Lily POV"There would have been!" he snapped, his composure cracking for a moment. "We were perfect together. The strongest she-wolf in Golden Moon and its Alpha. It was meant to be."I stared at him, truly seeing the madness that lurked behind those blue eyes. "Lucas, listen to yourself. This isn't you. The Lucas I knew would never do something like this.”His expression softened slightly, and for a moment, I thought I might be getting through to him. Then he smiled, and that glimmer of hope vanished."The Lucas you knew was weak," he said. "He thought he could win you back through, respect and patience." He shook his head. "But you've shown me that doesn't work with you. You need a stronger hand.""This is insane," I said, trying a different approach. "People know where I am. Kai is expecting me at the eastern border. When I don't show up—"Lucas laughed again, the sound making my skin crawl. "Oh, I don't think he'll be looking for you anytime soon."The way he said it sent a fresh
Lily POVI don’t know how long it took. I’d lost track of time completely. I didn’t know how long I had stayed and there was practically nothing I could do. At least he was kind enough not to seal my mouth before leaving, but there was no light. I had to rely on my senses. I was thirsty and hungry but I couldn’t trust the food he had placed in the room. I didn’t want to die yet. Just when I thought he would not show up, the door cracked open and he peered in. “Hello…hello…” he sounded happy."You're insane! A complete psychopath! When I get out of here—and I will get out—you're going to regret ever laying a finger on me!" I hurled every insult I could think of at him, my voice growing hoarse from the effort. "My pack will hunt you down like the rabid dog you are!"Lucas just stood there – he didn’t even flinch - watching me, that infuriating grin never leaving his face. His arms were crossed over his chest, his eyes with amusement as if my outrage was nothing more than a child's t
Lily POVI used to think I could withstand anything fate threw at me…I mean – I was hated by my father and my sister, practically a maid in my own house and the invisible daughter of Alpha Stone … but nothing prepared me for the sight that greeted me.My hands trembled on the doorknob of my sister’s bedroom as a strangled gasp escaped my lips. The door was slightly ajar, and through the narrow gap, I could see Lucas – my boyfriend and mate-to-be of three years cuddled together with my sister, Vanessa on the bed.Their voices drifted out, hushed but clear in the quiet hallway.“Just reject her, and it will be over,” Vanessa murmured, running her fingers through Lucas’s hair. “You promised me, Lucas. Don’t chicken out now,”.Lucas sighed, pulling Vanessa closer. “I know that, but… it’s her birthday today, Nessa. Can’t it wait?”Vanessa's eyes narrowed as the corner of her lips lifted into a sneer. “And also, mine, in case you’ve forgotten. So, consider it my birthday gift… it has to b
Lily POVI trudged back to my room, my father’s cold words and Vanessa’s smirk still echoing in my mind. I was used to their ill-treatment. I should be used to it, but every time they spoke to me like this, the sting of their words would pierce through my heart, leaving me miserable.Collapsing onto my bed, I closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift into fantasies of having the best birthday ever tomorrow – one where Lucas would make me feel special and loved.I had barely settled into the dream when the annoying buzz of my alarm clock rang, jolting me awake. Stretching like a lazy cat, I stared at the wall opposite me for a few minutes, I couldn’t believe I was 18 today. Instead of excitement, a familiar weight settled in my chest.No one cared that I was 18 today…Also, I had to make breakfast for my father and Vanessa and do other chores… it didn’t matter that today was my birthday.Dragging myself out of bed, I made my way to the kitchen. Since no one was up, I had the pack house
Lucas POVI sat on the edge of Lily’s bed feeling like a fraud, my eyes fixed on her unconscious form.My heart felt heavy with the weight of what I’d done. I reached out, gently, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.“I’m so sorry, Lily,” I whispered, trying to rein my emotions in. “You deserve so much better than this – than me,”.How had it come to this?As I watched her, memories of us flooded my mind. The first day I met, Lily, she was hiding from a group of girls who had obviously been bullying her. She had looked so fragile that day when she ran up to me and asked me to hide her.She was so different from the others in the pack. While others mocked me for my status as an adopted child, Lily had seen past that and befriended me.That was the first time anyone ever needed me or asked for my help. In that singular moment, I felt as powerful as the moon goddess. Our first date had been at a local diner after weeks of saving… I wanted to take her somewhere special but s
Lily POVMy eyes fluttered open, my head pounding with the worst headache I’d ever experienced.For a moment, I lay still, trying to piece together what had happened. Then like a wave, everything came back to me. Lucas’s rejection, Vanessa’s words that night, the pain I had felt when Lucas rejected me. Everything I had feared would happen had truly happened… the moon goddess knew how to give the best birthday gifts.I sat up abruptly, ignoring the wave of dizziness that washed over me. This wasn’t a nightmare after all. The ache in my chest was enough proof that everything had happened. This was my new reality and it was a bleak one.“Happy birthday to me,” I muttered bitterly, my voice hoarse.As I buried my face in both hands, trying to remember when I had kept the pain meds in my room, the door of my bedroom was thrown open and Lucas ran in. When he saw me, relief flooded his face.My heart clenched painfully as our eyes met. Part of me wanted to scream at him to go away, to never
Kai POVRoyal Hunters Pack.I go by many identities…Some say I am ruthless and do not have blood flowing through me, other’s say I am a reincarnation of the king of death sent to live about werewolves as punishment. Some say I am a human who was punished by the universe but none of these identities stood out more than the last one…That I was a monster – a monster who had killed his father, to claim the Alpha title.There was a time when I used to get bothered by the rumours but the more, I lived, the more I slowly got used to these rumours. These days, I don’t bother myself trying to explain how to become a better person. I just wanted to live my life, protect my pack… that’s all,”.I gazed out from the window of my bedroom to the expanse of my pack lands, loving the way the moon hung low and full over the dense forest, casting long shadows across the land. My pack was like an impenetrable fortress – I made sure of that.The scent of my Beta Liam arriving wafted up to my nose. His f
Lily POVTears blurred my vision as Golden Moon Pack slowly disappeared behind me.I was trying so much to be strong… to not feel, but goddess! I’ve been bottling everything up for far too long and I am tired. My knuckles whitened as I gripped the steering wheel, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.The events of the past 24 hours played on repeat in my head like a cruel, never-ending movie.I had sincerely hoped that my 18th birthday would be my big break. I would finally feel get my wolf – I thought I could finally belong. Instead, I’d found my boyfriend – no, ex-boyfriend now – tangled in the sheet with my sister. The betrayal cut deep… it was a wound that would never heal.Then came the shocking truth surrounding my birth and my eminent exile from the pack – as a Rogue. The word tasted bitter on my tongue. How quickly my dad had turned on me, all because I hadn’t shifted. Because I was weak.I knew I could have insisted on leaving tomorrow… but I was didn’t want to spend another night
Lily POVI don’t know how long it took. I’d lost track of time completely. I didn’t know how long I had stayed and there was practically nothing I could do. At least he was kind enough not to seal my mouth before leaving, but there was no light. I had to rely on my senses. I was thirsty and hungry but I couldn’t trust the food he had placed in the room. I didn’t want to die yet. Just when I thought he would not show up, the door cracked open and he peered in. “Hello…hello…” he sounded happy."You're insane! A complete psychopath! When I get out of here—and I will get out—you're going to regret ever laying a finger on me!" I hurled every insult I could think of at him, my voice growing hoarse from the effort. "My pack will hunt you down like the rabid dog you are!"Lucas just stood there – he didn’t even flinch - watching me, that infuriating grin never leaving his face. His arms were crossed over his chest, his eyes with amusement as if my outrage was nothing more than a child's t
Lily POV"There would have been!" he snapped, his composure cracking for a moment. "We were perfect together. The strongest she-wolf in Golden Moon and its Alpha. It was meant to be."I stared at him, truly seeing the madness that lurked behind those blue eyes. "Lucas, listen to yourself. This isn't you. The Lucas I knew would never do something like this.”His expression softened slightly, and for a moment, I thought I might be getting through to him. Then he smiled, and that glimmer of hope vanished."The Lucas you knew was weak," he said. "He thought he could win you back through, respect and patience." He shook his head. "But you've shown me that doesn't work with you. You need a stronger hand.""This is insane," I said, trying a different approach. "People know where I am. Kai is expecting me at the eastern border. When I don't show up—"Lucas laughed again, the sound making my skin crawl. "Oh, I don't think he'll be looking for you anytime soon."The way he said it sent a fresh
Lily POVPain. That was the first sensation that greeted me as consciousness slowly crept back. A dull, throbbing ache that seemed to wrap around my entire body like a vice. My limbs were stiff, heavy, like they weren’t mine. I tried to move, but a sharp ache lanced through my wrists and ankles.I groaned softly, my head pounding. Darkness surrounded me, thick and suffocating, making it impossible to tell where I was.Where was I? What happened? My eyelids fluttered, struggling against their own weight as I fought to open them. Darkness enveloped me, so complete that for a terrifying moment, I wondered if I'd gone blind. The air was musty and stale, with an underlying scent of damp earth and decay.Had I met Kai yet? Was I at the eastern outskirts of the pack territory? My mind felt foggy, thoughts slipping through my grasp like water through fingers.I tried to sit up, but my body wouldn't cooperate. That's when I realized—my hands wouldn't move independently. They were bound togeth
Lily POVI paused for a minute, trying to school my expression. I didn’t want to worsen the situation than it was already. I hesitated before I showed her the message. "He can't make it here. Wants me to take a cab instead."Celeste threw her hands up. “Unbelievable! He just expects you to—” She groaned. “You are too nice to him.”I laughed. “Or maybe I just understand him.”Celeste rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck in the back of her head. "Typical Kai. Always expecting everyone to accommodate his plans.""He's going through a lot right now," I said, defending him automatically."And you're not?" She gave me one last exasperated look but she didn’t argue further. Instead, she stood up from the bed and helped me zip up my backpack. "Just... be careful, okay? Not just with whatever you might discover, but with your heart."I pulled her into a hug, touched by her concern despite her prickly exterior. "I will. I promise."Together, we headed downstairs. The afternoo
Lily POVI shoved another pair of jeans into my backpack, rolling them tightly to make space. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand. The soft rustling of fabric was the only sound in the room—until Celeste let out an exaggerated huff from the bed behind me.“You really shouldn’t be doing this,” she muttered, arms crossed as she watched me. "You're actually doing this," she repeated again. She was sprawled across my bed with her chin propped on her hand. The irritation in her voice was as obvious as the scowl on her face.I continued stuffing clothes into my backpack, trying to keep my hands steady. "I am. You’ve made that very clear, Cel. And it's going to be fine.""Fine?" She sat up, her dark eyes flashing. “Then why are you still packing?”I sighed, zipping up the main compartment of my bag. “Because I have to do this.”Celeste sat up, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. “No, you don’t,” she argued. “Lily, for Goddess’s sake, my brother treated
Lily POVThe drive back to Celeste's house was filled with a heavy silence. Kai's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, his jaw clenched tight. I wanted to reach over and touch him, to offer some comfort, but I wasn't sure if he wanted that right now. His mind was elsewhere, probably racing with questions about his past.When we pulled into the driveway, Grandpa Marcus and Grandma Elena were sitting on the porch, as if they'd been waiting for us. They shared a look when they saw Kai's face—they knew what was coming."I'll wait inside," I whispered, trying to give them privacy."No." Kai's voice was firm as he grabbed my hand. "Stay with me, please."I nodded, feeling the tremor in his fingers as they intertwined with mine.We approached the porch slowly. There was no small talk, no greeting. Kai simply stood before his grandparents, his voice breaking slightly when he finally spoke.“I know you both know that I lost my memories from seven years ago. I am beginning to g
Kai POVShe collected the sketch from me again. “To say the truth, I don’t think I’ve seen somewhere like this around the pack. Instead of wasting time and energy searching for the meadow, we could simply go to the pack archives. In my former pack, there’s always a record of everything the Alpha does. Marriages, achievements… that sort of thing.”“That’s true.” I nodded. “Every pack keeps detailed records of significant events. If you lost your memory around a specific time, there must be something in the archives about your first mate, maybe even about what happened."I straightened in my chair. How hadn't I thought of that before? "You're right. The records would have everything – marriages, deaths, significant pack events.""Do you know roughly when you lost your memory?" Lily asked, already gathering her things.I closed my eyes, trying to pinpoint a timeline. "Seven years ago. I was twenty-three."Lily nodded decisively. "Then let's go. The archives will have what we need."The
Kai POVbarely slept after that dream. My mind was a battlefield, torn between the fragments of memories that refused to fit together and the overwhelming sense that I had been played. Manipulated.By who, I still didn’t know.But I was damn sure I was going to find out.The moment the sun rose, I called Lily again to remind her she was supposed to come over to the pack house. She needed to hear this. Maybe if I included her in this pain, she would understand that I wasn’t purposely leaving her out. Plus, she was the only one I could trust right now with this confusion brewing inside me.She didn’t say much over the phone. Just that she’d be at the pack house the next day.Now, as I paced back and forth in the main hall, waiting for her, I could feel my wolf clawing beneath my skin. Agitated. Unsettled.Pieces of my memory had started coming back—bit by bit, like shattered glass trying to form a reflection again. But it was slow, infuriatingly slow.I needed answers. And I needed them
Kai POVI stared at Tobias, his weathered face illuminated by the setting sun. Now that he was up close in front of me, he had a lot of similarities to Lily. The color of their eyes, for instance. Now he was staring at me waiting for me to say something—anything. But I didn’t have a damn clue what to say."A spell?" I repeated, trying to keep my voice even. The words felt foreign in my tongue, unreal even as they registered in my brain. "You're saying someone cast a spell on me?"Tobias nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. "Not just any spell, Alpha Kai. A powerful binding charm, created by a hybrid witch. The magic is... unusual. Ancient. I've rarely seen it's like."I ran my hand through my hair, trying to process his words. My life has been a series of unexplainable misfortunes and pain recently. Could it all be because of some curse?"How can you be sure?" I asked, my throat tight. "That’s ridiculous."Tobias tilted his head. "Is it?"I opened my mouth to argue, to shut hi