Lily's Mistake

"Lily?" Alex stared at her with an expression fixed on his face that almost made her melt.

She couldn't help but wonder if Alex, who was standing a few feet away, had heard everything she said to Maya.

His expression shifted to a mix of concern and uncertainty, as if he wasn’t sure if she’d even want him there.

“Alex…” She said again as she rose to her feet, suddenly feeling awkward, as if she wasn’t quite sure what to do with her hands. “What are you doing here?”

“I came looking for you,” he said, stepping closer. His gaze was steady, searching her face for any sign of how she felt. “I thought maybe we could talk?”

Lily’s heart stuttered. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. Behind her, she felt Maya’s gentle touch on her shoulder. 

“I’ll catch you later, okay?” Maya whispered with a smile. 

She gave Lily’s hand a light squeeze before she slipped away, leaving Lily and Alex alone under the soft shadows of the trees.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence stretching between them. 

Finally, Lily drew in a shaky breath, gathering the courage to look Alex in the eye.

“I… I owe you an apology,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. You were just… you were just trying to help.”

Alex’s brows furrowed, his face softening as he shook his head. 

“No, Lily. If anyone should apologize, it’s me.” He paused, letting out a sigh. “I keep stepping in, trying to protect you, when maybe I should have just let you handle things on your own. It’s not that I think you can’t handle it. I know you’re strong.” His eyes softened, holding her gaze with a warmth that made her heart flutter. “But when I see you dealing with people like Lexa… I just can’t stand by.”

Lily’s breath caught, surprised by the intensity in his voice. 

“Alex, you don’t need to keep saving me. I’ve spent my whole life dealing with this… with people looking down on me.” Her voice broke slightly, and she quickly swallowed, pushing back the swell of emotion rising in her chest. “It’s just… I don’t want to feel like a burden to anyone.”

Alex took a slow step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. 

“I get that. Trust me, I do.” He hesitated, his gaze flickering downward as if he were choosing his words carefully. “You know, back in my pack… things weren’t always great for me either. I was the kid nobody believed in. The one everyone thought would amount to nothing.”

Lily looked at him, her brows furrowing as she tried to imagine this confident, strong Alex feeling the way she so often did—like an outsider. 

“But… you’re an Alpha. You’re so respected.”

He gave a small chuckle, the corner of his mouth lifting in a bittersweet smile. 

“Not always. Before I was chosen by the Moon Goddess, I was just… Alex. The weak one. The one they thought wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t good enough.” His voice softened, his gaze distant. “And when I finally became Alpha, it didn’t erase those memories. Those feelings.”

Lily felt a pang in her chest as his words hit her. 

“Alex… I had no idea.”

He looked back at her, his eyes filled with a vulnerability she hadn’t seen before. 

“That’s why I can’t stand seeing you go through it, Lily. I know how much it hurts, how isolating it feels. And I guess… I just don’t want you to feel alone.”

A wave of emotion washed over her, and she had to blink back the tears threatening to spill. 

“You don’t know how much that means to me,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’ve spent so long pushing people away, thinking I had to be strong on my own. But with you…” She trailed off, unable to find the right words. But her hand reached out almost unconsciously, her fingers brushing against his.

Alex’s gaze softened as he looked down at their intertwined fingers, and for a moment, neither of them moved. 

It was as if the whole world had melted away, leaving just the two of them standing there, connected in a way that went deeper than words.

“Lily…” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.

She looked up at him, her heart pounding as she felt herself being drawn closer, her breath catching as he leaned in. 

Their faces were only inches apart, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him, the steady beat of his heart mingling with her own. 

Slowly, he brought his hand up to her cheek, his fingers gentle as they brushed against her skin.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into his touch, her defenses crumbling in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in so long. And then, without thinking, she closed the remaining distance between them.

Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss that sent a rush of warmth through her entire body. 

It was gentle at first, almost hesitant, as if they were both afraid to shatter the moment. But then it deepened, each of them pouring into it the feelings they had kept hidden, the fears and hopes they hadn’t dared to speak aloud.

In that moment, Lily felt weightless, free from the burdens and expectations that had held her down. 

She felt… safe, understood. Loved.

But just as quickly as the moment began, it was shattered by the sound of a sharp rustling nearby. 

Lily broke away from Alex, her heart still racing, and looked over his shoulder, her blood running cold as she spotted a familiar figure standing just a few feet away.

Lexa was watching them, her eyes narrowed with a satisfied smirk on her face. 

She held her phone in her hand, and the glint in her eye sent a chill down Lily’s spine.

“Enjoying yourselves?” Lexa’s voice dripped with mockery, a cruel smile playing at the corners of her lips. She held up her phone, tapping the screen as if to taunt them. “You two make quite the pair. Can’t wait to see what everyone else thinks.”

Lily’s heart sank as the reality of the situation hit her. 

Lexa hadn’t just witnessed their moment; she’d captured it, turning something so private, so meaningful, into a weapon she could use against her.