His teeth bared into my shoulder as I was pinned to the mat. I kicked with my back feet and was able to knock my opponent off me. Swiftly I pinned him and has his head in my jaw. I let him go when I heard my name being shouted.
I stood up from my fur and into my skin, to see Baen, my uncle's assistant, running towards me.
"Lilly," he gasped for breath, the book worm was not fit.
"What is it, Baen?" I steadied the boy.
I say boy but he was a good ten years my senior. He was just smaller than I.
"Your uncle needs to speak with you," he finally said grabbing his inhaler and taking a puff.
"I can't go now," I said looking at the next contender.
"You Could Always Forfeit," the burlier of the fighters said.
This was a place for me to relax. I was able to shake off tension by fighting. These Canadian wolves were not as precise as their English counterparts nor were they as strong as the Scots. But they would have to do.
"I'm sorry but it's urgent," Baen seemed bereft.
"Fine," I forfeited the next match and followed Baen.
He took me to the Canadian pack head quarters. It's where all the foreign dignitaries stayed on progress. I was met with solemn faces and bowed heads. Something was not right.
Baen left me with my uncle who sat in his private chambers. He had been drinking, I could tell. His grey hair was disheveled and his green eyes haunted.
"What happened?" I did not beat around the bush and neither did he.
"John's dead," he suddenly said, his Scottish lilt a bit thicker than usual.
"Oh," I sighed a relief. "Why didn't Baen just tell me that?" I probably would not have left the fight ring.
Sean sighed. "Because you would have looked guilty by not showing some sign of emotion."
"The man used me for fighting purposes and wanted to use me for breeding stock. When I fought back he..." I trailed of and reclaimed my nerve. "Just because I share his last name does not mean I feel sorry he no longer breathes air."
Sean seemed sad but not that John was gone.
"He was killed, Lilly," Sean explained. "I'm begging you to show sympathy until all the excitement dies down."
I caught my reflection in the mirror of his bureau. My hair was pulled up and I had scratches across my face from my last fight. But I looked anything but sympathetic.
"How did he die?"
Sean clicked his pen repeatedly. "One of our kind. His neck was broken first and then his body was torn to pieces."
"Damn," I remarked. "That sucks."
"Lilly," Sean snapped and stood from his desk. "To them he was your father. You must act accordingly, for your sake."
"He was not my father."
"I know," my uncle nodded. "But until he is put into the ground, you must act like he was."
I nodded before saying, "give me a shovel."
"You're not going to make this easy are you?" he studied me with his hooded eyes.
I smirked. "When have I ever done things the easy way?"
I knew he was right. I needed to act the part and seem… sad. But everyone knew my mother hated him. They knew he did not father any of Diana's children. Well, the first two of her children. So for the sake of everyone I would play a part. I would be the grieving daughter. I could have fun with it. Throwing myself onto the coffin in a dramatic way. That would really make tongues wag.
All this I thought as I was flat against my aunt Linda's front door. The pack was meeting there to discuss the new alpha since ours had fallen. Lucky duck whomever took the old man down. The crowd was overwhelming. Everyone chatted as if they were at a party and not a wake/pack meeting.
The politics became exhausting. Walking on eggshells became harder as I grew older.
Constantly in fear of offending was no way to live. So, I kept my mouth shut and just nodded and smiled. I was not my sister, the brains who could work a crowd and have every man smitten before the end of the night. I was not Caleb who could pretend stupidity, endearing everyone in the room. I was the beauty, the crazy beauty, that made things more difficult on everyone.
I was not like them and I stood out. I towered over the tribal women and men. If it were not my reputation it was my stature that intimidated everyone.
I knew Humphrey and my mother would soon pick out my mate. But they also knew I would not go without difficulty. They would probably match me with a quiet man who could be easily controlled. I would end up hating him and we would live separately.
I breathed deeply as I entered the kitchen. It was a refuge from the chatter and chaos. I smelt food in the oven, turkey I guessed. A butterscotch candle on a near by warmer reminded me I was in my aunt Linda's home. It was meant to smell like fudge, but it just reminded me of every holiday spent with my family.
I felt a prickle upon my skin. Slowly I turned to see a male by the back door. He was large in stature, but he was toned. His eyes were dark and reminded me of another life.
The kitchen door opened, and I turned to see Caleb's massive size blocking the frame.
"Lilly?" he asked, his muddled accent prevalent.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "Yea?" I responded looking around the kitchen to find myself alone.
Caleb looked around as well wondering what had me spooked.
"The English alpha is on his way, you coming?" he assessed me. I could see his concern. "What did you see?"
"A ghost," I murmured.
He nodded, "been a lot of those around lately." He responded cryptically. "Diana saved you a seat," he motioned to the living room with his thumb.
I nodded as I looked back to the door only to find it open and the near by curtains blowing in the wind.
I heard footsteps coming up to the back door, and hoped to see him but it was Harris Cavendish looking confused as to why the door was open. Harry nodded to me and Caleb.
It had to have been a ghost, I thought following Caleb out into the living room with more confusion than dread.
Uncle Humphrey was talking to the guests. Diana had saved a seat for me between her and my aunt. I sat awkwardly in the cold foldable chair as
Linda chatted with Diana around me. "He will be choosing a mate soon," Linda whispered.
"Who?" Diana asked.
"whom," I corrected. She rolled her eyes and asked again.
"The English Alpha," Linda responded. "Rumor is he will choose from the tribe for one of his wives."
"Wives, being the operative word," I murmured.
"Do you know who will be potentials?" Diana asked casually.
"Straight's granddaughter is a possible contender," Linda thought aloud.
"She's too young," Diana pointed out.
"Almost eighteen," Linda contradicted. "What about Eagle Horn's little sister?" My aunt asked me.
Diana quickly shushed Linda. "You know their family is part of the republic, they will never agree to a union with a non tribal member."
"Maybe the real argument is that Keleigh's only sixteen," I growled.
The tribe had not changed. Marrying young girls to the highest bidder. Only one family of the original five were here. A small part of me felt as though we were being disloyal.
"Why is the Australian Beta here as well?" I inquired noticing the blonde headed man standing beside Humphrey, looking completely out of place; a Viking amongst natives.
Diana shrugged. "I suppose Robert is here to prepare us for the change in leadership."
I snorted. "You mean to make sure we fall into line… and how do you know his name?"
She leaned in close. "He had dinner with Sean and I last night, also with your old beau Cavendish and Liam Rourke. Rumor is Liam is in line to take over his great uncle's alphadom in the ulster counties."
I scooted away from her, annoyed by the conversation and overpowered by her perfume that did nothing to mask the scent of alcohol.
"I never dated Harry," I murmured bitterly.
"You wanted too," Linda murmured.
"And whatever Liam's prospects, why should I care?" I changed the conversation.
"Wither you like it or not," Linda chided me, "you are a single female over the age of twenty one. And with your father's passing, its time you take your role seriously."
I had, had enough and stood from the chair, excusing myself. I would walk home if I had too. John was dead and my future was now my own.