Chapter 4

As Lilly walked home from school, her mind remained reeling from the day's events. The mysterious Alpha Axel, her unexpected mathematical prowess, and the constant whispers that had followed her through the hallways were all too much to process.

She clutched her violin case close to her chest, finding comfort in its familiar weight. As she approached the pack house, she could hear the usual bustle of activity inside. Normally, she would have dreaded entering the fray, but today, she was grateful for the distraction.

Slipping through the front door, Lilly tried to make her way upstairs unnoticed. But her brother's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Lil!" Luka called out, his tone a mix of concern and curiosity. "I heard some interesting rumours today. Care to explain?"

Lilly sighed, turning to face her older brother, “Luka, I don’t know what you're talking about,” trying her best to finish the conversation long before it went any further.

“Ha ha, nice try, little one. You're not getting out of it that easily now, spill.” Luka knew his sister too well.

She sighed again, knowing she was being called out and by her brother no less. Usually, his Beta Kenyon would pull her aside and call her out when things seemed bothering her.

She rolled her eyes at him but said, "Can we at least take it out into the garden to have this conversation? I don’t want other pack members to get the wrong idea about me."

Luka nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Alright, let's go to the garden."

They went through the house and out to the expansive garden behind the pack house. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, and the setting sun cast a warm glow over the landscape. Lilly took a deep breath, feeling some tension leave her body.

"So," Luka began, sitting on a bench and patting the spot beside him. "What's this I hear about you and the visiting Alpha, Axel Blackthorn?"

Lilly sighed, sinking beside her brother. "It's nothing. He's now in my music class and was just being polite."

Luka raised an eyebrow. "Polite enough to kiss your hand in front of everyone?"

Lilly felt her cheeks flush; for fuck’s sake, he pretty much knew everything already, and her face gave away the rest.

She chuckled, “Besides Luka, it's Alpha protocol to kiss an Alpha Female hand as a sign of respect, or didn’t your father teach you that one?” raising an eyebrow back at her brother.

Luka's eyes widened slightly at Lilly's retort. He chuckled, shaking his head. "Touché, little sister. But you can't blame me for being concerned. You've never shown interest in any of the wolves here, and suddenly, this visiting Alpha has everyone talking."

Lilly sighed, leaning back on the bench. "Honestly, Luka, I don't know what to make of it myself. It's just different. He's different. But I'm not looking for anything, you know that. My music is my priority."

Luka nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I know, Lil. But you can't hide from your wolf nature forever. And if this Axel is your mate..."

"Don't," Lilly cut him off, her voice sharp. "Please, don't start with the mate talk. I'm not ready for that, and I’ve never wanted to be someone’s Luna. I don’t want that kind of reasonability. You know this, Luka.” A small tear spilled from her right eye and into her cheek.

Luka instantly put his hand on her right cheek, cupping it as she wiped her tears away. He pulled his sister into a hug, which she needed more from her brother than the game of 20 questions that even she had no answers for herself. Her mind was still a mess, and her emotions were everywhere.

“Although I do know all that, Lil, you can’t fight the will of the Moon Goddess no matter how hard you try…” he cooed into her ear before planting a small kiss on the top of her head as he let her out of the hug, “… but know this no matter what I’ll always be here if you ever need someone to talk too.”

Lilly nodded, grateful for her brother's support despite her frustration. "Thanks, Luka. I just... I need time to figure this out on my own."

"I understand," Luka said, standing up. "Just don't shut everyone out, okay? We're here for you, always."

As Luka returned to the house, Lilly remained in the garden, watching the sun sink lower in the sky. She pulled out her violin, needing the comfort of music to soothe her tumultuous thoughts.

The sweet melody drifted through the air as she began to play, carrying all her confusion and uncertainty. The music swelled and dipped, mirroring the turmoil in her heart.

Unbeknownst to Lilly, a figure stood at the garden's edge, hidden in the shadows of the trees. Beta Kenyon had overheard their conversation; he had always loved Lilly when she played her violin. Over time, he had developed a crush on her; however, he couldn’t bring himself to tell her now with this new Alpha in the mix. Since she seemed to have interested him, there was little to no chance for him unless the Moon Goddess had other plans. However, this would be unlikely as Alpha females are rarely mated to Beta males.

As the last notes of Lilly's violin faded into the twilight, she felt a presence nearby. Lowering her instrument, she peered into the shadows at the garden's edge.

"Who's there?" she called out, her voice steady despite the slight tremor in her hands.

Beta Kenyon stepped out from behind a large oak tree, his expression a mix of admiration and something else Lilly couldn't quite place. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," he said softly. "Your playing was beautiful, as always."

Lilly relaxed slightly, recognising her brother's best friend. "Thanks, Kenny. I didn't realise anyone was listening."

Kenyon moved closer, his eyes never leaving her face. "I overheard your conversation with Luka," he admitted. "I hope you don't mind."

Lilly sighed, setting her violin back into its case as she sat on the nearby stone bench.