Her Inner Power

The Library

“Lyla, get up!” waking with a startle I see John standing at my door.

“Why?” I moan in an annoying way watching him sigh frustrated.

“Well training started 20 minutes ago, but I don’t think you should come.”

I get up quickly rushing to my wardrobe. “well why wake me if you didn’t want me to come? because now I want to go since you said not too.”

“The king is at training” oh no, did Rose tell him. “He wants to meet the head warrior, he wants us to go to his kingdom and train his soldiers”

“He wants what!” oh sh*t. Wait so John doesn’t know he is my mate, he is trying to protect me. “Who did you say the head warrior is?”

“I haven’t yet, but I don’t think we should tell him its you, considering everything, we can not put you at risk. I think you should pick, who you think is most capable. Go down and have breakfast with Rose, let me know your choice.” With that he disappeared.

Well that gives me time to shower then and change into my signature look. Black jeans, my chain, fitted black long sleeve and my boots. I Leave my hair down to dry, since we have the party later it’ll be easier to get ready without having to deal with kinks from my hair ties.

When I enter the common room it’s only Rose, sitting at a table with a cup of tea, reading. I sit next to her and signal an omega to bring me food. “good morning sweaty, sleep well?”

“I didn’t even think you noticed me come in, and no not really” she looks at me with a said smile. My food is sat in front of me and I’m picking at it, not really all that hungry. I didn’t realise how much time I had spent sitting there fiddling with it, beside Rose. Looking up at the rowdy noise, it’s all the warriors back from training. Andrew walks in all sweaty from training and it’s so appealing but makes me frustrated too. Why him? I ask myself for the thousandth time.

Jackson, John, beta Luke and Andrew all sat down at our table. It’s alluring being near him, I can feel my skin prickling. I try and play it off, so no one notices I’m suddenly uncomfortable. MY breakfast is taken away replaced by lunch and I think everyone noticed how much was still on my plate. I can feel Andrew glancing at me occasionally, so I just fiddle with my plate again.

Edie walks over and takes the seat next to me, I look at Andrew and he is glaring at Eddie. “I missed you at training today Lyla, I don’t think you’ve ever not attended one before.” Is he trying to expose me? I guess it’s not like he knows what I am. But it’ll be hard to stay low with him making comments like that.

“Awe, don’t worry I missed kicking your a$$ too, it’s the highlight of my day.” I smirk, while Rose chokes on her tea giggling. I lean closer to her making more distance between Eddie and myself. I look over and see Andrew smiling at me, f*ck his smile is doing things to me. I look away quickly and focus on deep breathing.

“Lyla?” I snap my head up at Jackson, he looks like he is waiting for an answer. But I don’t say anything still zoned out slightly. “Andrew asked everyone what they like to do here throughout the day, you didn’t answer.”

I look at Andrew trying to figure out a normal answer, he already knows I go to training now. “Sorry uh, I like training, reading in the library and hanging out with friends.”

“Yeah, and Lyla's funny, when she’s drunk” Eddie laughs next to me. With how pissed Andrew is looking makes me want to punch Eddie.

“Being drunk helps cope, with your crappy pickup lines and constant staring” I say shoving my plate away and standing. “Excuse me everyone” I need to escape this situation. I make my way to the library, behind a few shelves is my sanctuary. Hidden in the back is a couple couches and a stack of books, I’ve been making way through. I bury myself in the couch and relax with a book, I need a distraction for a while.

That’s when I smell him, he must have come looking for me. Damn, I stupidly left myself alone, he wants to talk, but I’m just not ready. Andrew comes around the shelves with a bag of chips and some fruit. I look at him questionably, who brings food into a library?

“You didn’t eat breakfast or lunch” he shrugs, placing them on the small table between the two couches. He sits in the other chair and watches me as I go back to my reading. “Can we talk, little mate?”

How do I answer that, no I’m not ready and piss him off. Ugh I’ll just have to hear him out, maybe find an excuse to leave, “sure.”

“I didnt think, I’d ever find you. I was starting to loose hope, but I should have known better.” I didn’t say anything, I just looked at him, letting him know I’m listening. “You don’t talk very much do you? Do you and that gamma Eddie guy have a past?” I knew Eddie would be bothering him.

“Actually, I talk a lot, I just don’t know what to say to you yet. And no, Eddie and I don’t have a past, he has made his feeling for me clear. I’m just not interested, but that doesn’t stop him trying” my answer made him smile again, it makes me feel warm. He reaches for my hand, on the edge of the couch, but I pull it back into my lap. His smile instantly goes sad “I don’t understand why we are mates? I’m just, not ready for this.” I can tell I have hurt him, but he needed to know. I Can’t run into his arms as other mates do, I can’t really tell him why either.

“Just please don’t give up on me, before you know me? There’s a reason we were made mates, maybe we can figure that out together.”

“He is saying all the right things, little one” Lilith chimes in.

Andrew POV

I was very proud of my mates witty answer, to that Eddie guy, he really pisses me off. I had noticed she didn’t eat anything and got some snacks. I found her in the library, she looks adorable while she reads. When she said I had nothing to worry about with Eddie that calmed Archer. He was ready to rip this guys head off, he knows her really well.

But I feel sad about what she said after “Just please don’t give up on me, before you know me? There’s a reason we were made mates, maybe we can figure that out together.” I have waited my whole life for her, but I can’t tell her that. Seems as though if I say anything strong, she will run away. “I am leaving tomorrow, your farther and a good warrior are coming with me. Would you consider coming too? Maybe we could get to know each other, then you can make a decision about us being mates. I understand this is hard for you, I don’t want to give up, so please consider it.”

Looking at her pretty eyes I can see she is thinking, what I would give to be in that mind of hers. “I’ll think about it” she says standing, crap she’s going to leave. I’m not ready for our time together to be over. I might not be able to touch her but talking to her and having her attention feels good. “Rose linked me, I have to go get ready for the party. Beta Michael found his mate at Sky Moon, will you be attending?”

“If you will be there, then yes I will definitely go. Can I ask for one thing though?” she nods while I speak. “Dance with me, at least once, please?” she looks slightly shocked by my request, I just want her close.

“Alight, one dance” she said and I suddenly felt so happy after her other sad comments. I could feel myself smiling at her and she finally smiled at me in return. It was beautiful and took my breath away, I almost forgot we were parting ways. She turned and walked her way around the shelves, I quickly gathered the food and followed her. As she was about to step out “Lyla here, you didn’t eat.” She takes the food and leavs the library, turning to me in the hallway.

“Uh thanks” she smiled her dazzling smile and walked the opposite direction of me.