He took a sip of his whiskey, the amber liquid glinting in the soft light, and placed the empty glass on the nightstand.
Then, his hand reached out to touch Lily's lovely head, which was no longer hidden under the covers but displayed her small, round face, wet with tears.
Her forehead was wrinkled, and amid the sobs and quiet cries, she mumbled words that were barely comprehensible.
"What did you dream of? Did your lost family come to haunt you?" Arion murmured, his fingers gently combing through Lily's hair.
He could feel the softness of her locks under his touch, a stark contrast to the turmoil she must have been feeling.
In the world of the pets, where almost all of them had their hair darken to brunette by the age of eighteen, Lily's dirty blonde hair stood out prominently, attracting attention.
It was a rare and striking feature in their bleak and uniform environment, further setting her apart from the others.
Speaking of pets, Arion vividly recalled the shock he had experienced when he first learned about the purpose of pets from his assistant, Illiya.
This revelation had occurred on his eighteenth birthday, a day he had planned to invite Lily for a private celebration.
"Young Alpha Arion, you cannot and are not allowed to disturb Alpha Xander's pet. You can select your own pet when you become the alpha of the pack in the future," Illiya had stated firmly, her demeanor unyielding.
Perplexed and curious, Arion had pressed for more information. "Why do I have to choose my own pet? I don't need one. I just want to invite Lily to the party and have fun."
In her typical composed and methodical tone, Illiya had elaborated, "The purpose of pets encompasses satisfying the alpha's desires in bed, being lent out for the amusement of accomplished fighters, offered as gifts to business partners, and various other roles. That's why we have a pet management system in place. So, Young Alpha Arion, you can only borrow a pet with Alpha Xander's permission."
Arion had been left speechless, his mind reeling from the revelation. From then on, he had lived in a state of perpetual concern for Lily's well-being.
Would she be coerced into serving his father in intimate ways?
Would Lily be utilized as a reward for fighters or even bestowed upon Moonshadow's business associates?
The uncertainty gnawed at him.
"What will happen if pets are given to my father's business partners?" Arion asked anxiously.
"She will become their plaything for life. It's not impossible that she'll be passed around from one owner to another. But if she's lucky, she might get married and live as a minor lady in some family."
Illiya's explanation had nearly made Arion faint at the time. Imagining Lily going through that, he just wanted to take her and hide her away. But that was an impossible thing to do.
Arion's hand traced Lily's strands as he chuckled softly, remembering his own childish questions from his past.
Now, as Arion continued to comb his fingers through her hair, his eyes held a playful glint. He was undeniably worried, but it appeared that Lily wasn't sharing the same level of concern.
In all his encounters with her, she exuded an air of confidence, walking with a poise that accentuated her attractive physical features, drawing attention effortlessly.
It was her unapologetic self-assuredness, akin to that of a princess, that Arion believed might have influenced his father's decision to keep Lily for himself.
Unlike many other pets who came and went for various purposes, Arion couldn't help but suspect that Lily's demeanor was intentionally provocative.
Each stride she took seemed to make her chest swell, appearing inviting and round. Her slender legs moved in a way that could entice someone to lift her skirt and delve beneath.
"So, how are you feeling now? Has your confidence been shaken? Will tomorrow find you a lady with slightly hunched shoulders, bereft of her pillar?" Arion whispered teasingly, sharing an unspoken understanding with Lily.
Shouldn't they both be living in the illusionary cage of beauty created by a mother?
The difference was that he could gradually face reality, while Lily was thrown into it hard, causing severe wounds.
Sometimes, thinking that Lily was also a victim of conflicting interests, Arion's hatred waned slightly. It was replaced by empathy and affection, as it had been in the beginning when they first met.
"Do you miss the perfect protection of your father and mother?" Arion whispered softly.
As Arion listened closely, he caught a faint murmur in Lily's voice, barely audible but filled with longing. "Father... mother..."
Arion was taken aback, somehow his heart aching for the girl before him.
He had heard troubling stories about Lily's harsh life in the Pet Management Division. Her striking appearance and demeanor had stirred both resentment and jealousy among the other pets.
Lily had endured significant harassment and cruelty there, even experiencing the brutal loss of her beautiful hair.
Regrettably, he lacked the authority and capability to intervene and help Lily whenever he wished.
Furthermore, after discovering that Lily was his father's favored pet, destined to share his father's bed, Arion had developed a profound resentment towards her.
In fact, it wasn't just Lily; he harbored animosity towards all the pets who shared his father's bed. He yearned to dismantle the Pet Management Division because it served as damning evidence of his father's betrayal, the harm inflicted upon his mother, and his father's lack of love for her.
Recalling all of this reignited Arion's resentment towards Lily. He let out a sardonic laugh and remarked, "Unfortunately, you can only crawl in the mud now, all alone." Arion whispered these words as he continued to run his fingers gently through Lily's hair.
Right after Arion finished speaking, Lily's eyelids slowly lifted. Her blue bright eyes met Arion's amber ones directly.
Instead of displaying surprise or nervousness, Arion welcomed Lily with a smile brimming with schadenfreude.
***