We finally made it back to the mansion, and right there, standing by the wide double doors, was Zara. She looked like she had been waiting for us for a while. Her posture was straight, like she was trying to look confident and in control, but there was something stiff about it. Her face was calm, her lips curled into a soft smile, but her eyes were kind of… strange. Like she was trying hard not to let something show.
She had changed into a cream-colored blouse that looked soft and expensive, with pearl buttons down the middle, tucked into a pair of fitted black pants. Her blonde hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, and she wore gold earrings that shimmered a little in the sunlight. She looked neat, elegant, even welcoming—almost like she was the Luna of the pack. Like it was her job to greet everyone and make sure they were well taken care of.As we approached the front steps, she stepped forward, her hands folded together politely in front of her. “Welcome back,After lunch was over, everyone started to move around. Chairs scraped softly against the wooden floors as people stood and stretched. Some were still chatting quietly at the table, while others were already heading out of the dining room. I was just about to stand up when Alpha Josha walked over to me with a smile that was both proud and a little hopeful.He stopped in front of me and gave a small respectful bow of his head. “Miss Lily,” he said warmly, “my daughter, Penelope, has been very eager to see more of the pack. She’s heard a lot of stories, and I think she would love for you to show her around. If you have the time.”I blinked at him for a second, caught a little off guard. I hadn’t talked much to Penelope during lunch, and she seemed kind of quiet. Still, I didn’t want to be rude, and I had to be welcoming.“Of course,” I said with a smile. “I’d be happy to. It would be my pleasure.”He looked relieved and turned slightly to call his daughter over. Penelope got up from her
We kept walking slowly, our shoes crunching softly on the path beneath us. The cool breeze rustled through the trees above, and sunlight peeked through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Birds chirped somewhere in the distance, and I could smell the faint scent of wildflowers that always lingered near the training fields.The conversation had gotten easier by now. At first, Penelope had seemed quiet and unsure, probably because she didn’t know us well, but after a few jokes and smiles, she was starting to relax. Her shoulders weren’t as stiff, and she was laughing at Mer’s silly comments. It made me happy to see her opening up, even just a little.After we passed the training grounds—which were mostly quiet now since most of the warriors were done for the day—we followed a narrow path that led into town. The cobblestone road was a little uneven in places, and I had to hold Penelope’s arm once when she nearly tripped on a loose stone. She laughed it off, a soft, musical
I stared at the words on my screen and blinked. Hold on? What was that supposed to mean? Was he sending someone? Coming here? I tilted my head and let out a soft laugh. Typical Kai, being all cryptic like he was in some secret spy movie.I put my phone down and closed my eyes again, hoping I could relax a bit. But then, not even two minutes later, I heard the door creak open.I sat up quickly, and there he was—Kai, standing there in a plain black t-shirt and joggers, looking calm but with that usual serious look on his face.“What are you doing here?” I asked, surprised and maybe a little shy.He shut the door behind him and walked over to the bed. “You said your feet hurt,” he said, like it was the most obvious reason in the world.I blinked. “So you came to...?”“To give you the best foot rub you’ve ever had,” he said with a little smirk.I stared at him for a second, kind of speechless. He sat at the edge of the bed and gently pulled my legs onto his lap before I could even answer.
My body was still tingling from the soft kiss, and my heart was beating erratically, the sound loud in my ears. I swallowed hard, trying to regain control, but everything felt too much—too intense.His hands slowly moved to the back of my calf, his fingers grazing my skin. I could feel the heat of his touch even though his hands were gentle, his movements slow and deliberate. It wasn’t just the foot rub anymore. It was something more. Something deeper.I tried to gather my thoughts, but I couldn’t focus on anything except the way his hands felt on my skin, the way his presence seemed to fill up every inch of space around us. Kai was looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered in that moment, his dark eyes tracing my every movement, reading me without a word.I was about to say something, anything, to break the silence, but before I could, Kai placed his lips on my ankle again. This time, the kiss was firmer, his mouth pressing against the sensitive skin there, a soft groan
It was time for dinner, and as soon as Kai took my hand, I felt a small sense of warmth spread through me. We walked into the dining room together, where the long table was already set. Everyone was seated, including Zara and Rhys, who had already started chatting. The room was lively, filled with soft murmurs of conversation, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different today. Something had shifted.Kai led me to my seat beside him, the same as at lunch. He helped me settle into the chair before taking his own beside me.Kai greeted everyone, his deep voice carrying through the room as he exchanged pleasantries with the other alphas and their pack members. I nodded to the people around the table, offering a smile where I could. As the food was brought out, the conversation picked up, and everything felt somewhat normal again.Dinner was going well—until Alpha Mischa spoke up."So, how far along are you?" Mischa’s voice broke through the murmur of conversation, and hi
I squeezed Kai’s hand, trying to ground him, to remind him that this wasn’t the time or place to let Mischa’s words get to him. We had a dinner to finish, guests to entertain. This was the last thing I wanted to focus on. “Let’s just have dinner,” I said, my voice a little shakier than I would have liked, but I knew it was the only way to keep the situation from escalating further. “We’re all here to enjoy the evening, right?” I could feel Kai’s gaze on me, the fire in his eyes flickering just a little, like he was weighing whether or not to make a bigger scene. But then he exhaled, long and slow, and I saw the tension leave his shoulders, just slightly. His eyes softened, just a little, and he turned his attention back to the table, though I could tell it wasn’t over yet. “Fine,” Kai said, his voice still low but with a noticeable edge. “But Mischa, don’t think I didn’t hear you.” Mischa just smiled
I walked slowly into Kai’s room—or, well, our room now. The second the door shut behind me, I let out a long sigh. It had been a really long day. My feet were sore, my back ached, and my bump felt heavier than ever. I leaned against the wall for a second and closed my eyes, just listening to the silence. The mansion was quiet now that dinner was over, and it felt kind of peaceful.After a minute, I pushed off the wall and went straight to the bathroom. I undressed slowly, wincing a little as I bent over. My body was definitely changing, and fast. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror—my bump had grown a lot in the last few weeks. I placed my hand over it gently and smiled.“Getting bigger every day, little one,” I whispered.I stepped into the shower and let the warm water wash over me. It felt amazing. I stood there for a while, just soaking it in, letting the steam loosen the tension in my shoulders and back. I ran my hands slowly over my belly, feeling the light kicks from ins
I woke up in the middle of the night with a strong urge to pee. My eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the soft darkness of the room. Everything was still and quiet except for the soft rhythm of Kai’s breathing beside me. His arm was draped over my waist, heavy and warm, like a protective blanket.I looked down at his hand resting on my bump and smiled, even though I was slightly annoyed at having to get up. I hated leaving the warmth of the bed, but this baby had no mercy. If I didn’t pee now, I’d regret it.Carefully, I lifted his hand off me and tried not to disturb him. He shifted slightly, letting out a soft, sleepy sigh, but he didn’t wake up. I sat up slowly, swinging my legs off the bed, and stood up with a quiet grunt. The weight of my belly made everything a bit more of a task these days.The floor was cool under my feet as I walked to the bathroom. I didn’t turn on the light—my eyes had already adjusted to the dark, and I didn’t want to blind myself. I did my business qu
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
Kai’s POV Rhys and I walked together across the dirt path that led to the training grounds. The wind was cold, and the sky had started to turn gray, as if the universe itself knew what was about to happen. Behind us, I could hear Zara’s slow, dragging footsteps. She was walking like someone headed for their funeral. And maybe in a way, she was. I didn’t turn around to look at her, but I could feel her fear and hesitation. She was stalling on purpose, hoping for a miracle, or maybe for me to change my mind. But she didn’t know me anymore—not after what she’d done. I stopped suddenly, anger burning in my chest, and turned around. Zara had fallen behind. Way behind. Her arms were crossed, and her head was down. She looked small, weak—nothing like the confident woman she used to be. But I didn’t feel pity. I didn’t feel anything except disgust. I walked back to her, reached out, and grabbed her arm. Not tight, not rough—just enough to get her moving. Even though I hated her for every
Kai’s POVRhys and I left the hospital quietly, neither of us saying much as we walked toward the car. My chest felt tight the entire time, like something was sitting on it. Even though Doctor Harris had told me Lily was stable, I couldn’t get her pale face out of my mind. I kept seeing her lying in that hospital bed—bruised, broken, with wires and machines surrounding her. It didn’t feel real. Or maybe it felt too real.I climbed into the passenger seat while Rhys started the engine. The silence between us wasn’t awkward. It was heavy. Like we were both holding back everything we really wanted to scream. Rhys kept glancing at me, probably worried I would explode at any moment. He wasn’t wrong.The drive back to the mansion felt like it took forever, but at the same time, I couldn’t remember a single thing we passed. My thoughts were too loud. My emotions were everywhere. Anger. Guilt. Fear. Mostly anger.As soon as Rhys pulled into the driveway, I turned to him. “Call the pack. Gather