Lily POVIt felt like days had passed since the fever started.Slowly, the fever began to subside. The fire that had coursed through my body began to cool too; my temperature returned to normal. Although I was still in a state of unconsciousness – still trapped in the dream world, I could tell I was feeling better and my wolf’s voice was becoming clearer.“You’re awake!” she said warmly. “I’m glad. How do you feel?” she asked.“I’m feeling better,” I murmured “Thank you.”“That’s a relief,” she sighed. “Do you still remember that I’m your wolf? I think it’s time I introduced myself to you properly. My name is Nala and I’m your wolf. I couldn’t appear to you earlier because someone has been feeding you a dangerous substance – The root of Wolfsbane. It’s a dangerous drug and it prevented you from feeling me and also me from awakening and it kept me locked away all these years.”A chill ran down my spine at the revelation and the first name that came to my mind was ‘My father’. “It was m
Kai POVThe news was so shocking that I rose to my feet abruptly. The room fell silent as everyone turned to stare at me in surprise and confusion.“Alpha?” Liam rose and came to stand next to me “Is everything alright?”I barely heard him. My mind was focused on the news I had just been told now. If Lily was going to shift, it would mean a ton of things for me. I needed to be there… she would need me once she finally took her wolf form. I must be there.“My apologies,” I said quietly “An urgent matter just came up that requires my attention now. I need to leave but, in my place, my Beta – Liam would continue the meeting.”Liam was surprised but quickly masked his surprise by nodding in agreement while Gregory was staring at me suspiciously. Without waiting for their response or refusal, I strode to the door, fighting the urge not to run because of the stares on my back.I slammed the door behind me, gritting my teeth against the pouring rain but that wasn’t going to stop me now, not
A while ago…Lily POVThe rain pelted against the window; the rhythm was perfect a contrast to the jumbled emotions swirling withing me. My mind was still whirling with confusion and exhaustion. The remnants of my fever still teased at the edges of my consciousness, clouding my thoughts, but it was not enough to dull the discomfort coursing through me.My body ached, not from the fever itself, but from something deeper – something primal. I could sense it pulsing within me, like an unspoken yearning that twisted my insides.My heart raced as Lucas pressed close, his breath warm against my lips, his familiar scent enveloping me. I knew what was coming - his lips seeking mine. My heart quickened but I didn’t feel the excitement I once felt with him. There was a pull of familiarity, yes, but also a sickening heaviness almost irritation.I wanted to move, to avoid the kiss that seemed inevitable, but my body betrayed me. The comfort from kissing him, the memory of our countless embraces h
Lucas POVI crashed to the ground from Lily’s bedroom. I fell so hard that it took me a minute to come back to myself.I lay on the damp grass, dazed and struggling to catch my breath. My back throbbed with pain but I wasn’t even thinking of how I was thrown out of the window; it was the person I had fought with that my mind was.The strength that was used on me couldn’t be that of a mere warrior – that had to be the infamous Alpha Kai – Alpha of the Royal Hunters pack. As my vision cleared, I scanned the area, searching for any sign of Alpha Kai but the yard was empty. Slowly, I hoisted myself into a sitting position, my body protesting with pain.Confusion loomed in my mind as I thought: Why had the Alpha been in Lily’s bedroom? My wolf stirred with unease inside me.“Did you feel Lily?” I asked Tera, my wolf. “Did you feel our mate bond?”“Yes!” Tera responded immediately. “I sensed her wolf, Lucas. Lily has one now, her wolf has finally emerged.”My heart leapt with joy at the inf
A few days later…Lily POVWhen I woke up, it felt like a lifetime had passed.Consciousness returned to me slowly, like waves lapping at the shore of my mind. The room was dim, the curtain drawn to keep out the harsh afternoon light. My body ached from lingering exhaustion that seemed to come from my bones.For a moment, I was disoriented trying to remember what had happened and why I was in bed again when Nala – my wolf’s voice filtered into my mind.“You’re back!” Nala sounded relieved “You went into another coma because of exhaustion,” she added. “You pushed yourself too hard. Your body needed rest and I was helping you heal.”I sighed, sinking back into the pillows, my mind was still foggy but it was slowly clearing. Snippets of everything that happened before the second coma slowly came to me. “My mate…” I began “Is it true? Is the Alpha really our mate?”My wolf was silent for a minute as if it was considering my question. “How do you feel about him? What do you feel about Alp
Kai POVI could sense her hesitation… I could feel it deep within our mate bond.She shook her head. “I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “It’s just… too much.”My grip tightened slightly, afraid that she might slip away from me. But then, seeing the exhaustion in her eyes, I softened. Gently, I brought her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckle.“I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I’m pushing too hard. You’ve only just awakened and there’s so much you don’t know yet. I’m just excited… I’m sorry!” I said again.“Maybe!” she gave me a thin smile.“Don’t worry,” I said taking my hands away from her waist, Hud whined within me but I cut off his voice. He had to learn how to be patient. “We take it one day at a time. I’m not asking for everything all at once, Lily. But if you give me a chance, you’ll know we are meant to be together.”“Okay!’ she said softly, a tentative smile forming on her lips. “One day at a time.”“Good! Rest now!” I murmured. “We’ll talk more when you’re ready an
Kai POVI leaned against the windowsill in Lily’s room, my mind clouded by the events of the past few days. My mother’s influence was still potent over my every decision and felt like a shadow that refused to dissipate. I’d left my mother’s office in a state of frustrated anger, but now as the initial surge of irritation faded, the hard truth began to seep him.I couldn’t take Lily back with me, at least not yet. Not while my mother remained against the idea of me finding my fated mate. The thought of it gnawed at me, especially since I couldn’t understand why my mother was so vehemently against it. What was she hiding? And why did it matter so much to her? It didn’t make sense. In our society, true mates – fated mates were revered, and seen as a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself. His mother of all people should understand the significance.Giving my mother’s subtle plans with Briella made it painfully clear that introducing Lily right now would only be disastrous. Not just for
Kai POVSomething was wrong!I felt it even before she voiced it out. As Hud reached out to Lily's wolf, ready to initiate the marking process, I felt resistance. Where there should have been an open channel, a merging of our wolves.It was as if an invisible wall had been erected between us, blocking the connection I so desperately craved. I froze when I heard her plea, hating the way she moved away from me… confusion and frustration washed over me in equal measure.Hud growled in displeasure, feeling the rejection in a way that stung deeper than I’d anticipated.“Please! Let’s stop!” she said, pushing farther from me.I pulled back, confusion and hurt etched across my features. Searching her eyes for answers. “Lily,” I said, trying to hide the pain in my voice. “What’s wrong? Did I… did I do something to upset you? Do you not… want this?”She blinked, her expression filled with a mix of uncertainty, hesitation and guilt. “No, Kai, it’s not… I mean, I don’t…” she trailed off, she bit
Lily POVA few days later, I paced my dorm room. My mind was spinning with conflicting emotions. Every interaction with Kai over the last few days, plus what I have learnt some days ago through Celeste’s help, has left me feeling more alienated and uncertain.The mysterious she-wolf had a hold on Kai for show and the revelation that she was being kept unconscious only made my curiosity grow. In reality, the chances of getting caught if I go to the hospital to give her the substance from the vial Celeste had given me was high, but the time for waiting was over—I needed answers.After three hours of planning, I finally came up with a strategy. Picking up my phone, I my fingers trembled slightly as I dialed Kai’s number.“Lily?” his voice was tense as he took the call, as if he was bracing himself for another confrontation.“Hi, Kai,” I began, keeping my tone casual. “I know this sounds awkward and all, and you know me. I’m not the kind of person who will call you out of the blues and…”
Lily POV“What did you say?”Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. Celeste’s voice seemed to be echoing from far off. I wasn’t sure if I still had a smile on my face or something hideous.“They…” she stuttered.“Just lay it to me as it is, Celeste,” I murmured, giving her another expression that I truly hoped was a smile.“They say she’s Kai’s firs mate.”The confirmation hit me like a punch to the gut. I had suspected a mistress, an old girlfriend, a female friend, but nothing had prepared me for this.“First mate? But that’s impossible. Kai never…” I trailed off, swallowing the tears at the back of my throat. “That would explain things now,” I chuckled, swiping at a tear that rolled down my cheeks. “Why didn’t he just tell me? I swear, I would have understood. Why did he make me go through all this trauma of finding out?”“Hey, now!” Celeste placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Don’t jump to conclusions just yet. There’s still so much we don’t know. I am his sister, but I had n
Lily POVThat night, I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Kai’s words replayed in my mind, but so did the doubts and fears that had taken root. I wanted to believe him, to trust that our bond was unbreakable and that we would survive this, but the unknowns were too many.As far as the mysterious she-wolf remained in the background, I feel like there’s nothing that I can do or say that would change whatever was going on between Kai and her, and I can only rest if she’s out of the picture.I turned and tossed for the longest time, unable to sleep. I began to pace my room. My mind was racing with a thousand possibilities. The conversation with Kai earlier broadened my perspective and made me see things differently.The pieces weren’t adding up—Kai’s déjà vu, the mysterious she-wolf’s appearance, Luna Helen’s confrontation that day at the pack hospital… I couldn’t wait around for answers anymore.I have spent too many days and nights feeling helpless, stuck in the middle of mysteries
Lily POVAfter I went up to my room, leaving Kai in the parking lot, half of me had wanted him to leave me alone while the other half desperately wanted him to follow me but as he didn’t do that, nor think it wise to go after me, I decided not to think too much of it.I sat in front of my vanity; my thoughts were spinning like a whirlwind. The fight with Kai still stung. I replayed the scene in my head—his accusatory tone, the coldness in his eyes, and the way he had looked at Coach Jake as if he was a rival.Kai misunderstood everything. That much was clear. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was brewing beneath the surface of his accusations. I was not only shocked that he showed up unexpectedly after I had been begging for his attention all these days.I was so surprised at how he acted. Like a doting husband.~~~The next morning, I was working on some school project, a cold cup of coffee forgotten beside me. The early morning air carried the scent of autumn an
Lily POVI froze, trying to process what he meant.“I know this is coming at maybe a wrong time…”“Maybe?” I sighed. “It is a wrong time, Coach. I mean no disrespect, but I don’t see you in that light. I know you’ve been super helpful these few weeks and you’ve helped me go through a lot of emotional stuff, but taking advantage of my vulnerability to tell me you like me? C’mon, Coach…”“It was Jake a minute ago, Lily,” he said sullenly. “And I wasn’t telling you to date me or anything, but I’ve been here for you all this while. I’ve listened to you go on and on about your woes. I liked you, Lily.. from the first day I saw you and I didn’t know you will be Kai’s mate…”“So, what’s the issue now?” I asked.“I just feel you’re not reciprocating the same energy and likeness I have for you. You literally spend the entire day talking about how much Kai has hurt you…”“Yes, because I feel that way,” I interrupted him. “But that doesn’t mean my feelings have changed. Maybe they might have dim
Lily POVNothing changed after that day in the hospital.I tried my best, put in effort to reach out to Kai, but when he wasn’t in the hospital, he was home sleeping, so I stopped trying and I stopped going to the pack house. There was nothing for me there.Since I couldn’t bear to stay idle and bemoaning my situation, I threw myself into training. Over the last few weeks, the training grounds were my refuge, a place where I could channel my frustration into something productive. Coach Jake was always ready to guide me despite his impairment.The training room echoed with the rhythmic sound of my fists hitting the punching bag. Sweat trickled down my temples as I pushed myself harder, trying to drown out the image of Kai sitting next to the she-wolf, gazing at her tenderly.“Push a little harder, Lily,” Jake called out to me, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Your form is getting better. You’re stronger than you think.”I gritted my teeth, ignoring the way my muscles were burning as I w
Lucas POVAlpha Gregory’s reign had to end.I had genuinely thought that waiting for a few more months, gathering allies or something like that would be the better approach, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that he would not change regardless and the more I keep him in power, the more harm would come to Lily.The man’s cruelty, secrets and manipulations had reached a tipping point and I intend to strip him of his power piece by piece until the pack was mine.I leaned back in my chair, swirling my wine glass in midair, allowing it to catch with the light of the office as I went over my plan one more time. My first move was to ensure Alpha Gregory’s strength waned gradually.I was a Gamma—with a Gamma wolf. Although we are better skilled in fighting battles and all, I was no match for an alpha wolf, which Alpha Gregory had. I could slowly buy all the men who are loyal to him to my side, but that would take a much longer process and something might happen in between.So,
Lucas POVI leaned back in my chair in the spacious Alpha office, which I was gradually claiming as my own.Thankfully, Alpha Gregory preferred to womanize, wine and dine these days and was barely paying attention to any pack activities going on. I drummed my fingers against the polished oak desk staring at the intelligent reports spread out in front of me.Some weeks back, I had decided that I would take charge over the security room. I had done it mainly to look out for Lily since I discovered that someone was supplying information about her to Alpha Gregory.Now, the reports were scattered before me – evidence of how close disaster had come. My heart still raced when I thought about it. Lily. My Lily. Had come so close to losing her life all on Alpha Gregory’s orders.I had acted on instinct. I had posed as Alpha Gregory, using the same means he uses to communicate with his contact from Royal Hunters pack. I immediately sent out a counter order.Capture, don’t killThankfully, the
Kevin POVThe abandoned cabin at the edge of the pack territory served as the perfect meeting spot. I inspected the three mercenaries who I had sneaked into the pack the previous days. They were hardened and trained assassins.Spread out on the makeshift table of stones we had placed in the middle of the room were maps of the pack territory and pictures of Lily taken without her knowledge, plus a detailed schedule of her movement over the past few days.“This is your target,” I gestured towards the pictures. “Her name is Lily. She follows the same route from the college every night to her dorm room. It’s usually at ten to fifteen minutes’ walk and she goes through the oak grove.”The leader of the mercenaries, a scarred man who introduced himself to me as Drake, studied the picture for a few seconds and then sighed shaking his head. “Pretty thing. Shame to waste her.”My lips curled. “She’s more trouble than she’s worth it, believe me. I’ve made sure everything is in place for you to