My heart froze.âWhat?â I whispered.She leaned down, her face inches from mine. âYeah. 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.âTears rolled down my cheeks. I had known. Deep down, I had always suspected her. But KaiâĶ Kai hadnât believed me.âYouâre insane,â I said in a shaky voice.âNo,â she said, her voice eerily calm now. âIâm just tired. Tired of watching you take everything thatâs mine.âI stared at her, my whole body trembling.She wasnât done.âYou want to know who put that bloody rabbit in your bed?â she sneered. âThat was me too. I wanted to scare you. I wanted you to feel watched, unsafe. I wanted you gone.âI felt sick.She laughed softly, the sound chilling. âAnd Kai? Heâs so blind. He believed every tear, every lie. But he shouldâve never chosen you.âShe looked at me like I was filth. Like I had stolen something that belonged to her.âYouâre not worthy of him. Youâre not worthy of this pa
Kaiâs 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 gutâa sharp twist like someone had punched me from the inside. My chest tightened. My breathing changed. I didnât 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 didnât 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 limpâway too limpâand she wasnât 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.âHold on, baby,â I whispered. âJust hold on for me, okay?âI ran straight into the hospital with her in my arms. The doors slid open, and I shouted, âHelp! I need help! Someone, please!âA 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.âSheâs bleeding!â I yelled. âShe fell down the stairsâshe hasnât woken up! Help her!âTwo nurses rushed toward us with a gurney, and I slowly laid Lily down on it, even though I did
Kaiâs 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 couldnât sit down. I had tried, but every time I did, Iâd get right back up again. My body wouldnât let me restânot 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 didnât help calm me downâit 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. Heâd say, âKai, let the doctors do their job,â or âShe needs them right now, not you crowding them,â and though I hated it, I knew he was right.Still, it didnât make it easier. I was losing my mind
Kaiâs 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 couldnât get her pale face out of my mind. I kept seeing her lying in that hospital bedâbruised, broken, with wires and machines surrounding her. It didnât feel real. Or maybe it felt too real.I climbed into the passenger seat while Rhys started the engine. The silence between us wasnât 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 wasnât wrong.The drive back to the mansion felt like it took forever, but at the same time, I couldnât 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. âCall the pack. Gather
Kaiâs POV Rhys and I walked together across the dirt path that led to the training grounds. The wind was cold, and the sky had started to turn gray, as if the universe itself knew what was about to happen. Behind us, I could hear Zaraâs slow, dragging footsteps. She was walking like someone headed for their funeral. And maybe in a way, she was. I didnât turn around to look at her, but I could feel her fear and hesitation. She was stalling on purpose, hoping for a miracle, or maybe for me to change my mind. But she didnât know me anymoreânot after what sheâd done. I stopped suddenly, anger burning in my chest, and turned around. Zara had fallen behind. Way behind. Her arms were crossed, and her head was down. She looked small, weakânothing like the confident woman she used to be. But I didnât feel pity. I didnât feel anything except disgust. I walked back to her, reached out, and grabbed her arm. Not tight, not roughâjust enough to get her moving. Even though I hated her for every
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
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
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