Mated To The Hybrid Prince - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

(Lily’s POV)
I stared at myself in the mirror, dressed and conflicted. The lavender dress Aria picked shimmered slightly under the light, hugging my body like it had been made for me.
I barely recognized the girl in the reflection, not because of the outfit or the soft curls Aria had pinned and curled into place, but because of the expression on her face. Torn, vulnerable, and tired.
"You look amazing," Aria muttered behind me in her burgundy bodycon dress, as she adjusted her earrings. "And if you keep frowning, I’m going to force-feed you lip gloss."
I gave a faint smile.
A part of me felt honored by the invitation from our classmate. Being seen again— not ignored or pitied, but another part of me wanted to crawl under a blanket and vanish. The last party I attended ended in betrayal. It was Zion’s. That night had clawed through me, tearing out something I hadn’t gotten back.
Ravena stirred. "Let’s not go," she begged, but Vaelith hissed in disapproval.
"No, let's show them we can’t be broken."
The tension inside me crackled beneath my skin, but Aria didn’t give me room to second-guess. She linked our arms and grinned. "Let’s make an entrance."
And we did.
We descended the stairs together, our heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Dev and Tobe were waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
They had cleaned up well; dark jeans, fresh sneakers, and button-up shirts rolled at the sleeves. Not too formal, not too casual. Just... cool. Dev's silver curls were brushed back, and Tobe had a mischievous glint in his eye as he looked us over.
"Well damn," Tobe said, grinning. "The guys better not be ogling at my sisters,"
Then he stepped toward Aria, and offered his arm. She took it without a word but smirked slightly. Dev then reached for mine with a dramatic bow, and I rolled my eyes before slipping my arm through his.
"Let’s go cause some trouble," he whispered, and like that, we stepped into the night.
The moment we stepped into the party, loud whistles rang out as if we were celebrities crashing the scene. The music pounded through the floor, rattling through my chest. The house was packed with my school mates; some dancing, others pressed into corners, kissing and making out. Colored lights flashed across sweaty bodies, laughter rising above the thumping bass.
I hesitated near the door. "This is insane."
"And you’re hot," Dev winked. "So own it."
Sienna, the birthday girl, emerged from the crowd. She looked radiant in gold, her eyes lighting up when she saw us. She hugged everyone, but I caught the way her gaze lingered on Dev. Just a flicker, but it was there.
"Come," she beamed. "You guys belong in VIP."
We followed her through the crowd, the music and lights blurring behind us. The VIP section had lower lighting, plush couches, and all too familiar faces.
Zion.
Celeste, draped against him like a second skin. Then Kate, Kade, and Lucien.
Zion met my gaze like he’d been waiting. His stare was intense. I held it for a heartbeat... then looked away.
"Glad you made it," Lucien said to Aria with a small smile, but she ignored him and a flicker of something... hurt maybe passed over his face.
I wondered if they knew each other on a personal level.
The air was tense until someone shouted, "Truth or dare!"
The energy in the room shifted and everyone leaned forward excitedly. The bottle spun and a few harmless rounds passed. Then it landed on Zion.
Sienna clapped. "Kiss the girl you find most attractive."
Zion stood, and looked at me warmly. My breath hitched, my heart thudded loudly. Was he going to...?
Then he turned and kissed Celeste softly.
The room erupted with cheers, but everything inside me crumbled.
I stood up, spun around on my heels and pushed through the crowd. The heat, the music, the laughter... everything blurred. Cold air slapped my face as I burst outside.
"Lily!" Aria shouted after me.
"Wait!" Tobe called.
They caught up with me as I stood at the edge of the yard, my hands trembling.
My shoulders shook as sobs tore through me, raw and breathless. It wasn’t just pain; it was grief, betrayal, every silent wound I’d tucked away. It came from a place so deep I didn’t know I still had room to hurt. My throat ached, and each tear tasted like all the things I had swallowed to keep me from falling apart. Shame. Regret. Heartbreak.
I was broken, and no part of me could muffle my cries.
Dev skidded to a stop beside us, suddenly going still. His nostrils flared, and a low growl vibrated in his chest. His blue eyes had changed, a quiet warning that his wolf had surfaced.
"Dev?" Aria asked warily.
He gave me an apologetic look, his voice low. “I can smell her... my mate.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Go.”
With one last glance, he turned and took off. Aria and Tobe turned toward me again.
"Let’s go home," Aria said gently. "Dev will be fine."
I nodded weakly when I remembered I had forgotten my golden purse at the VIP section.
"Uhmm... I forgot my purse," I muttered, wiping my cheeks.
"I’ll get it," Aria offered immediately.
"No," I said. "I’ll go."
"Are you sure?" Tobe asked. "I could..."
"I’ll be fine," I said, forcing a smile.
They exchanged a look.
"Okay," Aria sighed. "We’ll go start the car."
"Five minutes," Tobe added, pointing a finger. "If we see you crying again, there will be a bloodbath." he swore, and I smiled a little. Then they turned away and walked towards the car park.
I stood there alone for a moment, breathing in the cold air. My chest ached like it had been scraped raw. I had known Zion could hurt me, but not like this.
I walked slowly back toward the house, every step heavier than the last.
Then I saw him... Lucien stepped out of the shadows with my purse in his hand, like he’d been waiting for me.
It was the way he looked at me that scared me a little.
His gold eyes weren’t smug or playful. They were a little sad, and he said
"Be my girlfriend..."