*Lila's POV*
I had been locked in this room since I moved in yesterday, bawling my eyes out and refusing to eat. I hadn't stepped outside because I was ashamed. The maids had predicted I wouldn't last here, and they were right.
I heard a knock at my door as I tossed the thousandth tissue into the bin.
"Lila, it's me," Holly's cheerful voice came through the door.
I walked over and opened it for her, since she was the only person my ego would allow me to see right now.
"Hi," she smiled lightly at me.
I glanced down at her hand and saw the tray of food, quickly shaking my head.
"No, Holly. I don't want this, please. Don't try to force me."
"Can I just come in?" She asked in a soft, pleading tone that instantly made me feel bad for pushing her away earlier.
"Fine," I groaned and stepped aside.
"You look horrible," she said, shaking her head with a horrified expression, as if she were looking at a yeti. "In a respectful way, though."
"Yeah, sure," I scoffed as I blew my nose. "I look respectfully ugly as hell. I get it."
"Oh, of course, you know I didn't mean it that way," she said, setting the food down on the side table. "I mean, your hair looks like you were electrocuted, your eyes are as big as snails, and you're as red as a tomato. These aren't all bad things, right? I mean, tomatoes are healthy, and snails are… cute?"
Holly always found a way to make me laugh, and even if I couldn't appreciate much, I could definitely appreciate that.
"No, of course, that's not bad at all," I chuckled and plopped down on the huge bed.
"Look on the bright side," she said softly as she sat beside me. "You still get a really nice room."
"He said he had it pre-made for his mate when he found her. He probably had no idea that I was going to be the one," I huffed, folding my arms across my chest.
"Yeah, but you're the mate, and he has to deal with that," she smiled smugly, leaning comfortably on the bed.
"Well, that's not what he sounded like," I said, narrating in detail everything that had happened after she left.
"Fuck. I'm sorry."
"Yeah. I'm his remedy," I said sadly, then remembered something. "Holly, you mentioned knowing something when you were walking out the door. What were you talking about? What did you know?"
Holly's face transformed into one of pure horror as she looked at me. "No... nothing at all. It's nothing."
"It is something, Holly. Your face already gave that part away," I growled, leaning forward.
"Okay, fine. I overheard him talking to someone about how he hated having to get a mate, and this was what he got. He said he liked the person, but his pack would be powerless, unlike others with Lunas, and so he regrets this."
I tried to convince myself that it wasn't Cole's voice I had heard, but something inside me told me it was his voice, and there was nothing I could do about it. Except keep it from you and avoid hurting your feelings.
"But now my feelings are hurt, and I'm also embarrassed. Isn't that great?"
"Lila, try to take it a bit more lightly, please. Maybe your wolf will awaken soon, and he'll realize he was wrong about treating you this way. Maybe your wolf will even be powerful. I know some people who were late bloomers, and their wolves turned out to be extremely strong."
"Or maybe I'll never bloom, and I'll be a huge disgrace like the others in my pack always believed I would be," I sighed, feeling defeated.
"Don't say that, Lila. You know what? Let's eat and talk later. How about that?"
Just so Holly wouldn't feel bad, I nodded and let her feed me. I could tell from her expression that she felt responsible for this situation, thinking she could have averted it if she had told me earlier what she had heard. It hurt to see her mentally blaming herself, even though I knew it wasn't her fault.
"Your hair looks super nice and shiny today, though," I muttered to pull her out of her thoughts.
"Are you trying to say I have greasy hair?" She gasped dramatically, placing a hand on her chest.
"No, that's not what I mean," I chuckled, and she laughed too.
"I know what you mean, Lila. But my hair looks the same as it does every other day. Maybe it's just because yours looks... bad today." She giggled and brought a spoonful of oats to my lips.
"You think I didn't catch that?" I picked up a pillow and threw it at her head.
"Oh shit. I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she laughed as she fell onto the bed.
"You're crazy; that's what you are. And your hair looks greasy," I laughed loudly, holding my stomach.
"Oh really? Well then watch me rub my greasy hair all over your pillows."
"Stop it," I shouted, laughing as she rubbed her head all over the bed.
"No, I won't."
While she was speaking, I noticed Cole's shadow pass by the door.
If I had doubted the presence of my wolf before, I didn't doubt it now. The moment he passed, I felt my wolf stir, and without thinking, I ran for the door.
"Lila, what is it?" I heard Holly call from behind me, but I didn't care about that right then
now.
"Cole!" I called, running out the door.
"Not right now, Jade," he replied.