Kai and Mischa stepped into the arena, both of them looking like they were carved from stone. The air felt heavy around us. People all around were cheering, shouting, and clapping, but all I could hear was the loud thump of my heart. My eyes stayed glued to Kai. His body was tense, his jaw tight. Mischa looked just as focused, his eyes hard and unreadable.They didnât shake hands. They didnât bow. They just started circling each other like two predators waiting to strike. It was slow at first. Their eyes never left each other. Every muscle in their bodies looked ready to spring into action.Suddenly, Mischa moved.He lunged at Kai, trying to take him by surprise. But Kai twisted out of the way fast, like he had seen it coming. He stepped aside and swung his fist, landing a clean punch into Mischaâs ribs. I could hear the sound of itâlike a dull smackâand Mischa stumbled back, coughing slightly.But Mischa didnât stop. He came back with a snarl, swinging at Kai with fast, hard punches.
We finally got back to the mansion, and everything inside felt so still. It was like the world outside had been loud and crazy, but in here, it was just us. Me and him.Kai didnât say anything at first as we walked through the front door. He just kept holding my hand tightly, like he didnât want to let go. I glanced up at him a few times, and even though he had bruises on his chest and a bite mark on his shoulder, he looked calm. Like he had won something important.He led me upstairs, and when we entered his room, I felt butterflies swirl in my stomach. His room smelled like himâfresh pine trees mixed with a little cologne and something wild, something that made me feel safe.My eyes kept drifting to his shoulder. The bite mark was still there, but it had stopped bleeding, and his skin was already starting to heal. I couldnât stop staring at it. That wound had come from the fight. A fight he had won. A fight he fought because of me.âIâm gonna take a shower,â Kai said finally, breaki
When I lowered the sponge even more, aiming to clean the rest of him, I instinctively bent a little, trying to reach further down.But before I could go any lower, his hand caught my wrist gently.âDonât,â he said, his voice firm but soft.I looked up at him, confused, my lips parting slightly. His eyes werenât angry or teasingâthey were full of concern.âYou shouldnât be bending like that,â he said softly. âNot with how far along you are.âThatâs when I remembered. Five months. My bump was big now, round and firm, and Iâd just bent way too low without even thinking about it. I stood up slowly, blinking as my face turned red.âI just wanted to take care of you,â I whispered.âYou are,â he said, his voice gentler now. He reached out and rested a hand lightly on the curve of my stomach, his thumb brushing back and forth in slow strokes. âBut you donât have to do everything alone. Iâm right here.âSomething about the way he said that made my heart clench. I nodded, unable to speak for a
The Moon Festival night was finally here, and I could feel the excitement buzzing in the air like tiny sparks dancing on my skin. It was unlike any night I had ever experienced. The sky was clear, and the stars were scattered like glitter across a dark blanket. But the most breathtaking part of all was the moon. It was big and round and glowed a deep, dark red. I had never seen anything like it before. It looked like a painting come to lifeâhaunting and beautiful all at once.Kai had told me earlier that it was called the Blood Moon, and that it only showed up on very rare nights. He said it was deeply important to werewolves, something sacred. According to him, the Blood Moon made all their senses sharper. They could smell and hear better, run faster, and fight harder. But more than anything, it stirred up their emotions. Everything they felt became stronger, deeper, more intense. Love, rage, joy, painâit was all heightened under the Blood Moonâs light. That made me a little nervous,
Kai started walking toward usâMer and meâand it felt like the crowd just melted away as I watched him. He looked so calm, so confident, like nothing in the world could shake him. His white dress shirt looked almost glowing under the light of the blood moon, and the way it hugged his chest and arms made my mouth go a little dry. His black slacks fit him perfectly, and with every step he took, it was like the ground knew he was Alpha and moved for him.He didnât rush. His pace was steady, unbothered, like he knew exactly where he was goingâand who he wanted to get to. My heart thudded in my chest just watching him. He passed a table full of drinks and paused, scanning them with those sharp silver eyes. Then, like he was picking out something important, he reached for one, gave it a small sniff, and took a sip. He didnât smile or say anythingâjust gave a slight nod, as if satisfied it was okay.When he finally reached me, he held out the glass without saying a word.I blinked up at him,
I rested my head just under his chin, right where his heartbeat was. I could feel itâsteady and strong, like a drum keeping us in rhythm. His thumb rubbed slow circles on my back, calming me even more.We didnât talk much. We didnât have to. The music, the moon, and the way we held each other said everything.At one point, he leaned down and pressed his lips to my forehead. Just a soft kiss. Gentle. Loving. He didnât say anything afterward, just kept holding me, like the moment was too special for words.As we moved, I felt my eyes sting a little. Not from sadness, but from the way I felt so full. Full of emotion. Of happiness. Of peace. I had never imagined feeling like thisâwith someone who saw me, who cared enough to hold me like I was the most precious thing in the world.His hand moved up to the back of my head, fingers threading through my hair softly. I sighed and let myself melt into him a little more.âYouâre glowing,â he murmured after a long while.I laughed quietly. âThatâ
The night ended beautifully. After all the dancing, the howling, the music, and the laughter, everyone slowly made their way back to their rooms. The festival had been perfect, like something out of a storybook. My feet ached from dancing and my cheeks still felt warm from smiling too much. I didnât even change out of my gown right away. I just curled into bed beside Kai, feeling safe and happy.The other packs would be leaving tomorrow morning, so I knew it was our last night with everyone under one roof. But I was too tired to be sad about it. I drifted off to sleep quickly, with Kaiâs arms around me and the red moonlight still glowing in my mind.When I woke up the next morning, I was alone. The spot beside me on the bed was empty and already cool, which meant Kai had been gone for a while. I frowned and sat up, blinking sleep out of my eyes. I noticed a small folded piece of paper on the pillow next to me.I picked it up and unfolded it. It was a note from Kai.âMorning, sweethear
Behind him, I saw Mischaâs faceâit was bruised, bloody, and almost unrecognizable. One eye was swollen shut, and he was coughing up blood. Kai was snarling, his teeth bared as he raised his claw again.Thatâs when I knew I had to do somethingâanythingâto stop this.So I screamed.I clutched my belly and let out the loudest, most dramatic cry I could. âAHHH! My stomachâKai!âKai froze mid-punch. His entire body stiffened as the sound of my voice cut through his rage.He dropped Mischa to the ground and spun around so fast, his eyes searching for me. âWhat happened?â he asked, panic in his voice. âAre you okay?âI cried again, squeezing my eyes shut and bending forward. âIt hurtsâKaiâour babyââThat was all it took.He rushed over, completely forgetting Mischa, and scooped me into his arms. âHold on, Malyshka. Iâve got you,â he whispered.He carried me quickly through the halls of the pack house, not caring who stared. He looked down at me every few seconds, his face filled with worry.
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