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LilaI wanted to return to town, but Kai insisted it wasn’t safe yet. Trusting him wasn’t exactly my choice, but given the circumstances, it was all I had.Elliot had been gone since the morning, and according to Kai, he’d left early for some pack emergency. I was curious to know what it was, but prying into his private affairs seemed unwise. So, I stayed in my room, trying to distract myself with reruns of my favorite show on TV while mindlessly munching on snacks.The pregnancy had been taking its toll. Without my vitamins and medication, I felt weaker than usual, and the mood swings were brutal. My appetite had grown insatiable, to the point where I shocked even myself—I’d eaten so much, yet my stomach still grumbled for more.Just as I contemplated another snack run, my phone buzzed. Sighing, I dragged myself off the bed and picked it up.“Hello, Lila. Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you since last evening.” Julian’s worried voice carried through the line.“My phone
LilaThe car rolled to a smooth stop in front of a sprawling mansion cloaked in the dark majesty of the surrounding forest. Its towering, ornate gates stood as a silent testament to power and tradition. My pulse quickened at the sight. This wasn’t just any house—it was his pack house.Before I could open the door, Elliot’s hand shot out, gripping mine with firm authority. “You’re my date tonight, Lila. Act like it,” he instructed, his tone sharp enough to make my hackles rise.I glared at him, but he was already stepping out of the car and circling around to my side. With a gallant, almost mocking flourish, he opened the door for me. “Trying to be chivalrous now?” I quipped, sliding my hand into his outstretched one. “At least, be a gentleman.”His lips curled into that infuriating smirk I was beginning to recognize too well. “You’re looking breathtakingly gorgeous tonight, honey,” he said, his teal-blue eyes lingering on my body with an intensity that made my skin prickle.“And you’re
ElliotI barely spared a thought for Graham or his insufferable daughter. Gia had always been clingy, making it painfully obvious that she wanted to trap me in her web. She wasn’t the first, and she wouldn’t be the last. Women like her had a strategy—get pregnant, secure a mate, and enjoy the prestige of being Luna. The rules of our pack were clear: no wolf could shirk the responsibility of a pup, males would have to marry the she-wolf if they got her pregnant, and she was very well aware of it since my father used it to get married again after my mother’s death. But Gia had never interested me, not even enough for a fling.She wasn’t Lila, my wolf replied as if I needed some clarity from him why I wasn’t interested in any other she-wolf after that night with Lila. ‘Alpha, your father is furious,’ Kai’s voice rang through the mindlink, his tone laced with concern. ‘He’s already summoned your stepbrother. If you don’t tread carefully, the Alpha title could slip through your fingers.’
LilaThe sharp click of the door closing yanked me back to reality, grounding me in the unbearable truth: I was kissing the man I swore I hated. My palms pushed against his chest, creating the distance I so desperately needed. Elliot stepped back, his gaze hooded and predatory, while his tongue swept lazily across his bottom lip, a deliberate, taunting gesture.I hated him. Hated the way my pulse quickened under his piercing stare, hated the heat pooling low in my belly, hated how his very presence made me feel like I was losing control. It was infuriating, this pull he had over me—an invisible chain I couldn’t seem to break.Reaching for the flute of champagne on the table, I downed it in one breathless gulp, hoping the alcohol would grant me the courage to navigate the chaos brewing between us. The glass clinked loudly against the table as I set it down, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation.“I was just playing along,” I snapped, jabbing a finger in his direction. “
ElliotOf course, she’d fall in love with us if you stopped bullying her, told her the damn truth, and quit being such a pain in her ass, my wolf snarled, his irritation palpable.His faith in her love for us was unshakable, but he hated the way I toyed with her.Before Lila could fire back a response, I turned my head toward the wall, showing her my back, and snapped my fingers. The lights dimmed into darkness instantly."Wow," she whispered, the quiet awe in her voice making my lips twitch into a smirk.Clearly, she was impressed by the latest tech I’d installed in my room. I had a thing for gadgets and cutting-edge technology, pouring years of effort into designing and building the products my company was known for. What no one knew, however, was that I was the mind behind it all—the creator of the very tech that fueled my empire.I closed my eyes, determined to get some sleep. But who was I kidding? How could I sleep when she was lying mere inches from me?Her intoxicating scent—a
Lila"Where was his mother last night?" I asked Elliot's Beta, as he drove me back to town.The question had been weighing on me ever since I woke up in Elliot’s room to find him gone. He’d been distant, cold even, and I couldn’t shake the thought that I might’ve upset him. Was it because I touched that photo of him and his mother?Kai’s eyes widened, his surprise almost comical. “You don’t know?”“If I knew, I wouldn’t have asked,” I said, rolling my eyes.“Oh, right.” He hesitated before adding, “She passed away when the Alpha was two.”The weight of guilt settled on my chest, pressing down hard. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, turning my gaze to the window. An awkward silence surrounded us in the car.Kai cleared his throat after a while, pulling the car to a stop. “We’re here.”I nodded, offering him a polite smile as I reached for the door, but his voice stopped me. “Can I ask you something? If you don’t mind?”“Sure.” He didn’t seem as intimidating as Elliot. In fact, he seemed kind—a c
Elliot“Alpha, are you sure you want to do this now?” Kai asked as he stopped the car at the edge of the Mystic Shadow Pack’s borders.I glanced at him, my gaze unwavering. “It’s either now or never, Kai. And I fear nothing. It’s time Andrew gets what’s coming to him.”Before Kai could respond, patrol guards rushed toward us, their weapons drawn. One of them stepped closer and barked, “Get out of the fucking car.”I rolled down the window, meeting his glare with a calm, deliberate expression. “Kai, call Sheldon,” I instructed, uninterested in wasting time with these arrogant lackeys who clearly didn’t know who I was. It was almost amusing to imagine the colors draining from their faces once they realized.The guard’s stance stiffened when Kai made the call. “Alpha Elliot of the Blue Moon Pack,” One of them whispered into his communicator, his voice barely audible. I smirked and rolled the window back up, knowing full well that the apology he wanted to bare his teeth through would come
Lila"Your friends aren’t coming?" Julian asked as he leaned casually against the wall, watching me work on my laptop in the living room."They’re busy. Maybe next week," I replied with a small smile, my eyes glued to the screen.He ran a hand through his hair, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. I arched a brow, silently demanding he spill whatever he was hiding."I brought back a few dresses and some other things from my trip," he said, gesturing toward my room where he must have kept the bags like the last time. He travelled almost every other day and bought me already a lot of things.I sighed dramatically, shaking my head. "Julian, I told you not to buy me anything!""They were too pretty to leave behind," he said with a sheepish grin. "And I figured the prettiest woman I know should have them."I rolled my eyes, but his puppy-dog expression made it impossible to stay annoyed. "Fine. Now, please leave. I need to finish this by tomorrow."He gave me a mock salute, but instead
Lila“Give me the crimson stone,” Aunt Julia said, stretching her hand toward Elliot with an air of solemnity.I glanced at my husband, seeking reassurance. His steady gaze met mine, calm yet resolute, silently promising that everything was under control. Sitting cross-legged on the cool ground, I traced the faint shimmering circle around me—a boundary drawn with water collected under the moonlight. Aunt Julia and Liam sat opposite me, their expressions focused as they prepared to perform the ritual.Elliot retrieved the crimson crystal from his pocket, its surface catching the moon’s glow, and handed it to Aunt Julia. She held it with both hands, closing her eyes as she chanted in a language I didn’t recognize. Her voice was steady, a melodic cadence that seemed to vibrate in the air around us.The crystal glowed faintly in her hands before she passed it to Liam. His gaze locked onto the stone, his eyes shifting to a fiery red as he began his chant, each word carrying a weight that m
ElliotThe elders gathered in the grand hall of the packhouse, their expressions grim and purposeful as they took their seats around the oval table. The heavy oak doors shut behind me with a resounding thud, sealing us within the room where decisions that would shape our pack’s future were to be made. Lila stood by my side, her chin held high despite the lingering frailty in her posture. I felt a surge of pride and protectiveness, knowing how much it took for her to stand here after everything she had endured.The Blood Moon was upon us, an event steeped in both tradition and danger. Its arrival always brought the promise of heightened power but also the risk of chaos if not handled properly. This year, the stakes were higher than ever.Beta Kai stood near the edge of the room, his arms crossed, his sharp gaze flitting between the elders. His presence was a silent assurance that I wasn’t navigating this storm alone. Elena was beside him, her expression a mix of curiosity and unease as
LilaThe scent of cedar with dark chocolate and the warmth of Elliot’s cabin wrapped around me as I awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside. My body ached, a dull reminder of the battle I’d fought and the blood I’d lost. But the pain was manageable, almost distant compared to the whirlwind of emotions raging within me.I stretched gingerly, testing the limits of my strength, and found the comforting weight of a blanket draped over me. The memories of the previous night surfaced, and my cheeks flushed as I remembered Elliot’s confession. His words, raw and unguarded, had shaken me to my core.He loved me.The truth of his feelings had been undeniable in the way he looked at me, his eyes filled with vulnerability and determination. But with that truth came the weight of my own guilt. I’d doubted him, believed the worst, and let my fears guide my decisions. Now, I wasn’t sure if I deserved the love he so openly offered.The creak of the door broke my reverie, and I turned to see Ell
ElliotThe scent of antiseptic and despair clung to the air as I stepped into the hospital room, my heart pounding like a war drum. I’d spent days drowning in darkness and nights anchored to this very room, praying for a sign, a miracle, anything. And now, she was awake, Kai had informed me a couple of minutes ago, and I excused myself immediately from the elders I was sitting with. My gaze fell on her, fragile yet fierce, like a storm contained within porcelain. She sat upright in bed, her expression a blend of surprise and guarded skepticism. The sight of her awake, breathing, was enough to bring me to my knees. But I couldn’t falter now. Not when there was so much left unsaid, so much to explain.“Lila,” I breathed her name like a benediction, my voice breaking the silence that had engulfed us. She didn’t respond, her eyes narrowing as if gauging whether I was real or some cruel figment of her imagination.I crossed the room in three long strides, desperate to be closer to her yet
LilaThe world around me was a blur of whispers and shadows, a haze that refused to let me go. I drifted in the void, weightless and lost, with no sense of time or space. It was as though I were trapped between realms, caught in a limbo where the line between reality and nightmare blurred.I stumbled through the darkness, my bare feet crunching on something brittle and sharp. The cold air pressed against my skin like an icy hand, suffocating me with its weight. Shapes moved in the shadows—familiar but distorted, as if the world itself was fractured.The whispers grew louder, their eerie chant echoing in my ears. “She doesn’t belong here. Take her. Take her now.”Fear clawed at my chest as I turned frantically, searching for a way out. The darkness parted slightly, revealing a kingdom bathed in a dull, lifeless glow. The buildings were jagged, sharp like broken glass, and the air was thick with a choking mist.Then I saw them.An army of shadows, their forms flickering like dying flame
ElliotThe icy wind bit at my skin as I stood on the edge of the forest, my eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. The shadows were still out there. I could feel it in my gut, the same way I could feel Lila’s absence like a hollow ache that wouldn’t leave. Two weeks had passed, and she still hadn’t woken up. Two weeks of torment, of unanswered questions, and of a growing fury I could barely contain.“Report,” I barked, my voice cold and sharp as I turned to my Beta, Kai.“We’ve scoured the northern and western borders,” Kai said, his head bowed slightly. “No trace of them yet.”“Not good enough,” I snapped, my tone lethal. “You’re telling me that with an entire team of trained trackers and your royal spy mate, not one of you has found a single lead?”Kai flinched but held his ground. “We’re doing everything we can, Alpha.”“Clearly, it’s not enough,” I growled. “Double the patrols. Triple them if you have to. I want this forest combed inch by inch. And if anyone slacks of
ElliotSeeing her like this—broken, raging, consumed by her grief—was unbearable. Her fists collided with my chest, her slaps leaving a stinging imprint on my skin, but I didn’t stop her. I stood still, letting her pour out her anguish, her pain, and her fury. Each blow hurt less than the sight of her tears, less than the sound of her cries. Perhaps the pain she was inflicting would lessen the pain I was feeling inside.Lila crumbled to her knees, her screams raw and guttural, her body trembling with the weight of her sorrow. My own tears threatened to spill, but I swallowed them down, forcing myself to stay composed for her. Slowly, I knelt beside her, reaching out to pull her into my arms, to comfort her.“Don’t touch me!” she screamed, shoving me back with a force that stunned me. Her emerald eyes burned with pure hatred I had never seen before. “You were so blinded by your revenge that you killed your own babies? You're unbelievably cruel, Elliot Sinclair.”Her words hit like a da
LilaDarkness stretched endlessly before me, swallowing the world in its cold, oppressive embrace. My footsteps echoed in the silence as I wandered aimlessly, each step crunching on a path I couldn’t see. The air was heavy, thick with a weight that pressed against my chest and made it impossible to breathe.I didn’t know how I’d come to this place. One moment, I was safe, or so I thought, in the comfort of our home. And the next, I was here, lost in a land shrouded in shadows, where every flicker of movement sent shivers racing down my spine.The shapes started to emerge first, barely distinguishable at the edges of my vision. At first, they seemed like whispers of smoke, curling and twisting in ways that defied logic. But as I ventured deeper into this nightmare, they began to take form—humanoid, yet wrong in every way.Their hollow eyes followed me, glowing faintly with a sinister light that cut through the darkness. The figures were eerily monstrous, their silhouettes resembling th
LilaThe pain in my stomach was unbearable, ripping through me with an intensity that made every breath feel like a battle. My vision blurred, and the edges of my consciousness wavered, but I clung to the fragile thread of awareness, forcing myself to stay awake. I reached out desperately to my wolf, summoning every ounce of strength she had. Protect my babies. The plea echoed in my mind, a silent prayer. But my wolf remained distant, her presence muted since the attack. Fear clutched at my heart. Had the shadow succeeded in harming my babies or my wolf?“Doctor, do anything—anything—but make sure she and the babies are safe,” Elliot’s voice broke through the haze. It was tight, filled with barely restrained fury, but beneath it was a raw edge of fear.“Everything will be fine,” Henry’s voice chimed in, steady and urgent as he appeared at Elliot’s side. “Let me take her inside.”The world tilted as I was lifted onto a stretcher, the motion making the pain flare anew. I felt Elliot’s h