Chapter 1 - Guests
Lilly’s POV
“Your worthless piece of shit!”
Sade’s harsh, cruel words cut through me, making me freeze as her hand connected with my cheek and sent me sprawling to the floor. I bit down, suppressing the urge to whimper, my cheek burning where she’d struck me.
Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Instead, I focused on the cold, hard ground beneath me.
“That is precisely where you belong,” she sneered. Her brown eyes darkened, nearly black with hate and anger. “On the floor!”
She stepped closer, grabbed me by the hair, and forced me to look up at her. “Now clean this mess before I lose my temper. You don’t want my mother to see this!” She threw me onto my back, my head colliding with the floor.
Fear gripped me, knowing her wrath would only escalate if I didn’t act quickly. Dazed and disoriented, I struggled back to my knees and started gathering the shards of the broken porcelain teacup.
I let out an internal sigh.
It’s been like this for as long as I can remember. I was blamed and punished for everything—even the simplest things—even when it wasn’t my fault.
This time, Sade’s tea wasn’t to her liking.
This was my life, and there was nothing I could do about it. Escaping wasn’t an option. There was nothing for me out there—not a mate, not a future.
Besides, who would want a she-wolf like me?
I accepted my destiny. My purpose. I would forever serve the house of Axel Black—not that I’d ever seen a picture of him. Rumor had it he served in the Royal Army and died protecting the King. His death left Angelica, his mate, heartbroken while raising their child.
Maybe that’s why she was so cold and cruel toward me—she never got over losing her mate.
My thoughts shifted to myself. I couldn’t remember much about my childhood. The only solid memory I had was the sound of angry snarling, crying, and screaming, followed by huge, angry flames consuming everything in their path.
Prior to that, I couldn’t recall any details—not a single face, scent, or sound. It was as if everything about my past had been erased.
The emptiness of those lost years gnawed at me, leaving a hollow ache in my chest.
I often wondered if the fire hadn’t just destroyed my home, but also my very identity, leaving me to piece together who I was from the ashes of memories that had long since faded.
Angelica found me in a deserted warehouse, and I was naive enough to believe she actually cared for me. She looked like an angel with long blond hair and big green eyes. She told me my parents had died and she was now my guardian.
I didn’t ask any questions. I naively believed her and followed her home. But I soon discovered that the angelic woman was nothing but a cold-hearted monster under all that beauty.
I used to have hope. I believed one day my prince in shining armor would break down the Blacks’ front door, sweep me off my feet, and save me from this hellhole. But fate shattered those dreams on the night of my eighteenth birthday.
I was a wolfless wolf. I would never be able to leave this place. Heartbroken, my dreams of a mate and a purpose in life disintegrated into a million pieces.
A breath escaped my lips as I picked up the last fragments of broken porcelain from the floor.
My life wasn’t all bad—especially when I started to dream of him.
Every night, when I finally went to bed in the early hours of morning, he waited for me in my dreams. I didn’t know his name, but his presence made my life so much better. He was my only friend.
My heart ached just thinking about him. He was perfect—pure muscle, strong, tall, and handsome. He was friendly, kind, and full of life; he made me feel loved. He became the light in my darkest night.
His stormy grey eyes were always full of energy, his embraces always comforting, and his smile warm. He didn’t care that I didn’t have a wolf. He didn’t care that I had no rank or about my family.
He only cared about me.
My heart warmed thinking back on all the long conversations we’d had—the way he teased me, his tender touch, and his powerful laughter.
I could feel the tension growing between us, electric sparks running through me with every touch. His sweet scent, reminiscent of chocolate and cherry pie, always made my mouth water with the desire to taste him. I felt safe with him. He felt like home.
Every night, just before sunrise, we would say goodbye and dance until he faded from my dreams.
“Oh, Sade,” Angelica snarled from the stairs. “What did the wolfless brat do this time?”
Sade was a spitting image of Angelica. Both had long blond hair, high cheekbones, generous curves, and naturally full lips. The only difference was their eyes. Men naturally gave them a lot of attention.
Angelica pointed at the mess on the floor.
“I got scalded by the tea!” Sade cried out. “My lip hurts! I have a blister, see!”
It was a typical lie—there was no blister—but arguing would only get me into more trouble.
A cold, vile smile curled on Angelica’s perfectly painted red lips as she descended the remaining stairs.
She stopped in front of me, grabbed a handful of my hair, and yanked my head forward.
I crashed headfirst onto the broken pieces. Sharp pain shot through my skull, blurring my vision as I gasped for breath. Something warm ran down the side of my face—I wasn’t sure if it was blood or tears.
“Now you listen to me, you little brat!” She yanked my head up, growling in my face. “This is your last warning! If you can’t behave yourself, I’ll sell you off to the highest—!”
An urgent knock sounded from the front door, interrupting Angelica’s threat.
“Are you expecting someone?” she hissed at Sade.
“No,” Sade replied, shaking her head.
“See who it is,” Angelica ordered.
“But Mother!” she protested. “It’s Lilly’s job, not—”
“Now, Sade!” Angelica snarled, cutting her off.
Sade huffed, rolled her eyes, and hurried out of the kitchen.
Angelica turned her attention back to me, her eyes pitch-black—her wolf had taken control. She lifted her hand, claws extended, ready to strike again.
“Mother!” Sade’s anxious voice echoed from down the hallway. “Come quick…!”
Something like fear flickered in Angelica’s eyes as a man’s voice came from the foyer. She quickly lowered her hand and released me.
“This isn’t over,” she spat, deliberately stepping on my hand with her heel before rushing out of the kitchen.
A moment later, I heard Angelica’s voice anxiously greeting the unexpected guest, and I abruptly wondered why she was acting so nervous...
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