We walked into the dining room together, still holding hands. The room was already bustling with pack members chatting and eating, the clinking of plates and silverware filling the air. The smell of fresh bread, eggs, and something sweet—maybe honey-glazed ham—made my stomach rumble.
At the head table, Kai was seated in his usual spot, looking every bit the Alpha he was. Zara sat to his right, her expression unreadable as always. But it was Kai’s reaction that caught my attention—his eyes widened slightly when he saw me. I guess he hadn’t expected me to actually show up. I couldn’t blame him. This was my first time eating breakfast with everyone. Normally, I took my meals in my room, avoiding all the awkward stares and whispers.Rhys, sitting on Kai’s left, noticed us approaching and grinned. “Well, well, look who finally decided to join the living,” he teased.I rolled my eyes, but I was grinning too. “Shut up,” I said playfully.Mer, still flustThe tone was low, calm… but there was an edge to it.Rhys finally seemed to notice the tension in the air because his smile faded slightly. “Yeah?”Kai’s gaze flickered down to where Rhys’ hand was still resting on my shoulder.I swallowed.Oh.Rhys seemed to realize it too because he immediately pulled his hand back. I kept my eyes on my plate, shoving a piece of bacon into my mouth like it was the most interesting thing in the world. But no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, I could still feel Kai’s gaze on me. It was intense, like he was silently trying to send a message I couldn’t understand.Well… this just got interesting.Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to sneak a quick peek at Zara.Big mistake.She was glaring at Kai like she wanted to set him on fire with her eyes. Her jaw was tight, her fingers gripping her fork so hard I thought it might snap in half.Yikes. Awkw
And there it was.I kept my expression calm, refusing to let her words sink in. I had played this game before. People like Zara wanted a reaction, and the best way to win was not to give them one.I tilted my head slightly, smiling just as sweetly. “That’s thoughtful of him,” I said, making sure my voice was light and easy, like she hadn’t just tried to insult me. “What time is the meeting?”Zara blinked, like she hadn’t expected me to brush her off so easily. But she recovered quickly. “Two o’clock. At Poppy’s.”Ah, Poppy’s. I remembered it from my tour with Mer. It was a cute little diner with the best pastries I’d ever tasted. At least the location was a win.I nodded. “Great. I’ll be there.”Then, before she could say anything else, I stood up, grabbed Mer’s hand, and walked out of the dining room without looking back.As soon as we were in the hallway, Mer let out a long breath and shook her head. “I swear, she’s un
I blinked in confusion. What?"But... I was on time," I said, glancing at the clock on the wall just to be sure. It was exactly 2 PM, the time Zara had told me.The red-haired woman scoffed, shaking her head. "The meeting started an hour ago," she snapped.My stomach dropped.What?It took me a few seconds to put the pieces together. My gaze flickered to Zara, who was sipping her tea as if she hadn't just set me up.Of course.Of course she had done this.Zara had given me the wrong time on purpose. She had made sure I arrived late so I would look irresponsible.I clenched my fists under the table, forcing myself to stay calm."Zara told me the meeting was at 2," I said, my voice steady but firm.The room fell into silence.Zara let out a soft gasp, placing a hand on her chest like I had just accused her of something horrible. "Me?" she asked, eyes wide with fake innocence.I nodded. "Yes. You told me—""I'm so sorry if there was a misunderstanding," Zara interrupted, her voice sweet
"You handled yourself well," a soft voice said.I looked up to find the kind woman who had spoken up earlier. She offered me a small, encouraging smile, her warm brown eyes filled with understanding."Zara likes to test people," she continued. "But don’t let her get to you."I returned her smile, though mine was a bit tired. "It’s hard not to," I admitted. "She clearly enjoys making things difficult for me."Selina let out a knowing chuckle. "Oh, she does," she agreed. "But people like her? They thrive on reactions. The best thing you can do is not give her one."I sighed. "Easier said than done.""You’ll get the hang of it," she assured me.She extended her hand. "I’m Selina, by the way. My mate is one of the pack elders."That explained the way she carried herself—with confidence, grace, and authority. Unlike Zara, though, she didn’t seem to wield her influence as a weapon."I’m—" I started, but she cut me off with a small laugh."I know who you are," she said with a smile. "Everyon
I looked up to see a woman standing next to me. She had a welcoming smile, and there was something comforting about the way she carried herself. She was middle-aged, with kind brown eyes and short, wavy hair. Her apron, embroidered with the store’s name, told me she was the owner.“I’m Andrea,” she introduced herself, her voice full of warmth. “I own this store. And you are...?”I smiled back, feeling at ease right away. “I’m Lily. I’m... well, I’m pregnant, and I was just admiring the things here. I don’t have any money on me right now.”Andrea’s smile grew, and she waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. You’re carrying the Alpha’s child, right? That’s reason enough for you to have something from here.”I blinked in surprise. “You know who I am?”She chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, yes. Word gets around in a close-knit community like this. Plus, with the Alpha’s mate expecting, how could we not know?”I felt my face flush, unsure of how to react
I entered the mansion, feeling the familiar warmth of the place as I stepped inside. The soft smell of food greeted me as I walked through the hallway. I was thirsty, so I made my way to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Margaret was there, busy preparing dinner. She was always so calm and collected, even when there was a lot to do.“Hey, Margaret,” I said, smiling as I grabbed a glass from the cabinet.She looked up from the stove and smiled back. “Hello, dear. How was your day?”“It was good,” I replied as I filled my glass with cool water. “Just a little shopping.”Margaret nodded. “I’m sure you’ve got quite a few things to look at now, with the baby coming.” Her voice was warm and kind, always making me feel comfortable.I nodded, taking a sip of my water. “Yeah, I picked up some baby booties today. They’re so cute.” I glanced down at the small bag I was holding, the booties nestled inside, soft and small.Margaret smiled
I looked at him, a little confused. “What’s this?” I asked, taking the card from his hand.“Take it,” he said, his voice firm but kind. “Get whatever you need for yourself and the baby. Don’t worry about the cost.”I stared at the card for a moment, my mind racing. Was he serious? I didn’t want to accept it, but then again, the thought of buying things for the baby... it felt good. It felt like something I wanted to do.“Thank you,” I said quietly, though I wasn’t sure how I felt about taking his money.He shook his head slightly, a small smile playing on his lips. “You don’t need to thank me,” he said, his voice softening. “It’s my duty to take care of you. And our baby.”His words made my heart flutter. There was something in the way he said it, something so sincere and gentle, that made me feel like he truly meant it. Like he truly wanted to care for me, to protect us both.His gaze moved from my eyes to my belly, and I could
Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough. The moment I woke up, I found myself counting down the hours until lunch. Selina had seemed so kind and warm when we first met, and I was eager to get to know her better. It had been a long time since I had a friend—someone who wasn’t just tolerating me because of who the father of my child was.Before I knew it, noon had come and I was standing in front of Poppy’s, the cozy little diner that smelled of freshly baked bread and roasted coffee. The sign above the door creaked slightly in the wind, and the soft chatter of people inside made the place feel lively and welcoming.I took a deep breath, adjusting my coat before pushing the door open. A warm wave of delicious scents greeted me—something sweet, like cinnamon, mixed with the rich aroma of coffee. My stomach rumbled slightly.I scanned the room, searching for Selina, and it didn’t take long to spot her. Her silver-grey hair stood out even before she turned around. S
Zara stormed in, her eyes flashing with fury, her chest rising and falling with each angry breath. Her long blonde hair was slightly disheveled, like she had rushed here in a rage.“Why the hell wasn’t I part of the emergency pack meeting?” she demanded, her sharp voice slicing through the air. She crossed her arms, her gaze flickering between me and Kai, her lip curling in disgust. “But she was?”Kai exhaled slowly, his posture rigid. His expression remained calm, but I could feel the tension radiating off him.“Lily had every right to be here,” he said, his deep voice unwavering. “She’s carrying my child. My heir.”Zara let out a bitter, humorless laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. “Your heir,” she repeated mockingly, rolling her eyes. Then, just as quickly, her amusement vanished, replaced with pure fury.She took a step closer, her entire body trembling with anger. “I hate you, Kai,” she spat, her voice thick with emotion. “I hate
The pack elders exchanged glances but didn’t hesitate. One by one, they nodded and started filing out of the room. The quiet murmur of voices faded as they disappeared down the hall, leaving just Kai and me standing there.I turned to leave as well. Pack meetings weren’t for me. I wasn’t a werewolf, wasn’t an official part of their structure. I was just the human woman carrying the future Alpha’s child.But before I could take a step, Kai’s warm hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping me in place.“Lily,” he said, his voice softer now. “You should be there.”I looked up at him, confused. “What?”His grip didn’t tighten, but it was firm enough to keep me from pulling away. “You have a right to be there,” he said simply. “You’re carrying my child—our future Alpha. It’s time you started attending meetings.”My lips parted slightly. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought he’d want to keep me as far away from pack matters as possible.“But… I don’t know anything about—”“You’ll learn,” he inter
The only sound left was the ragged rise and fall of Kai’s breathing. He didn’t let go immediately, making sure the rogue was truly dead before finally releasing his grip and stepping back.His muzzle was stained with blood, his fur ruffled, but he stood victorious.I sat frozen, my breath shallow, my pulse still racing. My stomach turned at the sight of the lifeless rogue, but at the same time, a deep sense of relief washed over me.Kai had protected me.Slowly, he turned to face me. His silver eyes, still glowing in the moonlight, locked onto mine.I didn’t know what to say. My voice had abandoned me, my body trembling from the adrenaline crash.He took a step closer, his intense gaze searching my face as if making sure I was okay.I swallowed hard and finally found my voice. “You’re hurt,” I whispered, my eyes flickering to the wound on his shoulder.Kai huffed, shaking his fur as if dismissing my concern. Then, as if he could sense my lingering fear, he did something unexpected.He
For a moment, we just stood there, the silence between us filled with unspoken emotions. The moon shone brightly above, casting a silver glow over everything, making the scene feel almost surreal.Kai turned his head toward the stream and nudged me again, his warm, damp nose pressing lightly against my arm. It was gentle but insistent, like he was urging me toward the water.I hesitated for a second before obeying, stepping carefully over the smooth stones that lined the edge of the stream. The ground was cool beneath my bare feet, and the soft trickle of water filled the air with a soothing melody. I knelt by the edge, dipping my fingers into the crisp, clear water. It was ice-cold against my skin, a refreshing contrast to the lingering warmth on my face.Cupping my hands, I lifted the water to my lips and took small sips, savoring the way it cooled my throat. The nausea that had been twisting in my stomach slowly began to ease, though my body still felt light and tingly from the run
My heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t expected him to include me in the run, not like this. I wasn’t one of them, and yet, he was making sure I didn’t feel left out.Before I could respond, a loud scoff cut through the air. Zara, still in her human form, rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest, clearly displeased, but thankfully, she didn’t say anything.She knew better than to protest. The pack had already accepted that the child growing inside me was their future Alpha. Denying me this experience would mean denying my baby a chance to bond with their pack.With a huff, Zara shifted, her sleek brown wolf shaking out her fur before trotting off into the crowd of waiting wolves.I turned back to Kai, who gave me a small nod before stepping back.Then, right in front of me, he finally shifted.I had seen the others transform, but watching Kai was something else entirely. His bones cracked loudly, his muscles rippling as his body changed shape. His clothes tore apart as thick, d
Something flickered in Zara’s expression—something bitter and resentful. But she didn’t argue. Instead, she gave me one last smirk, then turned on her heel.As she walked away, her voice floated back down the hall.“You’ll see, Lily. He’ll always choose his own kind in the end.”She disappeared around the corner, leaving silence in her wake.I let out a shaky breath, my grip on the doorknob tightening.Kai exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face before turning to me. His expression was unreadable again, his emotions hidden behind a carefully constructed mask.“Get some rest,” he said quietly.And then, just like that, he walked away.I stood there, frozen for a moment, staring at the spot where he had been. I could still feel the air where his presence had been, the warmth of him close to me. But it felt like a distant memory now, fading with every step he took away from me.A lump formed in my throat, and I fought back the tears that threatened to spill. Zara's words echoed in my head,
I stopped walking and turned to face him fully. "Kai, why are you doing this?" My voice came out softer than I intended, but I needed to know.For weeks, he had treated me like I was invisible. Now, suddenly, he was walking me to my room, looking at me like I was something more than just the mother of his child.He took a step closer, and my breath hitched. "Because I should have done it sooner," he murmured.His words sent a shiver down my spine.I didn’t know what to say, so I turned and started walking again, my heart hammering against my ribs.When we reached my door, I hesitated at my door, my fingers hovering over the handle. The air between Kai and me was thick, charged with something I couldn’t quite name. His presence was overwhelming—his scent, his warmth, the intensity in his gaze. I swallowed hard, suddenly hyperaware of how close he was.I turned to face him fully, my heart racing. “Goodnight, Kai.” My voice came out softer than I intended, almost breathless.He didn’t mo
Dinner time arrived, and the dining room was as lively as ever. The long wooden table was surrounded by pack members, their conversations filling the air with a steady hum. The scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and rich gravy drifted through the room, making my stomach growl in anticipation.I took my usual place, expecting to be seated far away from Kai, but to my surprise, I was placed at his left. I figured it was because Rhys wasn’t back from his trip yet. Zara sat at Kai’s right, her usual spot, and even though she was engaged in a conversation with one of the warriors, I could feel the occasional sharp glances she threw my way.Mer was having dinner with her mother, Margaret, in their private quarters, which left me alone at the table. It wasn’t unusual. Most of the pack members still didn’t talk to me unless they had to. They barely acknowledged my presence, as if I didn’t belong, as if I was just some outsider forced into their world.I focused on my plate, deciding not to l
As we walked out of the baby store, the small bag of baby clothes nestled against my chest, a strange warmth spread through me. I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I was looking forward to having a little one. The thought of becoming a mother seemed overwhelming and exhilarating at the same time. Kai’s presence beside me was comforting, and though I still wasn’t entirely sure where things stood between us, there was a subtle shift in the air. It felt like he was finally paying attention, like maybe he was ready to be a part of this."You didn’t have to come with me," I said, glancing up at him. "I could've managed alone."Kai shrugged, his hands casually shoved in his pockets as he walked alongside me. "I wanted to," he said, his voice surprisingly soft. "It's... my child too."His words were simple, but they held a weight that made me pause. I hadn’t really thought of him as being fully involved, but hearing him say that felt different. There was a vu