You Never Series Book 1: You Never Knew Me
Seen
LYRIC
Today’s the day. The day that everyone finally sees me.
I step into the surprisingly nice dress my mother showed up with a little while ago, then zip up the back. I doubt she remembers it’s also my birthday, but it’s still nice to get a gift.
There’ll be no celebration for me afterward, and I’ll be wearing a gown over the dress in the school colors, but she still insisted I wear it. “After all,” she said, “your grandparents”—whom I’ve never met—“are traveling to see their only granddaughter graduate.”
She even mentioned some king from Europe is attending. Whatever. Like I care what kind of powerful butts the alpha is kissing right now.
It’s fine. They’ll all be witness to what I have planned.
I slip on the shoes my mom brought to go with the dress and pull my hair back in a ponytail. Looking in the mirror, my crystal-blue eyes, bluer than even my mother’s, stare back at me. I put on mascara, which I never wear, to highlight them.
When I confront Alpha Marco, he’ll finally look into my eyes and see me. He’ll know just how serious I am.
I step out of my tiny room and present myself to my mother, who’s been waiting in the hall. She squeals and claps her hands excitedly. “Oh, Lyric! You have truly turned into a beauty!”
My eyebrows rise. My mother is beautiful herself. Long blonde hair, blue eyes, a curvy body that she takes excellent care of. Smart too—though maybe not when it comes to men.
But it’s a rare thing for my mother to notice me, let alone compliment me, and I’m having trouble processing it.
A scoff from behind her quickly reins me back in.
I peer over my mother’s shoulder and see Luna Diana standing there with a scowl. She was probably just passing through to the kitchen, but when she sees me looking, she snarls.
I feel my wolf stir in response, but I keep my face impassive. “Soon, Sadie.”
But not yet.
“Thank you, Mother,” I say aloud, allowing a small smile to play on my lips. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’m supposed to help decorate and set up chairs.”
I give her a brief hug—hugging one another is not something either of us are used to—nod at the luna, who huffs and stalks off, then make my escape to the school gym.
By the time I arrive, other students have already completed setting up the podium and have suspended a huge net full of red and gold balloons overhead. After the ceremony, the net will drop, and the balloons will rain down on the graduates while they throw their caps in the air.
“Lyric!” Mr. Marshall approaches me with a smile on his face. “Congratulations, Ms. Valedictorian.” He hands me a small, wrapped box. “And happy birthday.”
Tickled he remembered, I pull the bow off and peel back the shiny paper. Inside the box is a delicate watch. I pull it out, and he takes it from me and helps me put it on.
“I took it to a witch and had her put a spell on it for you.” He glances around then lowers his voice even more. “It will disappear and reappear when you shift.”
Wait—he knows about Sadie?
I must not have hidden my shock, because he winks.
“I’ve known about her for a long time, my dear. She’s a fine wolf. A true alpha. Strong and kind. When you start your own pack, please invite me. I’d join in a heartbeat!”
“But…how?”
“She put her trust in me. Just like you have.” He squeezes my hand, then moves away.
Touched, I look down at the watch once more before continuing to help hang streamers and helium balloons.
At three in the afternoon, it’s time to go backstage and get our caps and gowns on. Alpha Marco steps in with the luna to congratulate everyone just as I’m finishing the last snap on my gown.
He doesn’t offer a happy birthday. He doesn’t even look my way. I shrug to myself and say to Sadie, “Business as usual for the alpha.”
Sadie snickers. “Yes, until we show him what he’s missed out on and lost.”
The diplomas are called alphabetically, so of course Damien, carrying the DeLong name, is called before me. He accepts his diploma with a smug smirk, then sits with his parents on the stage.
Behind them are another few rows of chairs, containing the alphas of the neighboring packs and several honored guests I don’t recognize.
When my turn comes, I walk proudly across the stage to accept my diploma—accompanied by the sound of silence. Unlike with everyone else, there’s no clapping or cheering.
It’s par for the course. I don’t even think they wonder why. It’s just how the alpha and luna treat me, so the rest of the pack has always followed suit.
My own mother doesn’t even acknowledge me or smile my way. Instead, she lowers her head, ever the meek and submissive omega. And I can’t help but notice she’s alone. I guess my grandparents decided not to come after all.
Although I’m used to my mother acting like I don’t exist, it still hurts. Especially on a day she should be proud of me.
Even Mr. Marshall doesn’t cheer for me. But that’s probably for the best. I wouldn’t want Alpha Marco to figure out he’s been helping me.
Mr. Marshall may not be a member of my father’s pack, but he is a member of a neighboring pack, and Alpha Marco could still make his life difficult. He might even lose his job.
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…
And fainter notes of something indefinable but even more delicious.
It’s coming from the stage. But as far as I know, Damien is the only unmated male up there.
“Mate,” Sadie whispers in my head.
“What? Ew!” My lip wrinkles in disgust. “He’s my half brother!”
“Well, apparently not! Perhaps another rooster was sneaking into the henhouse while your mom occupied the alpha.”
I shake my head. “Go figure.”
When the superintendent finally announces me, my heart is beating triple time. But I plaster a fake smile on my face and step up to the podium, where I look out at all the faces of my classmates, their families, and our teachers.
Mr. Marshall risks giving me a thumbs-up, and I grin at him.
“Hello, fellow graduates of Half Moon High School, Half Moon Pack members, allied pack members, and guests. I’ve lived alongside you my entire life, but most of you probably don’t even know my name.”
I wait for the side chatter, which started when I stepped up to the podium, to die down. But I’ve been invisible to these people for so long, they barely notice me up here.
So I raise my voice. “I’ve been told that I’m nothing, treated like I’m nothing, so often I’m starting to believe it. You all sure seem to believe it. Hell, even my own mother believes it!”
That got their attention. And I can tell some of them are puzzled by the change in my appearance. Maybe they don’t even recognize me? The chatter turns into furtive whispers.
“I may be the valedictorian of Half Moon High, but in Half Moon Pack, I am no one. A nobody. But I have a secret. You know me as Lyric Johannes, but that’s not true.” I pause for dramatic effect.
“My name is Lyric, and I am the daughter of Christine Johannes. But my father”—I sweep my arm out like I’m introducing a special guest—“is Alpha Marco DeLong!”
In the stunned silence that follows, I lean in to the mic.
“Yes, you heard that right. I’m the alpha’s bastard daughter.”
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