Then—Meredith screamed.I clamped my hands over my ears as she bounced up and down on the bed, gripping my hands so tightly I thought she might break them. “No way! You? In Kai’s room?!” Her green eyes were practically sparkling. “This is huge!”I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Meredith, stop yelling.”She ignored me completely. “Tell me everything!” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Did something happen? Oh my goddess, did you guys—”“No!” I cut her off quickly, my face burning. “Nothing happened!”She pouted, dramatically flopping back onto the bed. “Boring.”I rolled my eyes. “We just talked, and I fell asleep. That’s it.”Meredith propped herself up on her elbows, watching me closely. “Okay… but why were you in his room in the first place?”I hesitated.From the way she was acting, I could tell she didn’t know about the rogue attack last night. That meant Kai was keeping it quiet—probably to avoid causing panic within the pack. If Meredith did know, she wouldn’t be
The rest of the day went by like any other. After everything that happened, I didn’t feel like going to the dining hall, so Meredith and I had breakfast in my room. She didn’t complain, just sat cross-legged on my bed, stealing bites of my toast while we talked about random things.I was glad she didn’t push me to talk about Kai or Zara. I wasn’t ready for that yet. My feelings were all over the place, and I didn’t know how to deal with any of it.After breakfast, Meredith had to leave for work, and I was left alone. The room felt extra quiet without her loud voice filling the space. I didn’t mind being alone most times, but today it just made me feel…empty. Rhys was still away on his trip, so I couldn’t even talk to him.I sighed and flopped down on my bed, staring at the ceiling for a while before reaching for one of the books Rhys brought me when I was recovering from the wolfsbane poisoning. It was a romance novel, the kind with a brooding, possessive male lead who always seemed t
Olga’s smile grew wider as she turned to me. “Welcome to River Moon Orphanage. I’m Olga, one of the caretakers here. It’s really nice to meet you.”“Nice to meet you too,” I said softly, feeling a little shy under her kind gaze.Without wasting any time, Olga led us down a clean hallway, the walls covered with colorful paintings and drawings clearly made by the children. Some were of flowers, others of wolves howling at the moon, and a few were just messy scribbles, but they all made the hallway feel alive and happy.At the end of the hallway, Olga opened a door and led us into a large, sunny room filled with children of all ages. Some were no older than toddlers, sitting on the floor playing with wooden toys, while others were around ten or twelve, reading books or chatting quietly. The moment they spotted Selene, the room erupted into excited cheers.“Mrs. Selene!” they called out, all rushing toward her at once.Selene laughed, holding up the small bag she’d been carrying. “I broug
I laughed softly. “Of course you can. Do you have any ideas?”She tapped her chin, thinking very hard. “Hmm… if it’s a girl, you should name her Sarah. And if it’s a boy, you should name him…Rocket!”I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the name choices. “Sarah is very pretty. But Rocket? That’s a funny name.”She grinned proudly. “Because rockets are fast and strong! Your baby should be strong too.”I nodded, pretending to seriously think about it. “You make a good point. I’ll put Rocket on the list.”The little girl beamed like she just won a prize. “Okay! But I like Sarah more.”“Me too,” I whispered.For the next few minutes, she stayed by my side, telling me all about the orphanage, her friends, and even her favorite color (which was purple). She was so full of life and curiosity that I almost forgot about all my worries. Almost.“Do you have a mommy and daddy?” she asked suddenly.My smile faltered just a little. “I had a mommy,” I said softly. “But she’s not here anymore.”
“Do you always bring cookies when you visit?” I asked, smiling a little.That made her laugh softly. “Always. It’s our little tradition. They call me the ‘Cookie Queen.’”I laughed along with her, imagining all those kids chanting “Cookie Queen” the moment they saw her walk in.“They were so happy to see you,” I said. “It’s like you’re their favorite person in the world.”“Well,” Selene said with a playful smile, “when you bring cookies, it’s easy to be popular.”I leaned back in my seat, finally feeling relaxed. It had been a while since I’d laughed like this, and I was grateful for the moment.“Maybe next time, I can bake something too,” I offered. “I love baking.”Selene’s eyes lit up. “That would be wonderful! The kids would love that.”“It’s a deal then,” I grinned.Selene turned to her driver and said, “Take us to Poppy’s, please.”I looked at her in confusion. “Are we going for lunch?” I asked, tilting my head a little.Selene blinked at me, looking just as surprised. “Lunch? N
“I could help with that,” I said quickly, wanting to prove I belonged here. “Rhys knows a lot of local musicians. I could ask him when he gets back.”Poppy smiled. “That’s a great idea.”Zara made a sound like she was trying not to scoff, but I ignored her.Selene leaned toward me and whispered, “Good job.”That small bit of praise gave me a boost of confidence, and I sat up straighter in my chair.The meeting went on, with the women talking about everything from tablecloth colors to how many lights to hang in the trees. I took notes, writing down anything I thought I could help with. Even though Zara kept shooting me dirty looks, no one else seemed to mind me being there.After about an hour, Poppy looked at her watch. “Let’s take a quick break.”As soon as she said that, the ladies started chatting with each other, some pulling out their phones or digging in their purses for snacks.Selene turned to me and smiled. “You’re doing great, you know.”“Thanks,” I said shyly. “I just want
His hair was a little messy, like he’d been running his hands through it over and over. His black shirt was wrinkled, and his face looked serious, almost worried. For a moment, neither of us said anything. We just stood there, staring at each other.“Can I come in?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.I swallowed and stepped aside. “Yeah, of course.”He walked in slowly, like he wasn’t sure if I really wanted him here. I closed the door and leaned against it, suddenly feeling nervous. My room felt smaller with him in it — or maybe he just felt larger, like he took up all the air.“Selene told me about what happened at the meeting,” Kai said, turning to face me. “I’m sorry.”“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “I’m used to Zara.”“That doesn’t make it okay,” he said, his jaw tightening. “You’re carrying my baby. You deserve respect.”I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just stared at the floor, tracing the pattern of the rug with my toe.The silence stretched too long, so I blurted ou
I looked down at my lap, twisting my fingers together. “I’m not scared of you,” I said, barely above a whisper. “I’m scared of… us.”Kai let out a slow breath, like he’d been holding something in. “Me too.”That made me look up. “Really?”He nodded, his hand still wrapped around my wrist. “This isn’t what I planned. I never thought…” He paused, struggling for words. “I never thought I’d care this much.”My heart skipped. “Care about what?”“You.” He said it so simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “And the baby. And what happens to us.”For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt too full, like my heart didn’t know where to go with all the feelings bursting inside me. “Kai…”He lifted my hand, the one he was still holding, and pressed it against his chest, right over his heart. It was beating fast — just like mine. “See?” he said softly. “You do this to me.”I couldn’t speak. My throat felt tight, so I just nodded, blinking back tears I didn’t even understand.T
When he pulled away, he stayed close, resting his forehead against mine. His breath brushed across my skin, soft and steady, and I felt my heart calm down. It was like everything that had been loud and heavy inside me—the fears, the memories, the pain—suddenly went quiet.And for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t thinking about the past.Not about Zara. Not about the way she had looked at me with so much hatred in her eyes. Not about how I had nearly lost my life because of her. Not about lying in that hospital bed, bruised and broken, unsure if I would ever be the same again.And not about how scared I was of what was happening to me. Of turning into something else—something I didn’t understand yet. A werewolf. A Luna. A mother.All of that faded as I sat there in bed, warm and safe in Kai’s arms. It was just me and him. And our babies.I opened my eyes slowly and looked at him. His expression was soft, full of something I couldn’t quite name, but it made my chest tighten in a
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