Lilyâs POV We went back to the mansion the next day. I had been in the hospital for days after the incident, but I couldnât take it anymore. The walls felt too white, too cold. I missed the comfort of my own bed, the warm scent of Kaiâs 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 didnât want to risk anythingânot 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. âYouâll rest. No stress,â Kai said, holding my hand tightly as we got into the car. âThe moment you feel tired, you tell me.â âI will,â 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
Lilyâs 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 hadnât 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 wasnât 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. âYo
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 Iâd 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 latelyâbeing 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 didnât rush me at all. With every step, he kept his hand steady on my side, whispering, âAlmost there, baby,â 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. âLetâs get you comfortable,â he said softly.I nodded, and he help
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 warmâlike 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.âGood morning, sleepyhead,â he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep.âMorning,â I replied, my voice scratchy. I rubbed at my eyes, still feeling a little tired but also comforted by his presence.Thatâs when I saw the tray in his hands. My eyes widened in surprise.âYou brought me breakfast?â I asked, try
âYouâre such a whore,â my fiancÃĐ, Damian yelled, his face twisted with disgust and rage. The sharp edge of his words cut straight through me, leaving me breathless. I couldnât even find the strength to respond. How could I? His accusation felt like a slap, even before his hand actually struck me.âI canât believe you slept with someone else and got pregnant,â he added, his voice rising with each word.Pregnant? I couldnât understand it. It didnât make sense. I was saving myself for him, for our wedding night. I had never even been with anyone, let alone slept with them. I was a virgin. How could I be pregnant? There had to be a mistake. The positive pregnancy test lying on the floor from where he had thrown it had to be a mistake.âI didnât sleep with anyone,â I finally stammered, my voice trembling. âIâm not pregnant.âMy words barely escaped my lips before my stepmotherâs sharp, icy tone cut me off.âYouâre a cheap prostitute, just like your mother,â she spat, her eyes narrowing wi
Her laughter echoed in the night, cold and heartless. âYou heard me. It wasnât that hard, really. A little money and a lot of persuasion can make anything happen. And now, everyone thinks youâre the little whore Iâve painted you to be.âI couldnât move. Couldnât breathe. The ground felt like it was crumbling beneath me. My hands shook as I tried to grasp what she had done.âBut why?â I asked again, my voice barely above a whisper.Her expression hardened, the mask of fake sweetness falling away. âBecause I wanted Damien for myself,â she said bluntly. âHe deserves someone better than you. Someone like me. And now, thanks to me, heâll see you for the fraud you are. He already does.âHer words were like daggers, piercing me again and again. She had stolen my life, my future, all because of her jealousy and greed.Oriana stepped closer, leaning down until her face was inches from mine. âYouâll thank me one day,â she said, her voice filled with venom. âFor showing everyone who you really a
The words hit me like a freight train, knocking the air out of my lungs. I froze, my mind scrambling to process what he had just said. Father? How could this manâthis strangerâclaim to be the father of a baby I hadnât even known I was carrying until a few hours ago? âWhat are you talking about?â I finally managed to whisper, my voice trembling as I fought to keep my emotions in check. Kai stepped closer, and his presence seemed to fill the room, making it feel smaller, suffocating. I instinctively pulled the thin hospital blanket closer to my chest, as though it could shield me from his overpowering intensity. âThe sperm that was implanted in you,â he said, his tone unwavering and matter-of-fact, âitâs mine.â Shock coursed through me, leaving me dizzy and lightheaded. My hands instinctively went to my belly, a feeble attempt to shield the life growing inside me from the storm of emotions swirling around us. How had this happened? How had he found me? And why was he here now?
His mansion. The words hung in the air between us, distant and foreign. I had never imagined my life would take this turn, that I would find myself married to a man like him, living in his mansion. My mind still buzzed with the shock of everything that had happenedâthe pregnancy, his sudden appearance, the stark reality of my new life. But in the pit of my stomach, something told me this was my only chance for survival, for a future where I could at least keep my baby safe. I nodded, taking a shaky breath. âOkay,â I said, though I wasn't sure what 'okay' meant anymore. As we exited the hospital, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The driver stepped out, opening the door with a professional nod.Kai stood beside me, his commanding presence impossible to ignore. âGet in,â he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.I hesitated for a moment, glancing at him before sliding into the backseat. My hands trembled slightly as I clasped them tightly in my lap, trying to anchor myse
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 warmâlike 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.âGood morning, sleepyhead,â he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep.âMorning,â I replied, my voice scratchy. I rubbed at my eyes, still feeling a little tired but also comforted by his presence.Thatâs when I saw the tray in his hands. My eyes widened in surprise.âYou brought me breakfast?â 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 Iâd 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 latelyâbeing 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 didnât rush me at all. With every step, he kept his hand steady on my side, whispering, âAlmost there, baby,â 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. âLetâs get you comfortable,â he said softly.I nodded, and he help
Lilyâs 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 hadnât 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 wasnât 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. âYo
Lilyâs POV We went back to the mansion the next day. I had been in the hospital for days after the incident, but I couldnât take it anymore. The walls felt too white, too cold. I missed the comfort of my own bed, the warm scent of Kaiâs 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 didnât want to risk anythingânot 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. âYouâll rest. No stress,â Kai said, holding my hand tightly as we got into the car. âThe moment you feel tired, you tell me.â âI will,â 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 heâd come.I shifted a little, wincing at firstâbut then realizing something strange. There was no pain. My leg didnât hurt. My ribs didnât ache. My face wasnât 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 hadnât slept. His hair was messy, and his eyes were red, like heâd 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
Kaiâs POV He nodded. âYes. Thatâs exactly what Iâm saying. And sheâs not marked, is she?ââNo,â I said slowly. âI havenât marked her yet.âDoctor Harris looked back at the room again. âThen this shouldnât be happening. A human canât heal this fast. ItâsâĶ well, itâs impossible. Unless thereâs something in her blood. Maybe sheâs not fully human. Or maybe somethingâs changed.âMy mind started racing. âYou mean likeâshe could be turning?âHe shook his head. âItâs too early to say anything for sure. I need to run more tests. Iâve already taken a blood sample, and Iâll have results in a few hours. But Alpha, something strange is going on with her biology.âI 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. âDo whatever you need to do. Run every test. I just want her safe.ââI will,â he said. âI promise.âI nodded slowly, trying to process everything he just told me. I didnât know what this me
Kaiâs 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 didnât fight. She didnât scream or lash out. She just cried harder, shaking her head and begging between sobs.âPleaseâĶ KaiâĶ donât do thisâĶ Iâm sorryâĶ pleaseâĶâBut 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 didnât.I couldnât.I turned my back to her. I couldnât look anymore.Rhys was suddenly beside me. I didnât even hear him come up. He placed a firm hand on my shoulder.âYou did the right thing,â he said quietly.I nodded slowly, but my chest still felt ti
Kaiâs 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 Zaraâs slow, dragging footsteps. She was walking like someone headed for their funeral. And maybe in a way, she was. I didnât 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 didnât know me anymoreânot after what sheâd 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, weakânothing like the confident woman she used to be. But I didnât feel pity. I didnât feel anything except disgust. I walked back to her, reached out, and grabbed her arm. Not tight, not roughâjust enough to get her moving. Even though I hated her for every
Kaiâs 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 couldnât get her pale face out of my mind. I kept seeing her lying in that hospital bedâbruised, broken, with wires and machines surrounding her. It didnât feel real. Or maybe it felt too real.I climbed into the passenger seat while Rhys started the engine. The silence between us wasnât 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 wasnât wrong.The drive back to the mansion felt like it took forever, but at the same time, I couldnât 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. âCall the pack. Gather