โYou okay?โ Mer asked, her voice teasing. โYouโve been awfully quiet.โโIโm fine,โ I said quickly, though my voice betrayed me.Mer gave me a knowing look. โDonโt let Zara get to you. She may think she has a claim on him, but trust me, Kaiโs not going to mark her.โI didnโt know what to say to that, so I stayed quiet. Instead, I focused on the sparring match in front of me, letting myself get lost in the raw power and intensity of it.But then, as if he could feel my gaze, Kaiโs eyes flicked in my direction. It was only for a brief moment, but it was enough to make my heart race. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, and I quickly looked away, my face burning.Mer smirked. โHe saw you.โโNo, he didnโt,โ I said, though I could still feel the heat of his stare.โOh, he definitely did,โ she said, her grin widening. โAnd he looked at you like he sees something he likes.โI didnโt know how to respond, so I just shook my head, hoping sheโd drop it. They each fought well, their movements flui
When we got back to the mansion, I went straight to my room, shutting the door behind me with a soft click. The day had been long, and the combination of walking around town, the awkward moments, and the emotions swirling inside me had left me drained. My legs felt heavy as I crossed the room, and I kicked off my sandals near the bed before collapsing onto the soft mattress. The cool sheets against my skin were an immediate relief.I closed my eyes and let out a long, tired sigh. The silence of the room was comforting, wrapping around me like a warm blanket. My mind replayed bits and pieces of the dayโMerโs teasing laugh, the boutique drama, Rhysโs playful smile, and, of course, Kai ignoring me completely. That last part stung more than I wanted to admit, and I pushed the thought aside before it could ruin what had been, overall, a decent day.Before I knew it, sleep crept up on me, pulling me into its embrace.I wasnโt sure how long I had been out, but when I woke up, the room was ba
Rhys chuckled. โThat explains why you look so tired. Mer can be a bit... energetic.โI smiled at that. โShe is, but I didnโt mind. It was nice to get out of the mansion for a while.โAs we chatted, I felt a small sense of normalcy, like I wasnโt the outsider everyone else seemed to see me as. Rhysโs easygoing nature was a welcome change from the tension that hung around the rest of the table.Meanwhile, Zaraโs glare didnโt waver. She whispered something to the two women sitting next to her, and they both snickered, casting quick glances in my direction. I ignored them, refusing to let their pettiness ruin my mood.โYouโre eating well,โ Rhys said with a playful grin. โThatโs good. You need to keep your strength upโfor you and the baby.โI chuckled, feeling a little self-conscious. โI canโt help it. Ever since I found out I was pregnant, Iโve been hungry all the time.โHe laughed lightly. โThatโs completely normal. Donโt worry about it.โHis reassurance made me feel a little better, but
Startled, I opened my eyes and turned to see Rhys standing beside me. In his hand was a plate, and on it was a slice of cake that looked rich and decadent.He gave me a sheepish smile. โI thought you might need some dessert,โ he said, holding the plate out to me.I blinked, surprised by the gesture. โThank you,โ I said softly, taking the plate from him.Rhys nodded and gestured to the bench. โMind if I sit?โI shook my head quickly. โNo, not at all. Please.โHe sat down beside me, leaning back and stretching his legs out in front of him. I focused on the cake, taking a small bite. The sweetness melted on my tongue, and for the first time that evening, I felt a small spark of joy.We sat in silence for a while, the only sound being the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. I wasnโt sure what to say, and it seemed Rhys was gathering his thoughts too. Finally, he broke the quiet.โIโm sorry about what happened in there,โ he said, his voice low but sincere.I glanced at him, surprised by
โWell,โ he began, scratching the back of his neck, โthere are ranks. Youโve got warriors, who protect the pack and handle fights. Then there are the Omegas, who take care of the more domestic stuff, like cooking and cleaning. Everyone has a role to play.โโWhat else do you want to know?โ he asked, his tone gentle now.I looked at Rhys, his easy smile making me feel a little braver. โOkay, soโฆ do werewolves really have super strength and heightened senses? Or is that just a myth?โRhys laughed lightly. โOh, thatโs definitely true. Weโre faster, stronger, and our sensesโsight, hearing, smellโare way sharper than humansโ. Itโs how we hunt, protect ourselves, and keep the pack safe. I mean, I could hear you and Mer chatting all the way from the training grounds earlier.โMy eyes widened. โYou could hear us?โHe smirked and nodded. โEvery word.โI groaned, covering my face with my hands. โOh, God. Thatโs so embarrassing. Did everyone hear?โHe chuckled. โNah, donโt worry. Most people were
It had been a week since I started living in the mansion, and I was slowly getting used to the way things worked around here. Breakfast was always served in my room, which gave me some peace in the mornings. Dinner, however, was another story. I had to face Zaraโs cruel remarks every evening. But after a few days of her snide comments, I had learned to ignore her. I no longer ran away or let her get under my skin.On a positive note, there was something that made me smile every dayโmy baby. My belly was growing so fast that it felt unreal. Though I was only about four weeks pregnant, I already looked like I was three months along. At first, this had terrified me.I remembered the day I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection with wide eyes. My hands rested on my slightly rounded belly as a flood of emotions washed over meโexcitement, fear, and a hint of doubt.โIs this normal?โ I had asked Rhys in a panicked voice one afternoon.He had laughed softly, leaning against t
I swallowed hard, my resolve wavering. His scentโearthy and intoxicatingโwas messing with my head. For a brief moment, all I could think about was burying my face in his chest and losing myself in his warmth. But before I could act on the ridiculous thought, he stepped back, putting space between us.Rhys cleared his throat, breaking the tension. โKai, itโs not a big deal. I offered to take her since she wanted to make sure everythingโs fine.โKai turned his sharp gaze on Rhys. โYouโre not taking her. Iโll handle it.โRhys raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by Kaiโs tone. โShe asked me, Kai. Maybe you shouldโve been around more if you wanted to be included.โKai ignored him and looked back at me. โGo get in the car. Iโll take you,โ he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.I hesitated, glancing at Rhys. He gave me a reassuring nod, his smile still in place. โItโs fine. Youโll be okay,โ he said softly.I wished he had more insisted on coming along, but he simply nodded and walk
When we got to the hospital, the smell of disinfectant hit me immediately. It was clean, but the sharp scent made my stomach twist a little. A nurse greeted us at the front desk and led us down a quiet hallway. She opened the door to one of the private rooms and gestured for us to go inside.โThe doctor will be with you shortly,โ she said with a polite smile before shutting the door behind her.The room was small but cozy. There was a bed with crisp white sheets in the center, a chair in the corner, and a window overlooking the hospital garden. I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands resting on my lap, but I couldnโt stop fidgeting. My nerves were getting the better of me, and I didnโt know how to calm myself down.Kai stood by the window with his arms crossed, his gaze focused on something outside. His expression was unreadable, but his presence was intimidating as always. He hadnโt said much since we arrived, which only made the room feel more tense. Zara, on the other hand, made her
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