Little brother? I froze, staring at Rhys in shock. Did I hear that right? Rhys had a brother? And not just any brother, but a freaking Alpha? I glanced back and forth between the two of them, my brain struggling to make sense of what I had just heard.Rhys looked... uncomfortable. He seemed to shrink a little under Mischaâs gaze, his shoulders tensing. The confident, joking side of him that I had come to know was gone, replaced with something more guarded. He cleared his throat awkwardly and gave a tight smile. âHey, Mischa,â he said, his voice sounding strange in my ears. âLong time.âLong time? What did that mean? Why hadnât he ever mentioned this?I stared at him, my mouth slightly agape. âYou... you have a brother?â I whispered in disbelief.Rhys glanced at me, his expression apologetic, but I could tell there was something moreâsomething he wasnât sharing. He gave a small shrug. âYeah, surprise,â he said dryly.I felt like I had been hit with a ton of bricks. How was it possible
We finally made it back to the mansion, and right there, standing by the wide double doors, was Zara. She looked like she had been waiting for us for a while. Her posture was straight, like she was trying to look confident and in control, but there was something stiff about it. Her face was calm, her lips curled into a soft smile, but her eyes were kind ofâĶ strange. Like she was trying hard not to let something show.She had changed into a cream-colored blouse that looked soft and expensive, with pearl buttons down the middle, tucked into a pair of fitted black pants. Her blonde hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, and she wore gold earrings that shimmered a little in the sunlight. She looked neat, elegant, even welcomingâalmost like she was the Luna of the pack. Like it was her job to greet everyone and make sure they were well taken care of.As we approached the front steps, she stepped forward, her hands folded together politely in front of her. âWelcome back,
After lunch was over, everyone started to move around. Chairs scraped softly against the wooden floors as people stood and stretched. Some were still chatting quietly at the table, while others were already heading out of the dining room. I was just about to stand up when Alpha Josha walked over to me with a smile that was both proud and a little hopeful.He stopped in front of me and gave a small respectful bow of his head. âMiss Lily,â he said warmly, âmy daughter, Penelope, has been very eager to see more of the pack. Sheâs heard a lot of stories, and I think she would love for you to show her around. If you have the time.âI blinked at him for a second, caught a little off guard. I hadnât talked much to Penelope during lunch, and she seemed kind of quiet. Still, I didnât want to be rude, and I had to be welcoming.âOf course,â I said with a smile. âIâd be happy to. It would be my pleasure.âHe looked relieved and turned slightly to call his daughter over. Penelope got up from her
We kept walking slowly, our shoes crunching softly on the path beneath us. The cool breeze rustled through the trees above, and sunlight peeked through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Birds chirped somewhere in the distance, and I could smell the faint scent of wildflowers that always lingered near the training fields.The conversation had gotten easier by now. At first, Penelope had seemed quiet and unsure, probably because she didnât know us well, but after a few jokes and smiles, she was starting to relax. Her shoulders werenât as stiff, and she was laughing at Merâs silly comments. It made me happy to see her opening up, even just a little.After we passed the training groundsâwhich were mostly quiet now since most of the warriors were done for the dayâwe followed a narrow path that led into town. The cobblestone road was a little uneven in places, and I had to hold Penelopeâs arm once when she nearly tripped on a loose stone. She laughed it off, a soft, musical
I stared at the words on my screen and blinked. Hold on? What was that supposed to mean? Was he sending someone? Coming here? I tilted my head and let out a soft laugh. Typical Kai, being all cryptic like he was in some secret spy movie.I put my phone down and closed my eyes again, hoping I could relax a bit. But then, not even two minutes later, I heard the door creak open.I sat up quickly, and there he wasâKai, standing there in a plain black t-shirt and joggers, looking calm but with that usual serious look on his face.âWhat are you doing here?â I asked, surprised and maybe a little shy.He shut the door behind him and walked over to the bed. âYou said your feet hurt,â he said, like it was the most obvious reason in the world.I blinked. âSo you came to...?ââTo give you the best foot rub youâve ever had,â he said with a little smirk.I stared at him for a second, kind of speechless. He sat at the edge of the bed and gently pulled my legs onto his lap before I could even answer.
My body was still tingling from the soft kiss, and my heart was beating erratically, the sound loud in my ears. I swallowed hard, trying to regain control, but everything felt too muchâtoo intense.His hands slowly moved to the back of my calf, his fingers grazing my skin. I could feel the heat of his touch even though his hands were gentle, his movements slow and deliberate. It wasnât just the foot rub anymore. It was something more. Something deeper.I tried to gather my thoughts, but I couldnât focus on anything except the way his hands felt on my skin, the way his presence seemed to fill up every inch of space around us. Kai was looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered in that moment, his dark eyes tracing my every movement, reading me without a word.I was about to say something, anything, to break the silence, but before I could, Kai placed his lips on my ankle again. This time, the kiss was firmer, his mouth pressing against the sensitive skin there, a soft groan
It was time for dinner, and as soon as Kai took my hand, I felt a small sense of warmth spread through me. We walked into the dining room together, where the long table was already set. Everyone was seated, including Zara and Rhys, who had already started chatting. The room was lively, filled with soft murmurs of conversation, but I couldnât shake the feeling that something was different today. Something had shifted.Kai led me to my seat beside him, the same as at lunch. He helped me settle into the chair before taking his own beside me.Kai greeted everyone, his deep voice carrying through the room as he exchanged pleasantries with the other alphas and their pack members. I nodded to the people around the table, offering a smile where I could. As the food was brought out, the conversation picked up, and everything felt somewhat normal again.Dinner was going wellâuntil Alpha Mischa spoke up."So, how far along are you?" Mischaâs voice broke through the murmur of conversation, and hi
I squeezed Kaiâs hand, trying to ground him, to remind him that this wasnât the time or place to let Mischaâs words get to him. We had a dinner to finish, guests to entertain. This was the last thing I wanted to focus on. âLetâs just have dinner,â I said, my voice a little shakier than I would have liked, but I knew it was the only way to keep the situation from escalating further. âWeâre all here to enjoy the evening, right?â I could feel Kaiâs gaze on me, the fire in his eyes flickering just a little, like he was weighing whether or not to make a bigger scene. But then he exhaled, long and slow, and I saw the tension leave his shoulders, just slightly. His eyes softened, just a little, and he turned his attention back to the table, though I could tell it wasnât over yet. âFine,â Kai said, his voice still low but with a noticeable edge. âBut Mischa, donât think I didnât hear you.â Mischa just smiled
I didnât realize I had fallen asleep until the sharp sound of my phone ringing broke through the quiet of the room. The noise startled me, and I quickly reached for it on the nightstand beside the bed. When I saw Kaiâs name flash across the screen, my heart skipped a beat. I smiled even before answering."Hello?" I said softly, my voice a little groggy from the nap.âHey, beautiful,â Kaiâs deep, familiar voice came through the phone, sending warmth rushing through me. âHow are you feeling? Howâs everything with the babies?âI took a slow breath and placed my hand on my belly, the tiny flutter of movement reassuring me. âWeâre fine,â I replied, the words slipping easily from my lips. âI just took a little nap, but Iâm doing good.ââThatâs good to hear,â he said, sounding pleased. âListen, I need you to get ready. Iâm coming to pick you up soon for our date.âA smile spread across my face. âOkay,â I replied, my heart fluttering at the thought of spending more time with him. âIâll be wai
When he pulled away, he stayed close, resting his forehead against mine. His breath brushed across my skin, soft and steady, and I felt my heart calm down. It was like everything that had been loud and heavy inside meâthe fears, the memories, the painâsuddenly went quiet.And for the first time in a long while, I wasnât thinking about the past.Not about Zara. Not about the way she had looked at me with so much hatred in her eyes. Not about how I had nearly lost my life because of her. Not about lying in that hospital bed, bruised and broken, unsure if I would ever be the same again.And not about how scared I was of what was happening to me. Of turning into something elseâsomething I didnât understand yet. A werewolf. A Luna. A mother.All of that faded as I sat there in bed, warm and safe in Kaiâs arms. It was just me and him. And our babies.I opened my eyes slowly and looked at him. His expression was soft, full of something I couldnât quite name, but it made my chest tighten in a
The next morning, I woke up to the soft feel of lips brushing against my forehead. At first, I thought I was dreaming. The kiss was so gentle, almost like a whisper. My eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the golden morning light slipping through the thick curtains. For a moment, everything was quiet and calm, and then I saw him.Kai.He was leaning over me, his messy black hair falling a little into his eyes. His smile was soft and sleepy, but warmâlike he had been watching me for a while. His shirt was gone, and I could see the way the light made his skin glow slightly. He looked like something out of a dream.âGood morning, sleepyhead,â he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep.âMorning,â I replied, my voice scratchy. I rubbed at my eyes, still feeling a little tired but also comforted by his presence.Thatâs when I saw the tray in his hands. My eyes widened in surprise.âYou brought me breakfast?â I asked, try
After dinner, we slowly made our way out of the dining room. Kai never let go of me, not even for a second. His arm stayed wrapped around my waist like he was afraid Iâd disappear if he let go. I was full and sleepy, and my body felt heavier than usual. My legs ached a little, and my lower back was starting to hurt too. That happened a lot latelyâbeing almost six months pregnant came with a lot of surprises. Kai kept glancing down at me, his eyes filled with worry, but I gave him a small smile to let him know I was okay.We climbed the stairs carefully. He didnât rush me at all. With every step, he kept his hand steady on my side, whispering, âAlmost there, baby,â like I was running a marathon. When we finally reached our bedroom, he opened the door and helped me inside. The room was warm and smelled like his cologne and something minty from the candles Mer had left earlier.Kai turned to me and gave me a gentle smile. âLetâs get you comfortable,â he said softly.I nodded, and he help
Lilyâs POV Soon, it was time for dinner. I took a deep breath as I stood before the full-length mirror in our room, running my hands over the fabric of my dress. It was a soft, flowing lavender gown that hugged my growing belly just enough to feel comfortable. I hadnât paid much attention to my appearance in the past few days, but tonight felt different. Tonight, I was trying to take things back to some kind of normal. Or at least, as normal as life could feel after everything that had happened. Kai was standing nearby, his eyes watching me with a mix of concern and affection. His attention was always on me now, always looking out for me, especially since the news of the babies. I could feel the weight of his eyes on me, and it wasnât the kind of weight that made me uncomfortable. It was the kind of weight that felt like safety, like reassurance. But even so, I knew he was nervous. He was always nervous when it came to me these days. âYo
Lilyâs POV We went back to the mansion the next day. I had been in the hospital for days after the incident, but I couldnât take it anymore. The walls felt too white, too cold. I missed the comfort of my own bed, the warm scent of Kaiâs cologne on the sheets, and the way our room always smelled faintly of cedar and something earthy. I wanted to be home. I needed to be home. It took a lot of convincing. Kai was stubborn, like always. He didnât want to risk anythingânot with me, and definitely not with the babies. But after I practically begged him and Doctor Harris stepped in to reassure him that I was healing well, he finally gave in. âYouâll rest. No stress,â Kai said, holding my hand tightly as we got into the car. âThe moment you feel tired, you tell me.â âI will,â I promised, resting my other hand gently on my bump. The ride home was quiet. I looked out the window at the trees passing by, my hand never leaving my belly. Kai kept glancing at me every few seconds, like he was
Lily's POVI blinked up at the ceiling, the bright white lights above me making my eyes sting. Everything smelled like antiseptic and plastic. The hospital. I hated hospitals. The last time I was here, I had no one beside me. But this time, I kept hoping heâd come.I shifted a little, wincing at firstâbut then realizing something strange. There was no pain. My leg didnât hurt. My ribs didnât ache. My face wasnât bruised anymore. I looked down at my arms and blinked in confusion. Just yesterday they were covered in purple-blue marks. Now? Smooth skin. Like nothing ever happened.Was I dreaming?The door opened.My head snapped toward the sound, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw him. Kai.He looked like he hadnât slept. His hair was messy, and his eyes were red, like heâd been crying. He stood there in the doorway, just staring at me like I was some kind of miracle. I swallowed hard, not sure what to say. Not sure what I even felt. A part of me wanted to cry. Another part wanted to
Kaiâs POV He nodded. âYes. Thatâs exactly what Iâm saying. And sheâs not marked, is she?ââNo,â I said slowly. âI havenât marked her yet.âDoctor Harris looked back at the room again. âThen this shouldnât be happening. A human canât heal this fast. ItâsâĶ well, itâs impossible. Unless thereâs something in her blood. Maybe sheâs not fully human. Or maybe somethingâs changed.âMy mind started racing. âYou mean likeâshe could be turning?âHe shook his head. âItâs too early to say anything for sure. I need to run more tests. Iâve already taken a blood sample, and Iâll have results in a few hours. But Alpha, something strange is going on with her biology.âI stared at the door, my heart thudding against my ribs.Lily. My Lily. What was happening to her?I swallowed hard and looked back at Doctor Harris. âDo whatever you need to do. Run every test. I just want her safe.ââI will,â he said. âI promise.âI nodded slowly, trying to process everything he just told me. I didnât know what this me
Kaiâs POV That was the law. And it was final.The crowd erupted. Growls, howls, and shouts of agreement filled the air. The pack stood behind me. I could feel it in my bones. They trusted me. They believed in what I was doing. And in that moment, I knew I was doing the right thing. Even if it hurt.Two of my strongest warriors stepped forward. I nodded at them, and they approached Zara.She didnât fight. She didnât scream or lash out. She just cried harder, shaking her head and begging between sobs.âPleaseâĶ KaiâĶ donât do thisâĶ Iâm sorryâĶ pleaseâĶâBut no one answered her. No one moved to stop the warriors as they gently pulled her to her feet and began walking her away. She kept looking back at me like I would change my mind. But I didnât.I couldnât.I turned my back to her. I couldnât look anymore.Rhys was suddenly beside me. I didnât even hear him come up. He placed a firm hand on my shoulder.âYou did the right thing,â he said quietly.I nodded slowly, but my chest still felt ti