Chapter 1 1: Lily

She gazed out the window of the limo that had picked her up at her apartment, large lavish houses blurring on by. She still couldn't believe everything that had happened this past year, but she needed a change of scenery and when an opportunity to move thousands of miles away from her ex to start fresh, she just had to hop on it. Though, the catch still left her unsure if this was the right decision to make. She took a glance at the woman across from her, her eyes golden like the sun as she watched Lily curiously. The woman smiled when she caught her eye and pushed back a lock of black hair behind her ear. "You're not getting cold feet on me, are you?" She smiled so sweetly at her. Lily wasn't a fool, though. Sure, she was getting doubts in her mind, but she would not look a Wolf in the mouth and tell her that. Lily's eyes ran over the woman's knee length black skirt with transparent leggings and black heels. Her white blouse had small ruffles running down with the buttons. She looked like a beautiful business woman that could have the world wrapped around her manicured finger. Her eyes flitted back to the window, not really focused on what they had passed along the way. "I'd open the door to tuck and roll, but I don't really know where I am right now." She said truthfully. The woman let out a soft chuckle as she brushed her hair from her shoulder. Her laugh was like velvet. "I'm not holding you captive, Miss Thornstun. You are welcome to back out of this arrangement." The woman uncrossed and recrossed her legs as she shifted in her seat slightly. She had thought about it, but she already signed the contract for being added on to the lease. Besides, she couldn't go back now. What would that achieve for her? "Who's this roommate that I'll be splitting the rent with?" Lily asked her. She had gone over every detail of the contract except for the most important detail. The woman shifted her eyes to the window across the way from her, purposely avoiding her gaze. She didn't like that. "My son." She held up her hand before Lily could put in her two cents. "Relax dear. I'm not setting you up with him. I saw your post online about wanting a fresh start, so I jumped at the chance." Her golden eyes returned to her, captivating her for a moment. The woman seemed like she had innocent intentions, but what mother doesn't want to set her son up with someone? Still, she had to be cautious. She couldn't risk going through another traumatic experience again. "I'll take your word for it." Lily said. For now. The woman smiled at her, reaching over and rested a hand on her knee. Even with her jeans on she felt the woman's warmth seep through the fabric and into her skin. What is it with Werewolves and their internal furnace? "I know that it'll be rough moving forward from what you've been through," The woman started. Lily watched the woman's eyebrows come together slightly with worry, a gentle smile on her pink lips. "But I can sense a noble spirit in you. You're a fighter. A survivor. Let no man conquer you." She gave her knee a pat before sitting back again and let her eyes drift back out the window. Her words hung in the air for a while as the limo continued its trek to her new destination. Lily embraced those words as she let them fill her with newfound strength. Aside from her therapist, this woman was the only one that gave her courage to move on. "As bad as this sounds, I never really got your name." Lily said, embarrassingly. The woman raised a brow as if she didn't realize it, either. "You're right. How rude of me. Here I was, whisking you away without a proper introduction." The woman leaned across again, smiling as her golden eyes glittered. "You may call me Penelope." ---------- The limo drove along a winding road for sometime, trees the only company she had aside from Penelope when the trees broke away and showed a tan stone wall. Lily leaned closer to the window, her interest peaking as the wall ended and the limo slowed when they drove up to a gate with a security booth. Once the driver made his exchange, the limo continued on past the entrance and Lily's jaw dropped slightly. It was as if a whole new world opened up for her. Houses from first story to third lined the roads in a suburban style layout. Children ran about in their yards, some shifted into pups and others as their human state. It wasn't bizarre to see these transformations, but if this was going to be more of an everyday thing, she'll have to get used to it quickly. As they left the houses, stores lined the streets next. Some still looked frozen in time of the 1920s, but there were more modern to match the current times. Wal-Mart, Target, etc. They even drove past a large school that took up several blocks. "That has from Pre-K to twelfth grade. If you're interested, we have a separate building that is a community college as well." Penelope filled her in as they drove on by. "It's like you have your own little city." Lily said to her, still amazed. Penelope reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. Lily wasn't sure who she was contacting, but at the moment, she didn't care. "It is our home. Our pack. And now it is your home, Lily." Penelope said to her. Her home, huh? For how long, though? The darkness of her past will only come crawling back eventually, and she'll have to run away again. As if Penelope could sense the dread creeping through her mind, she rested a reassuring hand on her knee. "I couldn't come close to truly understanding what you went through, but please take what I said to heart. I meant it." The car made a turn and Penelope looked out the window. A smile fell onto her lips. "It looks like we're here." Lily peered out the window with her eyes widening at what was standing before her. A large mansion stretched as long as half a football field. The limo drove up the curved driveway that wrapped around an elegant fountain before coming to a stop in front of a stone walkway. The driver opened the door for Penelope and Lily followed out, her mouth still agape. The front door swung open, and a woman stepped out, her clothes in disarray as she fumbled with her heels. The woman's eyes met Penelope's, and she froze up instantly. "Chelsea." Penelope said coldly. The woman dropped her gaze to Lily behind her, her lips lifted in a small scowl before she rushed off down the driveway. Penelope let out a heavy sigh before she turned toward Lily with a smile, but she had an undeniable twitch in her brow. "Come.""Uh, Penelope? This looks far more expensive than the deal we made." Lily mentioned as Penelope escorted her inside, taking in the large foyer with a staircase up against the wall and giant crystal chandelier high above them. Penelope looked around, her nose lifted in the air, grimace written on her features. "Oh, don't worry about the look of things. A deal is a deal, after all." She said, giving Lily her usual cheerful expression before walking off down a long corridor. Lily took a quick moment to look around once more, getting the faintest smell of fresh rain in the air. The scent relaxed her before she took off after Penelope. "Still, it feels as if I'm ripping you off in the end." Lily told her as she walked into a marble style modernized kitchen. Penelope set her purse on the island, hopping up onto a stool, and gestured across from her. Lily hesitated before setting down her briefcase and backpack beside her and took her seat. "Oh, I beg to differ. In retrospect, it feels as if I have taken advantage of you." Penelope said, making Lily to raise a brow at her. Was it some sort of catch after all that she missed? Some fine print hidden in the contract? "Alright, I'm listening." Lily said to her, the smell of the rain only growing stronger now. Her eyes went to the window, the sun still bright with no clouds in the sky. "Is something wrong?" Penelope asked her. "I smell rain. Like fresh rain." Lily told her. Penelope inclined her head thoughtfully, eyeing Lily with fresh interest. "You do? I don't believe they mentioned rain in the forecast today." Penelope tapped on her phone screen. The smell grew stronger, as if it was in the very room she sat in. It clung to her clothes, her hair, her skin. It wrapped around her like a thin blanket. She thought she was going to drown when a deep, husky voice sounded from the doorway. "I smell lilies..."

Chapter 2 2: Jayce

The scent hit him like a brick wall. It consumed his entire being to the point he couldn't focus on anything else. He had sent Chelsea off in a rush to find this source that was drove his Wolf mad. How was this far more compelling than Chelsea's? The brunette was one of the hottest She-Wolves in the pack and he had the luxury to bed her. She did whatever he asked of her, bending to his very will. Then this alarming smell shook his very soul. Chelsea no longer existed to him. What did this mean? He descended the stairs, his nose lifted to the air as the smell grew stronger the closer he got to it. His feet turned and moved down the hall in a fast pace. Stronger. Stronger. He came to an abrupt halt in the doorway of his kitchen when he noticed two women sitting at the island. He recognized one as his mother instantly, but the other... "I smell lilies." He spoke up, making the woman jump and turn on her stool. His heart stopped. She had beautiful golden blonde hair that cascaded down her back in luscious waves. Her green eyes sparkled in the sunlight that came in from the window. Her aroma overflowed his senses to the degree he thought he would crumble under the pressure. Penelope gave him an amused look for a second before it faded into an innocent smile. "My my, nice of you to join us." She said to him, but his eyes couldn't be removed from the woman she was with. He listened to his Wolf growl possessively within him, something it had never done before. Not even for Chelsea. His eyes scanned her form. She was wearing skinny jeans and a tight red long sleeve shirt that curved her waist and hips amazingly. "Who are you?" He demanded from her. The woman flinched from his tone, her eyes darting away from his. A frightened child, how boring . "This is Lily. She'll be renting one of the suites here." Penelope rested her chin in her palm, looking over to him with a sweet smile. Renting? He never discussed renting his home to anyone. He ran his fingers through his hair before he buttoned up his shirt. He had left the bed quickly to investigate the smell, and had not dressed completely. "Escort her back out." He turned his back to them and proceeded back to the stairs, as he pulled out his phone to get ahold of Chelsea again. He needed to finish what they started. The stool squeaked against the tile and her scent filled his nose again. "Wait!" She called out to him. He stopped mid step. Her voice was angelic to his ears. His Wolf growled again, forcing him to turn around to face her. She clutched her backpack to her chest, her eyes still unable to meet his, but there was a change in her stance. "I already agreed to pay. You won't even notice I'm here." She argued for her side. With her scent, it would be practically impossible for him to ignore her presence now. He raised a brow at her as she squared her shoulders more, finally raising her chin to meet his gaze. "Do you know where you are, Human?" His voice dipped low into his chest as he approached her. She didn't step away, but with the look in her eyes, she was definitely afraid. "You're in the Werewolf King's den." He growled down at her. Her eyes widened up at him, those beautiful eyes like an endless green field. Those eyes hardened suddenly. "I'm not impressed." Her eyes roamed his body with disinterest, yet it sent his own body aflame. His hand lashed out and grabbed her backpack, pulling her closer to him. That's when he noticed it. Being up close, he could see scars just poking past the edge of her sleeves and the collar of her shirt. His eyes burned into hers, the hardness she had in her eyes faded away and she was physically trembling now. Penelope slipped her hand between his and Lily's backpack, forcing them to separate. She then wrapped a secure arm around Lily's shoulders, giving a light squeeze as she held the woman against her side, "Come Lily, I'll show you to your room." She said pleasantly before herding her off. His eyes followed them up the stairs until they disappeared around the corner. Why did she have so many scars? No matter. He walked into the lavished living room and took a seat on a sofa close to the front window, his arms laying across the back. It was eerily quiet now. How would he handle having a woman here at all times? He had lovers over constantly, but they never stayed overnight. He wouldn't allow it. By letting them stay, they would think he was letting them in emotionally. He didn't need that kind of headache, but now he had a human staying in his residence due to his mother's shenanigans, and her aroma was overpowering even now. He rubbed the bridge of his nose when he heard heels tap against the tile and Penelope entered the room, taking a seat on the couch opposite of him. "You scared her." She stated, but he grunted in response. "Don't invite women to stay here without my permission." He growled at her, but she was unfazed. "You may be King, but I am your mother." Her golden eyes met his sternly, "There are some things you should know about Lily before you decide to pull what you just did." She informed him. He only shrugged at her. "I don't care. I want that woman gone." He told her, but she only shook her head. "I'm afraid I can't send her away." She said. "Is she just some charity case to you?" He asked her. Her eyes narrowed on him. He knew his mother had a soft spot for humans, but she seemed genuinely invested in this one in particular. She invited her into the pack without authorization through him first, let alone in his own home. "She wanted a fresh start. So I'm giving her one." She told him, crossing her legs. "By using my home, my pack?" He growled at her again. "She was in a toxic relationship. He was practically killing her." She spoke softly as she rested her hands over one another in her lap. His growl receded as he started to listen, "He abused her. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Even sexually." Her eyes dropped to the coffee table between them. He tried to tell himself that he didn't care what had happened to her, yet his heart ached anyway. "So, I contacted her when she was looking for a way out. She's a writer, so she'll be invested in her work most of the time, and she'll be going to therapy twice a week to help get through her trauma." Her eyes went back to his, "She's already had it rough as it is, don't make it worse for her." She rose up from her seat, "I'll visit in a week to check on things. Behave." She emphasized that last word before leaving him in silence. He let her words roll around in his head for awhile until his phone buzzed in his pocket. A message from Chelsea came up on the screen. Are they gone ? The woman is staying here. For how long ? Undetermined . I'll come back tonight to finish what we started . He felt his cock grow stiff slightly, but the arousal quickly vanished. He didn't find Chelsea attractive anymore. No . His phone continued to buzz, but then he blocked her number. He had this woman wrapped around his finger, to do whatever he asked. Bending her. Breaking her until she was begging to please him. Yet, the smell of lilies caused him to rise up from the couch and climb the stairs. He stealthed down the hall, followed the trail until he stopped at a door that was slightly ajar. He heard sniffling coming from inside. His Wolf whimpered at the sound. Why do you care, Beast? She is only human. But the Wolf continued to whimper, yearning to be by her side. The unfamiliar feeling made him uncomfortable as he backed away from her door and proceeded to his office. He needed a distraction, and if he couldn't have Chelsea, then he'll have to bury himself with his work for now. That night after he wrapped up the last of the documents needed for the annual festival, he turned gazed out at the garden displayed in his backyard. The sun had already set, the lights giving off a faint glow, casting shadows across the yard when a familiar shadow caught his eye. Lily walked along the path with a notebook in her hands. She had discarded her jeans for shorts that showed off her slender legs. He wanted to kiss her inner thighs, nip her ankles and bury his face between her legs. He grabbed a stack of papers and threw them across the room. As they drifted to the floor, he bounded out of his room. He needed to know why he wanted her. Why her scent was intoxicating. None of it was making sense to him, but he'll get his answers once and for all. He stormed out into the courtyard, his nose to the air. Her scent carried his feet deeper into the garden where a large oak tree stood with a swing attached to it. She sat on the swing, the gentle breeze blowing her hair, carrying her scent to dance around him. Her eyes were on her notebook, a pen in hand. She hadn't noticed his arrival yet, but when he went to approach her, his mother's words came flooding back to him. Abused physically, mentally, emotionally and sexually. His Wolf growled angrily within him. He didn't know this woman, yet his Wolf was eager to defend her. She couldn't be it, could she? Her eyes drifted up from her writing, finally meeting his. His Wolf howled as he moved closer to her. Her eyes widened as she jumped to her feet, clutching her notebook to her chest and went to make a break for it until his hand latched onto her wrist. Sparks flared upon contact, shooting up from his fingers and dispersed in all directions throughout his body. His jeans tightened around his crotch, and his breathing became shallow as his heart quickened. Mate.

Chapter 3 3: Lily

He touched her in a way that burned her. His roughness caressed her very soul. His crimson eyes burned into her, his powerful gaze making her legs weak and her sex soaked her panties. The scent of fresh rain was stirring her hormones like crazy. She had been man handled before, but his grip loosened on her wrist, and no longer held her captive. This was the same man that scared her earlier, towering over her like he was going to eat her. His hand turned her wrist over, her sleeve rode up a bit and exposed the scars on her wrists. She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened once more. "Let me go." She pleaded as she grabbed his arm to pull him off. What good was her strength against the Werewolf King? Her flight response kicked in, but she couldn't run away. "What are you?" He growled down at her. Her legs trembled, this time from fear. She tried to pull away, but he only tightened his hold on her. She felt her chest squeeze as she panicked. "Stop." she pleaded to him. Tears threatened to expose themselves. Flashbacks to her ex trapping her with a devilish grin on his face came to her mind. She used her other hand to hit his chest until he grabbed that one. The shocks startled her, but it wasn't enough to derail her from trying to flee. He lowered his head closer to her, his body radiated a heat that made her lean into it. No, I can't go through with this again. She shifted the gear from Flight to fight, bringing her knee up and ramming it between his legs. He grunted, releasing her as he dropped to a knee. He may be the Werewolf King, but he was still a man. She didn't hesitate. What came naturally was what she did. She ran. Through the garden, into the house until she was inside her room and locked the door. For extra measure, she positioned a chair beneath the handle. She wasn't sure it would truly stop him, but she needed to try something. "What the Hell was that?" She asked herself. Lily finally took notice of her racing heartbeat that nearly burst out from her chest. She rested her notebook and pen on the desk and tried to steady herself. Though everything happened so quickly, she couldn't quite grasp what happened between them. An unspoken need heated her body and drenched her inner thighs. She bolted into her bathroom, shredded off her clothes, and turned on the shower as cold as she dared. The droplets rain down on her, pelting her flushed skin. She felt every inch of her on fire and she didn't know how to put it out. That crimson gaze that was once filled with the rage of her being there had shifted to one ready to devour her. Her fingers dipped between her legs and she bit back a moan. She never expected to react this way after the way he grabbed her. She could still feel the imprints of his fingers on her skin. Another flashback came, the silhouette of her ex standing before her with a belt in one hand and the other hand clenched into a fist. Any desire she felt evaporated instantly as she looked on in horror. His image only smirked back at her while the belt lifted high above his head. "No!" she screamed as she dropped to the floor of the shower, her hands up to deflect the blow. Though one never came. Her eyes carefully opened, the silhouette now gone. The tears she had restrained streamed freely down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around her legs and sobbed. Lily had avoided the King since their altercation in the garden. She felt slightly guilty for how she reacted, but he deserved it. He hadn't approached her since then, but she can still smell the fresh rain. It was strongest just outside her door that night, but it had faded away into the morning. She didn't dare risk it though, so she skipped out on meals for a couple of days until she was sure he had left her alone. She had grown accustomed to not eating a few days at a time, anyway. A few days later, she sat at her desk with her laptop screen open as she scanned the emailed copy of her lease agreement Penelope had sent her. In more detail, it covered her responsibilities for the year she would live with the Werewolf King, Jayce, her son. Aside from the payments for each month of her stay, the rest of the home was hers to explore. Lily thought of it strange that Penelope had a bit more say over his homestead than he did himself, but perhaps things worked differently than she expected. Her phone buzzed softly beside her, the screen lighting up as Penelope's name stood out on the locked screen with the following message below it: You have an appointment with Dr. Marshall. I'll have a car pick you up in 10 minutes. Lily nearly forgotten about the planned therapy sessions Penelope had arranged for her. She had been the only person to care about her this much, even in the short time they've known one another. Lily opened the door to the hallway, taking a careful glance around before shutting the door behind herself. It was quiet. Did Jayce leave for the day ? Before walking down the hallway, she released a breath. She checked her pockets for her phone and wallet. She fixed her long sleeve black shirt and pushed a lock of hair out of her face. As she rounded the stairs, the scent of fresh rain hit her as she met Jayce's icy gaze coming up the staircase. He was shirtless, with sweatpants hanging low, the curve of his pelvis disappearing into the depths of the fabric. Tribal tattoos licked along his ribs, arms, shoulders, and chest. His slightly long black hair was damp and slicked back. He looked so delicious. "Where are you going?" He asked her, stopping his ascend. Her fingers pulled on the edges of her sleeves nervously. She wanted to avoid his eyes, but she couldn't get herself to look away. She opened her mouth to speak, but the silhouette played in her head again. He stared at her for a moment, frustration settled in his shoulders. "Fine. Don't answer me." He moved past her and down the opposite hallway. She watched his back as he walked away from her. She had the urge to chase after him, but she didn't dare budge. He was probably still upset with her from the other night. A car honked outside, bringing her back to her reality. Here goes nothing. Dr. Marshall sat in a rolling chair in front of her desk, her pen tapped the notepad in her lap, but her hazel eyes were on Lily. Since she sat down, she struggled to talk to her. Maybe it was the fact that she was a Wolf and Lily was just a Human. "We can sit here all day if you need to, Miss Thornstun." She informed her. Right, Penelope was getting charged for this, after all. Lily balled up her fists in her lap, her eyes downcast as she took several long breaths, "Where should I begin?" She asked her. Dr. Marshall stopped tapping her pen and leaned forward in her chair. "Where you are comfortable." She simply told her. Lily took another deeper breath. "It started about nine months ago when I met Jasper. At first, things were going pretty well. He was sweet. Charming. It seemed like he cared about me." Lily started, her eyes only on her hands. She let the memories take over her as if she was reliving them in that room. "When did things change?" Dr. Marshall's voice echoed in the memories. "I didn't notice the changes until he started getting physical with me." Lily bit her bottom lip, "But the mental abuse came first, that I know. He started putting words in my head about my friends and family, how they were plotting against us from being happy." Lily's eyes shifted out of focus. It was as if Jasper was sitting beside her, whispering into her ear even now. "Then it was the emotional abuse. He tore me down about my looks, my weight, even my clothes." Lily clenched the edges of her sleeves, tears dripping onto them. "I'd go without eating just to lose weight for him. Just wanted him to be happy. I wanted him to love me." Her voice trembled. "That's enough for now." Dr. Marshall said, but it was as if her voice couldn't reach her. "But then he hit me." Her hand covered her mouth. She could still feel the impact of his fists punching her until she was barely conscious. "Lily!" Dr. Marshall raised her voice, the image of Jasper shattering next to her, and she was alone with the doctor again. Dr. Marshall had knelt in front of her, her short brown hair curled and bounced against her shoulders. Her brown eyes filled with concern. That's when she finally noticed how hard she was shaking. "I'm sorry..." Tears flooded her cheeks as she brought her knees to her chest. She wanted to close up the box again, lock it tight and throw away the key. Dr. Marshall rubbed her legs reassuringly. "You did nothing wrong to apologize for. You yearn for what everyone wants. To be loved." The doctor sat back a bit and pulled out her phone. "We'll wrap up today." She put her phone to her ear. "Alpha, can you come to the office and pick up Lily?" She asked over the phone. Lily's eyes widened as she stared at the dark-skinned woman. "No! Please don't have him come here!" She panicked, reaching for the phone, but the Werewolf kept her at bay. "She needs to be picked up and taken home to rest." The doctor continued the conversation. "Please." Lily begged, dropping back onto the couch. "I don't want to anger him again." She cried into her hands. The doctor hung up the phone after she said that. "Did he hurt you?" She asked worriedly, but Lily shook her head. "No. There was a moment we had... He grabbed me, but I don't think he meant harm by it." Lily said to her, but even her own words didn't convince her. He looked mad and maybe a bit conflicted, but she was so wrapped up with how her body reacted, she couldn't read into his expression. The tears continued to flow for sometime, but the doctor let her. They sat quietly, the ticking of the clock above Dr. Marshall's desk being the only sound.

Chapter 4 4: Jayce

Getting the call to pick up Lily from therapy was a surprise he wasn't expecting. Neither was listening to her cry and yell on the other side while she argued with Dr. Marshall about contacting him. What bothered him the most was at the end, when she said she didn't want to anger him anymore. To be fair, he was pissed when she kneed him in the groin the other night, but he couldn't deny that he was at fault. He knew what she had been through, yet he crossed the line, anyway. Once he realized that the woman was his Mate, it took everything in him not to break down her bedroom door. He scented her arousal, just for a moment until it quickly disappeared, but it was enough to drive his Wolf insane. Now here he was, pulling up to the doctor's office, ticked off that they pulled him from his work. But when he caught her scent, his annoyance dwindled instantly. Dr. Marshall was standing outside her office, her arms crossed as he approached her. Her brows knitted together with concern. "I apologize for calling you, but this was pretty urgent." She looked away, looking uncomfortable, which was a rare sight to see. "How bad is she?" He asked her, his eyes on the door behind her. "I know this is against patient privacy, but..." The She-Wolf hesitated for a second, "But in her case, I believe you should know what's going on." She let out a breath. "He really fucked with her, Alpha. She was practically reliving it during the session. I've dealt with patients who were in toxic relationships, but from what she went through was a whole different level." She let out a sigh, combing her fingers through her hair. "She wasn't even done talking about it. I think she wants to open up, but the moment she does." Her hand covered her face. He'd never seen her so troubled before. "I'll take it from here." He told her, but she didn't budge right away. "Did something happen between you two? She seemed so desperate to not making you mad. I want to believe it's because of her trauma, but it feels like there is more to it." She said, finally looking up at him. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just recently discovered that she's my Mate, and didn't exactly go about it properly." He said in a mere whisper. Dr. Marshall slowly nodded, stepping aside for him. "In that case, tread carefully with her. She's a risk to herself and possibly to those around her. However, it is good to know that your playboy days are over." She said to him, sticking her hands in her pockets, and walked off. She stopped and glanced over her shoulder at him. "You should get her some food first. I don't think she's been eating." Before continuing her walk. He scoffed before entering the room. The magnificent scent of lilies erupted his senses as his eyes fell on Lily curled up on the couch, her knees tucked to her chest with her arms wrapped tightly around them. She glanced up, her eyes tinted red from crying and swollen slightly. He felt the beast within him stir and whimper sadly. "I'm here to take you home." He said bluntly, walking over to her, but she flinched. Her head dipped back into her arms. He hesitated, inclining his head before going over to the desk and leaned up against it, his arms folded across his chest. "I can wait here until you're ready." He informed her. She sniffled in response. The ticking clock filled the silence between them. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, she lifted her head and met his gaze. "I'm sorry for hurting you the other day." She whispered. He raised a brow at her, running his hand over his groin, remembering the pain for a second. "Don't worry about it." He rose to his feet. "You ready?" He asked her. She sniffled again, rising to her feet, and adjusted her sleeves. He caught sight of her scars again, but he refrained from asking about them. If this whole Mate thing is real between them, he'll need to be patient. But patience wasn't one of his best qualities. "Let's get you something to eat." He told her after he escorted her to the car. He noticed her eyes light up at his black Audi. She ran her fingers along the hood slowly. He watched her admire the vehicle for a moment before he opened the door for her. She hesitated, looking up at him. "I'm not hungry, though." She told him until her stomach let out a loud growl. Her cheeks took on a shade of pink and her eyes dropped from his. He closed the door as she got in and climbed on the other side. "Do you want anything in particular?" He asked her, but she went quiet again. He felt his fuse burning up quickly, but he quickly smothered it by letting out a breath. "It's okay. I'll cook up something when we get back to the house." He told her. "You can cook?" She asked him. He turned out of the parking lot and drove up the road. "I lived alone for a long time." He side eyed her. "You thought I had some personal chef or something?" He asked her. She shrugged, her eyes going out the window. "I wouldn't have denied the idea didn't cross my mind." She told him. The driveway came up and as he pulled through, a familiar woman stood on his doorstep, her brunette hair in curls over her shoulder, wearing a tight fitting cream-colored dress and heels. Did he invite her over? His Wolf growled angrily at the sight of her. He glimpsed over at Lily, seeing her shrink back into her seat at the very sight of Chelsea. "I wasn't expecting company." He told her as he parked the car in front of the door. "It's okay. Go have dinner with your girlfriend." Lily said to him as she opened the door. "Lily, she's not..." She shut the door to cut him off. He climbed out of the car as Lily went to go inside, but Chelsea stood in her way. "What are you still doing here, Human?" Her lip curled into a snarl. Lily ignored her as she moved past her, but Chelsea grabbed her arm. "Look at me when I talk to you." She barked at her. Jayce towered behind Lily, his presence overpowering the authority Chelsea gave off. Lily glanced up at him in surprise. "I believe the question here is, what are you doing here?" He returned the question to Chelsea with a snarl. She flinched, her eyes shifted away from him nervously. "I wanted to have dinner with you." She tried to use her sweet voice on him, but her fear was too strong. He snarled again at her, making her jump and start descending the small stairs. She shot a glare back at Lily before storming away. "Jayce, go have dinner with her. I can manage on my own." Lily said to him as he entered the house. He dropped his keys on the table next to the door, taking off his shoes and neatly put them away. Lily hesitated before following suit and tucked her shoes off to the side. "I've already decided I was cooking for you tonight. Unless you want to starve another night, then quit complaining." He told her as he made his way toward the kitchen. He glanced over his shoulder at her, her eyes on the floor and her arms wrapped around herself. Idiot, this is something you wanted to avoid. Jayce internally groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. He had never been accustomed to dealing with other people's timid behavior. With his pack along with all the other Wolves wrapped around his finger, yet here was a woman who was broken and he couldn't learn to control his sharp tongue. He went through the fridge, pulling out raw chicken breast, eggs and mozzarella cheese. "What do you plan on making?" She asked him finally. He started setting up a saute pan, going through his cabinets for other ingredients. "Chicken Parmesan." He told her. He heard her walk over to the sink and turn it on. When he peered over, she was putting up her hair. "What are you doing?""I want to help." She told him as she washed her hands. "Do you not trust me?" He asked as a joke as she stepped up beside him, prepping the chicken as he started a pot. "I'd rather help than risk getting Salmonella." She said to him. She gasped, covering her mouth almost instinctively, looking up at him. The fear in her eyes was undeniable. "I'm sorry, I didn't..." He let out a chuckle that slowly expanded into a laugh. "I don't blame you." He chuckled at her, turning his attention back to the stove. When was the last time he laughed like that? "Jayce?" She spoke his name. His Wolf purred, "What's it like being the Werewolf King?" She asked him. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came. Children had always asked him, and he always had an automatic answer for them. Yet when she asked him the same question, he couldn't answer her.

Chapter 5 5: Lily

Dinner was quiet between them, but it was better than the hostility he first showed her. Jayce was flying through the food like he also hadn't eaten in the last few days. He had spaghetti sauce plastered around his mouth. He almost looked like a messy toddler. Jayce pushed the plate away, leaning back on his stool. "That was amazing." He voiced openly as he wiped his mouth. Lily rose from her seat, taking his plate and her own, and went to the sink. She cleaned up after the mess they both made. "Don't think I can clean the dishes, either?" He joked again. "It's the least I can do. You're letting me stay here after all." She responded as she cleaned. The scent of fresh rain was at her back as she heard his stool scratch against the tile. She can feel the heat overflow from his body, but she ignored it. She became self aware of his closeness, bringing her arms closer together and her shoulders hunched up slightly. "How long did my mother plan for you to stay here?" He asked suddenly from directly behind her. It scared her that if she moved the slightest, she would bump into him. "Uh," She felt the tremor in her voice, and she did her best to get it under wraps, "a year, but if things go well with therapy, I can leave sooner." She said to him. His hand appeared beside her, making her flinch suddenly when he turned off the water. "Look at me, Lily." He spoke into her ear. Her thighs quivered excitedly as she slowly faced him. Her eyes met his chest first before slowly moving until they landed on his face. She had never been this close to him before. Her eyes traced his chiseled jawline, not a single stubble in sight. Her eyes flitted to his, and she withheld a breath. Being this close, she can see red and orange mingling beautifully, like flames dancing in a fireplace. His black hair dangled loosely over his eyes. Her hand reached up, pushing his locks aside, taking them both by surprise. His hand came up, grabbing hers gently. Her body became electrified once their skin touched. Her breath caught and her heart raced. She felt her clothes clinging to her body as her sex heated. "Did it just get hot in here?" She asked breathlessly. Her eyes roamed over his body. His own button-up shirt clung to him like paint, showing the definition of his muscled body against the fabric. He was panting, his own breathing labored like hers. His other hand was on the counter beside her and he was clutching it for dear life. "It's like a damn sauna in here." He growled, but his eyes didn't leave hers. His body was so close still, and his hand still had hold of hers. That's when the realization hit her. "I didn't flinch." She whispered. Jayce inclined his head before he realized what she meant and lowered her hand, but kept it in her line of sight. His thumb brushed against the back of her hand in slow circles. Her eyes finally left his and down to their joined hands. "It's a wonderful step in the right direction." His husky tone was low and closer to her now. Her eyes fell shut as he continued to rub the back of her hand. He was right. This was rather soothing for her. A pleasant change compared to what she had been going through. As if on cue, Jasper's face flashed before her closed eyelids, the look of disgust on his face. Her eyes snapped open, and she pulled her hand away quickly. "Lily?" Jayce spoke her name, but it was too late. Her shoulders were already shaking. Jasper was mocking her. Lily covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, but it wasn't enough. She felt Jayce touch her arm, but she shoved him away. Then she ran from him again, but Jasper's voice continued to bounce off the walls of her mind. She slammed her door shut. The sun cast shadows across the room, but she could still hear him in her head, mocking and twisting her words against her. She crawled onto the bed, taking refuge under the covers, and covered her ears again. She thought she heard her door open and panicked, scurrying to get out from under the covers. "Lily, it's me." Jayce spoke softly to her. She kicked the blanket away from her, falling off the bed. "I'm sorry." She cried to him, pushing herself up against the wall, her hands up in front of her. He stopped at the edge of her bed, but she refused to meet his gaze. She can feel the way he judged her with his crimson eyes. "Please don't get mad." She pleaded. "I'm not mad, Lily." He said, but she couldn't believe him. Jasper was always mad when he said he wasn't. He took a step forward, but all she could see was Jasper's dominating hands reaching for her. "Jasper, no!" she screamed, shielding her face. The hands stopped reaching for her, but the tension that stressed every nerve of her being was crushing her heart. "Please, I won't do it again." She begged. The hands reached forward again, and she embraced for the hit. Calloused hands wrapped around her arms, tugging her forward until her body pressed up against a hard surface. The scent of rain clouded her senses, soothing her almost instantaneously. Her body released the pent up stress she had created and her eyes overflowed with tears. She inhaled the scent again, letting it devour her insecurities. Her hands gripped at the fabric so tightly, she thought her nails would pierce right through it. One hand released her arm and stroked her hair. Any image of Jasper faded away from existence for the time being, and everything around her fell back into place. After an hour went by, her crying finally ceased, but she refused to let go of the man that had been comforting her. His fingers continued to brush through her hair slowly. The room had darkened a bit with the setting sun coming through the window when she finally pulled back. Her blurred vision cleared as she was face to face with Jayce's drenched shirt. "I'm sorry..." she apologized when his hand came up and stopped her. "Stop apologizing unless you actually feel sorry." He said to her. It surprised her with his words. She didn't truly feel sorry for crying on him. Deep down it felt needed to get it off of her chest, but as of late, that's all she seemed to do. "I can wash it for you." She offered, now spotting a shine of snot on his shirt. A layer of embarrassment colored her cheeks. "You're not my maid, Lily." He told her. His fingers stopped in her hair. "Are you okay now?" He asked her, and she slowly nodded. For now, at least. "Good. I still have some work to finish up. You should take the rest of the day off." He told her, and her eyes drifted over to her desk where her laptop sat open. "Shit, the deadline." She groaned softly, pulling away from him more now that she found her footing again. He moved away from her, giving her the space she needed to breathe. She looked up at him, but his eyes were outside her window, a distant look in them. Had she crossed the line with attaching herself to him the way she did? She opened her mouth to apologize again, but she stopped, remembering his words. "Thank you." She ended up saying to him. His eyes shifted over to her. Surprise glimmered for a moment before his gaze softened slightly. She never saw him with that expression before. "Of course." He mumbled before making his way to her door, "I mean it, get some rest." He threw back at her before closing the door behind himself. After letting out a breath, she went into her bathroom and washed her face. She can still smell him on her clothes as she gazed into the mirror, slapping her cheeks and pushed her hair back. She had work to do. ---------- She stared at her blank computer screen. Her fingers hovered over the keys, poised and ready. Yet her mind drew a blank. She would type a few words to begin, but quickly delete it. Nothing was sitting right, and this first draft was due in a matter of a few weeks. Her manager would call her soon for an update, and if she couldn't give her one, she might as well kiss her career goodbye. She glanced at the clock tucked away in the screen's corner. 9:30 PM It was late since she had been sitting here and made no progress at all. She sat back in her chair, stretched her arms above her head, and looked around her large bedroom. It was like a studio apartment minus the kitchen. It was worth far more than what Penelope stated, but she couldn't argue against a great deal. "I'll just take a walk. Maybe something of inspiration will hit me." She said to herself as she left the room. The hall was quiet, but she can smell him further down the corridor. She walked as quietly as her feet would allow her to, glancing at the rooms as she walked on by them. Most doors were closed, but a white door caught her attention. As she crept toward it, she found a beautiful pure white grand piano sitting in the center of the room. She glanced down the hall where she believed he was before she slipped into the room quietly. The room looked untouched, with its empty white walls and marble tiling. White curtains swayed with the gentle breeze that came through the open window that looked out over the garden. Her fingers ran along the top of the piano before taking a seat on the bench. Her hands scaled the keys with delicate precision before playing. She hesitated at first, but the way the piano sang to her drowned out her worries and she played.

Chapter 6 6: Jayce

Damion sat in the chair across from him, his eyes transfixed on his notes as he went over the weekly report with Jayce. The dark-haired Wolf was rambling on, however the Werewolf King had his mind set on something else. Someone else, to be exact. A few nights ago, during his work, he heard a soft piano playing down the hall from him. When he went to investigate, Lily was playing a gentle melody that resembled close to what he believed was a lullaby. Her eyes shut, but she had the softest smile displayed on her lips. Since she had been staying there, she only showed fear and sadness as her primary emotions. So when he noticed her smile for the first time, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest. "Jayce?" Damion brought him back with a snap of his fingers. "You good?" He asked. Jayce rubbed his face. "Yeah. You were saying?" He asked him until a soft knock came to the door, followed by her scent. He shifted in his seat, "Come in, Lily." He called to the door. It cautiously opened and Lily poked her head through shyly. Her eyes landed on Damion immediately. "Oh, I didn't realize you were in a meeting." She said as she was about to shut the door, but Damion had jumped to his feet and opened the door the rest of the way. Lily nearly stumbled in, her eyes wide as he leaned over her curiously, his nose flaring. She wore a black hoodie that was zipped all the way up, the sleeves pulled all the way down, and jeans. Her hair was up in a messy bun. Fucking Christ, she looks beautiful. He was used to women going in the whole nine yards to look good for him, but she didn't even have to try. "A Human? So Chelsea was right." He smiled charmingly at her, extending out a hand, "Damion." Lily took his hand and shook it, but her eyes were on Jayce. His Wolf growled possessively at the interaction, but he didn't dare move. He had yet to tell Damion that she was his Mate. She didn't even know yet, but he couldn't tell her while she was still healing. "Did you need something?" Jayce asked through gritted teeth. "I'm heading to my appointment now. Penelope called a car for me." She informed him, her eyes downcast. "Appointment?" Damion asked curiously, his fingers taking a lock of her blonde hair and twirled it around his finger. Her eyes lifted and met his and for a moment he thought he noticed Damion's body tense up in response. Hell fucking no. Jayce was beside him before he realized what he was doing and removed his hand from her. Damion stared up at him, taken aback by his actions. He snarled before grabbing Lily's arm and escorted her away. "Jayce?" Lily asked him as he lead her away from his office and down the stairs to the foyer. He stopped at the bottom, turning to face her and watched as she shrunk back slightly. "Is everything okay? I didn't mean to interrupt your meeting." She said to him. He let out a sigh as he let her go. "No, it's fine. I just..." He paused, his eyes flying up the stairs, but he didn't sense Damion approaching. "Do you need a lift home?" He asked her, returning his attention back to her. She hesitated before shaking her head. "I want to get through this." She said with a bit of determination, holding her hands up in front of her and clenched them into fists. He smiled lightly down at her. "You'll do great. Just take your time." He took out his phone and sent out a quick text. Luckily for him, he got her number from the lease agreement his mother had set up for her. Her pocket buzzed, making her jump as she pulled out her phone. "You have my number now. If you need anything, just let me know." He told her. She kept her eyes on her phone for a long moment before looking up at him and smiling. His heart skipped at the sight as she went out the door. "If you already had a claim over her, you could've just said so." Damion called down from the banister, his arms resting on it as he leaned against it. Jayce climbed the steps while listening to her car drive away. "I'm not one to complain about taking your left overs after all." He smirked at him. Jayce narrowed his eyes at him. "No one is going to claim her." He said in a dangerous tone, making Damion raise a brow. "Alright, she's all yours." He put his hands up in defeat and thumbed back toward his office. "We still have a lot to go over." He told him as Jayce rubbed his neck. "Let's go on patrol. I feel caged up in here." He suggested as he tugged on his collar and made his way back downstairs before Damion could change his mind. "Sure, we'll discuss things on the way." He told him as they went out to the garden. Jayce didn't hesitate to shred off his clothes and shift. His bones cracked loudly as fur erupted along his skin until it covered him and landed on all fours. Damion shifted next, shaking his brown fur and stretched. He was relatively smaller compared to his enormous self, but he was a capable Wolf. A capable Beta. ---------- They made their way into the forest that gave them freedom as Wolves and started their circle around the city, keeping their eyes and ears open while communicating through their mind link. While Damion did most of the talking again, Jayce's mind wandered off to Lily and her therapy session. Is she doing alright? Should he had gone along? Alright, what is it? Damion's voice intercepted his rummaging thoughts, and he nudged his side gently. You're out of it. What's with you? I'm fine. He lied, but Damion huffed at him. Don't give me that shit. We've been friends for ages. It's extremely rare for you to get this way. Jayce side eyed him for a moment, contemplating his next words carefully. Damion was his most trusted friend after all. She's my Mate. Damion stopped walking, letting Jayce take a few steps ahead of him before turning back and witnessing the pure shock on his face. The shock slowly changed into excitement as he jumped beside him. Shit man, why didn't you say so? There I was planning on banging the chick and she was your Mate this whole time. Jayce snarled at him and Damion stepped away. Right, sorry, but still congrats. That actually explains a couple of things. What do you mean? Jayce glanced around the sunlit forest, taking in the cool breeze that ruffled his fur. Chelsea has been fuming over this girl of yours for like a week now, and that you haven't called her back. I don't want her. He sounded cold when he said that, but it was true. He didn't crave for Chelsea like he did a week ago. Now he had an insatiable craving for Lily and he can't do a thing about it. He swiped at the ground angrily. Alright, so what's the other problem? Jayce was sure his frustration was steaming off of him. He sat down in a clearing, inclining his head as his crimson eyes settled on Damion as he sat beside him. If I tell you, you can tell no one. If I find out that you told people, especially Chelsea... You'll fucking kill me. I'm not stupid. He barked in response, but his ears twitched as he waited to listen intently to his next words. Jayce took in a deep breath and laid it out for him. Oh. Damion went quiet for sometime, his eyes out in the forest. It's not like you to wait, but I guess it's improvement. Damion spoke honestly to him. He wasn't wrong about that. He's dreamt of fucking Lily since he discovered she was his Mate, but the furthest they have gone is an embrace that wasn't even intimate. Her past tortured her and it killed him inside. I'll figure out the rest of the festival. There is something I want you to do for me. ---------- Upon their return to the garden, Lily was sitting in the chair as they walked up. She jumped in surprise to see two Wolves approach her, but her eyes settled on his and she appeared to relax. She had the same hoodie on from earlier, even with the sun beating down on her. How can she be comfortable with that? Damion was the first to shift back, his cock in full swing and she immediately turned her gaze away. He picked up his clothes and got dressed as if nothing was off. "So, Lily, how long are you chillin' for?" Damion asked her. She peeked through her fingers, her shoulders relaxing as she uncovered her face. "A year." She replied. Jayce sat down by his clothes. He wasn't ready to shift back yet. "I'll update you later." Damion called over to him, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Lily." He smiled with a wink before heading inside. Lily got to her feet, slowly approaching him. He met her curious gaze, inclining his head as she stopped a few feet away from him. Her fingers played at her sleeves and her feet shifted against the grass shyly. "Uh, can I... Can I touch you?" She asked in a rush. Jayce stared at her in a shocked silence before giving her a stiff nod. She was probably just curious about his nature. After all, it wasn't too common for Humans to live amongst Werewolves. She stepped closer, but stopped. Her brows came together as she was took deep breaths. Perhaps this was a way to overcome her fears of him? Once she closed the distance between them, her hand extended out, but stopped again. Her fingers trembled as she hesitated to meet him the rest of the way. He brought his snout up, brushing against the tips of her fingers. She retreated her hand for a second, then pushed herself and ran her fingers along his nose slowly. He shut his eyes. This is rather... soothing. Her fingers moved over his head and down his neck. "You're so soft." She whispered in his ear. He wanted to feel more. He pressed into her hands more, her fingers scratching against his chest gently. Jayce whined sweetly at the feeling. He heard a light giggle from her direction and the soft thudding of his tail against the ground. "Are you enjoying this?" She asked him and he nuzzled her in response. Fuck, he loved it. He wanted to feel more of her touch. She moved her fingers along his side and back until he was laying down. Her fingers massaged his spine, making him growl pleasantly. Her fingers were like magic. She knelt down beside him, her fingers combing through his fur tenderly. He rested there, not daring to move from this blissful position. Her fingers stopped suddenly, and she pulled away, causing him to open his eyes. She looked reserved, but it appeared she wanted to say something to him. He nudged her with his nose encouragingly. "I made it through the session." She finally said, and he looked at her. Her eyes had a darkness shading over them, but she still looked relieved. "Dr. Marshall thinks I should go on medication." She crossed her legs, "For Depression and Anxiety." She looked troubled, though. He shifted into a sitting position, eyeing his clothes. He rested his enormous paw on her face, making her panic as he shifted back, his paw changing back into a hand. "I didn't think you'd want to see me naked." He told her, and she stopped panicking. Jayce felt her face get hot. "I'm going to remove my hand now. Give me a minute." He told her, and she nodded. He let go of her face as he rose to his feet and got ready when he thought for a fact that he felt eyes on him. Jayce glanced down at her and noticed her stealing a glance at him. Well, what do we have here? He finished getting dressed and sat back down in front of her. Her hand came down slowly, a look of disappointment in her eyes as her face deepened with scarlet. He felt his cock bulge against his jeans, but he forcefully restrained himself. "You don't want to take medication?" He asked her and she shook her head, "Is there an alternative route you'd prefer?""I want to get over this as naturally as possible. I don't want to be medicated." She played with her hair. "I'm sure it works wonders for others, but it just won't cut it for me.""So, what do you want to do, then?" He asked her, but she only frowned. She pulled at the grass around her legs. "I don't know. I can usually throw myself at my work, but my mind is just so fucked up, I can't even concentrate on that." She groaned, throwing the grass above her head. As the grass swayed back down to the ground, he stared at her. This was the first time she was opening up to him about her situation without panicking and running away. Should he press her further about what all happened? Or would it just backfire?