“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
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep my emotions in check. “I can handle it,” I said softly, though my voice trembled slightly.Kai finally spoke, his voice low and commanding. “Zara, that’s enough.”Her smirk faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered, shrugging nonchalantly. “I’m just saying,” she muttered, looking away.Kai ignored her and turned to me. “You’ll do what the doctor says,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “If there’s anything you need, you let me know.”I nodded, still avoiding his gaze. “Okay,” I whispered.The doctor smiled reassuringly at me. “You’re doing well so far. Just follow the advice, and everything should be fine.”“Thank you, doctor,” I said, my voice barely audible.As the doctor gathered his things, Zara rolled her eyes dramatically. “Are we done here? This has been... enlightening,” she said sarcastically.Kai shot her a warning look. “We’re leaving,” he said curtly, his tone making it clear
The mansion was alive with activity. I could hear faint music playing from outside and the buzz of voices drifting through the halls. Kai, Zara, and Rhys were waiting at the bottom of the stairs. As I slowly made my way down, I noticed Kai’s eyes were locked on me. It was like he was studying every step I took. He looked as effortlessly handsome as ever, dressed in a fitted black dress shirt and matching black slacks. His presence seemed to demand attention without him even trying.Zara stood next to him in a stunning red dress that hugged her figure perfectly. Her hair was styled to perfection, and she looked like she had stepped straight out of a magazine. She was gorgeous, and she knew it. Then there was Rhys, casual as always, wearing a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark jeans. His easy smile lit up his face as he glanced up at me.I tried to steady myself as I descended, one hand holding the railing while the other rested on my belly. Rhys started moving t
Rhys tilted his head, looking at me with a mix of understanding and mischief. "He cares about you and his baby," he corrected gently.I didn’t say anything in reply, too unsure to start a conversation on that topic. My mind was swirling with thoughts, and I didn’t want to get caught up in something that might not be true. Instead, I glanced around the crowd, hoping to spot Mer.I saw her standing near the edge of the party, talking to some of the other women from the pack. She was wearing a soft, flowy dress, and her laughter reached me even from a distance. I smiled, relieved to see her, and started making my way through the crowd toward her.Rhys gave me a small nudge before following behind, his presence a quiet support as I walked. The evening felt alive with energy, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the warmth of the celebration.I spotted Mer from across the lawn, her smile as bright as ever as she moved around, serving drinks to the guests. I waved at her, and she caug
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