2 A birthday gift

VALENCIA'S POV

"Back to earth, Miss Valencia," Dylan looked at me, making me feel shy when he pulled my cheeks softly to bring me out of my thoughts. 

Dylan, the council head's son, also the next heir of the council, was my only friend in this world.

It was a one-sided friendship from my side. He probably doesn't even know how much I admire him. To me, Dylan was like a celebrity, like an angel who came into my life to save me from 50% of the miseries.

'Well, I won't mind if you fall for him too. Look at those biceps under that shirt. Isn't he like a big species of man? Totally mouthwatering,' My conscience chimed in with a joyous expression and I coughed on the candy that Dylan gave me earlier.

"Are you okay?" Dylan immediately stopped the car at the side before giving me the water bottle. 

"I..*cough* am *cough* fine. Don't worry about *cough*"

"Just drink the water, will you?" He said before patting my back, and I immediately felt heat creep up my neck at his gentle pats.

I drank some of the water and was about to close the cap when Dylan coughed slightly.

"I... I am sorry, Princess. I had drunk from the bottle earlier," Dylan looked at me awkwardly, and I froze in my place for a second. 

Well, it didn't matter. He was just saving …

'D-Did we just have an indirect kiss?' My conscience exclaimed, interrupting my thoughts.

"No we didn't have an indirect kiss," I gritted my teeth at my conscience who grinned, making me look at her confused.

Why was she grinning like - 

I paused and looked at the man in front of me who had an amused expression on his face.

"I never said anything about kissing, Princess," He said while looking at me.

Do you ever feel like you want to bury yourself 6 feet under because it is better than facing embarrassment? That's exactly what I was feeling right now. 

'Well, at least he is not angry with it. It means we surely have some scope,' My conscience, the hopeless romanticist said again, and I clenched my teeth.

'Just shut up and get lost. It's all because of you I am facing this embarrassment in the first place,' I groaned inwardly, looking at my lap, not daring to look at the man beside me, feeling even shier as he chuckled slowly. 

That night after Tyler saved me, it was the message from the council that worked the deal. 

The message said, 'We have felt the presence of the lantern in your pack. She mustn't be harmed. We will come to check up on her and if anything happens to her, you can say goodbye to the alpha's position,'

It was probably the council's way of protecting the weak but it worked wonders.

I also heard that there were packs who treated lanterns even higher than their betas and worshipped them for some unknown beliefs, but look at the kind of luck I got.

"Seriously, Princess, you need to learn to stay in the moment and not keep getting lost in your thoughts when you are with someone," Dylan said, and I bit my lips.

"My attention is on you now. Tell me, what brought you here today?" I asked, my heart relaxing with his soft expression.

"Hmm, open the dashboard cabinet," He said.

I smiled. He probably brought the box of candies for me again, just like he always does. Always treating me like a princess.

However, what I didn't expect was to see a small box with a soft bow and a happy birthday ribbon on it. 

I couldn't say anything for a few seconds as my heart drummed against my chest. 

"This..."

"Your birthday gift," He whispered.

I knew what it was, but... 

I blinked my eyes when I felt tears brimming them. This was my first birthday gift from someone else in the last four years, and I couldn't contain the happiness that was making my heart ache slightly.

"What is in it?" I asked.

"Why don't you look at it yourself and tell me if you liked it?" Dylan turned around the corner, and I noticed how he stopped the car beside the forest which was in the opposite direction of the school.

I opened the box and noticed a weirdly designed pendant that glowed as soon as I placed my finger on the stone.

I couldn't help widening my eyes.

"Oh, it accepted you," Dylan said as if coaxing a little kid and I looked at him, unsure how to express my emotions.

"Wear it when you feel you can't stay in this pack. Wear this and come to me. I will always accept you," Dylan said, his words making me gulp.

Was I really reading too much into things, or were his words really some kind of invitation?

"I can't accept it," I whispered softly.

Dylan's demeanour immediately shifted and he cupped my face, forcing me to look into his beautiful eyes. 

"Why?" He asked, but I just shook my head before closing the box and placing it back where it belonged.

I was about to close the cabinet when his hand stopped me, his face almost close to mine when he leaned to stop me.

"Why, Princess?" He asked again, hurt evident in his eyes.

"The council is already doing so much for me. I can't accept more than I can handle. Please," I said, and he sighed, visibly relieved.

"Stupid girl. Who told you it was from the Council? It's from me," Dylan said before he took the box and pushed it into my bag.

"But-"

"Tell me how was your week? No one bullied you, right?" He cut me off and started driving again, his question catching me off-guard for a second. 

These were the times when I was really thankful for my high and abnormal healing capabilities. Even though I never changed into my wolf, strangely, my healing capabilities were on par with alphas. This was exactly how I was able to hide my pain and wounds from the council for so long.

Why do I hide, you might ask. However, I have only one reason for it. Even after everything, I am still hopeful that once I find my mate and probably change into my wolf, I will get the love I lost four years ago. 

Did no one bully me? Should I tell him about the time when I was locked in the bathroom and those girls threw dirty water on me? Or should I tell him when I was slapped so many times until I passed out because they wanted to see if their training was making them stronger or not? Or -

'Tell him about the time when you caught Tyler having s*x with your sister in the empty classroom. Wasn't it the time when your heart ached the most?' My sarcastic subconscious said, and I pressed my lips into a thin line.

"Nothing eventful happened. I just got locked into the classroom one time, but as always Tyler saved me," I said, putting in some good words for Tyler in front of the council.

Dylan didn't say anything and just nodded. It was almost as if he could see right through my facade and hear my lies.

"It's good that he is taking care of you. I just hope he stays true to himself too," Dylan said, his words confusing me until he stopped the car at the school's entrance.

"Happy birthday, princess. Just remember, no matter what happens, my house is always open for you. Don't think about anything and just come to me," He whispered before accelerating the car, leaving me confused with his words again.

As soon as I turned to the school, the smile on my face dropped, and I sighed, preparing myself for the humiliation and bullying once again. 

"Look at her shameless self. If it had happened to me, I wouldn't have shown up to school," 

"What can we say? If she had that much shame, she would've died already rather than clinging to our alpha like that,"

The harsh comments started as soon as I entered the corridor, and I gulped the retorts and anger before going straight to my class. 

I was eager to complete this day and go back home.

For once, I wanted to get ready, apply a little makeup, and wear the best dress I have in hopes of meeting my mate. After all, it was my coming-of-age 18th birthday when 80% of wolves found their mates.