New Beginnings

Tobi’s POV

I stood alone in the throne room, facing my parents with a cold stare. The room was built to impress—ornate rugs covered the marble floors, and every inch of wall space was dominated by gilded tapestries and coats of arms.

King Wren and Queen Catherine sat almost peacefully on their golden thrones, clad in blue velvet, elevated so they could always look down on whoever stood before them.

"I will not agree to this arrangement," I said, scowling. "So you'd best find yourself another prince and son."

"Come now, Tobias," King Wren sighed. "You are not a boy any longer. This is your duty."

"Lady Adelaide is a fine young woman. If you got to know her, you might even grow to love her one day," Queen Catherine offered gently.

"She is not my mate, nor will she ever be."

"But Tobias, it’s been two years since your first shift," my mother said, sadness softening her features. "And you have yet to find her."

My jaw clenched. They didn’t understand. Couldn’t understand.

"How about a deal then?" King Wren arched a brow. "One year. Go out there, look for her. If you don't find this girl in twelve months, you are to return home and marry Lord Cadmus's daughter. End of discussion."

I didn't respond. My silence was answer enough.

Lila's POV

I was sitting in that weird office—the kind of place that someone had tried far too hard to make feel comfortable, but never quite succeeded. A half-dead plant in the corner, cheap grey cushions faded from years of anxious students and concerned parents, and multiple framed prints of meaningless motivational quotes. The school counsellor looked at me expectantly, her expression confused. I realised I hadn't heard a word she'd said.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I mumbled.

"Delilah Alden, you aren't going to graduate next semester. You never got the grades you needed," Mrs Clarke said, arms crossed tightly across her chest.

"So? I'm eighteen," I replied with a shrug.

"There's more to life than being of age." She sighed like she pitied me.

"I also have a job."

"Standing at a checkout bagging groceries is hardly a suitable job for someone as bright as you. If you applied yourself, you could graduate top of your class next year."

She slid enrolment papers for adult entry into Year 12 across the desk.

I sprang from my chair. "I'm eighteen. I can come and go as I please, and right now I choose to leave."

I saw her fingers dig into her elbows as I slammed the door. Swinging my backpack up onto my shoulder, I left the school gate for the last time. Free. Forreston had always felt too small. I knew every street, every house, every crack in the pavement. I longed for the unfamiliar.My phone buzzed. The group chat with my two best friends was lighting up.

From Maggie:

Why can I see you leaving the campus? Are you trying to get another detention?

From Thea:

Wait—didn't you have that meeting with Mrs Clarke about your "future"

Maggie and Thea. My best friends since I was seven. They were cousins, opposite in almost every way. Maggie was practical, protective, and always knew what to say. Thea was wild, impulsive, and fiercely loyal.

From Lila:

Mrs Clarke just told me I won't be graduating. I realised I'm eighteen and walked out.

From Maggie:

OMG

From Thea:

Jealous. Tell us everything tonight.

From Lila:

Meet you at mine.

I arrived home to the smell of disinfectant and the sound of silence. Mum was furiously cleaning the kitchen, and Dad was holed up in his office with two of the guys from the site. They knew this was happening today. They just didn’t want to admit it.

"I'm home!" I called to no response.

I sighed and headed to the lounge room. They’d get over it. Eventually.

Tobi's POV

Standing in Greg's office as he droned on about the week ahead, I wondered how I’d gotten stuck in this sleepy little town. The truth? I was only passing through Forreston. I’d stopped for lunch at a small country café when she walked in with her friends.

Her scent hit me first. Elderflowers and honey. My mate.

Everything changed in that instant. I couldn’t leave. Not until she was ready to leave with me and it hadn’t taken long to figure out who she was. By the end of that day, I had a job as a low-level assistant at her dad’s construction company. Greg was honest, skilled, but hopeless with paperwork. He thought I was on a college gap year. I let him think that.

"Lila will be home any minute, Greg. You ready to talk about her plans for next semester?" I asked casually.

"If that girl knows what's good for her, she'll be whining about how horrible the next six months are going to be," he grumbled.

The front door slammed.

"I'm home!"

Her scent flooded the house, wrapping around me like silk. I handed Greg some paperwork, barely remembering what it was.

"Thanks for printing those, Tobi. Can you grab the binder I left in the lounge?"

“No problem, boss."

She was sitting on the couch, smiling at the ceiling. I tried not to breathe her in.

Lila's POV

Six months later.

Alone in my bedroom, I stared at the space that had once been mine. Childhood toys. Faded photos. My life in Forreston, now reduced to a suitcase. I’d done it. I’d worked that checkout for six months straight. I’d bought a one-way ticket to the old country and saved enough to survive the next year.

"Lila! Come downstairs. Everyone’s here!" Mum called.

I smiled, heading down for one last dinner with my parents, Maggie, and Thea. Only Tobi was there too. That was... weird. He joined us sometimes, sure, but tonight felt different.

"Since it’s your last night, we got Giovanni’s," Mum said, placing five pizzas on the table.

"Yes!" Maggie, Thea, and I cheered in unison, grabbing boxes and sprinting upstairs.

I caught Dad rolling his eyes. "Thanks!" I shouted back.

In my bedroom, we flopped into our usual spots Thea on the bed, Maggie in the desk chair, and me on the floor with the pizza box in front of me.

"You really just walked out?" Maggie asked between bites.

"Yep. Left Mrs Clarke mid-sentence," I said, popping a slice in my mouth.

"Iconic," Thea grinned. "Now you get to go find yourself. Or whatever people do in Europe."

We laughed, but I felt something tighten in my chest.

"I’m going to miss you guys so much," I said quietly. "It’s always been us three."

They paused.

"We’ll miss you too," Maggie said vaguely, already reaching for another slice.

"It’s not like we can’t FaceTime," Thea added with a shrug. "We’ll totally keep in touch."

It wasn’t unkind. But it wasn’t what I needed, either.

"Yeah," I said, smiling thinly. "Totally."

There was a beat of silence before Thea looked up with a smirk.

"I still can’t believe you’re leaving before figuring out if there’s anything going on with you and Tobi."

I rolled my eyes. "There’s nothing going on. He’s like my older brother. Kind of."

"He’s hot for an older brother," Maggie quipped.

I laughed along with them, but my thoughts drifted. That night at the party, the way his touch made me feel that wasn’t brotherly.

Not even close.

And when I tried to open up tonight... they just brushed past it. Maybe they were just distracted. Maybe I was just being sensitive.

But for the first time, I wondered if we were really as close as I’d always believed.

Flashback — Six Months Ago

The night is still blurry.

It was your typical high school party. Colin—one of the seniors—was home alone and had extended an open invitation to everyone. Maggie, Thea, and I got dolled up in our cutest dresses and decided to go.

Colin’s house was packed, and we hardly knew anyone. But the music was loud, the alcohol was free, and I figured, when in Rome.

Maggie and Thea were quickly swept away by two cute boys from the football team. I was happy for them—even if it left me standing alone. I entertained myself with tequila shots. It only took five before I was slumped into a chair, watching the room spin.

Maggie and Thea found me eventually, pressing water bottles into my hands and shaking my shoulders, their concerned voices sounding almost cartoonish. I was fine. This was what teenagers were supposed to do, right?

But when I blinked, they were gone and in their place was Tobi.

My breath caught as he knelt beside me, resting a hand on my knee. Even in my drunken haze, the contact sent electricity straight through me. He had never touched me before.

“I’m here to take you home. Lila, give me your hand.”

I clumsily tried to reach for him, but missed. With a sigh, he slid his arms under mine and helped me to my feet, goosebumps flaring across my skin at every place we touched.

“I’ll get her home safe, girls. Enjoy your night,” he told Maggie and Thea, leading me out of the party.

We didn’t make it far before I stumbled, tripping on my heels and falling into his chest. He caught me effortlessly.

“Christ, Lila,” he muttered, frustrated but careful. “Did you have to get this drunk on your first time?”

Without waiting for a response, he scooped me into his arms and carried me bridal style down the road to his car. With my inhibitions completely dissolved, I nuzzled into his chest, breathing him in. I couldn’t name the scent—but I liked it. Wanted more of it. As he lowered me gently to the ground by the passenger door, he paused. His eyes—dark and searching—locked onto mine.

I didn’t think. I grabbed his collar and pulled his mouth to mine in a kiss that burned all the way through me. He pushed me gently against the cool metal of the car, his warmth enveloping me. I moaned as he deepened the kiss, and he responded with a hunger I hadn’t known he possessed.

I wrapped my arms around his back, pressing him closer, his lips trailing down my neck in soft, heated kisses. When his teeth grazed my skin, I couldn’t stop the sound that escaped me. I pushed my hips into his, desperate for more.

And then, he froze, his body went rigid against mine. The air between us turned cold.

“Get in the car,” he said, voice sharp and low. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“Tobi… what’s wrong?” My voice was small.

“You’re drunk. I’m not doing this.”

“I’m fine—”

“Just get in the car, Lila!” he snapped, slamming his fist into the door beside my head. I flinched, scrambling to open the door and slipping into the front seat. He rounded the car in silence and climbed in beside me.

The drive home was agonizing. I stared out the window, eyes stinging with unshed tears, trying to hold myself together. I had always thought Tobi was cute—but that night I’d felt something different. Real. Powerful.

I’d let myself believe, for one blissful second, that he wanted me too.

But I was wrong. Obviously.

When we pulled up to my house, I opened the door without a word and climbed out. I didn’t thank him. Didn’t look back. His black sedan disappeared down the street, and I sank into the porch swing, breath hitching as the tears finally spilled.

What had I done wrong? He’d wanted me I know he had. So what changed?

Did I taste weird? Did I do something to scare him off?

A sudden wolf cry pierced the night. It echoed through the trees—low, mournful, and wild. It startled me, and I shivered. We didn’t have wolves around here. At least... I didn’t think we did.

I shook it off, fumbled for my keys, and headed inside.

Maybe I just needed to sleep it off.