Chapter 1

Lily’s POV 

I couldn't stop shaking. The torch in my hand felt heavier than it should, like it was made of lead instead of wood. All around me, people dressed in black blurred into a sea of sorrow. But I only had eyes for the pyre in front of me, where Mom and Dad lay.

Cole's hand squeezed mine. "It's time, Lily," he said softly.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. Together, we stepped forward. I looked to my side, beside me Lukas stood mourning people that had never made him feel like he belonged. All his life he had been referred to as the Alpha’s Bastard. 

“Join me,” I said to Lukas

“But...” he started to protest 

 I shook my head vehemently. “He was your father too, it is your right.” There were whispers around but no one dared challenge my decision.

Lukas's hands joined mine and Cole’s on the torch Together, we stepped forward. We lowered it to the pyre, the flame from our torch caught quickly, and soon the whole pyre was burning. The heat hit my face, but I couldn't step back. I couldn't look away.

"Mom... Dad..." I whispered, tears streaming down my face.

Lukas pulled me into his embrace, and in the comfort of his arms, I let my tears flow, my shoulder shook from the force of it.

"They're gone, Lukas. They're gone."

"I know," he murmured, his voice breaking. "I'm here for you, Lily. Always."

I clung to him tighter, grateful for his strength.

As we stood there, I heard whispers from the crowd behind us.

"Poor dear," someone said. "To lose both parents at once..."

"At least she has her husband," another voice replied.

I tuned them out, focusing on the warmth of Lukas's embrace and the crackling of the fire.

Eventually, Cole's voice broke through my daze. "Lily, love? Most of the guests are leaving."

I pulled away from Lukas, wiping my eyes. "Oh. Right. I should...

"You don't have to do anything," Lukas said firmly. "I'll handle it."

"We'll handle it," Cole corrected, putting his arm around my waist and steering me towards Sybil. "You just take care of yourself, okay?"

“ You should take her, let her get some rest”

“Come on, let’s get you settled.

“But…I still need to…”

“Hush now…. You don’t need to do anything but rest, come on, you heard Cole, he said he would take care of it all, He is Alpha, let him do his job.”

Cole was Alpha, I was Luna, my parents were dead, it all still seemed very strange to me. I allowed Sybil to lead me like a child to my chamber.

“Look at you poor thing, you are shaking.”

“Here, drink this.” She said practically forcing a cup in my face.

“What’s that?” I asked eyeing the contents of the cup.

“Ohhh stop being uptight, it is just to help calm your nerves.

“It is lemonade that may or may not have been dosed with a little milk of the poppy.”

“Before you start to argue, you need it, to sleep, to relax. Tell me have you had a good night's rest since...” 

She didn’t have to complete the sentence I knew what she was asking. I hadn’t slept a wink since the attack that killed my parents a week ago. I shut my eyes at the pain, the thoughts brought. Maybe Sybil’s drink wasn’t the worst idea.

“Okay fine, I will drink it,” I said.

I took the cup Sybil stretched out to me and downed every drop of juice in it.

“Done,” I said as I handed the cup over to her.

“Good now, lay down and sleep.” She said tapping the bed to beckon me over, she raised her hands to dismiss the maid.

I climbed into the bed still dressed in my black dress from the funeral, she pulled the cover over me.

“Sleep kid, rest well,” She said, softly patting my hair.

“You are older by just 3 months, stop calling me a kid,” I said chuckling.

“I saw 3 months of life before you came, hush kid, the fact remains I’m older.” She replied a smile spreading across her face.

“Don’t leave me, stay with me, at least till I fall asleep,” I said in a low voice as I made room for her to lay beside me.

“See why I call you kid,” Sybil said, her smile spreading even wider, she was already taking place beside me.

“Do you think they are happier where they are?”

“Yes I do, I honestly do.”

I snuggled into her embrace…. I felt loved and secure, I had never had a sister, but I was pretty sure that was what it felt like.

When I awoke, I was alone, Sybil had left me alone to sleep, and I felt more like myself now that I was properly rested. 

“My lady.” Kim my maid extended a cup of water to me.

“Dinner has long been served, I could tell the cook to arrange a tray for you, if you are hungry.”

“Dinner???, I fell asleep at past noon…how long was asleep?”  I gulped the water down in record time, my head felt foggy.

“You were out for a while.”

“So should I ask the cook?” Kim pressed further.

“Yes, but please no tray, just a bowl of soup and some bread.”

With a nod, Kim exited my room.

I needed to find Cole immediately, I needed to get reports on the meetings he had taken all day, while I slept.

I stood up, a glance at the wall clock told me it was an hour to midnight, Cole would most likely be in his study finishing up the business of the day.

I stepped out of the room and made my way to Cole’s study. The turn that led to his study was unprotected, where did all the guards go? 

As I got closer to the study I could hear noises, was that an argument? Who was Cole arguing with at this time of the night? 

As I got closer, I realized it wasn’t the arguments I heard. It was indeed moaning, I chuckled, must be one of the guards. 

The closer I got to the study the louder the moans were. Were the moans coming from the study, I had to get Cole to caution the guard, it was one thing to have sex on duty, it was another to have it in the study, that was just disrespectful.

“Oh, Cole. Yes, baby, yes, oh my goodness.”

I froze in shock, goosebumps covering my entire body. What Cole???… Was there a guard named Cole?

I raised my hand to knock, then froze. The voice sounded familiar, it sounded just like It was...Sybil?

“Sybil, they will hear. Shh”

“I can’t be quiet, not with what you are doing to me.”

"Oh, Cole," I heard her moan even louder."We shouldn't..."

"Shh," Cole's voice replied, husky and low. "No one will know."

“Cole?????, Sybil.????”

My world tilted sideways. This couldn't be happening. Not today of all days. Not ever.

I don't know how long I stood there, listening to the sounds of betrayal. My mind kept rejecting what I was hearing, trying to find some other explanation. But there was no mistaking those voices, those sounds.

No way that was possible, I shook my head refusing to believe what my ears were hearing. Seeing was believing after all. I moved closer peeping through a small opening in the door. 

I saw Sybil bent over the table with Cole standing behind her. I sank to the ground in defeat, tears gathered in my eyes, they wouldn’t betray me like that. 

“What are you doing crying? Get up now, we have to make them pay.” 

"We have to do something, we have to make them pay. Make them hurt like we're hurting." Allegra, my wolf, growled in my head.

I stood up and wiped my tears, Allegra was right, they had to pay and they would. I couldn't just stand here crying. I had to act