Unrequited

Lilac

Lilac and her family arrived at the council headquarters, a massive, multi-story stronghold, with so many ballrooms and hallways that Lilac was sure she’d get lost if she didn’t stay close.

The Assembly Hall that held the Lycanthrope Gathering was the most decadent room in the entire citadel.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling and grand tapestries adorned the stone walls.

Arranged throughout the hall were candle-lit tables set with polished silver and bone china that sparkled in the light.

Lilac had never been anywhere like this before in her life. And people seemed to be as surprised to see her as she was to be here.

Lilac trailed behind her parents as they were ushered to their table.

She could feel eyes on her and hear the murmurings in the air.

Everyone knew Alpha Legion had a daughter, but to catch a glimpse of her in public was a rare sight indeed.

“It’s Alpha Legion’s daughter...”

“She is so...”

“Lovely, I know.”

Lilac blushed at the compliments, bowing her head to hide the flush that crawled up her neck to her face.

Thankfully, her mother, Mila, looked so beautiful that she was attracting a great deal of the hall’s attention as well.

“Mila,” someone called out. A charming middle-aged man walked up to them, grinning.

“After all these years, you’re still with this sorry excuse for an Alpha?” he said, jabbing Legion’s ribs.

The men were clearly old friends, because Legion returned his jabs with a punch of his own. “Careful, Alpha Mason. We both know who the stronger Alpha is.”

Mila stepped forward and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, which he returned.

“Do you even age, Mila?” Mason teased.

“Like a fine wine, Mason.” Mila winked. “And don’t you forget it. Is your radiant wife, Nancy, here?”

“But of course. Listen for the loudest gossip. That’s where you’ll find her.”

They all laughed. All except Lilac who felt extremely out of place. Her fingers inched toward her clutch, knowing the safety of a book lay inside.

Mason shook Ales’ hand next. “The future of the pack, here in the flesh. Congratulations on coming of age.”

“Many thanks, Alpha Mason,” Ales said politely.

Finally, Mason turned to Lilac.

“And you must be the mysterious Lilac. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Lilac nodded in response, not used to these overly friendly customs.

Mason continued, feeling the need to fill the silence.

“Your father has told me so much about you. You truly are a special gift from the Goddess. A surprise, I understand! I still can’t believe your father was unable to detect you during Luna Mila’s pregnancy.”

Alpha Mason chuckled lightheartedly. The fact that this was public knowledge always made Lilac feel squeamish.

Being the daughter of someone as important as an Alpha, though, what did she expect?

“Have you heard about the king’s announcement for the council?” asked Mason, switching gears to pack politics.

“What about it?” Legion replied.

“The king will be announcing the name of a new council member.”

“Yes, I’d heard that part,” Legion huffed. “Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“I heard Eli Damon might be a contender,” answered Mason, grinning.

Her father’s lips thinned. “Ah yes, the lusty dog you mean.”

The mention of Eli’s name brought Lilac’s mind back to the poem. The odds of avoiding him were next to impossible.

“I also heard Alpha Kyril will be joining us tonight. Although I have yet to see him,” Mason commented while scanning the room.

The sound of that name brought butterflies to Lilac’s stomach.

But why?

“Kyril Vasilio? I haven’t seen him in ages,” replied Legion.

“Nor has anyone else,” said Mason. “From what I’ve heard, the king granted him a reprieve from the council so he could search for his mate.”

“He still hasn’t found her? He has to be at least thirty by now.”

“Thirty-two,” replied Mason. “It’s been seventeen years since his first shift. Personally, I doubt she exists.”

Legion sighed. “Poor luck for a lycan alpha. I couldn’t imagine life without my Mila.”

“Nor I without my Nancy,” answered Mason. “Speaking of whom, I should be heading back to my table before my mate wonders where I’ve disappeared to.”

The Achilles family took their seats, and Lilac immediately turned to her brother.

“What’s wrong with Alpha Kyril?”

Just saying his name sent shivers down her spine.

Ales gave Lilac a sideways look, unsure why she was asking.

“Alpha Kyril disappeared a little over a year ago. No one is sure why. Some people spread rumors that he’s…feral."

~Feral?!~

Lilac had only heard that word in passing before. Everyone knew that a feral wolf was more dangerous than any creature in the world.

Given the chance, they would even murder their own kind.

But before Lilac could ask any more questions, a silence descended upon the hall. Everyone turned to see a red carpet unfurl down the magnificent staircase that stood at the far end of the hall.

Then the band began to play as the king, queen, and prince descended, followed by three council members.

She watched the royal family ascend the stage and King Agnus take his place at the banquet table.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!” he boomed across the hall.

All the men bowed to the king. Not the female wolves, though, who only bowed to Goddess Selene.

“Rise,” King Agnus commanded. “I welcome you all to the Annual Lycanthrope Gathering. Before we move on, I want to put all your minds at ease by announcing the name of the newest council member. The Alpha we’ve chosen has proved his worth and strength time and time again. Please welcome to the council...Alpha Legion Achilles!”

Cheers erupted throughout the hall as Lilac’s father stood in shock. The whole family couldn’t believe it.

Lilac gasped and looked at her father in awe and astonishment.

“Congratulations, Papa!”

“Thank you, baby girl.” He smiled. Everyone gathered round to congratulate him. And soon they were all moving to the dance floor.

Lilac, so caught up in the moment, didn’t even realize she was joining in—until she felt a hand grab hers.

“May I have this dance?”

She turned to see Eli Damon—hazel eyes, chiseled jawline, rich brown hair, and a body to die for.

She had forgotten what a gorgeous man he was.

A rosy hue spread across her cheeks as the handsome Alpha stared into her eyes.

“Yes, a dance is fine,” replied Lilac, averting her gaze.

Eli placed his hand on Lilac’s waist and led her to the center of the floor.

Lilac had never had a reason to practice dancing, but Eli led her so confidently she didn’t need to know how.

When the music slowed, he leaned in close.

“You look beautiful, Lilac.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “You also look...very dashing.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, their bodies swaying and eyes lingering.

“Did you get my poem?” Eli asked.

“I did,” she replied, sheepishly. “How did you—”

“I told you I would bring our hearts near, didn’t I?”

Lilac blushed. “Alpha, I—”

“Eli, please.”

“Eli...what do you mean?”

“Lilac, isn’t it obvious?”

Lilac’s eyes widened, and her heart started to pound out of her chest.

His eyes shined with a sincere warmth that could mean only one thing. He didn’t need to say it out loud. Lilac understood. It simply wasn’t mutual.

But before she could stop him, he said it anyway.

“I love you, Lilac.”

Lilac stepped away from him, not knowing what to say.

She felt obligated to respond. But there was no way to let him down easily.

Her heart was just too kind to break his.

This was too much. He was not her mate. She knew that deep in her heart, yet here was this perfect man offering up his.

Panic began to overtake her.

“I...excuse me. I’ll be right back,” she whispered.

Without another word, she turned and ran away from the dance floor. She could feel Eli’s sad eyes watching her go.

She could feel the eyes of everyone in the hall watching her go.

She couldn’t breathe.

She had to get outside.

She needed air.

Stumbling out the door, sprinting out into the moonlit night, Lilac found herself at the center of a hedge maze. She leaned against a lamp post to steady herself. She knew she never should have come tonight.

She broke her rule for one night and look what she’d done? Broken the heart of the sweetest werewolf. An Alpha, at that.

But she had told Eli Damon before that she didn’t want a mate.

There was no mate for her.

She was surer of it now than ever before.

Which is when her senses pricked up and something deep inside her core triggered and everything around her started to sway.

She could smell it now. An alluring aroma, so inviting it seemed to lull her into a trance. The scent was musky with a hint of citrus and patchouli rosewood.

Lilac’s body called out for the scent, yearned for it to wrap around her body and blanket her. It felt so far away.

She had to find its source.

She couldn’t stop herself from moving towards it. Almost sleepwalking. It was like an out-of-body experience.

Before she knew what was happening, Lilac was walking, jogging, running. Nothing could stop her. Something about this musk, this trail of desire, this invisible tether called out to her soul.

Lilac wouldn’t rest until she found its origin.