Lily’s POV Hunter’s arm was steady around my trembling waist as we left the academy behind. I barely registered the cool evening air outside, my mind still churning with the echoes of the day’s cruelty. His quiet determination and unspoken concern were a small comfort in a world that had so often made me feel utterly invisible. The drive home was shrouded in silence. The city lights blurred past the window as I stared out into the dark, my thoughts a jumbled mess of humiliation and despair. Every passing streetlight reminded me of the cruel laughter in the cafeteria and the relentless, cutting words that had scarred me so deeply. I felt small—broken even—yet somehow, Hunter’s presence anchored me. When we finally pulled up in front of our house, its warm glow and familiar silhouette should have offered solace. Instead, as the front door swung open, I saw my mother, Olivia, standing there, worry etched deeply into her face. Her eyes immediately locked onto mine, and in that momen
Ryder’s POVThe academy was alive with its usual chaos—students laughing, gossiping, living their meaningless little lives. But my eyes were focused on only one thing. Lily. She moved through the hallways like a ghost, her head down, shoulders hunched, as if she were trying to disappear. A pathetic sight, really. But it was amusing how she still held herself together after everything I put her through. Most people would’ve broken by now, but not her. No, Lily had this quiet resilience that made tormenting her all the more satisfying. I leaned against my locker, watching as she hesitated by her own, fumbling with her books. Her hands were shaking. Was she still thinking about yesterday? Good. Vanessa’s shrill voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She was talking to some of her friends, but the moment she saw me looking at Lily, she walked over, a smirk playing on her lips. “Still obsessed with your favorite toy?” she teased, trailing her fingers down my arm. I scoffed. “Hard
Lily’s POVThe scent of coffee and toasted bread greeted me as I descended the stairs, my fingers still fumbling with the sleeves of my sweater. I hadn’t slept much last night. My body had been exhausted, but my mind… it wouldn’t shut off.Hunter was already seated at the table, sipping from a mug, his eyes flickering toward me the moment I stepped into the kitchen. There was a faint bruise along his jaw from yesterday’s fight with Ryder. He didn’t try to hide it.Olivia, my mom, stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with an almost too-cheerful hum. Her golden hair was pulled into a neat bun, and she was wearing that floral apron she only brought out on “family mornings.”That already spelled trouble.On the other side of the kitchen island sat David—my stepfather. His face buried behind the morning newspaper like always, but I could still see the glint of interest in his eyes when he heard my footsteps.And then there was Ryder.He was lounging in his seat like a prince, casual and c
Lily’s POVThe week passed in a blur.Before I could even breathe, the house transformed. Balloons, floral garlands, glittering lights, and golden drapes were brought in by a team of decorators my stepfather had hired. The living room was overtaken with soft pastels and elegant chandeliers. Tables were being arranged in the garden, and every day new boxes arrived—dresses, gifts, accessories.I watched it all unfold from the sidelines, a ghost in my own home.“I want everything to be perfect for Lily’s 18th,” my mother chirped from the foyer, flipping through color swatches with a designer. “She deserves this.”She looked so genuinely happy that I couldn’t bring myself to tell her how every balloon tied up with ribbon felt like a noose around my neck.I stood by the stairs, arms crossed, when Sam arrived.“Holy crap,” she breathed, taking in the sight. “This looks like a wedding.”“I didn’t want a party,” I muttered under my breath.“Then why are you letting them go all out like this?”
Lily’s POVThe cake was a blinding spectacle, a testament to manufactured joy. Its tiers, frosted in pristine white and adorned with impossibly perfect red roses, seemed to mock the turmoil churning within me. The golden light spilling from the ornate chandelier above turned the sugary confection into a shimmering beacon, drawing the gazes of the assembled guests.Polite applause rippled through the room as I reluctantly approached the table, the weight of the ceremonial knife feeling disproportionately heavy in my trembling hand. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat of exhaustion and a profound sense of displacement. It felt like an eternity since I had last recognized the reflection staring back at me in the mirror.Mom stood beside me, her smile radiant, a stark contrast to the hollowness I felt. Her hand rested lightly on my back, a gesture of maternal pride that felt like a physical weight. “Make a wish, sweetheart,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.I
Ryder’s POVThe saccharine sweetness of the cake, the forced gaiety of the celebration, the drone of polite conversation – it all dissolved into a deafening silence the moment the word slammed into my consciousness.MateThe impact was physical, like a rogue wave crashing over me, stealing my breath and leaving me reeling. The murmuring of the assembled guests, the cloying melody of the background music, all faded into a distorted, static-filled hum. For a disorienting second, I genuinely believed the universe had finally decided to unleash its most twisted form of humor upon me.Her?Lily?A glacial wave of disbelief washed through my veins, chilling me to the very core. My blood ran cold, my muscles seizing in protest.No. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening. This was some kind of cosmic error, a glitch in the matrix of fate. Lily? The quiet, unassuming shadow who had haunted the edges of our periphery for years? The one we… the one I…That soul-deep resonance, the prima
Hunter’s POVThe celebratory air in the grand ballroom evaporated the instant that single, earth-shattering word echoed in the deepest recesses of my being. It wasn't spoken aloud, not by human tongue, but by the ancient, primal part of me – my wolf.Mate.The pronouncement hit with the force of a physical blow, knocking the breath from my lungs and sending a jolt of raw, untamed energy coursing through my veins. My wolf, usually a steady, watchful presence, surged forward with a ferocity I hadn't anticipated, a guttural snarl of pure instinct ripping through my consciousness.Mine. Ours. The claim was possessive, absolute, echoing the undeniable truth that resonated within the very core of my soul.No. The denial was a reflexive whisper in the face of such overwhelming certainty. No way. Not her. Lily? The quiet, almost invisible girl who navigated the halls of our lives like a ghost? The one Ryder… the one we had both, in our own ways, overlooked?And yet, despite the shock, despite
Lily’s POV“Mates… mates… they’re our mates,” my wolf kept whispering, a mournful lament that echoed within the confines of my skull. It was a sound I had never heard from her before – a raw, wounded cry that tugged at my heartstrings despite my fierce resistance.“No,” I choked out, my voice a mere breath against the stillness of the night. My hands gripped the edge of the pool, my nails digging into the rough cement, as if I could anchor myself to reality, to the life I knew before this impossible revelation. “No, it can’t be. It can’t be.Of all the people in the world, the moon goddess, the supposed architect of our destinies, had to choose them? The sheer injustice of it was a bitter pill that threatened to choke me.Ryder—the devil incarnate, the golden boy whose casual cruelty had haunted my high school years. The one who tormented me with his cutting words, who humiliated me with his dismissive glances, who had even, on that horrific night, slapped me across the face, a brutal
Lily’s POVThe rest of the school day unfolded in a surreal, almost dreamlike state of forced normalcy. It was a carefully orchestrated performance, a collective act of denial played out against the backdrop of ringing bells and echoing hallways.No fights erupted, no sharp, sarcastic jabs were thrown my way, no cruel comments were uttered within earshot. The usual undercurrent of tension that often simmered beneath the surface of my interactions with Ryder and his entourage was strangely absent.But the silence that filled the void was far more deafening, more oppressive than any verbal assault. It was a thick, suffocating blanket that stifled the very air I breathed, a constant, aching reminder of the unspoken truth that hung heavy between us.Ryder didn’t speak to me again after that first, chillingly possessive “mate” jab in the morning. He moved through the crowded classrooms and bustling hallways as if I were invisible, a mere figment of his imagination. His booming laughter ech
Lily’s POVThe morning sun, usually a welcome sight, felt like an unwelcome intruder, its harsh, unforgiving rays streaming through the classroom windows as if determined to expose every raw nerve I had desperately tried to bury beneath a fragile veneer of normalcy the night before. It illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air, each one a tiny, mocking reminder of the chaos that now reigned within me.School felt different today. Colder, somehow. Quieter, despite the usual morning bustle of students. Or maybe that was just my perception, the world around me muted and distorted as I walked through the familiar hallways like a ghost, a spectral presence pretending that everything was normal when the very foundations of my existence had irrevocably shifted.They were my mates.Ryder.Hunter.The words echoed in the hollow chambers of my mind, a relentless, insidious mantra that felt more like a curse than a blessing. Each syllable carried the weight of my past pain, the chilling unce
Lily’s POVThe walk back into the grand hall felt like traversing a tightrope suspended over a chasm of unspoken truths. Sam’s steady presence beside me was the only anchor in the swirling vortex of my emotions.My heartbeat hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat that echoed the chaotic rhythm of my thoughts. My skin felt strangely disconnected, alternating between icy chills and sudden, unwelcome flashes of heat. The invisible thread that tethered me to them – Ryder and Hunter – seemed to tighten with each step I took toward the throng of smiling strangers and the looming table laden with brightly wrapped gifts.I forced a smile onto my face, a brittle, carefully constructed mask that felt alien and unnatural, as if it had been crudely glued there. My mom’s eyes, scanning the room, finally locked onto mine, and her entire face illuminated with a radiant joy that pierced my carefully constructed defenses. “There you are! We were starting to worry, sweetheart. Everyone’s waiting
Lily’s POVI stood there, by the edge of the shimmering turquoise water, the cold night air clinging to me like a damp, unwelcome shroud. The distant sounds of the party – the muffled laughter, the faint strains of music – seemed to mock the turmoil raging within me.The golden flickers of light spilling from the mansion’s windows danced across the surface of the pool, a distorted reflection of the joy I couldn’t share. My dress, a flowing expanse of soft blue silk that had felt so promising just hours ago, now felt heavy and constricting against my skin, a tangible representation of the weight that had settled in my soul.The door behind me creaked open again, the sound slicing through the stillness of the night. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. The soft, rhythmic click of heels against the cool tile was unmistakable. Slowly, reluctantly, I turned to see my mother—Olivia—walking toward me, her silhouette framed by the warm glow emanating from the doorway. Concern was etched
Lily’s POV“Mates… mates… they’re our mates,” my wolf kept whispering, a mournful lament that echoed within the confines of my skull. It was a sound I had never heard from her before – a raw, wounded cry that tugged at my heartstrings despite my fierce resistance.“No,” I choked out, my voice a mere breath against the stillness of the night. My hands gripped the edge of the pool, my nails digging into the rough cement, as if I could anchor myself to reality, to the life I knew before this impossible revelation. “No, it can’t be. It can’t be.Of all the people in the world, the moon goddess, the supposed architect of our destinies, had to choose them? The sheer injustice of it was a bitter pill that threatened to choke me.Ryder—the devil incarnate, the golden boy whose casual cruelty had haunted my high school years. The one who tormented me with his cutting words, who humiliated me with his dismissive glances, who had even, on that horrific night, slapped me across the face, a brutal
Hunter’s POVThe celebratory air in the grand ballroom evaporated the instant that single, earth-shattering word echoed in the deepest recesses of my being. It wasn't spoken aloud, not by human tongue, but by the ancient, primal part of me – my wolf.Mate.The pronouncement hit with the force of a physical blow, knocking the breath from my lungs and sending a jolt of raw, untamed energy coursing through my veins. My wolf, usually a steady, watchful presence, surged forward with a ferocity I hadn't anticipated, a guttural snarl of pure instinct ripping through my consciousness.Mine. Ours. The claim was possessive, absolute, echoing the undeniable truth that resonated within the very core of my soul.No. The denial was a reflexive whisper in the face of such overwhelming certainty. No way. Not her. Lily? The quiet, almost invisible girl who navigated the halls of our lives like a ghost? The one Ryder… the one we had both, in our own ways, overlooked?And yet, despite the shock, despite
Ryder’s POVThe saccharine sweetness of the cake, the forced gaiety of the celebration, the drone of polite conversation – it all dissolved into a deafening silence the moment the word slammed into my consciousness.MateThe impact was physical, like a rogue wave crashing over me, stealing my breath and leaving me reeling. The murmuring of the assembled guests, the cloying melody of the background music, all faded into a distorted, static-filled hum. For a disorienting second, I genuinely believed the universe had finally decided to unleash its most twisted form of humor upon me.Her?Lily?A glacial wave of disbelief washed through my veins, chilling me to the very core. My blood ran cold, my muscles seizing in protest.No. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening. This was some kind of cosmic error, a glitch in the matrix of fate. Lily? The quiet, unassuming shadow who had haunted the edges of our periphery for years? The one we… the one I…That soul-deep resonance, the prima
Lily’s POVThe cake was a blinding spectacle, a testament to manufactured joy. Its tiers, frosted in pristine white and adorned with impossibly perfect red roses, seemed to mock the turmoil churning within me. The golden light spilling from the ornate chandelier above turned the sugary confection into a shimmering beacon, drawing the gazes of the assembled guests.Polite applause rippled through the room as I reluctantly approached the table, the weight of the ceremonial knife feeling disproportionately heavy in my trembling hand. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat of exhaustion and a profound sense of displacement. It felt like an eternity since I had last recognized the reflection staring back at me in the mirror.Mom stood beside me, her smile radiant, a stark contrast to the hollowness I felt. Her hand rested lightly on my back, a gesture of maternal pride that felt like a physical weight. “Make a wish, sweetheart,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.I
Lily’s POVThe week passed in a blur.Before I could even breathe, the house transformed. Balloons, floral garlands, glittering lights, and golden drapes were brought in by a team of decorators my stepfather had hired. The living room was overtaken with soft pastels and elegant chandeliers. Tables were being arranged in the garden, and every day new boxes arrived—dresses, gifts, accessories.I watched it all unfold from the sidelines, a ghost in my own home.“I want everything to be perfect for Lily’s 18th,” my mother chirped from the foyer, flipping through color swatches with a designer. “She deserves this.”She looked so genuinely happy that I couldn’t bring myself to tell her how every balloon tied up with ribbon felt like a noose around my neck.I stood by the stairs, arms crossed, when Sam arrived.“Holy crap,” she breathed, taking in the sight. “This looks like a wedding.”“I didn’t want a party,” I muttered under my breath.“Then why are you letting them go all out like this?”