Lily woke up to the faint sound of muffled voices outside the door of her room. The walls were thick, but her heightened senses could pick up some parts of the conversation. She groaned softly, rubbing her eyes and stretching her stiff muscles. The room was dimly lit, a stark contrast to the lavish décor that surrounded her. The bed she had slept on was outrageously comfortable, but the sight of the silk sheets and expensive furnishings only made her angrier.It was all a gilded cage.Lily forced herself to sit up, brushing her tangled hair out of her face. She hated everything about this place—the elegant drapes, the polished floors, the tasteful art on the walls. It all screamed of Alex’s arrogance, of his belief that he could buy his way into power and control everyone around him.Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door unlocking. It creaked open slowly, revealing Alex standing there, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. He carried himself with the same irrita
The bell rang, signaling the start of another day of torture for Lily Winters. She sighed and put her books in her backpack. As much as she tried to pretend each day was just another step toward her freedom, it never got easier. She was seventeen years old, and was treated like trash by everyone in her pack. And it wasn’t because of something she’d done, no, it was because of her family.Her father had been exiled from the pack years ago for breaking some unspoken rule she was too young to understand at the time. Her mother had barely held it together after that, taking odd jobs and struggling to keep the family afloat. Ever since her father’s disgrace, the pack treated Lily like she carried his shame. She could still remember the day the bullying started, when she was just ten years old. And the worst of it came from the Alpha twins.“Hey, Wolf Trash!” a mocking voice shouted from behind her. She immediately picked up her pace. Without looking back, she already knew whose voic
The days until her eighteenth birthday felt like they were moving slowly, each one dragging her through the same hellish routine at school. Every morning, Lily counted down the hours, telling herself that soon, it would all be over. Freedom was so close, she could almost taste it. She had spent a lot of time thinking carefully about her escape, and now, only days remained. But as her birthday approached, a feeling of unease had started to enter into her thoughts.“Lily, you’re sure about this?” her best friend, Maya, asked as they sat under a large tree at the edge of the school courtyard during lunch. It was the only place people didn't throw their food at her, unlike in the cafeteria where they constantly poured insults and various things on her body.At least she was with Maya, the only person in the entire pack who treated her with any kindness. She had been there since they were kids, standing by Lily even when the bullying became unbearable. Lily looked at her sandwich. Her
The days went on, but the strange feeling in Lily’s chest only grew stronger. Maya had noticed her being distracted in school. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked for the third time that week, sitting next to Lily in the courtyard during lunch.Lily nodded her head to answer.“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired" She replied.“Tired from what? It’s not like you’re pulling all-nighters for school,” Maya teased, but her eyes were filled with concern. “Look, I know things have been tough with the twins, but something feels off. You’ve been acting weird.”Lily sighed, leaning back against the tree they sat under. “It’s not just them,” she admitted. “There’s… something else.”Maya frowned.“What do you mean?” she asked almost immediately.Lily hesitated, unsure if she should even bring it up. She didn’t want to sound paranoid, but the feeling of fear had been in her mind for days. Finally, she decided to tell Maya about the person she’d seen outside her window.“I think someone’s been watchin
The Moon Goddess Festival arrived faster than Lily expected. All around her, the pack buzzed with anticipation. Decorations hung from the trees and houses, and people seemed to be enjoying the evening's grand celebration. The festival had always been a massive event for the pack, a tradition going back centuries. It was meant to honor the Moon Goddess and her guidance over the wolves, particularly in matters of mates.But for Lily, tonight held a much darker significance. It was time for her escape, the day she had been counting down to for years, the day she would finally leave. No one in the pack had cared about her birthday; no one even acknowledged it, they probably didn't remember. All they cared was the Alpha twins mate ritual. But that didn’t matter. She didn’t need their well wishes. What she needed was freedom.She clenched her fists at the thought of Lucas and Liam. All these years, they had tormented her relentlessly, making her life a living hell. And now, they were
Lily stood in complete silence, the weight of the Moon Goddess's choice pressing down on her heavily.It felt surreal to be named the mate of Lucas and Liam, the very twins who had turned her life into a living nightmare. A rush of anger filled her veins and judging from the cold expression on both their faces, it was obvious they hated the idea of being tied to her too.“This can’t be real,” she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re both sick for even thinking I would accept this.”Liam stepped forward, arms crossed as he rolled his eyes. He felt she was being too dramatic. Every girl would kill to be chosen as their mate but Lily was behaving like she hasn't just won a lottery.“But the Goddess has chosen you, Lily. You don’t get to decide. This is destiny” He replied.“Destiny?” Lily spat, her voice rising. “Destiny is not being forced into a relationship with two bullies! You think I would ever want to be with you after everything you’ve done?”“Look, Lily,” Lucas sai
The cool night air hit Lily’s face as Lucas and Liam dragged her back to the city square. She was already boiling, her mind filled with anger and frustration. The town square was full, all eyes turning as the twins brought her into the center. A loud gasp rose from the crowd, and whispers went through the pack as people recognized her.“Isn’t that Lily? What’s happening?” someone murmured.“She tried to run, didn’t she?” another voice said, obviously with hate.“Traitor,” someone added, and soon enough, the crowd’s murmur turned into a loud series of sneers and insults.Lily clenched her jaw, refusing to let their words wound her. They had called her every name possible over the years; what was one more insult? She kept her gaze ahead, narrowing her eyes as she spotted Alpha Dean, Lucas and Liam’s father, standing at the front of the gathering. He held his head high, a look of both anger and disappointment plastered into his face as he looked at her.“She tried to cross the bounda
Lily froze as Graham’s cold stare bore down on her. Her heart raced, and her palms began to sweat, but she forced herself to stay calm. She has seen him around in school and she knew exactly how ruthless he was whenever he suspected someone of going against his masters.“Graham,” she said, forcing a small, nervous smile. “I... I just got a bit lost. This place is so huge, you know? I was just trying to find my way back to my room.”Graham raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He obviously did not believe anything she had to say.“Lost?” he repeated, his voice sharp with disbelief. “You expect me to believe that?”Lily’s heart sank. His eyes were too keen, too piercing, as if he could see straight through her. She swallowed sliver, choosing to stick fiercely to her story. “Yes, lost,” she insisted, trying to keep her voice steady. “It’s not like I’ve spent much time in the mansion, this is actually my first time since I was a child. It’s easy to take a wrong turn. I mean, you should know t
Lily woke up to the faint sound of muffled voices outside the door of her room. The walls were thick, but her heightened senses could pick up some parts of the conversation. She groaned softly, rubbing her eyes and stretching her stiff muscles. The room was dimly lit, a stark contrast to the lavish décor that surrounded her. The bed she had slept on was outrageously comfortable, but the sight of the silk sheets and expensive furnishings only made her angrier.It was all a gilded cage.Lily forced herself to sit up, brushing her tangled hair out of her face. She hated everything about this place—the elegant drapes, the polished floors, the tasteful art on the walls. It all screamed of Alex’s arrogance, of his belief that he could buy his way into power and control everyone around him.Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door unlocking. It creaked open slowly, revealing Alex standing there, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. He carried himself with the same irrita
Lucas paced the length of the room, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. His jaw was clenched, and his steps were heavy, the frustration and anger radiating off him like a storm. Liam sat on the edge of the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers steepled in front of him. The tension in the room was palpable, as though the air itself had thickened with the weight of the impending call.Maya, Graham, Lucian, and Lexa sat nearby, each wearing varying expressions of concern, anger, and apprehension. They had all heard Alex’s threats, seen Lucas’s reaction, and felt the helplessness that came with being cornered.Lucas stopped pacing and glanced at Liam, his icy blue eyes reflecting his inner turmoil. “Are you ready for this?”Liam nodded, though his expression was grim. “We don’t have a choice. Let’s get this over with.”Lucas hesitated for a brief moment before dialing the number. The phone rang twice before it was picked up, and Alex’s smooth, mocking voice came through
The first thing Lily noticed as she woke up was the faint, sweet aroma of bacon and eggs. The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out any light, but a soft, warm glow from a nearby lamp illuminated the space.Her heart sank as the memories of the previous day came flooding back. Alex. The kidnapping. The struggle. Her pulse quickened as she sat up, her head moving around to take in her surroundings. The room was tastefully furnished, the walls painted a calming shade of gray, and there was no sign of chains or bars, but the locked door she had tested the night before told her everything she needed to know—she was a prisoner.Her stomach growled loudly, betraying her hunger, but Lily forced herself to ignore it. She didn’t trust Alex, and she certainly didn’t trust anything he offered, even food. The scent of breakfast, however, was relentless, tugging at her resolve.She swung her legs over the side of the bed, the cold floor sending a shiver up her spine. Slowly, she moved towa
Lucas pushed open the front door of the mansion, footsteps echoing in the spacious foyer. The silence, however, was unnerving. Normally, the mansion buzzed with life, but tonight, it felt like a hollow shell.Alpha Dean was seated in his usual armchair in the living room, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His piercing eyes, the same shade of icy blue as Lucas’s, glanced up briefly before settling back on the drink. Luna Ariel was seated on the sofa nearby, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her expression was one of worry, though she tried to mask it with a forced calmness.Lucas squared his shoulders, preparing for the inevitable interrogation.“Lucas,” Alpha Dean’s voice was sharp, cutting through the silence. “Where have you been?”“I was out,” Lucas replied evenly, his tone guarded.Dean’s eyes narrowed, scrutinizing his son. “Out where?”“Just... around,” Lucas said, trying to sound nonchalant. He couldn’t afford to let any cracks show.Ariel leaned forward, her concern evid
The dimly lit bar was filled with the low hum of chatter and clinking glasses, but Lucas barely noticed any of it. He sat slumped over the counter, a half-empty glass of whiskey in front of him. His fingers gripped the glass tightly, his knuckles white as his thoughts spiraled deeper into frustration and self-loathing. The liquid swirled as he absentmindedly turned the glass, the alcohol doing little to stop the ache in his chest.He was angry—angry at Alex for taking Lily, angry at himself for failing to protect her, and angry at the entire situation that had spiraled out of his control. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her face, her smile, and the fear in her eyes the last time he saw her. The guilt was suffocating.“You look like you’ve had a rough night.”The sultry voice cut through his haze, and Lucas turned his head slightly to see a woman standing beside him. She was beautiful, with dark, wavy hair cascading over her shoulders and a confident smile that didn’t
The living room of Lucian’s safe house was dimly lit, with the overhead chandelier casting soft shadows against the walls. The group had gathered around a large oak table in the center of the room, its surface littered with maps, numerous notes, and empty coffee mugs. A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by the faint hum of the heater in the background.Maya sat on the couch, her arms wrapped around herself, her expression distant. Lexa stood behind her, pacing restlessly, her sharp eyes flickering toward the others. Lucian leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, his jaw tight as he stared at the map. Liam and Lucas sat at opposite ends of the table, both radiating unease, though Lucas’s rage was far more palpable.“We need to figure this out,” Lucas said, his voice tight with frustration. He leaned forward, his knuckles whitening as he pressed his hands into the table. “Alex has her, and we’re just sitting here, doing nothing!”“We’re not doing nothing,” Lucian replied
The scent of unfamiliar lavender and wood polish filled Lily’s senses as she blinked awake. Disoriented, she sat up on the massive, oversized bed, her fingers instinctively gripping the silk sheets. The room was spacious, its high ceilings and grand decor resembling something out of a magazine. Everything about the place screamed luxury, but it felt hollow to her—cold and foreign.Lily swung her legs off the bed, her bare feet meeting the cool marble floor. Her heart pounded as she pieced together fragments of her last memory: Alex’s wolves closing in, her struggles, his iron grip dragging her away. A wave of dread washed over her as she realized she wasn’t at the warehouse anymore.She stood, her eyes scanning the room for any indication of where she was. There were no windows, only heavy curtains covering what she guessed were glass doors leading to a balcony. The only door to the room was closed, and her chest tightened as the suffocating realization hit her—she had been kidnap
The tension in the warehouse was thick, each person caught in a battle of emotions as Alex and Lucian faced off. The name "Derek" still echoed in everyone’s mind, its weight hanging in the air. Lucian’s jaw tightened, his usually calm demeanor wavering as Alex stared at him with a mixture of shock and contempt.“You shouldn’t be alive,” Alex said, his voice cold and low. His eyes narrowed, anger simmering beneath the surface. “You were supposed to be gone, buried in the ruins of your broken pack. Yet here you are, standing before me like some ghost from the past.”Lucian took a step forward, his expression sharp and unrelenting. “And you, Alex, are still the same coward you always were—betraying those who trusted you for your own twisted ambitions.”Alex let out a bitter laugh. “Coward? Is that what you think of me? I did what I had to do to survive. To thrive. You wouldn’t understand because you were always too busy playing the loyal soldier.”Lucian’s eyes flashed with anger, his
The atmosphere in the hidden corners of the warehouse was tense and suffocating and it seemed like the walls were beginning to turn and get darker as they held the secrets of Lily’s allies hiding to watch over her and keep her safe.Lucas, Liam, Lucian, Lexa, and Graham were crouched behind towering crates, their faces illuminated by the faint light streaming from above. They were close enough to hear Alex’s sinister words to Lily and Maya, yet still too far to intervene without risking their plan.They were stuck between going after her now and risk letting everything they had planned so far to fall apart, but judging from the way the way things had shifted, they were already gearing up to go down there and confront Alex.Lucas clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he stared at Alex, whose arrogance and smugness were eating under his skin.“He’s gone too far this time,” Lucas growled through gritted teeth. “Using Maya as bait, surrounding Lily with wolves... he’s completely lost it"