Lily stirred from her sleep, awareness creeping in as morning light filtered through the curtains. Something felt different. The bed was firmer than hers, the sheets smoother. A distinct scent of pine and musk filled her senses.
There was only one person she knew who had that distinct scent.
Her eyes flew open in shock. freew\ebno\vel..(c)om
Zayn laid next to her, relaxed and sound asleep. He was shirtless, his tanned skin marred with dark scars – and something else. Blood. Dried blood spattered his chest and arms, even flecked across his face. Despite this alarming sight, he slept peacefully, his usual stern expression softened in slumber.
Her heart hammered in her chest.
How did she end up here?
Memories of last night flooded back. After Zayn had left her room following their tense discussion about producing an heir, she’d paced restlessly, unable to calm her racing thoughts. She needed to speak with him, to make him understand that she wasn’t rejecting the idea – she just needed time.
It took her a while, but she eventually gathered up what courage she had and headed to hi room. Finding his door slightly ajar, she’d peered in, only to discover the room empty. The faint scent of him lingered in the room. It drew her inside against her better judgment.
His scent was everywhere – on the sheets, the pillows, even in the very air she breathed.
Lily remembered sitting on the edge of his bed, planning to wait just a few minutes. But exhaustion had overtaken her, his bed offering a strange comfort she hadn’t expected. Eventually, she found herself leaning down on the soft bed.
His scent wrapped around her like a protective shield, making her feel safe. It gave her a sense of belonging. Her eyelids grew heavy. A blink turned into a night of restful sleep. One she had not had in a long time.
Now here she was, waking up beside him. And he was covered in blood.
A sudden knock at the door made her jump. Zayn didn’t stir, his breathing remaining deep and even. The knocking grew louder, more insistent. Lily glanced nervously between Zayn and the door, unsure of what to do.
When the knocking continued, she slipped carefully from the bed and tiptoed to the door. Opening it just enough to peek through, relief washed over her when she saw Martha’s worried face.
“Lily?” Martha whispered, her eyes wide with surprise. “Thank the Moon Goddess! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Lily quickly stepped into the hallway, pulling the door almost closed behind her. She gestured frantically for Martha to lower her voice, then pointed toward her own room down the hall.
Martha understood, quickly pushing her in there. Once inside, Martha turned to her with her hands on her hips.
“What in the world were you doing in the Alpha’s bedroom? I was worried sick when I found your bed empty!”
Lily’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. She grabbed a small notepad from her nightstand and quickly scribbled.
‘I wanted to talk to him but fell asleep waiting.’
Martha raised a brow. “And he didn’t throw you out? He let you stay?”
Lily shrugged. She wrote.
‘He wasn’t there when I fell asleep. He came back later.’
She hesitated, then added.
‘He was in bed when I woke up, covered in blood.’
“There was an attack at the eastern border last night,” Martha explained. “Mutated beasts. The warriors were called to defend, and Alpha Zayn was there too. That explains the blood.”
Lily nodded, relief washing over her that the blood wasn’t his own.
“So...” Martha’s tone turned suggestive. “You spent the night in his bed?”
Lily’s face burned hotter. She waved her hands frantically in front of her while shaking her head. She even raised three fingers while placing her other hand over her chest, swearing nothing had happened between them.
Martha chuckled. “Very well, if you say so.”
Lily heaved a sigh of relief, glad that she believed her.
“I have something for you,” Martha said, shifting their topic of conversation.
She pulled a small leather-bound notebook from her apron pocket, along with an elegant ink pen.
“The Alpha arranged these for you. To help you communicate while you learn how to sign.”
Lily took them with trembling hands, touched by the thoughtful gesture.
“That’s not all,” Martha continued. “He’s arranged for a tutor to teach you proper sign language. Her name is Shirley. She’ll be here in an hour.”
Lily blinked in surprise, shocked that he actually did as he promised.
“You should clean up and have breakfast before she arrives,” Martha suggested, moving to Lily’s wardrobe to select clothes for her. “I’ll have a bath drawn for you right away.”
An hour later, freshly bathed and dressed in a simple blue dress, Lily sat nervously in a small study room. The door opened, and a woman with kind eyes and gray-streaked brown hair entered.
“You must be Lily,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m Shirley.”
Lily nodded, clutching her new notebook tightly. f|ree(w)ebn\o.vel.com
“The Alpha told me you need to learn sign language,” Shirley said, taking a seat across from her. “Have you learned any signs before?”
Lily opened her notebook and wrote: “Just made-up signs with Martha. Nothing formal.” f\ree webn ovel(.)com
Shirley nodded understandingly. “We’ll start with the basics, then. First, the alphabet and common phrases.”
The lesson passed quickly, with Lily absorbing everything eagerly. Shirley was patient and encouraging, praising Lily’s quick grasp of the hand gestures.
During a brief break, Shirley asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, how have you managed without formal sign language all these years?”
Lily hesitated, then wrote: “Martha helped me. We created our own signs. And I learned to read and write from books.”
“All on your own?” Shirley asked, impressed.
“That’s remarkable,” Shirley said. “Most people with your... challenges would struggle without proper instruction.”
Lily’s fingers moved haltingly as she attempted to sign what she wanted to say. When she fumbled, she wanted to return to the notebook, but Shirley stopped her.
“Keep trying,” She encouraged Lily.
‘I had no choice but to learn. It was the only way to understand the world and for the world to understand me.’
Shirley nodded approvingly, “You did great. You’re a survivor, aren’t you?”
For the first time in ages, Lily felt a sense of pride. She straightened her shoulders slightly and nodded.
“Well,” Shirley said, gathering her teaching materials, “You’re also a natural at this. With daily practice, you’ll be fluent in sign language within weeks.”
Lily’s face lit up with hope.
“We’ll work on basic communication first,” Shirley continued, “then move to more complex expressions. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be able to say anything you want without writing a single word.”
Lily signed “Thank you” – one of the first gestures she’d learned today.
“You’re welcome,” Shirley smiled warmly. “You know, most people would have given up by now if they were in your shoes.”
Lily ducked her head shyly at the praise.
Shirley squeezed Lily’s hand, “You have my word, Lily. I promise to do my best to help you.”