I looked up at him, surprised he even came looking for me. โOhโฆ I woke up feeling really nauseous, so I came down here to find something to eat. Margaret said crackers would help.โHis expression changed immediately, full of concern. โNauseous? Are you okay? Do you want me to call the pack doctor? Orโor take you to the clinic?โI shook my head, trying not to laugh at how serious he looked. โNo, I promise itโs fine. Itโs just morning sickness. It happens a lot when youโre pregnant.โHe let out a breath like he had been holding it in. โOkayโฆ but if it gets worse, youโll tell me, right?โโYeah,โ I said softly, touched by how worried he was. โI will.โHis eyes flicked to the crackers and water in front of me. โDo you want me to make you something else? Toast? Maybe some tea?โโMargaretโs taking good care of me,โ I reassured him. โBut thank you.โHe hesitated for a second, like he wasnโt sure what to say next. Then he lifted
โMeredith!โ I groaned louder, but I couldnโt help laughing too.Margaret slid a plate of pancakes in front of her daughter. โEnough teasing. Eat your breakfast before youโre late.โโFine,โ Meredith muttered, drowning her pancakes in syrup. โBut seriously, ask him. I bet heโd say yes.โI played with the edge of my sleeve, pretending not to care. โWeโll see.โBut deep down, the thought of walking with Kai made my heart race a little faster.After breakfast, I sat in the living room, holding my new phone in my hands. My fingers kept tracing the edges of it, my mind racing.Should I really ask Kai to go on a walk with me? Would that be weird? Would he think I was being clingy? Or maybe heโd say no because he was busy. He was the Alpha after all. But Margaret was right. It wasnโt safe for me to go walking alone, especially now that I was pregnant.I let out a long sigh and stood up, rubbing my hands on my dress to stop them from shaking. โOkay, Lily. Just ask. Itโs not like youโre asking h
I walked back to the living room to wait for Kai, my fingers still playing with the hem of my shirt. My heart felt jumpy, and I wasnโt even sure why. It wasnโt like I asked him on a date or anything. It was just a walk. A simple walk. But something about asking Kai made my stomach feel all weird, like butterflies were having a party in there.I sat down on the couch, holding my new phone in my hands. I still couldnโt believe he got it for me. I ran my fingers over the smooth screen, smiling to myself. It was such a thoughtful gift. I never even told him I needed a phone, but somehow, he knew. That thought made me feel warm inside.I opened my contacts and scrolled through the very short list. Thatโs when I saw Rhysโs number saved there, and my smile grew bigger. I hadnโt talked to Rhys in a while, and I missed him so much. He always knew how to make me laugh, even when things were bad. Without thinking too much, I pressed the call button.It rang once. Then twice. By the third ring, h
He glanced down at me, one brow lifting just slightly. โSure.โI hesitated for a second, wondering if I was about to cross a line. โWhat about your parents? You never talk about them.โHis whole face changed, like a shadow passed over it in an instant. His jaw tightened, and his eyes flicked away from me to the trees ahead. โTheyโre dead,โ he said simply, his voice quieter than usual.โOh,โ I said quickly, regret washing over me for even asking. โIโm sorry. I didnโt mean to bring up something painful.โโItโs okay,โ he said, but I could tell it wasnโt really okay. There was a weight in his voice, like it was something he carried around all the time but never showed anyone.I wanted to ask more โ how did they die? When did it happen? Did he miss them? โ but I stopped myself. I knew that feeling, the one where you hope people wonโt ask because youโre not ready to say the words out loud. So I didnโt push.Instead, I gave him a small
We started walking back toward the town, our steps falling into sync without even trying. The gravel crunched under our feet, and the soft breeze carried the scent of fresh earth and flowers. Neither of us talked at first, but it wasnโt awkward. It felt...peaceful.As we got closer to the town, I saw a small cafรฉ sitting near the edge of the square. It looked like something out of a storybook โ light blue awning, white tables outside, and window boxes overflowing with flowers. My stomach growled again at the smell of coffee and something sweet baking inside.Kai glanced at me, his lips twitching like he was trying not to smile. โThat sound means we definitely made the right choice.โI giggled, covering my stomach with my hands. โSorry. Babyโs hungry, I guess.โWe stepped inside, and a little bell above the door jingled. The cafรฉ was cozy, with wooden floors and walls painted soft cream. There were shelves lined with jars of tea and coffee beans, and a glass case filled with pastries.
We kept talking, laughing about little things. I told Kai about my weird craving for pickles dipped in peanut butter, and he looked absolutely horrified.โThatโs disgusting,โ he said, pushing his plate away like the thought alone had ruined his appetite.I giggled, shrugging. โItโs not that bad. You should try it before judging.โโNever,โ he said flatly, shaking his head. โThatโs where I draw the line.โI was about to argue when the little bell above the cafรฉ door jingled. Out of habit, I glanced up to see who had walked in. Darren walked in with purpose, his sharp gaze sweeping across the cafรฉ as if assessing every person inside. When his eyes found Kai, he didnโt hesitateโhe strode straight to our table, his boots thudding lightly against the wooden floor.Kai must have sensed the shift in the atmosphere because his relaxed posture disappeared in an instant. His shoulders tensed, and his fingers, which had been lazily drumming against the table, stilled completely.Darren stopped be
We walked into the pack hospital, the smell of antiseptic filling my nose. The white walls and bright lights made everything feel cold and serious. Kai kept his hand on the small of my back, guiding me protectively as we followed Darren through the halls.I glanced up at Kai. His expression was unreadable, his jaw clenched like he was preparing for the worst. His grip on me was firm but gentle, like he wanted to make sure I felt safe.Darren stopped in front of a door, and I knew this had to be the room where the injured woman was. My stomach twisted a little, nervous about what we were about to see.Before we stepped inside, Kai leaned down, his voice low and close to my ear. โIf you feel uncomfortable at any point, just tell me, and weโll leave.โHis concern warmed me, and I looked up at him with a small smile. โIโm fine,โ I assured him. โI want to help.โHe studied me for a moment, like he was making sure I really meant it. Darren pushed the door open, and we stepped inside. The r
I hesitated for a second before reaching down and slowly lifting my blouse, exposing my stomach. The room was cool, and I shivered slightly as the cold air touched my skin. Kaiโs fingers brushed my hand briefly, like he was trying to silently reassure me.Dr. Adrian grabbed a bottle of gel from the counter. โThis might be a little cold,โ he warned with a small chuckle as he squeezed the gel onto my stomach.I flinched at the sudden chill. โYou werenโt kidding,โ I muttered, making him laugh lightly.Kai, however, didnโt seem amused. His expression remained unreadable, his eyes fixed on the screen as if he was waiting for something. I could tell he was anxious to see the baby, even if he didnโt say it out loud.Dr. Adrian picked up the ultrasound probe and pressed it gently against my stomach. The screen flickered to life, and within moments, the grainy image of our baby appeared. My heart skipped a beat as I stared at it, completely mesmerized.A soft whooshing sound filled the room, a
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