Zara stormed in, her eyes flashing with fury, her chest rising and falling with each angry breath. Her long blonde hair was slightly disheveled, like she had rushed here in a rage.
โWhy the hell wasnโt I part of the emergency pack meeting?โ she demanded, her sharp voice slicing through the air. She crossed her arms, her gaze flickering between me and Kai, her lip curling in disgust. โBut she was?โKai exhaled slowly, his posture rigid. His expression remained calm, but I could feel the tension radiating off him.โLily had every right to be here,โ he said, his deep voice unwavering. โSheโs carrying my child. My heir.โZara let out a bitter, humorless laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. โYour heir,โ she repeated mockingly, rolling her eyes. Then, just as quickly, her amusement vanished, replaced with pure fury.She took a step closer, her entire body trembling with anger. โI hate you, Kai,โ she spat, her voice thick with emotion. โI hateFor a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us was thick with something unspoken, something electric. I was too aware of how close we were, of the way his breath was slow and steady as I worked. I tried to ignore the weight of his gaze, but it was impossible when he was right there, his silver eyes locked onto my face.I finished cleaning the wound and reached for a fresh cloth to wipe away the excess antiseptic. As I pressed it gently against his skin, his hand suddenly came up, catching my wrist.My breath hitched as I looked up, meeting his gaze. His silver eyes were unreadable, darkened by something I couldnโt quite place. The heat from his touch sent a shiver up my arm.โYou donโt have to do this,โ he said, his voice quieter now, softer in a way I wasnโt used to.I swallowed hard. โI know.โHis grip lingered for a second longer before he finally let go, his fingers trailing lightly against my skin as he pulled away. Even that small touch sent my pulse racing.I forced mys
I bit my lip, feeling a little embarrassed to admit it, but I forced myself to speak. โI justโฆ after what happened tonight, I donโt really want to be alone,โ I admitted quietly. The memory of the rogue in the forest still sent a shiver down my spine. What if there were more? What if I woke up to one standing over my bed?Kaiโs expression softened just a little. โYou donโt have to be scared. I wonโt let anything happen to you,โ he said, his voice full of quiet confidence.His words reassured me, but what he said next completely took me by surprise.โYou donโt have to sleep alone,โ he added after a pause. โYou can sleep with me.โMy breath caught in my throat, and my eyes widened. Sleep with him? In his bed?Heat crawled up my neck, spreading to my cheeks at the thought. My mind instantly betrayed me, picturing what that would meanโsharing a bed with Kai, his warmth so close, maybe even feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back if we ended up too close.No. I shook t
Kai turned off the main light, leaving only the faint glow of the fire as he moved to the other side of the bed. He climbed in, the bed dipping under his weight, and my whole body tensed when I felt the heat of him so close.The space between us was smallโtoo small. If I moved even a little, Iโd probably end up pressed against him. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will myself to sleep.Just sleep. Thatโs all this was.But sleep wouldnโt come. No matter how hard I tried, I kept tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. Every time I moved, the blankets rustled, and I knew Kai could hear it.โCanโt sleep?โ His deep voice broke the silence.I sighed, rolling onto my back. โYeah,โ I admitted, staring up at the ceiling.For a moment, neither of us spoke. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the room. Then, an idea popped into my head.โWanna play a game?โ I asked, sitting up slightly.Kai turned his head to look at
I hesitated, gripping the blanket. โI thought I was onceโฆ but looking back, I donโt think it was real.โ Kai didnโt look away. โWhat happened?โ I swallowed hard, staring down at my hands. โWe were supposed to get married, but he broke up with me when I got pregnant.โ Kaiโs jaw clenched. โHe left because of the baby?โ I let out a shaky breath. โHe thought I cheated on him. We never slept together, so he didnโt believe the baby was his.โ Kaiโs expression darkened. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he let me continue. โMy gynecologist implanted sperm in me without my consent,โ I said, my voice barely above a whisper. โI didnโt even know until it was too late. My half-sister paid her to do it.โ Kaiโs body tensed. โWhat?โ โMy father and stepmother believed I was lying,โ I said bitterly. โThey threw me out onto the streets.โ Kaiโs whole body stiffened. His jaw clenched so tightly I thought he might break a tooth. โThey threw you out,โ he repeated, his voice low and dan
I took a deep breath and carefully swung my legs off the bed, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might wake him. My feet touched the cold floor, sending a small shiver up my spine. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of Kaiโs breathing.I stood up slowly, glancing back at him one last time. He was still asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. He looked different like thisโcalm, almost gentle. It was strange to see him without the usual intensity in his silver eyes.Shaking off my thoughts, I tiptoed toward the door, being as quiet as possible. I didnโt want to wake him. I reached for the handle, but the moment I cracked the door open, my breath caught in my throat.Zara was standing right there.Her dark eyes widened as she took in the sight of me stepping out of Kaiโs room. At first, she seemed frozen, her lips slightly parted in shock. But the surprise didnโt last long. Her expression twisted, her face hardening with pure, seething anger.Her arms cros
ThenโMeredith screamed.I clamped my hands over my ears as she bounced up and down on the bed, gripping my hands so tightly I thought she might break them. โNo way! You? In Kaiโs room?!โ Her green eyes were practically sparkling. โThis is huge!โI groaned, burying my face in my hands. โMeredith, stop yelling.โShe ignored me completely. โTell me everything!โ She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. โDid something happen? Oh my goddess, did you guysโโโNo!โ I cut her off quickly, my face burning. โNothing happened!โShe pouted, dramatically flopping back onto the bed. โBoring.โI rolled my eyes. โWe just talked, and I fell asleep. Thatโs it.โMeredith propped herself up on her elbows, watching me closely. โOkayโฆ but why were you in his room in the first place?โI hesitated.From the way she was acting, I could tell she didnโt know about the rogue attack last night. That meant Kai was keeping it quietโprobably to avoid causing panic within the pack. If Meredith did know, she wouldnโt be
The rest of the day went by like any other. After everything that happened, I didnโt feel like going to the dining hall, so Meredith and I had breakfast in my room. She didnโt complain, just sat cross-legged on my bed, stealing bites of my toast while we talked about random things.I was glad she didnโt push me to talk about Kai or Zara. I wasnโt ready for that yet. My feelings were all over the place, and I didnโt know how to deal with any of it.After breakfast, Meredith had to leave for work, and I was left alone. The room felt extra quiet without her loud voice filling the space. I didnโt mind being alone most times, but today it just made me feelโฆempty. Rhys was still away on his trip, so I couldnโt even talk to him.I sighed and flopped down on my bed, staring at the ceiling for a while before reaching for one of the books Rhys brought me when I was recovering from the wolfsbane poisoning. It was a romance novel, the kind with a brooding, possessive male lead who always seemed t
Olgaโs smile grew wider as she turned to me. โWelcome to River Moon Orphanage. Iโm Olga, one of the caretakers here. Itโs really nice to meet you.โโNice to meet you too,โ I said softly, feeling a little shy under her kind gaze.Without wasting any time, Olga led us down a clean hallway, the walls covered with colorful paintings and drawings clearly made by the children. Some were of flowers, others of wolves howling at the moon, and a few were just messy scribbles, but they all made the hallway feel alive and happy.At the end of the hallway, Olga opened a door and led us into a large, sunny room filled with children of all ages. Some were no older than toddlers, sitting on the floor playing with wooden toys, while others were around ten or twelve, reading books or chatting quietly. The moment they spotted Selene, the room erupted into excited cheers.โMrs. Selene!โ they called out, all rushing toward her at once.Selene laughed, holding up the small bag sheโd been carrying. โI broug
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