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
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
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 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
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
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
Lily POVEverything hurtBrightness. That was the first thing I became aware of—a harsh, glaring light that seemed to pierce straight through my eyelids. Pain followed, radiating from what felt like every inch of my body, a dull, persistent throb that intensified with each shallow breath.I tried to open my eyes, but they felt sealed shut, heavy and uncooperative. My mouth was dry,
Kai POVI had no time to dwell on it. The silver wound on my flank burned like fire, joining the chorus of injuries from my fight with Lucas. But Lily needed me, and nothing would stop me from reaching her."Kai!"I turned at the sound of my name, surprised to see my cousin Kevin rushing through the trees toward me. He came to an abrupt halt as he took in the scene—two dead assassin
Chapter 151Kai POVI stood in front of the French window of my office, my breathing ragged, blood was still seeping from the wounds Lucas had inflicted. Vanessa had sent me pack to my pack earlier after reluctantly agreeing to help search for her sister after seeing the evidence of Lucas's betrayal, but we had no solid leads on where he might have taken Lily.
Lily POV"I—I don't know what you mean," I stammered, trying to pull away, but his grip was like iron.In one fluid motion, Lucas shoved me backward, sending me sprawling onto the bed. The key slipped from my grasp, still attached to the chain around his neck."You think I'm stupid?" he snarled, looming over me. "You think I can't tell when you're playing me?"
Lily POVThe mirror in the bathroom of my bedroom was the only thing keeping me sane. Lucas had showed up two days ago, bruised and thoroughly injured. He had tried to force himself on me. He had tied me up and tore my clothes, while screaming that Kai would never have me. I had cried and begged and promised, but all my pleas had fallen on deaf ears. Just when I thought he would finally
Kai POVMy body slammed into Lucas with the force of a freight train, sending us both crashing through his office door. Wood splintered around us as we tumbled into the room, locked together in a tangle of limbs and fury. The desk caught my hip as we fell, pain flaring up my side, but I barely felt it through the red haze of rage.Lucas twisted beneath me, using the momentum to throw me off. I rolled and sprang back to my feet just as he did the same, both of us circling each other in the confined space."You've lost your mind," Lucas spat, a thin line of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Breaking into my territory, attacking me in my own home—"I lunged forward, cutting off his words with a right hook that connected with his jaw. The impact sent a shock up my arm, but the satisfying crunch told me I'd landed it perfectly. Lucas staggered back, his eyes widening with genuine surprise."Where is she?" I demanded again, following up with a left jab that he barely dodged.Lu
Kai POVThe night air was cold against my face as I raced through the forest, my wolf form allowing me to move silently between the shadows. Liam's warnings, my sister, even my own voice of reason – told me this was reckless. Dangerous, possibly stupid but I didn’t care. Lily was gone and Lucas was the only one I could think of who’d be cowardly – and obsessed – enough to pull something like this. Seven days without Lily. Seven days of torture, imagining the worst. I would no longer wait for diplomacy or protocol.I slowed as I approached the border of Golden Moon territory, my nose detecting the subtle shift in scent markers. Crossing another pack's boundary uninvited was a violation of every treaty between our kinds, but I no longer cared about politics. Only Lily mattered.Shifting back to human form, I pulled on the dark clothes I'd carried in a waterproof bag strapped to my wolf's body. The Golden Moon pack house stood in the distance, grand and imposing against the night sky. L
Kai POVI was losing my mind. Every second Lily was gone gnawed at my sanity like a slow, merciless poison. 24 hours turned into days – empty, quiet, suffocation. Hud – my wolf paced inside me, restless and growling, demanding I do something. But what could I do when we had no trail, no scent, no damn clue?I hadn’t marked her either, so there was no bond to feel her.Even now, sitting in this damn meeting, I couldn’t focus. The voices of y advisors droned on like a bee buzz. They were all talking about the welfare of the pack, patrol routes, finances, rogue sightings, a minor land dispute. None of it mattered. Not when Lily was out there – alone, scared or worse. Liam nudged me. This should be the thousandth times. I gave him a glare and tried to return my attention to the meeting. The finance director was talking about an investment. I tried to follow but got lost along the way.Suddenly, the pen I was holding snapped between my fingers, black ink splattering across the contract
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