“You okay?” Mer asked, her voice teasing. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”“I’m fine,” I said quickly, though my voice betrayed me.Mer gave me a knowing look. “Don’t let Zara get to you. She may think she has a claim on him, but trust me, Kai’s not going to mark her.”I didn’t know what to say to that, so I stayed quiet. Instead, I focused on the sparring match in front of me, letting myself get lost in the raw power and intensity of it.But then, as if he could feel my gaze, Kai’s eyes flicked in my direction. It was only for a brief moment, but it was enough to make my heart race. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, and I quickly looked away, my face burning.Mer smirked. “He saw you.”“No, he didn’t,” I said, though I could still feel the heat of his stare.“Oh, he definitely did,” she said, her grin widening. “And he looked at you like he sees something he likes.”I didn’t know how to respond, so I just shook my head, hoping she’d drop it. They each fought well, their movements flui
When we got back to the mansion, I went straight to my room, shutting the door behind me with a soft click. The day had been long, and the combination of walking around town, the awkward moments, and the emotions swirling inside me had left me drained. My legs felt heavy as I crossed the room, and I kicked off my sandals near the bed before collapsing onto the soft mattress. The cool sheets against my skin were an immediate relief.I closed my eyes and let out a long, tired sigh. The silence of the room was comforting, wrapping around me like a warm blanket. My mind replayed bits and pieces of the day—Mer’s teasing laugh, the boutique drama, Rhys’s playful smile, and, of course, Kai ignoring me completely. That last part stung more than I wanted to admit, and I pushed the thought aside before it could ruin what had been, overall, a decent day.Before I knew it, sleep crept up on me, pulling me into its embrace.I wasn’t sure how long I had been out, but when I woke up, the room was ba
Rhys chuckled. “That explains why you look so tired. Mer can be a bit... energetic.”I smiled at that. “She is, but I didn’t mind. It was nice to get out of the mansion for a while.”As we chatted, I felt a small sense of normalcy, like I wasn’t the outsider everyone else seemed to see me as. Rhys’s easygoing nature was a welcome change from the tension that hung around the rest of the table.Meanwhile, Zara’s glare didn’t waver. She whispered something to the two women sitting next to her, and they both snickered, casting quick glances in my direction. I ignored them, refusing to let their pettiness ruin my mood.“You’re eating well,” Rhys said with a playful grin. “That’s good. You need to keep your strength up—for you and the baby.”I chuckled, feeling a little self-conscious. “I can’t help it. Ever since I found out I was pregnant, I’ve been hungry all the time.”He laughed lightly. “That’s completely normal. Don’t worry about it.”His reassurance made me feel a little better, but
Startled, I opened my eyes and turned to see Rhys standing beside me. In his hand was a plate, and on it was a slice of cake that looked rich and decadent.He gave me a sheepish smile. “I thought you might need some dessert,” he said, holding the plate out to me.I blinked, surprised by the gesture. “Thank you,” I said softly, taking the plate from him.Rhys nodded and gestured to the bench. “Mind if I sit?”I shook my head quickly. “No, not at all. Please.”He sat down beside me, leaning back and stretching his legs out in front of him. I focused on the cake, taking a small bite. The sweetness melted on my tongue, and for the first time that evening, I felt a small spark of joy.We sat in silence for a while, the only sound being the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. I wasn’t sure what to say, and it seemed Rhys was gathering his thoughts too. Finally, he broke the quiet.“I’m sorry about what happened in there,” he said, his voice low but sincere.I glanced at him, surprised by
“Well,” he began, scratching the back of his neck, “there are ranks. You’ve got warriors, who protect the pack and handle fights. Then there are the Omegas, who take care of the more domestic stuff, like cooking and cleaning. Everyone has a role to play.”“What else do you want to know?” he asked, his tone gentle now.I looked at Rhys, his easy smile making me feel a little braver. “Okay, so… do werewolves really have super strength and heightened senses? Or is that just a myth?”Rhys laughed lightly. “Oh, that’s definitely true. We’re faster, stronger, and our senses—sight, hearing, smell—are way sharper than humans’. It’s how we hunt, protect ourselves, and keep the pack safe. I mean, I could hear you and Mer chatting all the way from the training grounds earlier.”My eyes widened. “You could hear us?”He smirked and nodded. “Every word.”I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “Oh, God. That’s so embarrassing. Did everyone hear?”He chuckled. “Nah, don’t worry. Most people were
It had been a week since I started living in the mansion, and I was slowly getting used to the way things worked around here. Breakfast was always served in my room, which gave me some peace in the mornings. Dinner, however, was another story. I had to face Zara’s cruel remarks every evening. But after a few days of her snide comments, I had learned to ignore her. I no longer ran away or let her get under my skin.On a positive note, there was something that made me smile every day—my baby. My belly was growing so fast that it felt unreal. Though I was only about four weeks pregnant, I already looked like I was three months along. At first, this had terrified me.I remembered the day I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection with wide eyes. My hands rested on my slightly rounded belly as a flood of emotions washed over me—excitement, fear, and a hint of doubt.“Is this normal?” I had asked Rhys in a panicked voice one afternoon.He had laughed softly, leaning against t
I swallowed hard, my resolve wavering. His scent—earthy and intoxicating—was messing with my head. For a brief moment, all I could think about was burying my face in his chest and losing myself in his warmth. But before I could act on the ridiculous thought, he stepped back, putting space between us.Rhys cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “Kai, it’s not a big deal. I offered to take her since she wanted to make sure everything’s fine.”Kai turned his sharp gaze on Rhys. “You’re not taking her. I’ll handle it.”Rhys raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by Kai’s tone. “She asked me, Kai. Maybe you should’ve been around more if you wanted to be included.”Kai ignored him and looked back at me. “Go get in the car. I’ll take you,” he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.I hesitated, glancing at Rhys. He gave me a reassuring nod, his smile still in place. “It’s fine. You’ll be okay,” he said softly.I wished he had more insisted on coming along, but he simply nodded and walk
When we got to the hospital, the smell of disinfectant hit me immediately. It was clean, but the sharp scent made my stomach twist a little. A nurse greeted us at the front desk and led us down a quiet hallway. She opened the door to one of the private rooms and gestured for us to go inside.“The doctor will be with you shortly,” she said with a polite smile before shutting the door behind her.The room was small but cozy. There was a bed with crisp white sheets in the center, a chair in the corner, and a window overlooking the hospital garden. I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands resting on my lap, but I couldn’t stop fidgeting. My nerves were getting the better of me, and I didn’t know how to calm myself down.Kai stood by the window with his arms crossed, his gaze focused on something outside. His expression was unreadable, but his presence was intimidating as always. He hadn’t said much since we arrived, which only made the room feel more tense. Zara, on the other hand, made her
Finally, he stepped aside, and I hurried past him, not daring to look back. I needed to get as far away from him as possible before I completely broke down. My chest felt tight, and my eyes stung, but I refused to cry in front of him.As I walked down the path leading away from the house, I forced myself to take deep, calming breaths. The morning air was cool against my skin, and the soft rustling of leaves overhead was almost comforting. I needed this moment of peace, away from the tension and the ache in my chest. I tried to focus on the steady rhythm of my footsteps, one after the other, moving me farther from the mansion and all the confusion that came with it.My thoughts kept drifting back to Kai, no matter how hard I tried to push them away. I couldn’t get the image of him and Zara out of my head. The way he kissed her with so much passion made my heart ache. I bit my lip to stop the tears that threatened to fall. I didn’t want to cry anymore. I was tired of feeling hurt and co
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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