We headed for the door together, but as we passed by Kai's chair, I felt it—a light, fleeting touch of his hand brushing against mine. My heart jumped, and for a split second, I almost froze. But I forced myself to keep walking, refusing to look back. I couldn’t afford to give him the satisfaction of knowing that one small touch still had that much power over me.Once we were out in the hallway, I let out a shaky breath, finally allowing myself to feel the impact of the evening. My heart was still pounding, and my hands were a little clammy. Rhys must have noticed because he gently squeezed my shoulder."You good?" he asked, concern flickering in his eyes.I nodded, though it wasn’t entirely the truth. "Yeah. Just... exhausted, I guess."He gave me a small smile. "That’s understandable. You’ve had a rough few days."It was time to go to sleep and I couldn’t bear the thought of sleeping in Kai’s room or my room. Biting my lip, I hesitated before asking, "Hey, um... would it be okay if
I kept walking, not bothering to check if Kai was following me. I just needed to get away from the mess of emotions swirling inside me. My feet carried me through the hallways until I finally reached his room. Without a second thought, I shoved the door open and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, but I didn’t bother turning on more lights. I just headed straight for the bathroom, needing a moment to collect myself.Once inside, I closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep, shaky breath. My heart was still racing from the confrontation with Kai and Rhys, and I couldn’t help but replay it over and over in my head. I pushed those thoughts away and moved to turn on the shower, waiting for the water to warm up before stripping off my clothes.Stepping under the hot spray, I let the water wash away the tension from my muscles. I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, feeling the warmth seep into my skin. My thoughts were still a chaotic mess, but the steady stream of water h
Kai’s POV I woke up early, long before the sun had risen. I hadn’t really slept at all, just lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling and then at Lily’s back. She was still asleep, curled up on her side, facing away from me. Her breathing was soft and even, completely unaware of how much my heart ached.I couldn’t stop staring at her. I wanted to reach out and touch her, to pull her close and feel her warmth against me, but I knew better. I’d hurt her, and it was my fault. The guilt was eating me alive, and I couldn’t shake it.Last night had been hell. I’d tried everything to fall asleep—closing my eyes, forcing my mind to go blank, counting backward from a hundred—but nothing worked. Every time I shut my eyes, I saw Lily’s hurt expression when she called me out for kissing Zara. I couldn’t blame her for being upset. I hated myself for letting it happen.It hadn’t meant anything. I never wanted to kiss Zara. She had come into my office looking sad and miserable. I had been goin
Kai’s POV Lily had ran off, I felt the guilt settle over me like a heavy weight. I knew I’d made a terrible mistake, and I didn’t know how to fix it. I couldn’t get the image of Lily’s devastated expression out of my head. I hated myself for hurting her. I wanted to go after her, but I couldn’t leave Zara alone, not when she was this vulnerable.Maybe Rhys was right. Maybe Lily would be better off with someone who wouldn’t hurt her the way I did. Someone who wouldn’t make stupid mistakes and break her heart. But the idea of her being with him made my chest feel tight and my hands clench in frustration. I didn’t want to lose her, but I had no idea how to make things right.I slowly got up from the bed, moving as carefully as I could so I wouldn't wake Lily. She looked so peaceful, lying on her side with her back to me, her dark hair spread out over the pillow. I wanted to reach out and touch her, to feel the warmth of her skin and reassure myself that she was still here. But I didn’t
Lily’s POV I slowly opened my eyes, squinting against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. The room was quiet, too quiet, and it took me a moment to realize that the bed beside me was empty. I turned over, my hand brushing against the cool sheets where Kai should have been. He was gone.A part of me didn’t know how to feel about his absence. Should I be relieved that I didn’t have to face him right now, or hurt that he didn’t bother to stay? My heart felt heavy, and I couldn’t decide which emotion to focus on. I took a deep breath, trying to push away the knot forming in my chest.Slowly, I sat up, feeling the familiar ache in my lower back. I moved carefully, not wanting to jostle myself too much. My hands instinctively went to my baby bump, cradling it gently. At least I wasn’t completely alone. The little one inside me was a constant reminder that, no matter what, I had someone to fight for.I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching slight
Lily’s POV But then I had seen him kissing Zara. My heart had shattered right there in his office, and I couldn’t shake the image from my mind. It hurt so much. I felt embarrassed, stupid even, for letting myself hope that Kai might choose me over her.Mer was still looking at me, her eyes full of concern. I bit my lip and shook my head slowly. “It’s nothing,” I whispered, but the crack in my voice gave me away.Mer’s expression softened, and she pulled me into a tight hug, not saying anything. I closed my eyes, leaning into her, grateful for the comfort even if I couldn’t tell her the whole truth.It was too much. I felt like such a fool for thinking Kai could ever put me first. Of course, he still loved Zara. She was everything I wasn’t—beautiful, confident, and most of all, someone Kai had always protected. I was just... there.I couldn’t help the small sob that escaped, and Mer rubbed my back soothingly. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not re
We continued walking along the path, taking our time. The sun was climbing higher in the sky, warming the cool morning air, and the smell of pine and wildflowers filled the breeze. I couldn’t help but feel a bit lighter after talking to Mer, even though the ache in my chest was still there. Just having her by my side made things a little more bearable.The sound of birds singing softly in the trees seemed to match the rhythm of our steps. I noticed how the sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Mer and I walked in comfortable silence for a while, both of us just soaking in the calm of the morning.Then my phone buzzed, startling me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out of my pocket, glancing at the screen. The name "Elliot" flashed across it, and I hesitated for a second before answering.“Hello?” I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady despite the unexpected call.“Hey, Lily! It’s Elliot,” came his cheerful, upbeat voice. I could almost pictur
When I got to Kai’s room, I hesitated at the door for a moment. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting—maybe to find him there, waiting to talk, or maybe still asleep. But when I pushed the door open, the room was empty. A strange mix of relief and disappointment washed over me. I let out a small sigh and stepped inside, gently closing the door behind me.The room looked just as I had left it earlier. The bed was still a bit messy, the sheets rumpled from where I had been lying down. The faint scent of Kai lingered in the air—a comforting, familiar smell that made my chest tighten. I didn’t want to think about him right now, but it was hard not to when everything in this room reminded me of him.I walked over to the window, pushing the curtains aside to let the sunlight in. The morning light spilled across the floor, brightening up the space. I glanced out at the view of the garden below, watching the breeze make the flowers sway. It was peaceful—too peaceful compared to the storm of emot
I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep until the sharp sound of my phone ringing broke through the quiet of the room. The noise startled me, and I quickly reached for it on the nightstand beside the bed. When I saw Kai’s name flash across the screen, my heart skipped a beat. I smiled even before answering."Hello?" I said softly, my voice a little groggy from the nap.“Hey, beautiful,” Kai’s deep, familiar voice came through the phone, sending warmth rushing through me. “How are you feeling? How’s everything with the babies?”I took a slow breath and placed my hand on my belly, the tiny flutter of movement reassuring me. “We’re fine,” I replied, the words slipping easily from my lips. “I just took a little nap, but I’m doing good.”“That’s good to hear,” he said, sounding pleased. “Listen, I need you to get ready. I’m coming to pick you up soon for our date.”A smile spread across my face. “Okay,” I replied, my heart fluttering at the thought of spending more time with him. “I’ll be wai
When he pulled away, he stayed close, resting his forehead against mine. His breath brushed across my skin, soft and steady, and I felt my heart calm down. It was like everything that had been loud and heavy inside me—the fears, the memories, the pain—suddenly went quiet.And for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t thinking about the past.Not about Zara. Not about the way she had looked at me with so much hatred in her eyes. Not about how I had nearly lost my life because of her. Not about lying in that hospital bed, bruised and broken, unsure if I would ever be the same again.And not about how scared I was of what was happening to me. Of turning into something else—something I didn’t understand yet. A werewolf. A Luna. A mother.All of that faded as I sat there in bed, warm and safe in Kai’s arms. It was just me and him. And our babies.I opened my eyes slowly and looked at him. His expression was soft, full of something I couldn’t quite name, but it made my chest tighten in a
The next morning, I woke up to the soft feel of lips brushing against my forehead. At first, I thought I was dreaming. The kiss was so gentle, almost like a whisper. My eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the golden morning light slipping through the thick curtains. For a moment, everything was quiet and calm, and then I saw him.Kai.He was leaning over me, his messy black hair falling a little into his eyes. His smile was soft and sleepy, but warm—like he had been watching me for a while. His shirt was gone, and I could see the way the light made his skin glow slightly. He looked like something out of a dream.“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep.“Morning,” I replied, my voice scratchy. I rubbed at my eyes, still feeling a little tired but also comforted by his presence.That’s when I saw the tray in his hands. My eyes widened in surprise.“You brought me breakfast?” I asked, try
After dinner, we slowly made our way out of the dining room. Kai never let go of me, not even for a second. His arm stayed wrapped around my waist like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I was full and sleepy, and my body felt heavier than usual. My legs ached a little, and my lower back was starting to hurt too. That happened a lot lately—being almost six months pregnant came with a lot of surprises. Kai kept glancing down at me, his eyes filled with worry, but I gave him a small smile to let him know I was okay.We climbed the stairs carefully. He didn’t rush me at all. With every step, he kept his hand steady on my side, whispering, “Almost there, baby,” like I was running a marathon. When we finally reached our bedroom, he opened the door and helped me inside. The room was warm and smelled like his cologne and something minty from the candles Mer had left earlier.Kai turned to me and gave me a gentle smile. “Let’s get you comfortable,” he said softly.I nodded, and he help
Lily’s POV Soon, it was time for dinner. I took a deep breath as I stood before the full-length mirror in our room, running my hands over the fabric of my dress. It was a soft, flowing lavender gown that hugged my growing belly just enough to feel comfortable. I hadn’t paid much attention to my appearance in the past few days, but tonight felt different. Tonight, I was trying to take things back to some kind of normal. Or at least, as normal as life could feel after everything that had happened. Kai was standing nearby, his eyes watching me with a mix of concern and affection. His attention was always on me now, always looking out for me, especially since the news of the babies. I could feel the weight of his eyes on me, and it wasn’t the kind of weight that made me uncomfortable. It was the kind of weight that felt like safety, like reassurance. But even so, I knew he was nervous. He was always nervous when it came to me these days. “Yo
Lily’s POV We went back to the mansion the next day. I had been in the hospital for days after the incident, but I couldn’t take it anymore. The walls felt too white, too cold. I missed the comfort of my own bed, the warm scent of Kai’s cologne on the sheets, and the way our room always smelled faintly of cedar and something earthy. I wanted to be home. I needed to be home. It took a lot of convincing. Kai was stubborn, like always. He didn’t want to risk anything—not with me, and definitely not with the babies. But after I practically begged him and Doctor Harris stepped in to reassure him that I was healing well, he finally gave in. “You’ll rest. No stress,” Kai said, holding my hand tightly as we got into the car. “The moment you feel tired, you tell me.” “I will,” I promised, resting my other hand gently on my bump. The ride home was quiet. I looked out the window at the trees passing by, my hand never leaving my belly. Kai kept glancing at me every few seconds, like he was
Lily's POVI blinked up at the ceiling, the bright white lights above me making my eyes sting. Everything smelled like antiseptic and plastic. The hospital. I hated hospitals. The last time I was here, I had no one beside me. But this time, I kept hoping he’d come.I shifted a little, wincing at first—but then realizing something strange. There was no pain. My leg didn’t hurt. My ribs didn’t ache. My face wasn’t bruised anymore. I looked down at my arms and blinked in confusion. Just yesterday they were covered in purple-blue marks. Now? Smooth skin. Like nothing ever happened.Was I dreaming?The door opened.My head snapped toward the sound, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw him. Kai.He looked like he hadn’t slept. His hair was messy, and his eyes were red, like he’d been crying. He stood there in the doorway, just staring at me like I was some kind of miracle. I swallowed hard, not sure what to say. Not sure what I even felt. A part of me wanted to cry. Another part wanted to
Kai’s POV He nodded. “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. And she’s not marked, is she?”“No,” I said slowly. “I haven’t marked her yet.”Doctor Harris looked back at the room again. “Then this shouldn’t be happening. A human can’t heal this fast. It’s… well, it’s impossible. Unless there’s something in her blood. Maybe she’s not fully human. Or maybe something’s changed.”My mind started racing. “You mean like—she could be turning?”He shook his head. “It’s too early to say anything for sure. I need to run more tests. I’ve already taken a blood sample, and I’ll have results in a few hours. But Alpha, something strange is going on with her biology.”I stared at the door, my heart thudding against my ribs.Lily. My Lily. What was happening to her?I swallowed hard and looked back at Doctor Harris. “Do whatever you need to do. Run every test. I just want her safe.”“I will,” he said. “I promise.”I nodded slowly, trying to process everything he just told me. I didn’t know what this me
Kai’s POV That was the law. And it was final.The crowd erupted. Growls, howls, and shouts of agreement filled the air. The pack stood behind me. I could feel it in my bones. They trusted me. They believed in what I was doing. And in that moment, I knew I was doing the right thing. Even if it hurt.Two of my strongest warriors stepped forward. I nodded at them, and they approached Zara.She didn’t fight. She didn’t scream or lash out. She just cried harder, shaking her head and begging between sobs.“Please… Kai… don’t do this… I’m sorry… please…”But no one answered her. No one moved to stop the warriors as they gently pulled her to her feet and began walking her away. She kept looking back at me like I would change my mind. But I didn’t.I couldn’t.I turned my back to her. I couldn’t look anymore.Rhys was suddenly beside me. I didn’t even hear him come up. He placed a firm hand on my shoulder.“You did the right thing,” he said quietly.I nodded slowly, but my chest still felt ti