After spending a few days recovering, Lily found comfort in exploring the beautiful castle grounds. The vast gardens and serene landscape offered her a much-needed escape from the weight of her new responsibilities.
'This really could be all ours if we wanted,' Dina said.
'I know,' Lily responded.
'But we don't want him,' Dina concluded. Ethan was a magnificent male. He was everything any she-wolf would want, but their heart didn't belong to him. He felt more like a brother than anything else.
As Lily walked, she spotted a familiar figure approaching in the distance.
"Tiffany!" Lily called out with a smile as her best friend drew near.
Tiffany's eyes lit up, and she ran towards Lily, enveloping her in a warm hug. "Lily, it's so good to see you. I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks. I would've called or even come to see you, but I am not allowed. It is for my safety," Lily explained as she thought back on her escape attempts being thwarted by the Lycan warriors guarding the edge of the territory.
"I know, I know. I had to be blindfolded and put in a box to get here. They are not playing around but it makes sense. You can't have just anyone knowing the location of the Lycan King," Tiffany said, returning the hug.
They walked together towards a quaint outdoor lunch spot, surrounded by lush green bushes that were oddly still in bloom. As they sat down, the conversation flowed easily, as if no time had passed since they last saw each other.
"I would've been here sooner, but I was on house arrest due to what happened at the Winter Moon celebration," Tiffany confessed, looking somewhat sheepish.
Lily raised an eyebrow. "House arrest? Seriously? What did you do now?"
Tiffany nodded. "Yeah, my parents were furious with me for intervening and binding you to the pride without their permission. Don't get them wrong. They have no problem with you joining, but it was a big no-no in front of the other prides. They had to make an example out of me. But I don't regret standing up for you, Lily."
Lily smiled gratefully. "I appreciate it. I don't know how that night would've turned out if you and the others hadn't helped me."
"Of course, you're my best friend and I know you would've done the same for me. Speaking of which, how are you holding up?" Tiffany said.
"I've been doing better, taking it one step at a time. There was a lot of information to take in. Even more, information that I don't know what to do with just yet," Lily answered.
"Fair. What about Ethan?" Tiffany asked.
"As for Ethan, nothing is going on between us. He is keeping me safe and we're becoming friends," Lily replied.
Tiffany's eyes widened, not expecting this response. She had assumed that Ethan would've made his move and Lily would be marked by the Lycan King. "Really? Are you sure about that? He's the Lycan King, and he's got this whole castle, the power. Plus, he's pretty hot."
Lily chuckled. "You have a point, but trust me, he's got his own issues to deal with, and I have mine. Besides, I don't want to become anyone's mate out of convenience, or this is what I am supposed to do. I am choosing my own path."
Tiffany playfully nudged Lily's shoulder. "Well, if you change your mind, you've got quite the catch right there."
Lily rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips. "Anyway, what about you and Adam? If I remember correctly, he nearly got himself killed trying to help you help me. He's your mate, right?"
Tiffany's expression turned serious as she spoke about her new mate. "Yes, quite a surprise to everyone. The Moon Goddess seems to have a sense of humor. Safe to say, my father is furious. He had some males lined up for me."
"He isn't going to force you to reject him, is he?" Lily asked in alarm.
"Of course not. He's not a bastard like your father, no offense," Tiffany replied. "He just wants what is best for me."
"You don't seem that excited about Adam," Lily said. "Is it because he's older?"
"No, not at all. Those werewolf men age like fine wine. My problem is that he didn't announce that he was my mate when I first met him. Did he not want me until his instincts or his wolf took over? Also, he kept Garrett's secret," Tiffany stated a hint of hurt in her voice.
Lily frowned, understanding her friend's feelings. "I don't think that was it. I think he was trying to process it. He has waited so long for a mate and then, she comes strolling up. I think that would throw anyone off."
"Not me. I would've told him right then and there," Tiffany retorted. Werefelines didn't feel the mate bond as strongly as werewolves even so Tiffany would have made her intentions clear and marked Adam on the spot.
"I don't think you should hold it against him. You should at least talk to him about it because I know you haven't," Lily reasoned. "And Garrett is his Alpha. He could not tell even if he wanted to." Lily wasn't sure if Garrett did the Alpha command on him, but she knew Adam was honor bound and probably wouldn't have said anything either way.
"Look at you being the voice of reason," Tiffany teased.
"I mean I get why you're upset. I am still upset with Garrett, but I get that he had his reasons for lying to me," Lily said, frowning at remembering how he lost two mates to horrible circumstances. Fate had been very cruel to Garrett. "And yes, I still have a feeling that he is keeping things from me, but I will talk this out with him when I see him again."
"I'm still going to give him the cold shoulder for a little bit longer," Tiffany pouted.
"Come on, Tiffany. Promise me you will talk to Adam. It is not healthy to hold this in," Lily suggested gently. "Communication is key in any relationship. If you're open with each other, you can work through this."
Tiffany rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll talk to him."
They continued to chat about their lives and everything that had happened in the time they were apart. Lily shared her experiences at the Lycan castle, and Tiffany updated her on the latest happenings in the pack and her life outside the castle walls.
As the afternoon sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the gardens, Tiffany asked, "Are you going to have her come see you?"
"I don't know," Lily responded. "Everyone is expecting so much from me, and I know she'll have a need from me as well."
"I don't think you should hide from your responsibility," Tiffany said.
"I'm not hiding," Lily argued.
"You are. I get that you're scared but you need to face this head-on. You have me and so many others that will support you through this," Tiffany said.
"But what if Debra is lying? What if..."
"She's not. I already looked into it, and she took a maternity test. She is your grandmother. As far as I can tell, Debra doesn't mean you any harm and she was telling the truth," Tiffany explained. "She is also your only connection to your mother. Even if it is to only learn more about your mother, I think you should see her."
"I will have Ethan bring her here. Will you stay with me?" Lily said.
"Of course. Took me two weeks to get Ethan to let me come, he's going to have to throw me out himself if he wants me to leave," Tiffany said with a grin.