Hearing Lycan King Ethan's proclamation, Kenneth's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to absorb the weight of the situation. Not only had he been embarrassed the entire night, but he had also been humiliated in front of the powerful Lycan King. Sensing his distress, Ethan sneered and said, "I saw everything. Don't dare try to lie to me about your actions." "I apologize, my king. I..." Kenneth started, but Ethan's intimidating snarl silenced him immediately. Ethan, with eyes that seemed to pierce through one's soul, addressed the gathered werewolves and werefelines once more. "Lily has proven herself and demonstrated unwavering dignity under such extreme circumstances. Her courage and cunning have earned her the title of victor tonight. She possesses qualities that make her worthy of being the future Luna to one of our kings." Mandy finally managed to pull herself to her feet. She managed to shift back into her human form. Mandy exchanged a bewildered glance with Kenneth, bo
'It's so soft,' Lily thought as she lay in a field of flowers. Vines wrapped around her, holding her close, enveloping her like a cocoon. She felt herself sinking lower and lower, but she didn't care. Then, Lily heard a soft, soothing voice echoing in her mind. It wasn't Dina. It was a voice she had never heard before, but its presence oddly brought her comfort as if she heard it before. "Wake up. It's time to wake up Lily." Lily ignored the voice at first, closing her eyes again. The voice became more urgent with its plea. "Wake up! You need to wake up, Lily." Lily didn't want to leave the comfort, but she also didn't want to disobey. Lily's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light in the room. As she blinked away the remnants of her sleep, the voice faded away. "Oh my god! You're awake!" To Lily's bewilderment, she found herself in a lavish bed in a room she did not recognize with a woman that she did not know. She bared her teeth at the woman and the woman brought her
"Pathetic," Ethan sat on his couch, reviewing the latest status reports of the packs. He sneered at them, his irritation with their failings evident. They weren't doing nearly as well as he had hoped. So much internal fighting and death. It was a wonder to him how they were related to Lycans. "Alpha King, the she-wolf is awake," Janet's voice flooded Ethan's mind. He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "Finally." Clearing his throat, he responded, "Bring her to me as long as she is able to move." "As you wish, Alpha King." Ethan put down his reports and got up, pacing the room for a moment. He went to his desk and pulled out the file he had on Lily. Ethan researched her on his own as he wanted to ensure that nothing was omitted. He found that the young woman lived a harsh life, and her mother's death was suspicious. Ethan intended to reveal the truth of the matter immediately, but the Elder Council asked him to wait until the trial. He didn't like waiting, but he
Lily's mind was in turmoil as she left the office, her conversation with Ethan, the Lycan King, replaying in her head. The revelation about her lycanthropic heritage and the prospect of the Elder Council pushing her to have pups weighed heavily on her. As she aimlessly walked the halls, Janet approached her with a troubled expression. "Is everything alright, Lily?" Janet asked, concern evident in her voice. Lily sighed, glancing at Janet. "I'm just trying to process everything Ethan told me. It's a lot to take in, and I'm worried about what the Elder Council might want from me." Janet nodded understandingly. "I can only imagine how overwhelming this must be for you. But remember, Ethan can be rough around the edges, but he means well. Don't take his words too personally." "I'll keep that in mind," Lily replied, appreciating Janet's reassurance. "Let's get you to your room," Janet said. As they reached Lily's room, she found that her room was something out of a 5 – star
After spending a few days recovering, Lily found comfort in exploring the beautiful castle grounds. The vast gardens and serene landscape offered her a much-needed escape from the weight of her new responsibilities. 'This really could be all ours if we wanted,' Dina said. 'I know,' Lily responded. 'But we don't want him,' Dina concluded. Ethan was a magnificent male. He was everything any she-wolf would want, but their heart didn't belong to him. He felt more like a brother than anything else. As Lily walked, she spotted a familiar figure approaching in the distance. "Tiffany!" Lily called out with a smile as her best friend drew near. Tiffany's eyes lit up, and she ran towards Lily, enveloping her in a warm hug. "Lily, it's so good to see you. I'm glad you're okay." "Thanks. I would've called or even come to see you, but I am not allowed. It is for my safety," Lily explained as she thought back on her escape attempts being thwarted by the Ly
As Tiffany and Lily spent days catching up, Ethan kept his distance, respecting their need for time to bond. It was an unusual experience for him, being so close to someone but refraining from involving himself directly. Instead, he focused on monitoring the situation with the Blue Creek pack. The impending trial was of great concern, especially given the potential consequences for Alpha Kenneth's daughter, Brandy. How did Brandy get a hold of Wolfsbane? The plant that she had was even more toxic than anything he had come across before. So who was cultivating this plant and why? Ethan's beta had casually suggested a day ago, "Just make an example out of them. It would make everything easier." "You are not looking at the bigger picture. Someone is growing Wolfsbane. Wolfsbane is specifically toxic to us. If we kill Brandy and her parents, we would not be able to find the source," Ethan explained. "My apologies Alpha. I only meant that we could dispose of them after finding
"Let's get down to business, as your presence on my land is offensive. What did you need to speak to me about that you couldn't have said over the phone?" Kenneth had not spoken a word for over two decades to her, even after she begged and pleaded. Now, Debra faced Kenneth in her office, her gaze like steel as it bore into him. His presence didn't scare her, but she wasn't ignorant of his potential danger either. The room held an air of tension, with four of her most formidable warriors present and the rest of her warriors on high alert. "To answer any questions you may have about your daughter's death," Kenneth said simply, and Debra resisted the urge to slap him. A sneer tugged at Debra's lips as her voice dripped with sarcasm, "How generous of you. Of course, I would never believe a word you say." "This is really all your fault," Kenneth responded. Debra's eyebrow arched incredulously before she said, "And pray tell, how is it?" "You should've told me her lineage. You
As Lily ventured beyond the castle grounds, the desire for freedom compelled her to explore. Tiffany had chosen a spa day, leaving Lily with the itch to get out and wander. She couldn't sit still to read and she didn't want to play any more videogames. 'Why can't this day move faster?' Lily thought as she stomped through the snow. 'Freaking out about is not going to make this any easier. Be calm,' Dina answered, noting her restlessness. 'Ethan promised to update us when Debra arrives. You just have to wait.' "I know, I know, I just can't stop thinking about what we should ask her," Lily groaned in frustration. Dina's suggested, 'Let's run this energy out. You can't think if you're running.' Lily started jogging, her pace quickening as the wind whipped through her hair. She continued until her body protested, and she slowed to a stop. At that moment, she sensed a familiar presence. As she turned, she was met by the sight of Garrett standing before her. Her guard went up im