Behind him, I saw Mischaโs faceโit 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.Thatโs when I knew I had to do somethingโanythingโto stop this.So I screamed.I clutched my belly and let out the loudest, most dramatic cry I could. โAHHH! My stomachโKai!โKai 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. โWhat happened?โ he asked, panic in his voice. โAre you okay?โI cried again, squeezing my eyes shut and bending forward. โIt hurtsโKaiโour babyโโThat was all it took.He rushed over, completely forgetting Mischa, and scooped me into his arms. โHold on, Malyshka. Iโve got you,โ 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.
All the visiting packs had left. The mansion was finally quiet again, no more strangers walking around, no more eyes watching me wherever I went. I could finally breathe. I hadnโt seen Mischa since that awful day when he kissed me and Kai nearly ripped him apart. His pack left without saying goodbye, and honestly, I was glad. I didnโt want to see him again. Every time I thought about that moment, I felt sick to my stomach.Despite everything, the Moon Festival had been beautiful. The lights, the music, the way Kai danced with me under the starsโit was all like something out of a dream. I was happy I got to experience it. It made me feel like I belonged here, even if just for a little while.This morning was calm. Kai had gone for a run with Rhys and some of the other warriors. He always looked so peaceful when he ran, like he could let go of the weight of being Alpha, even if just for a moment. Before he left, he kissed my cheek and told me to rest.Now I was in bed, curled up under t
A whole week had passed since Zara told me to watch my back. I had tried to forget it. I didnโt want to live in fear or stress out the baby. Kai had been extra sweet all week, always holding me, rubbing my belly, and making sure I ate enough. He didnโt know about Zaraโs warning. I didnโt tell him. I didnโt want to cause more drama, especially when things had finally calmed down.That day felt like a normal, peaceful one. Kai had gone on a run with Rhys and some of the other pack members. Mer had gone out shopping with her mom, Margaret. The mansion was quiet. I was lying in bed, cozy under the soft covers, scrolling through my phone. The sun peeked through the curtains, making the room feel warm and calm.I smiled as I looked at some baby clothes online. I even found a tiny onesie that said โDaddyโs Little Wolf,โ and I laughed softly, thinking how Kai would love that even though I wasnโt a werewolf.Then, out of nowhere, the door burst open with a loud bang.I jumped, nearly dropping
My heart froze.โWhat?โ I whispered.She leaned down, her face inches from mine. โYeah. Wolfsbane. I put it in your drink. Slipped in enough to kill you. I even took a little myself so no one would suspect me.โTears rolled down my cheeks. I had known. Deep down, I had always suspected her. But Kaiโฆ Kai hadnโt believed me.โYouโre insane,โ I said in a shaky voice.โNo,โ she said, her voice eerily calm now. โIโm just tired. Tired of watching you take everything thatโs mine.โI stared at her, my whole body trembling.She wasnโt done.โYou want to know who put that bloody rabbit in your bed?โ she sneered. โThat was me too. I wanted to scare you. I wanted you to feel watched, unsafe. I wanted you gone.โI felt sick.She laughed softly, the sound chilling. โAnd Kai? Heโs so blind. He believed every tear, every lie. But he shouldโve never chosen you.โShe looked at me like I was filth. Like I had stolen something that belonged to her.โYouโre not worthy of him. Youโre not worthy of this pa
Kaiโs POVWe had been out on a pack run since early morning. Rhys, a few of my best warriors, and I were checking the borders of our territory, making sure everything was safe and calm. The sun was warm, shining through the trees, and the ground beneath my paws felt solid. The forest smelled like pine and earth. Everything seemed fine.But suddenly, I stopped running.A weird feeling hit me. Hard.It started in my gutโa sharp twist like someone had punched me from the inside. My chest tightened. My breathing changed. I didnโt know why, but something felt wrong. Very wrong.And then my mind went straight to her.Lily.I had left her back at the mansion, resting. She had been lying in bed when I left, her phone in her hand and that sweet smile on her face. She had looked peaceful. Happy. Safe.But now, that calm feeling was gone. Replaced with panic.I quickly shifted back into my human form and pulled my phone out of my pocket. My fingers were shaking a little as I unlocked it.Three m
Kai's POV As soon as we reached the hospital, I didnโt waste a single second. I jumped out of the car before it even came to a full stop, not caring that I almost tripped. I opened the back door and pulled Lily into my arms. Her body felt limpโway too limpโand she wasnโt moving at all. Her head rested against my chest, and I could feel how cold her skin was. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to break out of my chest.โHold on, baby,โ I whispered. โJust hold on for me, okay?โI ran straight into the hospital with her in my arms. The doors slid open, and I shouted, โHelp! I need help! Someone, please!โA few nurses at the front desk looked up, and their eyes went wide when they saw me carrying Lily. The one in blue scrubs gasped and scrambled to her feet, her chair screeching backward.โSheโs bleeding!โ I yelled. โShe fell down the stairsโshe hasnโt woken up! Help her!โTwo nurses rushed toward us with a gurney, and I slowly laid Lily down on it, even though I did
Kaiโs POVRhys and I waited outside the hospital room for what felt like forever. The walls around us were cold and white, the lights too bright, and the chairs too uncomfortable. I couldnโt sit down. I had tried, but every time I did, Iโd get right back up again. My body wouldnโt let me restโnot when Lily was behind those doors, hurt and unconscious.I paced back and forth across the hallway, counting every step. Over and over. I must have walked the same path a hundred times. The soles of my shoes scraped against the floor with each step. The repetitive sound didnโt help calm me downโit made me more restless, more anxious.I wanted to go into that room so badly. Every few minutes, I found myself standing in front of the door, reaching for the handle, but Rhys was always there to stop me. Heโd say, โKai, let the doctors do their job,โ or โShe needs them right now, not you crowding them,โ and though I hated it, I knew he was right.Still, it didnโt make it easier. I was losing my mind
Kaiโs POVRhys and I left the hospital quietly, neither of us saying much as we walked toward the car. My chest felt tight the entire time, like something was sitting on it. Even though Doctor Harris had told me Lily was stable, I couldnโt get her pale face out of my mind. I kept seeing her lying in that hospital bedโbruised, broken, with wires and machines surrounding her. It didnโt feel real. Or maybe it felt too real.I climbed into the passenger seat while Rhys started the engine. The silence between us wasnโt awkward. It was heavy. Like we were both holding back everything we really wanted to scream. Rhys kept glancing at me, probably worried I would explode at any moment. He wasnโt wrong.The drive back to the mansion felt like it took forever, but at the same time, I couldnโt remember a single thing we passed. My thoughts were too loud. My emotions were everywhere. Anger. Guilt. Fear. Mostly anger.As soon as Rhys pulled into the driveway, I turned to him. โCall the pack. Gather
I didnโt 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 Kaiโs 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.โHey, beautiful,โ Kaiโs deep, familiar voice came through the phone, sending warmth rushing through me. โHow are you feeling? Howโs everything with the babies?โI took a slow breath and placed my hand on my belly, the tiny flutter of movement reassuring me. โWeโre fine,โ I replied, the words slipping easily from my lips. โI just took a little nap, but Iโm doing good.โโThatโs good to hear,โ he said, sounding pleased. โListen, I need you to get ready. Iโm coming to pick you up soon for our date.โA smile spread across my face. โOkay,โ I replied, my heart fluttering at the thought of spending more time with him. โIโll 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 meโthe fears, the memories, the painโsuddenly went quiet.And for the first time in a long while, I wasnโt 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 elseโsomething I didnโt understand yet. A werewolf. A Luna. A mother.All of that faded as I sat there in bed, warm and safe in Kaiโs 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 couldnโt 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 warmโlike 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.โGood morning, sleepyhead,โ he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep.โMorning,โ I replied, my voice scratchy. I rubbed at my eyes, still feeling a little tired but also comforted by his presence.Thatโs when I saw the tray in his hands. My eyes widened in surprise.โYou brought me breakfast?โ 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 Iโd 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 latelyโbeing 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 didnโt rush me at all. With every step, he kept his hand steady on my side, whispering, โAlmost there, baby,โ 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. โLetโs get you comfortable,โ he said softly.I nodded, and he help
Lilyโs 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 hadnโt 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 wasnโt 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. โYo
Lilyโs POV We went back to the mansion the next day. I had been in the hospital for days after the incident, but I couldnโt take it anymore. The walls felt too white, too cold. I missed the comfort of my own bed, the warm scent of Kaiโs 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 didnโt want to risk anythingโnot 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. โYouโll rest. No stress,โ Kai said, holding my hand tightly as we got into the car. โThe moment you feel tired, you tell me.โ โI will,โ 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 heโd come.I shifted a little, wincing at firstโbut then realizing something strange. There was no pain. My leg didnโt hurt. My ribs didnโt ache. My face wasnโt 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 hadnโt slept. His hair was messy, and his eyes were red, like heโd 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
Kaiโs POV He nodded. โYes. Thatโs exactly what Iโm saying. And sheโs not marked, is she?โโNo,โ I said slowly. โI havenโt marked her yet.โDoctor Harris looked back at the room again. โThen this shouldnโt be happening. A human canโt heal this fast. Itโsโฆ well, itโs impossible. Unless thereโs something in her blood. Maybe sheโs not fully human. Or maybe somethingโs changed.โMy mind started racing. โYou mean likeโshe could be turning?โHe shook his head. โItโs too early to say anything for sure. I need to run more tests. Iโve already taken a blood sample, and Iโll have results in a few hours. But Alpha, something strange is going on with her biology.โI 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. โDo whatever you need to do. Run every test. I just want her safe.โโI will,โ he said. โI promise.โI nodded slowly, trying to process everything he just told me. I didnโt know what this me
Kaiโs 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 didnโt fight. She didnโt scream or lash out. She just cried harder, shaking her head and begging between sobs.โPleaseโฆ Kaiโฆ donโt do thisโฆ Iโm sorryโฆ pleaseโฆโBut 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 didnโt.I couldnโt.I turned my back to her. I couldnโt look anymore.Rhys was suddenly beside me. I didnโt even hear him come up. He placed a firm hand on my shoulder.โYou did the right thing,โ he said quietly.I nodded slowly, but my chest still felt ti