Lily POVThe next day, I was still in a deep sleep, loving what I was doing in my dreams when it seemed to me like I was hearing Celeste’s voice in my mind.“Hey, Lily. It’s time to wake up for your first training. Come on!” It was soft at first, almost like an echo as if I was dreaming until I heard someone knocking on the door. I jolted awake; I realized that Celeste was the one who had just mindlinked me to wake up. This was the first time someone was mindlinking me aside from Alpha Kai and it felt so good.Although it was a bit disorienting, yet a little thrilling. This was a new experience for me – being connected to people in such a direct way warmed my heart. For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged and I would do my best to make sure I get used to it.The clock on my bedside table read 5:00 Am, and it was still dark outside. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I wondered why I had to wake this early again when Celeste’s voice reached me the second time.“The training
Lily POVSome hours later…I was in school and was struggling to keep my eyes open. The early morning training session had drained me more than I had expected and now, sitting in the air-conditioned classroom with comfortable chairs and table, my eyelids felt impossibly heavy.Luckily, I was seated next to the girl who had warned me about Kai’s cousin – Kevin. The girl seemed so focused on the lectures and was jotting down every word that came out of the mouth of the lecturer while I was still battling with sleep.When the professor had called on me to answer a question, I had panicked for a split second. My mind was a foggy mess and I had no idea what the question was, let alone answering. But just as I was about to stammer out a response, the girl nudged me subtly and pointed to a section of the textbook.I quickly scanned the text and managed to put together a coherent answer, earning a nod of approval from the professor but after that, I slept even more.Finally, the class was ove
Kai POVIt had become a routine for me to check on Lily secretly every night after she fell asleep. That was the only way I could stay insane and keep my wolf in check too.The pressure was becoming too much for us to handle. It was noon and I was feeling overwhelmed again. The daylight filtered through the curtains, casting a long shadow across my bedroom. I sat on the edge of my bed, a small, wooden box cradled in my hands. Carefully, I lifted the lid, revealing a neatly folded t-shirt inside.It was nothing special to look at – just a simple cotton garment in a soft shade of blue. But to me, it was a precious gift. I lifted the shirt to my face, inhaling deeply. I could smell the faint, lingering scent of Lily on the shirt. The fabric felt soft between my fingers and her scent – fresh, sweet with a hint of something wild that filled my senses.It enveloped me, intoxicating me in the process. I felt Hud stir within me, howling with longing but there was nothing I could do. I had red
Golden Moon Pack Lucas POVI felt my sack grow heavy with need as my head spun dizzily, an indication that I was about to experience deep, immense pleasure.“I’m coming,” I announced in a singsong voice as my movements became unsteady. Suddenly, my body pulsated and I felt myself shooting strings of my load into Vanessa who moaned like a banshee underneath me, her body clutching my rod, sucking out the last load from it.Sighing, I pushed away from her, suddenly feeling irritated and walked towards the bathroom. I stood in the bathroom, letting the hot water cascade over his body, washing away the sweat and Vanessa’s scent. The steam filled the room, blurring my reflection in the shower cubicle. I rubbed myself with both hands, trying to clear my thoughts, but they remained tangled.Every time I slept with Vanessa – Lily’s sister, there was a certain thrill in it, a danger that I couldn’t resist but it always left me feeling empty, hollow even. I turned off the shower, stepping out o
Lily POVI hesitated, wondering whether I wanted to go down this path. I knew that more questions would come up once I answered this first one but I didn’t know if I was ready to share that part of my life. I wasn’t sure I had the emotional capacity to do that, yet, this girl had helped a stranger like me. Someone who she barely knows.Finally, I nodded, drinking from the free bottle of water provided. “Yeah, I’m from another pack. My father is an Alpha, but things were… complicated there. I ended up here and I’m still trying to figure out where I fit in,”.The girl seemed to understand. She leaned back in her chair, studying me with a thoughtful expression. “I get that. It’s not easy being the new one, especially when there’s so much history and expectation tied to who you are,”.I sighed fighting the tears that simmered at the corner of my eyes. “It’s much more than that, my friend,” I gave her a weak smile “I was abandoned by my family probably because I was too weak. You see…” I t
Gregory POV (Lily’s father)A storm was already brewing as we drove into the borders of Royal Hunters Pack.Even as an alpha, Alpha Kai was not one of my favourite Alphas to visit. He was always by himself even during meetings and when he speaks, he speaks so softly that we usually have to strain our ears to hear him. Everyone was afraid of him… including me but this was necessary. I need to find out if Lily is alive or still dead.The sky darkened, casting darkness on an afternoon. I didn’t want to take it as an omen but I had a feeling that things would not go the way I wanted. Our car pulled up to the old hunting lodge, it was a neutral ground. Seeing they wanted to meet at a neutral ground, it means they don’t intend for it to be a lasting meeting. At least, I know he’s hot seeking for alliance.As me and Vanessa opened the doors of our car to alight, as if on cue, a bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the scene before us. The cottage stood like a sentinel, filled with d
Gregory POV (Lily’s father)The scar that stretched across his face seemed to deepen more as he turned and our gaze met, making him look more threatening.Kai’s gaze flickered from me to my daughter, his gaze lingering more on Vanessa before coming back to my face. There was something unreadable in his expression, a cool detachment that sent a chill down my spine. He said nothing at first, simply observing us as if he were weighing us in his mind.The bastard!Finally, he spoke, his voice low and even. “You’ve come a long way from Golden Moon Pack. That’s impressive!” he said taking my hand that I had stretched towards him since a minute ago.I couldn’t also help but notice that he was the tallest among all the werewolves present including me. He towered over everyone else, his presence dominating the space even when he stood perfectly still.I could also swear that he would be toughest to fight against among all the alphas I knew. I mean; I’ve encountered a lot of really good Alphas
Lily POVMy entire body felt like it was engulfed in flames.The heat pulsed through my veins causing every nerve in my body to scream out in protest. My skin was sensitive and sore. I tossed and turned in my bed, the sheets tangling around my legs, every inch of my body covered with sweat.Earlier, when Celeste’s grandfather had come in to check on me – I barely remembered coming to my bed too. Although I had seen his face hovering over me etched with concern as he placed his cool hand on my forehead. I couldn’t recall all that he said but I remembered him saying words like ‘shift’ and late bloomer’ in his conversation as I drifted in and out of consciousness.In my fever-muddled mind, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was going to shift. Was it even possible after all this time?For years, I had thought the Moon Goddess had forsaken me – that she hated me so much and didn’t care whether I had my wolf or remained human. I remembered watching all my friend getting their wolves, bonding
Kai POVI paced my study room, a caged animal trapped in my own anxiety. Five days. Lily had been missing for five days, and every moment without her felt like an eternity. The weight of guilt pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.The door opened and Celeste entered, her expression telling me everything before she spoke a word."The birds couldn't locate her again," she said, shaking her head. "They've searched every clearing, every road within fifty miles."I slammed my fist against the wall, leaving a dent in the plaster. "They must have missed something.""Kai..." Celeste began, but was interrupted as Liam walked in.My beta's face was grim, exhaustion evident in the dark circles under his eyes. "We've combed all the packs within our region. There's no sign of Lily.""That's impossible," I growled, "She couldn't have just vanished."Five days ago, Lily and I were supposed to meet at the border of our pack territory. We'd planned to find Meredith, the old pack healer who ha
Lily POV"I want to feel something," I corrected him. "I want to know if there's any... chemistry between us before we commit to something so permanent.""You never had a problem wanting me before," he murmured."That was before," I replied softly. "Before everything fell apart."Lucas seemed to consider this, his eyes never leaving mine. "And if I can't arouse you?""Then you give me more time," I said simply. "Time to develop those feelings naturally."He was silent for a long moment, and I feared I'd overplayed my hand. But then he smiled, and there was something almost boyish in his expression—as if I'd presented him with a challenge he couldn't resist."I accept," he said finally. "But no games, Lily. You have to be honest about what you feel.""No games," I agreed, ignoring the bitter irony of the promise. This entire situation was a game, one with my freedom—possibly my life—as the prize.Lucas stood and extended his hand to me. "Shall we begin now?"My heart hammered against m
Lily POVFor a second, I couldn’t breathe. The room felt like it spun beneath me.He said it so casually, like it was the simplest thing in the world. Like he wasn’t talking about changing my life forever, about chaining me to him in a way I couldn’t undo.A mating mark was permanent, sacred—it would bind me to Lucas forever. Not even Kai and I have gotten around to marking each other and now Lucas wanted to mark me... No other wolf would touch me once I carried his mark. I would be his ultimate claim.I struggled to keep the horror from showing on my face. "You… you want to mark me?" I echoed, hoping the tremor in my voice would be interpreted as excitement rather than revulsion."Yes," he said, his fingers trailing down my neck to the spot where shoulder meets collarbone—the traditional place for a mating bite. "You'd be mine, Lily. Completely and totally mine."“I wanted to do it back then but you haven’t gotten your wolf then and the whole thing that followed afterwards. But now
Lily POVAfter I heard the definitive click of the door’s lock, I immediately got to work. I tore at the tape covering my mouth, wincing as it pulled at my skin. Finally, I managed to peel it off, gasping for air.My mind raced as I tried to make sense of everything. Lucas hadn't taken me to Golden Moon as he'd said. We were somewhere isolated, somewhere no one would think to look. The packs were territorial—they rarely ventured far from their lands. If we were truly in neutral territory, as Lucas suggested, my chances of being found decreased dramatically.I got up from the bed and rushed to the window, pulling back the thin curtain. Nothing but darkness greeted me, along with the occasional headlights of a passing car. The house appeared to be on some highway, surrounded by nothing but trees. No landmarks I recognized, no signs indicating where we might be.Letting the curtain fall back into place, I sank down onto the edge of the bed. I needed to be smart about this. Lucas had mad
Lily POVA few hours later, he returned. I had showered and rested at least. As soon as I heard the key rattle in its lock, I sprang into a sitting position, I couldn’t give him the notion that I was enjoying my stay. When he finally entered the bedroom, he paused at the doorway as his eyes roamed the room before finally landing on my face. “You’re dressed?” he asked stepping inside but still leaving the door open. “As you can see,” I muttered, rising to my feet and smoothening the yellow dress I had seen in the wardrobe. “What now?”“C’mon, Lily,” he tried to reach for me but I took a step backwards. “You don’t have to be mean to me. I’ve tried to give you everything you want and need. The least you could do is appreciate me. Is it too much to ask for?”“You’ve done nothing that needs my appreciation, Lucas,” I said squarely. “What next? Please tell me.”He wanted to say something but decided against it. “Dinner. I guess you’re hungry. You didn’t touch the meal I placed in the bas
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