Lily POVThe morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of the packhouse, casting golden streaks across the polished floors. I sat in the living room, my legs crossed and my hands wrapped around a steaming mug of tea.The packhouse was unusually quiet – different from what I was used to back at my pack and for a moment I allowed myself to ask in the rare peace.I rubbed at my hands fervently trying to fight the chill I felt not from the weather but because I was meeting Helen Ryker – Kai’s mother today.I had gotten a call from her yesterday after my evening classes – she sounded so polite and proper on the phone and before I could say anything, she introduced herself and asked if we could meet today at no other place but the pack house.At first, I’d been sceptical but before I could voice out my doubts, she said she didn’t want Kai to know that we’d be meeting and she wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk and the only place she could be comfortable enough for that was the pa
Lily POVA few days later, I woke up at the crack of dawn and quickly went through my morning routine. I had spent the night at Celeste’s house.By the time I heard movements downstairs, I’d already bathed and showered. When I went down, I saw a dishevelled Celeste in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee. From the tired look on her face and the sleep bags under her eyes, I knew she didn’t have a good night’s sleep.Celeste was in charge of the Welfare servicing of the pack. She allocated funds for meetings, and social groups, took reports of the training and welfare of the pack warriors and everything that had to do with welfare. Since Kai didn’t have a Luna yet, she and her mom were helping out.“Hey,” I greeted her as soon as I entered the kitchen.“Lily?” she narrowed her eyes at me, staring at her wristwatch. “It’s not time for your training yet. Where are you going dressed like this.”“To help you,” I said brightly. “You don’t seem like you want to leave the house this early and w
Briella POVThe only reason why I had insisted on working in Kai’s office was not that I could find every excuse to see him whenever I wanted.I strode into the administrative wing of the Pack Office building, my heels clicking against the tiled floor. The confrontation with Lily earlier today in school had put me in a very good mood and had earned me my points. Sooner or later, Kai’s relationship with Lily will come to light and by that time, everyone will see how unfit she is to be Luna.I was Kai’s perfect match and I’m sure everyone saw it too.When I arrived at the session that leads to Kai’s office, I reached for my ID to scan into the building but the scanner beeped, the light flashing red instead of green. I frowned and tried again, adjusting the angle of my card to fit properly into the scanner but still, the light refused to turn to green.I stood there, my heart racing with anger and disbelief as I looked around, hoping to catch the gaze of any of the security men stationed
Briella POVI turned to see Kevin – Kai’s cousin, leaning casually against the bar. I almost forgot; this was his turf. He regularly frequented here to get out of Kai’s radar and to do whatever he wanted.“Rough day?” he asked taking the shot the bartender placed in front of me and downing it instead.“Hey! That was mine!” I snarled but he was already done with the drink.“I heard you caused quite a scene at the Pack Office Building, but no one would give me the full details.”I sighed heavily as fresh tears rolled down my cheeks. “Kai’s mother – Luna Helen kicked me out of the pack house. Kai deactivated my pass to the office building without being told what I did wrong. They won’t let me see any of them. It's like I’m being erased from the pack entirely.”Kevin whistled low. “Ouch. That’s harsh, even for Aunt Helen.”“Tell me about it,” I muttered reaching for the empty shot glass and drinking the drops in it. “I just want to drink away my sorrow. Can’t you see?”He studied me for a
Kevin POVI woke up with a mild headache and a dead arm.When I turned, Briella was curled next to me, snoring gently. I smiled, pushing back her hair as I stared at her face. I had to give it to myself, I had a knack for sleeping with only the best women. I couldn’t believe I’d added my uncle’s collection to the pile.Stretching, while trying not to wake her, I slowly roused, placing her head gently on the sofa and rose to my feet. Padding barefoot, I crossed the room to the tiny kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. Just as I tried to pour myself a second glass, Briella stirred.She groaned in pain, holding her head as she slowly adjusted into a sitting position.“Oh, my head!” she groaned again.I poured her a glass of water, grabbing some aspirin from the kitchen drawer as I came towards her.“Drink this,” I said quietly “It’ll help.”She raised her head to see me and then I saw everything in her eyes. From surprise to rage and then to panic as her eyes scanned the room, pro
Lucas POV“…And may I get a report on how our warriors are suppressing the rogue alert we received a few days ago in our lower villages?” I asked staring at the Pack’s Gamma. Gamma Leo.“I was going to hand that in tomorrow, Alpha but since we’re all here, I might as well say it. Well, our warriors were able to quell it. Although they haven’t been able to drive out all the rogues terrorizing the area, they’re working hard to do it.”I nodded, satisfied.“That’s okay. Give me more updates on it and let me know when the other items arrive. Thank you all, let’s close the meeting.”I rose to my feet, while the others rose, giving me a curt bow before they filed out of the room.I dropped back on my chair, letting out an exhausted sigh, these days I’ve been working extra hard. One of the ways I knew I could bring Lily back to Golden Moon was to take charge of the affairs of the pack. So that, neither her father Alpha Gregory Stone nor her sister Vanessa would be in the way.Since I couldn’t
Lily POVThe words hit me like a punch to the gut. I froze, my hand hovering over a jar I’d been about to place on the shelf. “What?” I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.He was watching me closely now with a blank look on his face. “You heard me. Vanessa and Lucas are holding their mating ceremony soon. Guess he’s moved on from his little obsession with you.”My stomach twisted. The idea of Lucas being with Vanessa felt… strange. I wasn’t jealous – far from it. But Vanessa was the exact opposite of who Lucas was. She was wild, the kind of wild I didn’t know if he could handle. They were so mismatched – different personalities and all.Kai tilted his head, studying me. “You don’t seem too upset about it,” he remarked.I shot him a strange look. “Why would I be? Lucas and I are ancient history.”His smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. “Then why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”My gaze dropped to the floor. “Of course, I’m worried about Vanessa my sist
Lily POVI tried not to react.Normally, a wolf’s scent wouldn’t linger on another unless they’d been intimate – sexually. The idea was wild but it made a strange kind of sense. Briella had been unusually quiet since her sudden departure from the pack – there’s been nothing on her socials and Kevin seemed different.Were they now dating?My eyes narrowed slightly as I stared at him. He must have noticed my probing gaze because instantly, his expression hardened into something more cautious. “What?” he asked warily.“Nothing,” I shook my head, trying to mask my surprise. “Just… thinking.”He crossed his arms. “Thinking about what? Come on, tell me already. You didn’t just come here to read, did you?”I hesitated, my mind still trying to to understand what could be going on between Kevin and Briella but it wasn’t in my place to pry – at least not now. Instead, I decided to change the topic.“I don’t see any books in your hand. This is not your regular hangout, Kevin. What are you doing
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