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
Zara tilted her head, as if considering my words, but the smirk never left her face. “Your baby,” she repeated mockingly. “Do you really think anyone wants that thing? You’re nothing more than a distraction. A liability.”She pressed the scalpel a little harder, not enough to cut, but enough to make her point. “Remember this,” she said in a low, threatening voice. “I could hurt you anytime I wanted. And no one—no one—would stop me.”I swallowed back a sob, feeling completely helpless. The weight of her words and the cold steel against my skin made my hands shake."Please," I begged again, my voice barely above a whisper.The scalpel pressed harder against my skin, sharp enough to make me wince, but before she could do anything more, the sound of the door creaking open made her freeze. My head shot up, my breath catching in my throat.The doctor stepped into the room, followed closely by Kai. Relief flooded through me so strongly that I almost burst into tears. Zara immediately stepped
Lily’s POV He kissed me again, this time on the lips. It was slow and deep, the kind of kiss that made my heart race and my toes curl. The warm water ran down our bodies, but I barely noticed it anymore. Everything else seemed to disappear. There was no mansion, no titles, no expectations. Just me and him. Just love.I clung to him as my body trembled. His touch was gentle but firm, like he knew exactly how to make me feel good without saying a word. I felt the pleasure building, spreading through my body like waves crashing against the shore. My breathing got faster, and I moaned softly into his shoulder. He kept whispering sweet things in my ear, his voice low and comforting. I couldn't even catch all the words, but I felt the love behind them.And then, I climaxed.He didn’t let go. He held me tightly, one arm wrapped around my back, the other hand gently stroking my hair as my body shuddered through the pleasure. I buried my face in his chest, feeling warm and safe and completely
Lily’s POV After the baby shower party, Kai and I finally went back to our room. The halls were quiet now, filled only with the soft glow of evening lights and the echo of happy memories. I couldn’t stop smiling. Everything had felt like a dream—one I didn’t want to wake up from. My heart was still fluttering from all the love, the surprise, and how thoughtful everyone had been. But most of all, from Kai.He opened the door to our room and let me in first, his hand resting gently on the small of my back. I stepped inside, still holding onto the little gold clutch I hadn’t even used much. I turned to him, and our eyes met. The way he looked at me made my stomach flutter all over again. There was so much warmth in his gaze—so much love.“Let me help you out of that dress, my love,” he said, his voice low and soft.I nodded, feeling suddenly shy but excited. I stood still as he walked over to me. His hands moved slowly as he reached behind and unzipped the dress. The quiet sound of the
Lily’s POV Everything felt perfect. The music, the warm evening air, the soft lights above us, the sound of people laughing in the distance—it all came together like magic. Kai leaned down and whispered, “You look like a goddess tonight.” I blushed and looked up at him. “You’re just saying that.” “I mean it,” he said. “You’re glowing. And not just because of the pregnancy.” I let out a soft laugh and squeezed his hand. “You’re too sweet.” We kept dancing, slowly swaying in each other’s arms as soft music played in the background. The fairy lights above us twinkled like stars, casting a warm glow over everything. The garden smelled of fresh roses and sweet pastries, and there was a light breeze that made the moment feel even more magical. I leaned into Kai, resting my head gently against his chest, listening to the steady, calm rhythm of his heartbeat. It was so soothing—strong, reliable, and grounding. His hands rested carefully on my lower back, holding me as if I was the most
Lily’s POV Before I could even fully take everything in, Kai came up beside me again, this time holding a glass of orange juice. He smiled and held it out, but then paused. His nose scrunched a little as he brought the glass to his face and sniffed it.Then, without saying a word, he took a small sip of the drink himself.I blinked at him, confused for a second. “What are you doing?” I asked gently.He looked at me, serious but tender. “Just being careful.”And that’s when I realized what he meant. He was checking the drink—for poison. My chest tightened and I felt that familiar lump in my throat, but this time it wasn’t from sadness.It was from love.He remembered everything I’d been through. He hadn’t forgotten. And now he was making sure, in his own quiet way, that nothing like that ever happened again.“You didn’t have to do that,” I whispered.“I wanted to,” he replied simply. “I’ll always protect you. You and our babies.”I took the glass with trembling fingers, my heart flutt
Lily’s POV He was standing near the base of the staircase, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit with a white shirt that made his golden skin stand out. His tie was a deep forest green, and he looked like he had just stepped out of a magazine. But what made my heart skip wasn’t just how handsome he looked—it was the way he looked at me.His eyes locked onto mine the moment I appeared, and he didn’t look away. His lips parted slightly, and he took a slow step forward.“Wow,” he breathed, as if he forgot how to talk for a second. “You look… absolutely breathtaking.”I felt my cheeks heat up as I looked down shyly, then met his gaze again. “Thank you,” I said softly, unable to stop the smile that spread across my face.He held out his arm for me, and I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow. He covered my hand with his own and gave it a gentle squeeze.“Come,” he said, his voice low and warm. “Let’s go.”I expected him to lead me toward the front door, maybe to a car waiting o
Lily's POV After my shower, I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around me, the warm air clinging to my skin. Steam rolled out behind me as I walked into the bedroom. My hair was damp, curling a little at the ends, and water dripped slowly down my arms and legs. I shivered just a bit from the cool air hitting my wet skin.I paused when I saw the golden gown laid out perfectly on the bed like it was waiting for me. The fabric shimmered softly under the bedroom lights, and for a moment, I just stared at it. It was even more beautiful now than it had looked in the boutique—soft and flowing, with delicate beadwork on the straps and around the waist that made it sparkle like sunlight on water.Mer turned around from the vanity with a big smile on her face. “Perfect timing! Come sit. We’ve got work to do.”I nodded and tightened the towel around me, walking carefully toward the little stool in front of the mirror. I sat down and tried not to fidget as Mer got her makeup kit o
Lily's POV After we finished at the pastry shop—which by the way had the fluffiest, most buttery croissants I’ve ever tasted—we all piled back into Selina’s car. The sweet smell of sugar and cinnamon still clung to my coat, and my stomach felt happy and full. I leaned back into the seat, letting out a little sigh of contentment. My feet were aching just a bit, but it was the good kind of ache, the kind you get after a fun day.The drive back to the mansion was quiet, but not awkward. Sophia had dozed off with her head against the window, a peaceful look on her face. Selina was texting someone quietly, and I just stared out the window, my fingers resting gently on my baby bump. I felt so full of warmth and love in that moment. I had spent the day with people who cared about me, and now I was going home to get ready for a date with the man who made my heart race.When the car finally pulled up in front of the mansion, I reached for my shopping bags and gave Selina a soft smile. “Thank
Lily’s POV I put my phone down and looked up at Selina, who had noticed my smile. “What’s got you smiling like that?” she asked with a teasing glint in her eyes.I couldn’t help but laugh as I showed her my phone. “Kai. He wants to take me to dinner tonight.”She raised an eyebrow and smirked. “The Alpha is completely head over heels for you, isn’t he?”I nodded, my smile widening. “I think so.”Selina laughed, then turned serious. “Look, I’ve been around long enough to know when a man is in love. Anyone with eyes can see it. And Kai... he’s crazy about you.”I looked away, a little embarrassed. “I know he cares about me, but... he hasn’t said the words yet.”Selina smiled softly, placing a hand on my arm. “Some men take their time with that. But don’t worry. He’ll say it when the time is right.”I felt a warmth spread through my chest, and for the first time in a while, I felt a sense of peace. Maybe Kai hadn’t said those three words yet, but everything he did, everything he said, m
Lily’s POV Waiting in the driveway was Selina’s car. A sleek black luxury vehicle that always looked like it had just been washed and polished. It gleamed in the sunlight, the silver rims sparkling like jewelry. The driver stood beside the open door, dressed in a clean black suit, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back neatly. His face lit up with a warm smile as we approached.“Good day, Luna,” he said respectfully, nodding his head in greeting.I smiled back at him. “Good day,” I replied, trying to sound cheerful even though it took a lot of effort just to waddle to the car.With a bit of awkward maneuvering, I climbed into the back seat, shifting slowly so I wouldn’t squish my bump or pull a muscle. Sophia slid in right after me, settling beside me with a dramatic sigh like she was already ready for a nap. Selina got in last, graceful as always, and the doors shut with a soft, expensive-sounding click.The car hummed to life, and soon we were driving through the gates and onto the