Chapter 7
Joe's POV.
I laced up my running shoes and stepped outside into the cool dawn air, hoping the rhythm of my footsteps would drown out the chaos in my head.
Every breath felt ragged, every muscle tight. Since that night with Lily, the night I'd rejected her, I hadn't slept properly. My wolf growled on the inside, pacing and snarling, and nothing I did could calm him.
I started with slow strides, then picked up speed. My lungs burned, but I didn't stop. Running was the only thing that ever cleared my mind of her. Even now, miles from the palace and the pack grounds, her face swam in my thoughts: those pleading eyes, the tremble in her voice when she'd told me that rejecting our bond would kill her wolf,and her.
I was the Alpha, the prince of the pack. I had a reputation to protect.
So why couldn't I stop thinking about her?
My wolf growled low in my chest, restless, disobedient.
I stopped at the creek and bent over, gripping my knees, breathing hard. "Shut up," I muttered to myself. "We're not doing this."
But my wolf didn't listen. It hadn't been listening since that day I caught Lily's scent and knew…knew, that she was mine.
I tried to shake her off, so I went out with Amber to the park, let her flirt, touch, kiss…
"You look tense, baby," Amber said, swirling her body around my body. "Should I help you with that?"
I forced a laugh. "Yea, I'd like that."
Her lips lit up in a smile, tracing her nails down my chest, but before she could do any further,
I saw her.
Laughing. Smiling. Lily's face lit up with genuine laughter, so different from the stiff, guarded version I'd left in the palace.
And she was with Mark.
Of course, it had to be Mark. Mr. Golden Boy. Smart. Rich. The kind of guy every parent wanted their daughter to bring home. And she looked happy with him. Genuinely happy. That stupid little laugh of hers rang in my ears all night.
I should have felt relief, maybe even jealousy, but instead, I felt my wolf flare in anger and pain.
I kicked a rock into the water, sending ripples across the surface. I should've felt proud that I was doing the right thing. That I was staying away from her.
Instead, it felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside.
"Pathetic," I muttered to myself. "A prince running from every feeling except the one that matters."
***
The next morning, I walked through the high school courtyard with a bitter smile. I used to join my friends when they teased and bullied Lily, lighthearted banter, nothing serious. But today, I just watched from afar.
"Hey, Mittens!" Carter, the school idiot, called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. Lily looked up from her books, surprise flickering across her face.
Ivan, the usual ringleader, snorted. "Why's the Omega reading in the sun? Is she afraid of classmates in the shade?"
A laugh rippled through the group. I felt my pulse quicken, wolf claws unlatching around the edges of my control.
Before Lily could move or say anything, Carter spoke up. "You forgot what day it was, Ivan? It's Lily's birthday tomorrow."
Ivan's smirk faltered. "What are you talking about?"
Carter stepped closer. "She doesn't have a party because she has no friends. No invitations. No celebrations. Just like every year."
A mocking laughter rippled through the group, some even pointed at her while laughing.
The look on Lily's face was close to the look she had on the night I rejected her. And I didn't know how I felt about that.
"Come on, Lily. Let's go". Lily's friend ran towards her, pulling her up. "You guys are assholes!". She snarled and they both walked away.
"See you Later Mittens". Ivan shouted, and the guys laughed and began to walk towards me.
"I'm not in the mood for this shit". I muttered to myself and stood up to leave.
"JOE!" someone called.
I turned just in time to see Carter, my idiot friend, high-fiving some of the other guys.
"You missed it, man," he said, laughing. "We were roasting Lily again just now. Told her the janitor's mop has more friends than she does. You should've seen her face. Classic!"
Laughter erupted around him.
I froze.
Carter continued, "Dude, how is she the only girl in the whole school who's never had a birthday party? Like, what is she, a ghost?"
I walked straight up to him. "What did you say?"
Carter blinked. "Uh… that she's a ghost? No friends? The usual bro."
"It's not funny."
He chuckled nervously. "Come on, it's just Lily. We've always…"
Without even thinking, I slammed him into a tree so hard that it rattled. "Say one more thing about her. Go on. I dare you."
"Joe, dude, relax!" he stammered. "It was a joke…"
"I will end you," I growled.
Silence fell. My friends exchanged uneasy glances.
Carter's face was pale. "S-sorry."
I shoved him away and stormed off. My fists were clenched so tight, my nails cut into my palm. The worst part? I wasn't even sure who I was more pissed at, Carter, or myself.
***
When I got to the palace, I just wanted to disappear. Maybe into the gym. Maybe through the floor.
But my father had other plans.
He was sitting in the main hall with a man I vaguely recognized, Elder Marcus, one of the High Council members.
I stepped in quietly. "Father, Elder Marcus," I said.
"Joe, good timing," my father said, smiling like he had just eaten something weird for lunch today. "Come. Sit."
I stopped in the doorway. "What's going on?"
Elder Marcus stood. "It's an honor, young Alpha. I've looked forward to this meeting."
"Why?" I asked, suspicious.
"Because soon," he said, "you will be marrying my daughter."
The room went silent. I blinked. "Excuse me?"
My father stood now too.
"This alliance is important to our kingdom. The girl is strong, pure-blooded, from a line of powerful wolves. You'll be meeting her soon."
"No". I said firmly.
"What?". Both of them asked at the same time.
I turned to Elder Marcus. "Take your daughter somewhere else."
The elder's eyes narrowed. "Watch your tone, boy."
My dad moved close to me. "What are you doing, Joe? You are being rude."
I met his gaze. "I'm just being honest, father."
I stepped closer. "She will never have a place in my heart. You want someone to pretend? Find another puppet."
"Joe, enough" my father said. "This is not up for debate. Show some respect."
"I'm not a pawn in your political games!" I shouted.
"You're an Alpha. You have responsibilities!"
"To whom?" I snapped. "To a council that doesn't care about what I want? To a woman I've never met?!"
"Enough!" His voice cracked through the room like thunder. "You will do what's best for the pack."
I took a step back. "Then find yourself another son."
I walked out, and didn't look back.
****
The shower steamed up the entire bathroom, but it did nothing to cool me down. My thoughts were tangled, my wolf pacing and snarling inside me.
I dried off my body, pulled on a hoodie, and threw myself onto my bed. Headphones in. Music is very loud. Homework is open but untouched.
I stared at the page blankly, but all I could see was her face. Lily.
Was it her birthday tomorrow? Did anyone even care?
I imagined her in a red short dress, and she looked… radiant.
Without even thinking, I grabbed my phone.
Google search: 'Delivery services for rose bouquets.'
My fingers hovered over the screen.
I could still walk away, pretending she meant nothing.
But she did.
And maybe…just maybe…she needed to know that someone remembered.