Lilith
I pull on the only black dress in my closet and stare at my reflection in the mirror.
I don’t look the same as I did a few weeks ago.
There is color in my cheeks, and my figure has started to fill out where it never did before.
Eating Kael’s cooking has made me healthier than before, but there is still a sadness behind my eyes that not even he can erase.
Today is the anniversary of my mother’s death, my birthday.
I should be happy that my father is finally throwing me a party, but I don’t.
I feel heavy, and the longer I look in the mirror, the harder it gets to see my mother’s features, so I look away.
I had hoped Kael would be home to come with me, but he is gone on business again.
It is probably for the best.
No one but Yvonne knows that I have been staying with him.
I am sure my father would have a breakdown if he knew I was spending time with a member of the royal family.
We I arrive at the Moonclaw Pack house, my family is inside having a what appears to be a cheerful breakfast together.
At first, they don’t even notice that I have walked in.
My eyes scan over the table, and I notice that even though I was expected, there is no place set for me.
It is like they didn’t actually expect me to show up.
Serene is the first to look up, and she plasters a fake smile across her face.
“Lilith!
How wonderful for you to join us.”
My teeth grind together uncomfortably.
“Hello.”
Serene hops up quickly and grabs a chair from the corner of the room.
“Here!
You can sit here.”
I look at the chair that looks mismatched at the table, and I can’t bring myself to sit in it.
“No, thank you,” I say in a voice that is too small.
“I ate before I came.”
Serene shrugs her shoulders.
“Suit yourself.”
“We are so looking forward to your birthday celebration.”
She doesn’t even bother to sound sincere, but I refuse to let her mood affect me.
I lean against the wall of the dining room and watch them eat and chat with one another.
They look happier than they ever did when I was here.
Maybe I shouldn’t have returned.
Finally, my father looks at me, and there is something in his eyes that I can’t quite place.
It almost looks like regret, but I am sure I must be mistaken.
Alpha Victor would never show any kind of weakness.
Not even in the form of regret.
“Are you ready to head to your party?
Casper is going to meet us there.”
I don’t know why, but I didn’t expect Casper to be in attendance, and now that I know he will be there, I consider going home.
Before I can walk out of the dining room, my father takes my arm and smiles at me the way he used to.
I swallow hard, finding it difficult to speak, but before I can summon any words, Serene jumps to her feet.
“Not yet!” She squeals.
“I have a special present for Lilith in my room.”
My father eyes her suspiciously.
“Can’t you just bring it down?”
She pushes her bottom lip out into her signature pout.
“It is too heavy.”
Just like always, my father melts under her request.
“Don’t take too long.”
Before I can protest, she jumps up from her seat and drags me toward the stairs.
I don’t bother to struggle against her.
If I did, that would only make the situation more tense.
Serene bounds up the stairs excitedly and pushes the door to my old bedroom open.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she chirps.
“My room is being remodeled, so I moved my things in here.”
Once again, my teeth grind together painfully. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“Why would I mind?
I am not staying here any longer.”
Serene pulls me in for a hug, but my arms hang lifelessly at my sides.
I would rather cut off my big toe than hug her back.
When she lets go, my eyes glance around the room that used to be mine.
All of my things are gone.
Long gone are the soft shades of blue that my room used to be decorated in.
The colors that had adorned the walls and bed since I was a small child.
Now, everything is covered in an offensive shade of pink.
A shade so bright that I am sure it glows in the dark.
There is no indication that I ever lived here at all.
My eyes fall on something huge on the bed.
It is covered with a large white sheet, and a feeling of dread washes over me.
I am sure whatever is under that sheet is going to either upset me or piss me off.
“Well,” Serene says cheerfully, pointing to the object.
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
I swallow hard as I inch toward the bed.
I want nothing more than to walk out of this room, but I don’t.
My fingers curl around the hem of the sheet, and I pull it free.
It slides down the front, almost like it is in slow motion, revealing a portrait that lies beneath.
My throat tightens, and I can’t fight back the tears that are rolling down my cheeks as I stare at the portrait of my mother.
I reach forward, tracing the gentle curve of the smile that she always wore when she was happy.
The painting even managed to capture the twinkle in her eyes.
I tear my eyes away from the painting long enough to look at Serene, who has a very satisfied grin on her face.
“Do you like it?”
I nod and look back at the portrait, and as I do, painful memories flood into my mind.