Fated to the Werewolf King
1: Lily

She gazed out the window of the limo that had picked her up at her apartment, large lavish housesblurring on by. She still couldn't believe everything that had happened this past year, but sheneeded a change of scenery and when an opportunity to move thousands of miles away from her exto start fresh, she just had to hop on it. Though, the catch still left her unsure if this was the rightdecision to make. She took a glance at the woman across from her, her eyes golden like the sun asshe watched Lily curiously. The woman smiled when she caught her eye and pushed back a lock ofblack hair behind her ear.

"You're not getting cold feet on me, are you?" She smiled so sweetly at her. Lily wasn't a fool,though. Sure, she was getting doubts in her mind, but she would not look a Wolf in the mouth andtell her that. Lily's eyes ran over the woman's knee length black skirt with transparent leggings andblack heels. Her white blouse had small ruffles running down with the buttons. She looked like abeautiful business woman that could have the world wrapped around her manicured finger. Hereyes flitted back to the window, not really focused on what they had passed along the way.

"I'd open the door to tuck and roll, but I don't really know where I am right now." She said truthfully.The woman let out a soft chuckle as she brushed her hair from her shoulder. Her laugh was likevelvet.

"I'm not holding you captive, Miss Thornstun. You are welcome to back out of this arrangement.”The woman uncrossed and recrossed her legs as she shifted in her seat slightly. She had thoughtabout it, but she already signed the contract for being added on to the lease. Besides, she couldn'tgo back now. What would that achieve for her?

"Who's this roommate that I'll be splitting the rent with?” Lily asked her. She had gone over everydetail of the contract except for the most important detail. The woman shifted her eyes to thewindow across the way from her, purposely avoiding her gaze. She didn't like that.

"My son.” She held up her hand before Lily could put in her two cents. "Relax dear. I'm not settingyou up with him. I saw your post online about wanting a fresh start, so I jumped at the chance.” Hergolden eyes returned to her, captivating her for a moment. The woman seemed like she hadinnocent intentions, but what mother doesn't want to set her son up with someone? Still, she had tobe cautious. She couldn't risk going through another traumatic experience again.

"I'll take your word for it." Lily said. For now. The woman smiled at her, reaching over and rested ahand on her knee. Even with her jeans on she felt the woman's warmth seep through the fabric andinto her skin.

What is it with Werewolves and their internal furnace?

"I know that it'll be rough moving forward from what you've been through,” The woman started. Lilywatched the woman's eyebrows come together slightly with worry, a gentle smile on her pink lips."But I can sense a noble spirit in you. You're a fighter. A survivor. Let no man conquer you." Shegave her knee a pat before sitting back again and let her eyes drift back out the window. Her wordshung in the air for a while as the limo continued its trek to her new destination. Lily embraced thosewords as she let them fill her with newfound strength. Aside from her therapist, this woman was theonly one that gave her courage to move on.

"As bad as this sounds, I never really got your name." Lily said, embarrassingly. The woman raised abrow as if she didn't realize it, either.

"You're right. How rude of me. Here I was, whisking you away without a proper introduction.” Thewoman leaned across again, smiling as her golden eyes glittered. "You may call me Penelope."

The limo drove along a winding road for sometime, trees the only company she had aside fromPenelope when the trees broke away and showed a tan stone wall. Lily leaned closer to the window,her interest peaking as the wall ended and the limo slowed when they drove up to a gate with asecurity booth. Once the driver made his exchange, the limo continued on past the entrance andLily's jaw dropped slightly. It was as if a whole new world opened up for her. Houses from first storyto third lined the roads in a suburban style layout. Children ran about in their yards, some shiftedinto pups and others as their human state. It wasn't bizarre to see these transformations, but if thiswas going to be more of an everyday thing, she'll have to get used to it quickly. As they left thehouses, stores lined the streets next. Some still looked frozen in time of the 1920s, but there weremore modern to match the current times. Wal-Mart, Target, etc. They even drove past a large schoolthat took up several blocks.

"That has from Pre-K to twelfth grade. If you're interested, we have a separate building that is acommunity college as well.” Penelope filled her in as they drove on by.

"It's like you have your own little city.” Lily said to her, still amazed. Penelope reached into her purseand pulled out her phone. Lily wasn't sure who she was contacting, but at the moment, she didn'tcare.

"It is our home. Our pack. And now it is your home, Lily." Penelope said to her. Her home, huh? Forhow long, though? The darkness of her past will only come crawling back eventually, and she'll haveto run away again. As if Penelope could sense the dread creeping through her mind, she rested areassuring hand on her knee. "I couldn't come close to truly understanding what you went through,but please take what I said to heart. I meant it." The car made a turn and Penelope looked out thewindow. A smile fell onto her lips. "It looks like we're here.”

Lily peered out the window with her eyes widening at what was standing before her. A largemansion stretched as long as half a football field. The limo drove up the curved driveway thatwrapped around an elegant fountain before coming to a stop in front of a stone walkway.

The driver opened the door for Penelope and Lily followed out, her mouth still agape. The frontdoor swung open, and a woman stepped out, her clothes in disarray as she fumbled with her heels.The woman's eyes met Penelope's, and she froze up instantly.

"Chelsea." Penelope said coldly. The woman dropped her gaze to Lily behind her, her lips lifted in asmall scowl before she rushed off down the driveway. Penelope let out a heavy sigh before sheturned toward Lily with a smile, but she had an undeniable twitch in her brow. "Come."

"Uh, Penelope? This looks far more expensive than the deal we made." Lily mentioned as Penelopeescorted her inside, taking in the large foyer with a staircase up against the wall and giant crystalchandelier high above them. Penelope looked around, her nose lifted in the air, grimace written onher features.

"Oh, don't worry about the look of things. A deal is a deal, after all.” She said, giving Lily her usualcheerful expression before walking off down a long corridor. Lily took a quick moment to lookaround once more, getting the faintest smell of fresh rain in the air. The scent relaxed her before shetook off after Penelope.

"Still, it feels as if I'm ripping you off in the end.” Lily told her as she walked into a marble stylemodernized kitchen. Penelope set her purse on the island, hopping up onto a stool, and gesturedacross from her. Lily hesitated before setting down her briefcase and backpack beside her and tookher seat.

"Oh, I beg to differ. In retrospect, it feels as if I have taken advantage of you.” Penelope said, makingLily to raise a brow at her. Was it some sort of catch after all that she missed? Some fine printhidden in the contract?

"Alright, I'm listening." Lily said to her, the smell of the rain only growing stronger now. Her eyeswent to the window, the sun still bright with no clouds in the sky.

"Is something wrong?" Penelope asked her.

"I smell rain. Like fresh rain." Lily told her. Penelope inclined her head thoughtfully, eyeing Lily withfresh interest.

"You do? I don't believe they mentioned rain in the forecast today." Penelope tapped on her phonescreen. The smell grew stronger, as if it was in the very room she sat in. It clung to her clothes, herhair, her skin. It wrapped around her like a thin blanket. She thought she was going to drown whena deep, husky voice sounded from the doorway.

"I smell lilies..."