Bullied Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 160

lily's pov

The silence in the car was almost palpable and I knew that each and everyone of us present in the car now was struggling with different things at the same time.

There was Cade who had to grasp the reality that he had just killed his mother and had automatically taken her place as Alpha of Gold crest pack. It meant that he was saddled with the responsibility of trying to clear the Corrigan family name and I was certain that the Council was not going to give him an easy fight. Then there was Zac, my playful but deeply damaged mate. I had always thought that beneath that playful smile and arrogant smirk lay something more, something very devastating and even though I had found out what had happened to him, the fact that he seemed to be in such great spirits had made me downplay the kind of horror that he must have faced. It was not until I saw the visceral reaction to Callista or her triumphant smile that I realized how she had broken him and it was now that I finally understood his mother's words to me and her profound gratitude that I was with her son.

He looked like he was in deep thought, his eyes outside the window and I wondered how relieved he must be feeling now, knowing that the person behind his torment was gone for good this time. I wondered if he was at peace. If he was less disturbed. Then there was Angelo, seated at the third and last row of the armoured SUV with Bia wrapped around him. When I had first met Angelo, he had burned me with silver and warned me to stay away from Bia. The last thing I would have ever imagined was that he would actually be willing to work with wolves despite how much I knew he had been raised to hate and fear us. Maybe it had everything to do with Bia but nevertheless, he was with us now. I wondered if he was still angry with us and if he still thought of us as mindless beasts that needed to be eradicated from the earth.

Bia, oh my friend, Bia. She was never going to be human again, would never feel her heart beating the same way again. I would always look at my friend and remember that somehow I was responsible for her vampirism. I wondered what she thought of me now. I wondered if she blamed me for what happened.

And then there was me. Cynthia was dead and I should be relieved but I can't, especially with Victor running amuck somewhere with my mate in his clutches. I was currently a body bag of nervous energy, worried for my friends and those I hold dear. 1 didn't know what was going to happen to my best friend now that she was no longer human. What her fatherwas going to think of her.

Turning around from where I was sitting in the second row seat of Cade's SUV with one of Cade's men behind the wheel, I looked to see Bia, her head bowed over Angelo's wrist as she hungrily fed on him and even though I knew Angelo despised all supernatural creatures. he looked like he didn't even mind being fed on. I was sure that it had everything to do with the fact that it was because it was Bia.

Zac was sitting beside the driver in the passenger seat and I saw him glancing to the back now and again, keeping an eye on Bia and I was sure that he would quickly stop her before she went too far I forced myself to swallow back tears, my heart hurting for my best friend as I imagined the difficult journey that she was going to be starting.

She wouldn't be able to walk in the sun so carelessly now and Bia loved going to the beach. I would watch my best friend slowly lose her humanity and watch her become dependent on blood to survive.

Shaking my head so that the tears wouldn't drop down my cheeks when she looked up and found me staring at her, blood dripped from her lips, her face was filled with guilt, which was probably because she attacked me. I wanted to tell her that she didn't even need to be sorry for it but she looked away and Angelo held her close to him, patting her gently. I finally looked away and decided that it was best to have hope Zac had overcome his urge and with him as her guide, Bia would

too.

Speaking of Zac, I chanced a glance at him and I saw him stiffen when our eyes locked before looking away. He had started keeping his distance from me again ever since he helped me into the car and I knew that even though I had assured him over and over again that I was fine and that he didn't need to feel bad for what happened especially because he was not responsible, I knew that he was still beating himself up for everything Callista had made him do. I understood that he needed time so I would give it to him and I would stand by his side forever.

Cade glanced at me and when I gave him a smile, he returned it but it didn't reach his eyes. A somber look quickly replaced the smile and I realized that he was probably hiding more than we could see about how his mother's death had affected him. After all, despite everything, she had still been his mother and he had loved her with all his heart and hoped that one day she would come around. I could feel a lot of pain through my bond with Zac and feel Cade's grief. If they needed space to deal with their grief, I would try my very best to be there for them.

It was barely seconds after I had just thought that that Cade grabbed my wrists and pulled me onto his laps. My eyes widened at the sudden action and when I tried to move away, he held me tight and buried his face in my chest, causing my eyes to widen in alarm. I was just about to ask what was going on when he finally whispered, his voice sounding hoarse

"Please don't leave. Even if it's only for a few minutes. I know that I shouldn't mourn her, that I should be glad that she's gone. I just need something to tether me to the present. To reassure me that this is not a dream. That this is real. That she's gone." "Oh, Cade," I responded, my heart thudding in my ribcage as I crushed him to my chest and caressed his hair, my heart hurting for him.

I didn't know how long I sat there but after a while I could feel his tense shoulders relax as I continued to pour warmth and comfort to him through our bond. It was surprising in itself that I could even communicate with him that way especially because I had yet to bond with him but I was glad for the opportunity to be able to provide him with comfort during a time like this.

"We are here, Alpha," the driver said and I looked up I saw the gates of Gold crest coming into view. Immediately, I looked at Cade, my eyes filled with panic. "Really? Are you sure that we can go in?"

"What do you mean, Lily? This is my home and you're always welcome in my home."

"We can't take my best friend in there and if you haven't noticed, the entire convoy is filled with human hunters who fought with Angelo and they are banned from Shadow cove." I knew that he would get the message I was trying to pass across as I nudged my head towards Bia.

It seemed I was not ready to accept that she was a vampire yet as much as I had originally believed.

Cade's response was to hug me even closer.

"Gold crest isn't a part of Shadow cove anymore, sunflower and the last time I checked, I am Alpha of Gold Crest. That means, I don't answer to the Council which is beautiful since I never liked them anyways." I almost face palmed myself for easily forgetting. "Oh." I whispered, my face turning red with embarrassment and nodded sheepishly "I knew that. Of course I knew that. I was just trying to test you to see if you knew that as well. Excellent answer by the way."

My attempt to make him smile worked because he grinned wide, the shadows in his eyes leaving and tugged gently at my cheeks.

"You're so adorable" he cooed and pulled me in for a deep kiss that took me by surprise. When he let me up for air and smiled even wider, I knew that I couldn't resist him. Butterflies exploded in my stomach as I Im back.