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
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
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
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us was thick with something unspoken, something electric. I was too aware of how close we were, of the way his breath was slow and steady as I worked. I tried to ignore the weight of his gaze, but it was impossible when he was right there, his silver eyes locked onto my face.I finished cleaning the wound and reached for a fresh cloth to wipe away the excess antiseptic. As I pressed it gently against his skin, his hand suddenly came up, catching my wrist.My breath hitched as I looked up, meeting his gaze. His silver eyes were unreadable, darkened by something I couldn’t quite place. The heat from his touch sent a shiver up my arm.“You don’t have to do this,” he said, his voice quieter now, softer in a way I wasn’t used to.I swallowed hard. “I know.”His grip lingered for a second longer before he finally let go, his fingers trailing lightly against my skin as he pulled away. Even that small touch sent my pulse racing.I forced mys
I bit my lip, feeling a little embarrassed to admit it, but I forced myself to speak. “I just… after what happened tonight, I don’t really want to be alone,” I admitted quietly. The memory of the rogue in the forest still sent a shiver down my spine. What if there were more? What if I woke up to one standing over my bed?Kai’s expression softened just a little. “You don’t have to be scared. I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said, his voice full of quiet confidence.His words reassured me, but what he said next completely took me by surprise.“You don’t have to sleep alone,” he added after a pause. “You can sleep with me.”My breath caught in my throat, and my eyes widened. Sleep with him? In his bed?Heat crawled up my neck, spreading to my cheeks at the thought. My mind instantly betrayed me, picturing what that would mean—sharing a bed with Kai, his warmth so close, maybe even feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back if we ended up too close.No. I shook t
Kai turned off the main light, leaving only the faint glow of the fire as he moved to the other side of the bed. He climbed in, the bed dipping under his weight, and my whole body tensed when I felt the heat of him so close.The space between us was small—too small. If I moved even a little, I’d probably end up pressed against him. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will myself to sleep.Just sleep. That’s all this was.But sleep wouldn’t come. No matter how hard I tried, I kept tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. Every time I moved, the blankets rustled, and I knew Kai could hear it.“Can’t sleep?” His deep voice broke the silence.I sighed, rolling onto my back. “Yeah,” I admitted, staring up at the ceiling.For a moment, neither of us spoke. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the room. Then, an idea popped into my head.“Wanna play a game?” I asked, sitting up slightly.Kai turned his head to look at
I hesitated, gripping the blanket. “I thought I was once… but looking back, I don’t think it was real.” Kai didn’t look away. “What happened?” I swallowed hard, staring down at my hands. “We were supposed to get married, but he broke up with me when I got pregnant.” Kai’s jaw clenched. “He left because of the baby?” I let out a shaky breath. “He thought I cheated on him. We never slept together, so he didn’t believe the baby was his.” Kai’s expression darkened. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he let me continue. “My gynecologist implanted sperm in me without my consent,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t even know until it was too late. My half-sister paid her to do it.” Kai’s body tensed. “What?” “My father and stepmother believed I was lying,” I said bitterly. “They threw me out onto the streets.” Kai’s whole body stiffened. His jaw clenched so tightly I thought he might break a tooth. “They threw you out,” he repeated, his voice low and dan
I took a deep breath and carefully swung my legs off the bed, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might wake him. My feet touched the cold floor, sending a small shiver up my spine. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of Kai’s breathing.I stood up slowly, glancing back at him one last time. He was still asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. He looked different like this—calm, almost gentle. It was strange to see him without the usual intensity in his silver eyes.Shaking off my thoughts, I tiptoed toward the door, being as quiet as possible. I didn’t want to wake him. I reached for the handle, but the moment I cracked the door open, my breath caught in my throat.Zara was standing right there.Her dark eyes widened as she took in the sight of me stepping out of Kai’s room. At first, she seemed frozen, her lips slightly parted in shock. But the surprise didn’t last long. Her expression twisted, her face hardening with pure, seething anger.Her arms cros
I decided to call Elliot to see if we could meet now. My fingers felt a little shaky as I pulled my phone out and dialed his number. I wasn’t sure why I was nervous—maybe because I hadn’t really made any new friends lately, and he seemed like such a nice guy. I took a deep breath as the phone rang, trying to calm myself down.After a few rings, Elliot picked up. “Hello?” His voice sounded cheerful, and I couldn’t help but feel a little relieved.“Hey, Elliot, it’s me,” I said, trying to sound upbeat. “I was just wondering if we could meet now to check out the flower designs?”“Oh, absolutely!” he replied, sounding genuinely happy to hear from me. “I’ve got the arrangements ready for you to take a look at. Are you free now?”“Yeah, I’m already in town,” I answered. “Just tell me where your flower shop is, and I’ll head over.”“Great! It’s called ‘Bloom & Bliss,’ on Maple Street. You can’t miss it—the sign’s painted bright yellow, and there’s a big display of sunflowers outside,” he exp
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