Chapter 2

Lilly sighed as she walked down the crowded hallway of Riverwood High, her violin case clutched tightly to her chest. Another day of avoiding her brother's adoring fans and trying to blend into the background. As she approached her locker, she noticed a group of giggling she-wolves huddled nearby, their eyes darting between her and the other end of the hall where Luka had just entered.

"Here we go again," Lilly muttered, quickening her pace.

Just as she reached her locker, a hand grabbed her arm, spinning her around. It was Kendra, the head cheerleader and self-proclaimed future Luna of the Riverwood Pack.

"Hey, Lilly," Kendra said, her saccharine voice dripping with false sweetness. "I was wondering if you could put in a good word for me with your brother.”

Lilly let out the breath that she was holding. “Sure, Kendra, but you’re the sixth she-wolf this morning who asked me to do the same thing. I'm wondering if I must carry a book to make a list. By the end of the school day, I have forgotten 99% of the girls' names.” What Lilly had told Kendra was a heap of bullshit, but if it meant that she would leave her alone for the rest of the day while she went on her wild goose chase, it would be worth it.

Kendra's eyes narrowed, her fake smile faltering momentarily before she caught herself. "Oh, I'm sure you'll remember mine, Lilly. After all, we're practically sisters already."

Lilly fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Right. Well, I've got to get to class. Good luck with... everything."

Lilly could feel Kendra's glare burning into her back as she turned back to her locker. She quickly grabbed her books and hurried off to her first class, grateful for the reprieve from the pack politics that seemed to dominate every aspect of her life.

Lilly finally felt like she could breathe in her Advanced Music Theory class. Here, she wasn't the Alpha's daughter or Luka's sister. She was just Lilly, the talented violinist. As she settled into her seat, her teacher, Mr. Mauricio Wisely Song, called upon her to help hand out the music the class would be working on for the midyear school concert.

Lilly stood up, grateful for the distraction. As she moved around the classroom, distributing sheet music to her classmates, a sense of calm washed over her. This was her element, where she truly belonged.

"Thank you, Lilly," Mr. Song said warmly. "Now, class, we'll work on a challenging piece for the mid-year concert. It's a contemporary composition that blends classical and modern elements. I expect everyone to give it their full effort."

As Lilly returned to her seat, she caught sight of a new face in the back row. A boy she'd never seen before was sitting there, his dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her breath catch. He was undeniably handsome, with sharp features and an air of mystery.

Curious, Lilly leaned over to her desk partner, Emma, and whispered, "Emma, did we get a new student in our class recently?”

“Yeah, he's the Alpha heir of another pack. He's been in the class for a while; he visits and learns about how other packs work. Sadly, if Kendra hadn’t held you up at your locker, you would have been here when we were all told,” Emma giggled.

Lilly thought to herself, ‘An Alpha from another pack? Huh, great! Another reason to stay as far away from everyone as possible.’ She fought the urge to roll her eyes once more today. Goodness, it looks like it's going to be a long one.

As the class progressed, Lilly stole glances at the mysterious new Alpha. Despite her resolution to avoid pack politics, she couldn't help but be intrigued. There was something different about him, a quiet confidence that set him apart from the boastful Alphas she was used to.

Mr. Song's voice cut through her thoughts. "Lilly, would you mind demonstrating the first movement for the class?"

Lilly nodded, pushing her curiosity aside as she retrieved her violin. As she began to play, the world around her faded away. Her fingers danced across the strings, coaxing out a haunting melody that filled the room. She lost herself in the music, her eyes closed, swaying slightly as she played.

When she finished, there was a moment of stunned silence before the class erupted in applause. Lilly opened her eyes, a faint glance of the person that had started it all off. It was this mysterious new Alpha, and now she was even more intrigued by him than before.

There was a strange tickle in his eye, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it. But then, she was nowhere near 18 years of age for a mate bond to kick in, and she hoped that one never would so that she could be free to be the violinist she craved.

But was this Alpha her fated mate? Or just some kind of infatuation? And neither of these options she had time for.

As the bell rang, signalling the end of class, Lilly quickly packed up her violin, eager to escape before anyone could approach her. But as she headed for the door, she felt a presence behind her.

"That was truly impressive," a deep voice said.

Lilly turned to find the new Alpha standing there, his dark eyes fixed on her with that same intense gaze. Up close, she could see flecks of gold in his irises, like embers in a dying fire.

"Thank you," she replied, trying to keep her voice neutral. "I've been playing since I was young."

He nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I'm Axel, by the way. Axel Blackthorn."

"Lilly Riverwood," she responded automatically, then immediately regretted it. Of course, he knew who she was. She could have face-palmed herself.

"I know, but it’s still nice to put a face to such a pretty name,” he said, kissing her hand respectfully in front of her Advanced Music Theory class, making everyone gasp.