The unlikely request

Lila's POV

“Fine.” Was the only word Victoria uttered before she stormed out of the room.

Sophia had not moved from my side, nervous and holding on to her dress. She was somewhere caught between her duty to her mother-in-law and her feelings toward me. Her mouth opened, closed, opened, and now went, "Lila, I… I ought to—"

I shook my head to halt her. My voice was soft, although I felt a dull ache in my heart at what Victoria had said. "Don't, Sophia. It's fine."

She lowered her head in remorse, but honestly, I wished she would never have to deal with this again. I turned and left for my room.

I stood in the room with clasped hands trembling in front of my mouth. Okay. I told Sophia it was all okay. The truth was it was not okay.

It was not okay for Victoria to humiliate me like that!

Knock, Knock, Knock.

"My lady," a servant's voice came from the other side of the door, "The Alpha seeks you."

My heart sank. Adrian's father—The Alpha. Great!

The servant led me down the long corridors heading toward the Alpha. There was a slight faint smell of expensive cigar and leather in the room and dusty books that looked untouched for years.

"Come in, Lady Lila," he said firmly.

I stepped in, offering a small bow. "Alpha."

He inspected me for what felt like forever; his fixed gaze was like Adrian's: piercing and alert. "I heard of the incident."

My breath caught. Heat danced on my cheeks. Shame swallowed me whole. I opened my mouth to speak. "I—"

He raised a hand and l became silent. "You do not need to say much: I know my Luna.I am sorry for whatever she said and did."

Those words felt like a balm to my battered soul. I had expected more blame, not an apology. My throat tightened, and I could only nod in acknowledgment.

He turned and walked slowly, pausing. "But we have yet another thing to discuss: your work outside."

Chills ran down my spine. "My work?"

"Yes." His eyes bore into mine, filled with so much emotion. "You are no longer just Lila Hayes. Now you are one among this family. To this throne. That sets you in harm's way the moment you walk out of here. Not because you can't do the job, not because you're lesser. But because the enemies often appear to be friends, and they are pretending right in front of us until we can sniff them out for who they truly are."

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. This was more than just a job; it was my ticket to pursuing that which I loved.

"You must simply quit," he stated, keeping up the parental tone. "Not as a consequence. But for your own good."

I nodded again, stinging tears on the brim of my eyes. "I understand. Thank you... for looking out for me."

He appeared warm, fatherly rather than an alpha. "Go now. Get back to planning. And don't worry—Victoria wouldn't even have the guts to trouble you anymore."

Relief washed over me in torrents, rapidly followed by that nameless guilt. "Thank you, Alpha."

Once I left his office, the palace was back to its busy state, ss tho a heated confrontation had not taken place here just minutes ago.

In the center was Sophia. She walked where she should be, the eyes of all walking over her as she rehearsed her steps for the next day. She was like the brightest moonlight.

I was happy for her, but a part of me secretly wished to be in her place.

Then someone gently tapped me on my shoulder.

Adrian.

"Come walk with me." There was no tone of refusal.

My heart raced fast as I followed him into a private chamber, nowhere near the hall or courtyard.

Inside, my heart was racing when the thick doors were shut behind us.

He walked soundlessly across the room to draw the velvet-lined box from some remote-looking drawer. "I wanted your opinion," he said carelessly. "These are for Sophia. I'll give them to her when I mark her as mine."

The words cut into my heart; intentional or not. My hollow heart became aware of the delicate jewels: silver, sparkling like captured stars. He continued with the designs and the traditions, and what Sophia might like.

I heard barely any of it.

It was all him.

The way the light glowed in his hair: The way his shoulders filled his shirt. That unassailable quiet authority he exercised over even the slightest of things. My throat went dry, my hands trembling somewhere deep down in my skirts.

Unbidden and wild, my thoughts raced on,

What if I put my hands on him? What if I did? Kiss him again like that one time I dared until reason came back?

What if he kissed me back?

I swallowed hard and tried to focus, but my mind would not betray me. Poured into my body like poison the words: You want him. You want him.

His voice pulled me back to the present. "Lila."

I blinked in surprise. His eyes were now fixed on me, penetrating, demanding. "And you were not listening."

I felt the heat creeping up to my cheeks. "I-I was—"

"No," he said softly, narrowing his eyes. "You weren't. What is in your head?"

My heart raced violently against my ribcage. My every defense fell away. I ought to have denied it. I ought to have laughed it off. But the words came out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"May I kiss you?"