Kai POVI was talking to Alpha Rodriguez about renewing our territory agreements when, from the corner of my eyes, I spotted Lucas and Lily talking on the other side of the room. Despite all efforts made by me to concentrate on the conversation, my attention kept drifting towards them.I picked up Lily’s soft voice followed by what Lucas was saying to her – though I didn’t hear it clearly, I saw her smile making me clench my jaw involuntarily.“…and I know this might be too late but is there a chance I could join the coalition for external exports? I declined back then because we had lots of financial issues in our pack but now we are back on track at least,” Alpha Rodriguez was saying.I nodded listlessly, my gaze going back to them. Lucas casually touched Lily’s arms, letting his hand linger longer than necessary. Hud growled with annoyance, I gritted my teeth, holding on to the last shred of my sanity, the only thing that was stopping me from crossing the room at this moment and ya
Kai POVFrom the rearview mirror, I watched Briella's silver car creeping along the street at a measured pace with three cars between her and my car.I had caught a glimpse of her a while ago gripping the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. Beside her, I had seen Kevin, my cousin. They’ve been following me for nearly thirty minutes.At first, I had thought it was a coincidence but after stopping at the supermarket, pretending I wanted something and seeing them following me to park three spaces away from me, I knew I was being tailed.My enhanced senses had picked up Briella’s distinct scent and the sound of her engine from when I had first spotted them. I was on my way to Celeste’s place for dinner with my grandparents and after that go visit Lily. With her hectic school workload, she wanted to make sure she finished up with some of it today so we could have the entire weekend to ourselves.My grandmother had invited both of us but Lily had declined at the dying minute bec
Briella POVMy frustration has been building for weeks.Since that night I followed Kai to his sister’s place hoping to find something incriminating against him, I’ve found nothing. It was either he was careful and must have discovered that I’d been tailing him or it had all been in my imagination and he wasn't doing anything.It was worse that I couldn’t sleep or function or do any of the things I loved to do because I knew something was wrong with him. Not only had he been avoiding me for weeks, he was always busy and every time, it was the same excuses. ‘Pack business’ or ‘territory issues’ And now I’ve been hearing whispers that he was always with someone.The women at his office had been gossiping about it for a while, using it as a way to insult me subtly. I had my suspicions but I needed to confirm. Given Kai’s upbringing, he didn’t seem to me like someone who would settle for someone like Lily.But, I noticed something recently, Kai was always disappearing every dawn and would
Helen POVSleep left my eyes as soon as the call ended.Quickly, I reached for my glasses on the nightstand table and put them on, going straight to my chat with Briella. I nearly threw my phone away with what I saw. Several pictures of Kai kissing a girl that didn’t look familiar to me. There was also a video and after watching the video, it didn’t seem like he was having a fling with the girl in question.I took a deep breath, trying not to get angrier than I already had. I worked so hard to secure the alliance between our packs, put up with a lot, I won’t sit back and do nothing. I dialled Briella’s number, it rang but she didn’t answer when I tried calling the second time, it was switched off.That spoiled brat – she sounded as if she was going to cry on the phone.Sighing, I called Kai… but no response. I even tried to send a mindlink but he was too busy. I shuddered at the image of my son having sex with the woman, shaking my head to clear it off. I stared at my contacts, wonder
Helen POVMy son stood before me radiating his Alpha dominance as he broke the news to me. This would be the second time today that I would hear that my son has a mate.“Mate?” I sighed. “You cannot be so sure, Kai. Maybe there was something about her that triggered you into believing that.”He didn’t answer me and his silence confirmed everything. After he didn’t get his mate when he got his wolf and became a full-fledged adult, I stopped worrying about him finding one but to think that his mate had been in plain sight.“Kai,” I began again, trying to sound reasonable. “We need to talk about this.”He didn’t look at me. “There’s nothing to discuss, Mom.”My lips tightened with frustration as I rose to my feet too, marching up to where he stood. “There’s everything to discuss. I know about Lily, I found out everything about hr and I was hoping that you would deny it even a bit, but to think you brazenly announced her as your mate…. when I know she hasn’t made a decision yet about acce
Kai POVAfter meeting with Lily this morning, a tradition that was fast becoming a habit, I was sure that I was going to have a good day when I got a call from Celeste.Our mother has just left her house and in her own words, she ferreted information from her. If there was something my mom was good at, it was getting information from anyone and Celeste because of her beliefs doesn’t know how to lie.She had sounded so frantic and was begging me to forgive her. To an extent, I was glad that the cat had been let out of the bag and I was surprised that my mom was not acting how I thought she would If anything she didn’t call or send several messages like she would in normal circumstances like this.So, when I got home and saw her sitting in the living room – she rarely comes to this side of the pack house – I didn’t need to be told twice. As I turned to go to my room, she grabbed my arm pulling me back to her.“Fine, give Briella a chance. Go out with her on multiple dates, if you still
Lily POVI was getting ready for bed when Hazel my wolf stirred within me.“Kai, he’s here…” she informed me.“That’s not possible,” I sighed, “He went home, what would he be doing outside my dormitory, it’s late.”“Just check,” she insisted. “I can feel him.”Drawing a long hiss, I pushed myself out of bed and walked to my window which had a bird's-eye view of the entrance of my building. I was shocked when I saw him standing outside the building like he was a sentry.Quickly, I rushed to my phone on the table, wondering whether he called me and I didn’t hear it ring but to my surprise, he hadn’t called either. Throwing on my clothes, I hurried downstairs. We met halfway.His hair was dishevelled, and though his expression was as blank as ever, I could sense something was wrong.“Kai,” I tried not to sound too surprised. “What are you doing here? You could have called me.” I turned to check the hallway hoping no one had stirred when they heard our voices.“I needed to see you,” he sa
Lily POVAt the end of my second lecture for the day, I got a text from Celeste asking to meet me today.Due to our different levels and the fact that she was getting too busy since she was a final year student, I asked her to give me a time that suited her and I’ll come to her instead. Thankfully, right after my second lecture, I received a text from her asking to meet me now. She texted the address too.I found Celeste at a small café near the university campus, her blond hair pulled back in a messy bun, a steaming latte before her. The moment I sat down, she didn’t even allow me to greet her before her expression turned serious.“Our mother knows you’re Kai’s mated,” she said without preamble.I nearly dropped the books in my hands. “She… what?”“She knows,” Celeste repeated, running a hand through her hair. “And now I’m scared to face my brother because I was the one who ratted you out to my mother. In my defence, she came onto me strong and I can’t lie. I tried to evade her quest
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