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 POVDeciding not to think too much, I started sorting through the files.A moment later, I look up to find the old woman staring at me not when pity but in admiration. Her eyes crinkled with warmth.“You’re a hard worker,” she remarked “Just like your mother.”The mention of my mother made me pause again. I looked up at the woman, feeling my curiosity piquing. “You said before you knew her,” I said quietly. “On my first day in your office, you told me. What did you mean?”The old lady smiled but didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she adjusted her glasses and began arranging some papers on her desk. “Your mother was a remarkable woman,” she said finally. “Strong, kind and full of determination. You remind me of her.”My chest tightened. It wasn’t much, but any scrap of information about my mother felt like a lifeline. “How did you know her?” I pressed.The woman sighed, leaning back in her chair. “We crossed paths many years ago, in a different time and place. I'm afraid I can’t
Lucas POVToday was my mating/marking ceremony with Vanessa Stone – Lily’s sister.This was the only way I knew I could lure out whatever secrets Vanessa and her father were hiding. This way, I’d be able to help Lily and when she discovers the lengths, I’ve gone to get her, she would appreciate me more.The pack gathered in the packhouse compound with a few visitors as guests. I had insisted I didn’t want anything flamboyant. Since the union will not be lasting, I wanted to make sure none of the guest would leave with an impression that what we had would be together forever.The air was thick with the scent of freshly turned earth. I stood tall at the makeshift altar with the Moon Priest who would join us. My dark eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on Vanessa who was walking towards me. Her eyes were still puffy from crying as I had cancelled most of her last-minute add-ons. Still, she managed a smile.She wore a simple white dress, her hair cascading down her back. She was beau
Lily POVFor me, the last two weeks have been hell.The frustration from my mounting school work, Kai’s distance - basically fourteen days of scattered text messages and brief phone calls that felt more like an obligatory check-in than conversations with him and his excuse was ‘I’m busy, Lily. I have a lot of work piling up. I’m sorry.’At first, it was not a big deal for me since I was busy too with schoolwork and all but I was beginning to miss him so much.So tonight, I decided, I’d had enough of waiting for him to come to me. If he couldn’t make time for a date, I would bring the date to him. After classes, I packed an overnight bag and drove to the pack house, hoping to surprise him.The house was quiet when I arrived. Usually, Kai didn’t like servants in his living quarters of the pack house. They only came in to clean the house, make his food etc., so I wasn’t surprised. I settled myself in and then headed straight to the kitchen, an idea already forming in my mind.Kai’s favou
Kai POVI stretched lazily, slowly coming awake.This was the best sleep I’ve had in a long while. As I yawned and stretched some more, my initial grogginess faded making me notice a soft and steady breathing beside me. Turning my head, I was shocked to see Lily lying beside me. Her hair was spread across the pillow, she looked like a baby in her sleep.I closed my eyes trying to remember when she came in, then slowly, everything came to me. She welcomed me last night and told me she made my favourite meal. Sighing, I reached out to push back a strand of hair on her face.She looked so serene, so perfect, that my heart gave an unexpected lurch.My wolf – Hud stirred within me as a primal need surged through me urging me to pull her closer and bury myself in her scent. The thought of that alone was intoxicating but I clenched my fist and forced myself to take a deep breath. This wasn’t the right time – not when I was battling my own uncertainties and hidden memories.Sliding carefully
Lucas POVThe warm glow of the bedside lamp bathed the room in soft, golden hues as I pulled out of Vanessa and lay on the plush pillows, I was spent but my wolf was satisfied.Although Vanessa was not our fated mate she was good in bed… I would give her that at least. Her fingers traced lazy patterns across my chest, stopping now and again to press open-mouthed kisses on where her fingers had just traced but my mind was elsewhere – on Lily.I wondered what she was doing now. All attempts to get a spy into Alpha Kai’s pack had proved abortive and not knowing what she was up to every day was killing me. I closed my eyes, trying to picture her smile, her beautiful eyes that would look up at me with smiles in them…Back when she was still innocent.. when she was still my Lily. The last time we’d met, she’d been cold. She had gazed back at me blankly, without any emotion. The problem was, no matter how much intimacy I shared with Vanessa, my thoughts always circled back to Lily.I have to
Kai POVI cradled the lady in my arms, gazing at her. This was definitely the face of the woman I’d been seeing in my visions. The eyes, the nose, the lips, everything about her was familiar.I felt a close affinity with her, even though everything was just so mysterious. But at least, I knew her name—Maya, and that was something.A while later, the ambulance arrived and the Para-healers that had come with it gave her first aid, after which they strapped her onto a stretcher and loaded her behind the van.“She’ll be fine, Alpha,” one of the Para-healers said assuring. “Her vitals are good, although she has loosed a lot of blood, but she’ll be fine. We’ll take her to the pack hospital immediately.”I nodded. “Thank you so much for coming at such short notice.”“No problem, Alpha. I’ll give you feedback on how everything goes from here on.”“You don’t need to do that,” I brushed past him, hoisting myself to the back of the ambulance “Because I’m going with you to the hospital.”The Para
Lucas POVI sat in my study, nursing a glass of whisky as a storm brewed in my mind.The revelation that Lily wasn’t Alpha Gregory’s biological daughter had changed everything. It explained so much—the coldness she had endured, the scorn from certain members of the pack, the maltreatment from both her father and her sister. It all made sense now.I clenched my jaw, the glass trembling slightly in my grip.No wonder he had been determined to drive her out of the pack in the middle of the night with nothing but an old rickety car. Alpha Gregory, the man who had raised her, who had pretended to be her father, had been behind it all.My wolf snarled beneath my skin. How many times had Lily cried herself to sleep, believing she wasn’t good enough? How many times she had endured the pack’s whispers, the subtle jabs that she killed her mother and the not-so-subtle exclusion?I set my glass down, leaning back in my chair as a grim determination settled over me. I had failed to protect Lily in
Lily POVI flinched at the words but I held my tongue.“You’re not the mate I would have chosen for my son,” she continued coldly. “But Kai made his choice, and as much as I disagree, I have to respect it.”I swallowed hard, my heart sinking further with every word. I thought the learning sessions with her occasionally meant we were bonding. Guess I was wrong.“Luna Helen, I-”“Don’t,” she raised her hand, stopping me mid-sentence. “I’m not here to scold you. I’m here to warn you.”The air in the car seemed to grow thicker.“But before I do that,” she continued lowering her voice as if she wanted to tell me a secret, “this situation with the she-wolf is different. It’s dangerous. Well, the woman is not dangerous in the way you might think, but dangerous.”My brows knitted in confusion. “Dangerous? How?”Luna Helen’s expression darkened. “You don’t understand the influence someone like her can have over an Alpha. A connection—whether from the past or something more recent – can disrupt
Lily POV“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “But I need to talk to Kai.”Luna Helen pursed her lips, but she gave a stiff nod. “We’re not finished here,” she said to Kai before turning and walking away, her heels clicking against the polished floor. As soon as we were alone, Kai sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. He looked exhausted, shadows under his eyes, and tension etched into every line of his face.“What are you doing here, Lily?” he asked. His tone was not unkind but distant.I stepped closer, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “I could ask you the same thing. You’ve been avoiding me for days, Kai. If it’s not this hospital, it’s somewhere else. What’s going on, Kai? What about us? Who is she, truly?”His expression hardened and his gaze drifted to the almost lifeless form of the woman lying on the bed, then back at me. Suddenly, he stirred me towards the door, taking one last glance as we closed
LilyI took Celeste’s advice.My heart pounded as I made my way to the pack hospital. The air was crisp, and the faint scent of pine mingled with the distant sound of chirping birds returning home to their nests for the evening, but none of it eased my nerves.I could hardly sleep last night, going over Kai’s distant behaviour, replaying every word, every moment where he had ignored me, and it was driving me mad.It was not just about the mysterious she-wolf anymore, but about Kai shutting me out completely. I feared the growing distance between us would become insurmountable if I didn’t confront him now.But today, I could confront him.When I reached the hospital, I continued to the VIP floor. The VIP floor was a world of its own. It was quiet, exclusive, and reserved for only members of the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma families. I had been here before, but today felt different.As the elevator stopped and I stepped onto the floor, squaring my shoulders, preparing myself for whatever lay
Lucas POVSince our mating ceremony, I didn’t only gain Vanessa’s trust but also the pack’s respect.The grand hall of the Golden Moon Pack shimmered with opulence, with crystal chandeliers casting soft, golden light across the gathering. Tonight, it was a celebration of the annual Moonlight Gala, the most prestigious event in our social calendar every year.I stood beside Vanessa, my arm loosely draped around her waist. She looked stunning in a deep emerald gown that clung to her curves, her radiant smile drawing attention from everyone in the hall. This would be our first appearance as mates since our ceremony.The gala celebrated the pack’s achievements for the year. Speeches were made, and awards were distributed. Aside from that, this would be a perfect opportunity to begin my plan. I wanted the pack for myself.I was tired of waiting for Alpha Gregory Stone—Vanessa’s father- to die or willingly retire before he handed over the reins of the pack to me entirely. I wanted to be in
Lily POVThat evening, I walked towards the Pack Hospital. Each step felt like walking on hot coal. I wasn't sure what I would find there or what I even wanted to say, but I needed answers.I was sure it was just the maids gossiping, as usual. I was sure it wasn't Kai, but somehow, for the sake of all the doubts running around my head, I needed to clear them.The pack hospital was quiet as I approached. Using the signs, I took the elevator to the VIP floor until I stopped at the door that read 'Alpha'. Steeling myself, I moved closer to the door, wondering if knocking would be a better option or something else.Just as I contemplated, the door swivelled open, and a team of healers and nurses stepped out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Thankful for the quick fix, I moved closer and peeked in.Kai was sitting beside the bed of the injured she-wolf. His shoulders were sagged as if the world's weight was on him. He stared intently at her as if his gaze were her oxygen. The sh
Lily POVThe day passed in a blur.I attended all my classes, barely able to concentrate as my thoughts kept drifting back to Kai. I replayed our last few interactions from a week ago, searching for clues or signs I might have missed.But there was none.So, what was the problem?After my last class, I rushed to the pack house, determined to wait for Kai. I won’t let his distance or silence push me away. If he needed time, I would give it to him, but I needed to hear the words from his mouth—I deserve that honesty, at least.I waited all afternoon for him, but he didn’t come home. Suspecting he was held up at the office, I decided to work on my school project.By evening, there was still no sign of him. I busied myself with inconsequential tasks around the house, hoping he’d come home soon.I opened several gift boxes sent to Kai… Some were already a year old. I reheated dinner—I didn’t eat yet; I wanted us to eat together and in my mind; I kept rehearsing everything I would say to hi
Lily POVI paced the length of the living room in the pack house, my mind replaying everything that had happened that day.Kai’s cold dismissal at the hospital had stung more than I wanted to admit. I’d come to his side out of concern, but he’d pushed me away as though I was some stranger.I had left out of anger and the plan was to go back to my dormitory and never bother myself with him again until he reached out, but here; I was still waiting for him. I made some food for him, hoping he would come back any moment soon.But after 9 pm, I was growing worried.It was well past midnight when I heard the front door creak open, announcing his arrival. I froze where I sat on the couch in the living room, my heart racing with fear and anger. Deciding I would approach calmly and reasonably. I had to address what happened today.As he stepped into the living room, I rose to my feet, watching as he paused slightly; his face was pale and weary, dark circles shadowing his features. His shirt w
Kai POVI cradled the lady in my arms, gazing at her. This was definitely the face of the woman I’d been seeing in my visions. The eyes, the nose, the lips, everything about her was familiar.I felt a close affinity with her, even though everything was just so mysterious. But at least, I knew her name—Maya, and that was something.A while later, the ambulance arrived and the Para-healers that had come with it gave her first aid, after which they strapped her onto a stretcher and loaded her behind the van.“She’ll be fine, Alpha,” one of the Para-healers said assuring. “Her vitals are good, although she has loosed a lot of blood, but she’ll be fine. We’ll take her to the pack hospital immediately.”I nodded. “Thank you so much for coming at such short notice.”“No problem, Alpha. I’ll give you feedback on how everything goes from here on.”“You don’t need to do that,” I brushed past him, hoisting myself to the back of the ambulance “Because I’m going with you to the hospital.”The Para