Colt to end the conversation.

“It doesn’t matter. We can talk about it later. I would rather you ate first.”

 

It didn’t make sense. Why was I so important that he wanted to ‘save me’? 

“Why didn’t you like my dad?”

He glares at me with his cobalt blue eyes.

“Later!”

“I want to know!”

“Later, Lilah. Now let’s go!”

“I fucking hate you!” I stomped back up the stairs. Screw eating. Screw everyone. I would make him suffer, he could watch me starve! 

“LILAH!” He shouts my name. The moment my name left his lips, I felt the undeniable urge to obey his order. A King’s order, no one could refuse it. But it didn’t mean I had to be happy about it.

“WHAT?!” I snap at him

“Just come and eat. I’m well aware that you have not eaten, and I would prefer it if you did not starve yourself.”

“Why do you even fucking care? You are probably going to kill me anyway.” I wished that I knew what he was thinking. I didn’t understand why it only worked one way. It was like the fucking Moon Goddess had deliberately made men more powerful than women.

“I told you, I have no intention of hurting you!” He shakes his head as he takes a step up to me. He rips me off my feet. Dangling me over his shoulder, his hand clasping my thighs. His touch sends sparks over my skin. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was forcing the closeness between us. He was hoping that the more he touched me, I would cave to him.

Making his way down the remaining steps, he ignores me as I kick, scream and punch him.. Finally dumping me on a chair, he smiles at my frazzled state.

“You will eat and you will be happy.” He sits at the table opposite me. “Whatever it takes!”

Plates of food are brought out one by one and placed on the wooden table between us. No matter how much my stomach was growling, I couldn’t bring myself to eat any of it. Instead I sit in silence, staring at the plate in front of me. It only had corn on the cob on it, but all I could do was stare. Corn on the cob had been mum’s favourite treat. 

The tears came faster and harder than I expected. The reality is settling in. I would never see her again.

“Talk to me.” His deep voice is smooth as it hits my ears.

“Like you would give a shit!” I jumped up out of the chair, grabbing the plate. Throwing it as hard as I could onto the floor. Tiny bits of china shattered all over my feet as my anger levels went through the roof. I could feel my wolf trying to push forward.

“Lilah, you need to stop!” His voice enters my head as I grab another plate. This time, I launched it at him. I hated how he told me how to act. How he told me I should stop swearing. How he made out that my dad was a bad man. I hated how he made me feel.

The more items I grabbed, the less he told me to stop. Instead, he stood there watching me. He let me trash the entire dining room without saying another word. Tears continued to stream down my face. My heart thumped through my chest as anger radiated through me.

“What the fuck is going on?” A man with short, wavy blonde hair marches into the room, a woman with short black hair hanging off of his arm. They both stare at me in absolute horror. Food was plastered all over the floor and walls. China was in tiny shards.

The man turns his attention to Alpha Colt. “Sorry Alpha. I didn’t realise you were here.”

“OMG! Look at the mess Wyatt. She is batshit crazy.”

Alpha Colt moves fast. He pins the woman to the floor. A low rumble escapes him as holds her. His teeth inches from her neck

“Alpha Colt, she didn’t mean it. Juniper, apologise. Now!”

“But…” The woman muttered. Her perfectly placed black hair, now a chaotic mess.

“Apologise!” The man with short wavy hair doesn’t move, his dark eyes are on me and he shoots me a wink. Making me feel uncomfortable.

“Wyatt, I suggest you turn your attention to your own wife, not my mate.”

This Wyatt guy doesn’t move other than to turn his head. The woman finally apologises and Alpha Colt lets her go. But he refuses to help her up.

“Alpha Wyatt, this is my mate, Lilah”

“Ah, so you are Lilah. Nice to meet you.” He holds a hand out to me and Alpha Colt growls. Wyatt quickly puts his hand down and moves to his mate.

The whole situation was strange and I just stood there with gravy running down my leg. Alpha Colt runs his eyes over me, “Feel better?”

I just nod my head, because I still couldn’t process what had just happened. I had lost complete control of myself. I don’t think I have ever reacted like this in my entire life.

“Come,” Alpha Colt holds a hand out to me. My options were to either stay with Alpha Wyatt or go with Alpha Colt. Neither option was appealing. I choose the one that makes sense and is less likely to cause a fight. I take Alpha Colts hand.

A smile appears on his face as the sparks spread out over my hand. Looking back at the mess. I see Juniper glaring at me.

“I will replace it.” I mutter as we exit the room.

“You will do no such thing!” Alpha Colt tells me as he leads me back up the stairs.

“I broke it, no one else.” I may have a bad mouth, but I knew when to apologise for my wrong doings.

“And you are their future Queen. Fuck them! Juniper needs to wind her neck in any way.” He smiles at me and I see how his eyes flash. He seemed more amused that I had caused a problem for the Luna of White Crescent.

All I could think about are his words. ‘Queen’? No fucking chance!

He closes the bedroom door behind us and slides the lock across. He doesn't turn around immediately. Like he was deciding what to do.

“What are you doing?” I had a bad feeling, I should have stayed with Alpha Wyatt.

He turns around, smiling at me. “I want a proper look at my mate.” He cups my face just as he did earlier. The sparks hit me hard and I came to my senses.

“Do you not have eyes!” Pulling away from him, I step back, sitting myself down on the bed. Pulling the filthy t-shirt down as far as I could.

“Why do you fight it so much?”

“Because you are a fucking psychopath!”