You Never Series Book 1: You Never Knew Me
Graduation Day
Lyric
Today is the day they finally see me.
I shower, slip into the dress my mother insisted I wear—silky, unnecessary under the graduation gown, but “for her parents,” she said. The grandparents I’ve never even met. My crystal-blue eyes stare back from the mirror, sharp as shards of ice. A swipe of mascara makes them burn brighter, and I see my mother’s eyes stare back at me.
When I confront my father, he’ll look into my eyes and see me. He’ll know I’m serious.
I step out of my tiny room and present myself to my mother. She squeals and claps her hands excitedly. “Oh, Lyric! You have truly turned into a beauty!”
My eyebrows raise. It’s the first compliment my mother has ever given me, and I’m having trouble processing it.
Luna, her scowl sharp enough to slice me in two.
I hug my mother briefly, nod coldly at the luna, and escape to the gym to help set up.
Mr. Marshall finds me among the balloons and folding chairs. He presses a small box into my hands, eyes warm. “Happy birthday, Lyric.”
Inside, a delicate watch gleams.
“I had a witch spell it,” he whispers. “It’ll vanish when you shift.”
My pulse skips. He knows about Sadie?
He winks. “I’ve known about her for a long time, my dear,” he whispers. “She’s a fine wolf. A true alpha. She is strong and kind. When you start your own pack, please invite me. I’ll join in a heartbeat!” His words are hushed to not attract attention. He squeezes my hand, then moves away.
The diplomas are called alphabetically. Of course, Damien, carrying the DeLong name, is called before me. He accepts his diploma with a smug smirk, then sits with the alpha and luna on stage.
And now it’s my turn. I walk proudly across the stage, accompanied by the sound of silence. Unlike everyone else, there is no sound of clapping or cheering. It’s par for the course. My mother doesn’t even acknowledge me or smile my way. Instead, she lowers her head as if in shame. I’ll admit, although I’m used to it, it hurts.
As I take my diploma and carry it off, waiting for the rest of the graduates to be announced before my speech, an enticing scent wafts through the air—wild berries and chocolate. It’s coming from the stage.
From Damien.
“Mate,” Sadie whispers in my head.
“What! Ew! No, Sadie! He’s my half brother!” My lip wrinkles in disgust.
“Well, apparently not! Perhaps another rooster was sneaking into the henhouse while your mom occupied the alpha,” Sadie answers.
I chuckle. “Go figure!”
The superintendent steps up to the podium and announces me. My heart is beating triple time, but I plaster my fake smile on my face and move to the podium, where I look out at all the faces of my classmates and teachers. Mr. Marshall gives me a thumbs-up, and I grin at him.
“Hello, fellow graduates of Half Moon High School. I’ve lived alongside you my entire life as Lyric Johannes, but that’s not true.” I wait for the side chatter, which started when I stepped up to the podium, to die down as my words penetrate.
“Yes, my name is Lyric, and I am the daughter of Christine Johannes. But my father”—I pause for dramatic effect—“is Alpha Marco DeLong.”
There is an uproar as everyone breaks out in disbelief and anger. My father rises from his chair to stop me, and I whirl around on him and growl loudly. “Sit down, Father!” I bark in my alpha voice.
He stops in shock, and I turn back to the crowd. “I am not a nobody. I am an alpha’s daughter. That alpha!” I point to my father. “The same man that has had both his luna and fated mate side by side for years!”
I turn to glare at him, making sure he’s hearing my every word.
“He has been cheating on his luna and his pack, and he’s ignored and tried to hide me away with the help of my mother.”
I turn back to the crowd, now silent. “No more,” I say, my voice strong and my head held high. “I reject both my parents, Alpha DeLong and Christine Johannes. And I reject this pack.”
I stare into the sea of faces, all whose eyes are on me, seeing me and my worth for the first time. “Yes, while you’ve been busy ignoring my existence, I’ve been watching all your interactions, listening to all your secrets. I am well aware of the injustices this pack is capable of. Are you?”
I strip off the gown and yank the cap from my head, tossing it to the ground. Then I take a few steps to stand before my father, who stares into my eyes, his face mottled in anger. “I’m done with you, Father,” I say, my voice loud and clear.
Damien stands and walks toward me, and I wonder what he’s going to say in defense of his father. But my pondering only lasts a moment. There is lust in his eyes, and I know he recognizes me as his mate.
I stick my hand up, a gesture for him to stop. The alpha looks from Damien to me in confusion, and that’s when Damien growls. “Mate.”
I huff in derision. “Not going to happen.” I look directly at Damien. “I, Lyric Johannes, reject you, Damien DeLong, as my mate. I will not be stuck in this pack.”
Damien grabs at his chest and howls, and the Luna rushes forward to support him.
“Makes you wonder how he can be my mate, doesn’t it, Father? It looks like while you were off being all lovey-dovey with Christine, the Luna had her own midnight caller.” He growls low in his throat before his eyes dart to the Luna, who dips her head in shame.
I whirl to face the pack. “Your leaders, ladies and gentlemen!”
I allow Sadie to take over, and together, we hear the startled exclamations and whispers of awe as her huge white self emerges. Sailing over the heads of those standing in front of the stage, we practically fly out of the gym and dart toward the forest.
Sadie’s enormous paws seem to eat up the ground as we make a path through the trees and up into the forested mountains. We quickly locate the hollowed-out tree where I hid a duffel bag and a large backpack. Shifting long enough to slip the backpack on, I shift back, and Sadie grabs the duffel bag with her teeth. Then we take off for the border.
I’ve chosen the path of least resistance. Fewer patrols come out this way because of the rocky incline. I don’t really believe anyone will try to stop me, but my father just saw my wolf. He now knows her to be a strong white alpha.
I refuse to allow him to drag me back into his pack. I cross the rock-strewn slope and turn to look back. It will be the only time I do so.
“I, Lyric Johannes, reject the Half Moon Pack,” I say once more. I’m a little surprised I feel nothing—no anger, resentment, or even sorrow. Then again, why should I? They never really claimed me.
Sadie sniffs the air before altering course and heading us north—toward a new life.
Continue to the next chapter of You Never Series Book 1: You Never Knew Me