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
I woke up the next morning feeling really sick. My stomach felt like it was twisting itself into knots, and my mouth tasted weird, like something sour. I groaned, pushing the blankets off me, and rushed out of bed. My feet hit the cold floor, but I didn’t even care. I ran straight into the bathroom, dropping to my knees in front of the toilet just in time to throw up.It was awful. My throat burned, my eyes watered, and I felt like my whole body was shaking. After I was done, I sat back on the cool bathroom tiles, breathing hard. “So this is morning sickness,” I mumbled to myself. “Great.”After a minute, I slowly stood up, feeling a little dizzy but not as sick anymore. I walked to the sink and turned on the tap, cupping my hands under the cold water to rinse my mouth. Then I grabbed my toothbrush and brushed my teeth, wanting to get rid of that awful taste.When I finished, I lifted my head and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess, and my skin looked a little pale, but
I looked up at him, surprised he even came looking for me. “Oh… I woke up feeling really nauseous, so I came down here to find something to eat. Margaret said crackers would help.”His expression changed immediately, full of concern. “Nauseous? Are you okay? Do you want me to call the pack doctor? Or—or take you to the clinic?”I shook my head, trying not to laugh at how serious he looked. “No, I promise it’s fine. It’s just morning sickness. It happens a lot when you’re pregnant.”He let out a breath like he had been holding it in. “Okay… but if it gets worse, you’ll tell me, right?”“Yeah,” I said softly, touched by how worried he was. “I will.”His eyes flicked to the crackers and water in front of me. “Do you want me to make you something else? Toast? Maybe some tea?”“Margaret’s taking good care of me,” I reassured him. “But thank you.”He hesitated for a second, like he wasn’t sure what to say next. Then he lifted
“Meredith!” I groaned louder, but I couldn’t help laughing too.Margaret slid a plate of pancakes in front of her daughter. “Enough teasing. Eat your breakfast before you’re late.”“Fine,” Meredith muttered, drowning her pancakes in syrup. “But seriously, ask him. I bet he’d say yes.”I played with the edge of my sleeve, pretending not to care. “We’ll see.”But deep down, the thought of walking with Kai made my heart race a little faster.After breakfast, I sat in the living room, holding my new phone in my hands. My fingers kept tracing the edges of it, my mind racing.Should I really ask Kai to go on a walk with me? Would that be weird? Would he think I was being clingy? Or maybe he’d say no because he was busy. He was the Alpha after all. But Margaret was right. It wasn’t safe for me to go walking alone, especially now that I was pregnant.I let out a long sigh and stood up, rubbing my hands on my dress to stop them from shaking. “Okay, Lily. Just ask. It’s not like you’re asking h
I walked back to the living room to wait for Kai, my fingers still playing with the hem of my shirt. My heart felt jumpy, and I wasn’t even sure why. It wasn’t like I asked him on a date or anything. It was just a walk. A simple walk. But something about asking Kai made my stomach feel all weird, like butterflies were having a party in there.I sat down on the couch, holding my new phone in my hands. I still couldn’t believe he got it for me. I ran my fingers over the smooth screen, smiling to myself. It was such a thoughtful gift. I never even told him I needed a phone, but somehow, he knew. That thought made me feel warm inside.I opened my contacts and scrolled through the very short list. That’s when I saw Rhys’s number saved there, and my smile grew bigger. I hadn’t talked to Rhys in a while, and I missed him so much. He always knew how to make me laugh, even when things were bad. Without thinking too much, I pressed the call button.It rang once. Then twice. By the third ring, h
He glanced down at me, one brow lifting just slightly. “Sure.”I hesitated for a second, wondering if I was about to cross a line. “What about your parents? You never talk about them.”His whole face changed, like a shadow passed over it in an instant. His jaw tightened, and his eyes flicked away from me to the trees ahead. “They’re dead,” he said simply, his voice quieter than usual.“Oh,” I said quickly, regret washing over me for even asking. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up something painful.”“It’s okay,” he said, but I could tell it wasn’t really okay. There was a weight in his voice, like it was something he carried around all the time but never showed anyone.I wanted to ask more — how did they die? When did it happen? Did he miss them? — but I stopped myself. I knew that feeling, the one where you hope people won’t ask because you’re not ready to say the words out loud. So I didn’t push.Instead, I gave him a small
We started walking back toward the town, our steps falling into sync without even trying. The gravel crunched under our feet, and the soft breeze carried the scent of fresh earth and flowers. Neither of us talked at first, but it wasn’t awkward. It felt...peaceful.As we got closer to the town, I saw a small café sitting near the edge of the square. It looked like something out of a storybook — light blue awning, white tables outside, and window boxes overflowing with flowers. My stomach growled again at the smell of coffee and something sweet baking inside.Kai glanced at me, his lips twitching like he was trying not to smile. “That sound means we definitely made the right choice.”I giggled, covering my stomach with my hands. “Sorry. Baby’s hungry, I guess.”We stepped inside, and a little bell above the door jingled. The café was cozy, with wooden floors and walls painted soft cream. There were shelves lined with jars of tea and coffee beans, and a glass case filled with pastries.
We kept talking, laughing about little things. I told Kai about my weird craving for pickles dipped in peanut butter, and he looked absolutely horrified.“That’s disgusting,” he said, pushing his plate away like the thought alone had ruined his appetite.I giggled, shrugging. “It’s not that bad. You should try it before judging.”“Never,” he said flatly, shaking his head. “That’s where I draw the line.”I was about to argue when the little bell above the café door jingled. Out of habit, I glanced up to see who had walked in. Darren walked in with purpose, his sharp gaze sweeping across the café as if assessing every person inside. When his eyes found Kai, he didn’t hesitate—he strode straight to our table, his boots thudding lightly against the wooden floor.Kai must have sensed the shift in the atmosphere because his relaxed posture disappeared in an instant. His shoulders tensed, and his fingers, which had been lazily drumming against the table, stilled completely.Darren stopped be
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