My heart skipped a beat. Goodbye? I stared at him, gripping my fork so tightly that my knuckles turned white. โWhat do you mean โgoodbyeโ?โ I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Rhys was one of the only people in the pack who actually liked me. He and Mer had been my only friends here, the only ones who made me feel somewhat normal. And now... he was leaving? Tears stung my eyes before I could stop them, and I cursed myself under my breath. Stupid pregnancy hormones. My emotions were all over the place, and the thought of losing one of the few people who actually cared about me made my chest ache. Rhysโ eyes widened when he saw my tears, his face immediately softening. โWhoa, whoa, donโt cry!โ He quickly set the tray down and moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed. โItโs not like that, okay? Iโm not leaving the pack. Iโm just going on a short trip for a few days.โ I sniffled, feeling incredibly stup
He turned his attention to me and nodded. โOf course. Whatโs up?โI put my fork down, suddenly nervous. โItโs justโฆ somethingโs been bothering me for a while.โ I took a deep breath. โHow did I even end up pregnant with Kaiโs child? I mean, I was in a hospital in New York, and somehow, I got implanted with his sperm. How is that even possible?โRhysโs expression turned serious. He leaned back against the headboard, crossing his arms. โI figured youโd ask about that eventually.โI raised an eyebrow. โAnd you didnโt think to tell me before?โHe smirked. โWould you have believed me?โI opened my mouth to argue but then shut it. He had a point.Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. โAlright, listen up. Itโs one of our pack traditions. The Alphaโs sperm is always stored in a faraway and highly secured hospital.โMy jaw dropped. โWaitโwhat?โHe held up a hand. โLet me finish before you freak out.โI crossed
I stared at her, completely shocked. "What?!" I squealed, immediately jumping up to hug her. "Oh my God, you kissed him?!"Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she nodded shyly. "It just... happened. We were in the garden, and he told me he was going on a trip, and we were just talking. And then, when we said goodnight, I kissed him. It felt... magical."I pulled back to look at her, my excitement bubbling over. "What did he say? What happened next?"Mer bit her lip nervously, not meeting my eyes. "I... I ran away. I just kissed him and ran."I couldn't contain my laughter. "You kissed him and ran away? Oh my God, Mer! You're so cute!" I was grinning ear to ear, totally excited for her. "Why would you run away? You could've stayed and enjoyed it!""IโI was just so embarrassed," she admitted, her hands twisting in her lap. "I didn't know what to do after. I panicked."I laughed again, trying to calm down. "Mer, youโre killing me! That sounds like something out of a romance
We walked into the dining room together, still holding hands. The room was already bustling with pack members chatting and eating, the clinking of plates and silverware filling the air. The smell of fresh bread, eggs, and something sweetโmaybe honey-glazed hamโmade my stomach rumble.At the head table, Kai was seated in his usual spot, looking every bit the Alpha he was. Zara sat to his right, her expression unreadable as always. But it was Kaiโs reaction that caught my attentionโhis eyes widened slightly when he saw me. I guess he hadnโt expected me to actually show up. I couldnโt blame him. This was my first time eating breakfast with everyone. Normally, I took my meals in my room, avoiding all the awkward stares and whispers.Rhys, sitting on Kaiโs left, noticed us approaching and grinned. โWell, well, look who finally decided to join the living,โ he teased.I rolled my eyes, but I was grinning too. โShut up,โ I said playfully.Mer, still flust
The tone was low, calmโฆ but there was an edge to it.Rhys finally seemed to notice the tension in the air because his smile faded slightly. โYeah?โKaiโs gaze flickered down to where Rhysโ hand was still resting on my shoulder.I swallowed.Oh.Rhys seemed to realize it too because he immediately pulled his hand back. I kept my eyes on my plate, shoving a piece of bacon into my mouth like it was the most interesting thing in the world. But no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, I could still feel Kaiโs gaze on me. It was intense, like he was silently trying to send a message I couldnโt understand.Wellโฆ this just got interesting.Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to sneak a quick peek at Zara.Big mistake.She was glaring at Kai like she wanted to set him on fire with her eyes. Her jaw was tight, her fingers gripping her fork so hard I thought it might snap in half.Yikes. Awkw
And there it was.I kept my expression calm, refusing to let her words sink in. I had played this game before. People like Zara wanted a reaction, and the best way to win was not to give them one.I tilted my head slightly, smiling just as sweetly. โThatโs thoughtful of him,โ I said, making sure my voice was light and easy, like she hadnโt just tried to insult me. โWhat time is the meeting?โZara blinked, like she hadnโt expected me to brush her off so easily. But she recovered quickly. โTwo oโclock. At Poppyโs.โAh, Poppyโs. I remembered it from my tour with Mer. It was a cute little diner with the best pastries Iโd ever tasted. At least the location was a win.I nodded. โGreat. Iโll be there.โThen, before she could say anything else, I stood up, grabbed Merโs hand, and walked out of the dining room without looking back.As soon as we were in the hallway, Mer let out a long breath and shook her head. โI swear, sheโs un
I blinked in confusion. What?"But... I was on time," I said, glancing at the clock on the wall just to be sure. It was exactly 2 PM, the time Zara had told me.The red-haired woman scoffed, shaking her head. "The meeting started an hour ago," she snapped.My stomach dropped.What?It took me a few seconds to put the pieces together. My gaze flickered to Zara, who was sipping her tea as if she hadn't just set me up.Of course.Of course she had done this.Zara had given me the wrong time on purpose. She had made sure I arrived late so I would look irresponsible.I clenched my fists under the table, forcing myself to stay calm."Zara told me the meeting was at 2," I said, my voice steady but firm.The room fell into silence.Zara let out a soft gasp, placing a hand on her chest like I had just accused her of something horrible. "Me?" she asked, eyes wide with fake innocence.I nodded. "Yes. You told meโ""I'm so sorry if there was a misunderstanding," Zara interrupted, her voice sweet
"You handled yourself well," a soft voice said.I looked up to find the kind woman who had spoken up earlier. She offered me a small, encouraging smile, her warm brown eyes filled with understanding."Zara likes to test people," she continued. "But donโt let her get to you."I returned her smile, though mine was a bit tired. "Itโs hard not to," I admitted. "She clearly enjoys making things difficult for me."Selina let out a knowing chuckle. "Oh, she does," she agreed. "But people like her? They thrive on reactions. The best thing you can do is not give her one."I sighed. "Easier said than done.""Youโll get the hang of it," she assured me.She extended her hand. "Iโm Selina, by the way. My mate is one of the pack elders."That explained the way she carried herselfโwith confidence, grace, and authority. Unlike Zara, though, she didnโt seem to wield her influence as a weapon."Iโmโ" I started, but she cut me off with a small laugh."I know who you are," she said with a smile. "Everyon
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