As soon as I opened the door, Meredith stood there, her dark eyes filled with concern. The moment she saw me, she didn't hesitateโshe pulled me into a tight hug, holding me close like she had been waiting for this moment.โI heard what happened,โ she murmured, her voice laced with worry. โRhys told me about your room. Are you okay?โI let out a slow breath, feeling some of the tension in my body ease at the comfort of her embrace. โYeahโฆ Iโm fine.โMeredith pulled back slightly, scanning my face as if trying to find any cracks in my words. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she gave me a knowing look like she didnโt quite believe me. โLilyโฆโI forced a small smile, trying to reassure her. โReally, Mer. Iโm okay now.โShe sighed, shaking her head. โIโm so sorry I didnโt come sooner. I feel terrible for not being here when you needed me.โI reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. โMer, stop. You donโt have to apologize. Youโve been busy. I get it.โShe looked at me for a moment b
My jaw dropped. โWhat? No!โShe grinned. โOh, come on! Itโs just a little flirting. You can handle it.โI groaned, already regretting bringing up dares in the first place. โYouโre evil.โShe laughed. โI know. But you love me anyway.โI rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help smiling. โFine. But if this goes horribly wrong, Iโm blaming you.โMeredith grinned like she had just won the lottery. โDeal.โI sighed, leaning back against the pillows. โSo, how exactly do you plan to ask Rhys out?โShe tapped her chin, pretending to think hard. โHmm. Maybe I should just walk up to him and say, โHey, wanna go on a date with me?โโI snorted. โThat sounds like something you would do.โShe laughed. โOkay, fine. Iโll try to be smooth. Maybe invite him to dinner or something casual.โI nodded. โThatโs a good idea. And wear that red dress you haveโit makes you look amazing.โMeredith grinned. โNoted. Now, back to your dare.โI groaned. โDo I have to?โโYes,โ she said, crossing her arms. โYou have to flirt
I pulled it over my head, letting it swallow me completely. It was huge, reaching mid-thigh, and the sleeves were so long they covered most of my hands. I hugged myself, enjoying the warmth of the fabric before walking back into the bedroom.Since I didnโt really have anything to do, I climbed into Kaiโs bed and curled up under the covers. The bed was ridiculously comfortable, and his scent surrounded me even more here. I smiled a little to myself, feeling oddly safe.Time passed, and I found myself just lounging around, scrolling through my new phone. I had spent hours playing random games, checking social media, and watching videos, but eventually, boredom crept in. Thatโs when I remembered Meredithโs dare.I hesitated, staring at my phone screen. Should I really text Kai? This was the first time Iโd ever text him, and for some reason, it felt like a big deal. I didn't even know what to say.After a few moments of debating, I settled on something simple.Me: Hey.I pressed send and
As soon as I pressed send, I let out a high-pitched squeal and immediately buried my face in my pillow, kicking my legs like a crazy person. My heart was racing so fast it felt like it might burst out of my chest. Beside me, Meredith was practically rolling on the bed with laughter, clutching her stomach as she watched me freak out.โOh my god, why did I send that?โ I groaned, my voice muffled by the pillow.โBecause you like him,โ Meredith teased, nudging me playfully. โAnd because youโre finally growing a backbone when it comes to Kai.โI peeked out from behind my pillow, my face burning. โBut what if he thinks Iโm being too forward?โMeredith snorted. โLily, please. That man practically worships the ground you walk on. If anything, heโll probably love that youโre finally flirting back.โI wasnโt so sure. My fingers itched to grab my phone and check if he had replied, but at the same time, I was terrified to see what he had to say.A minute passed. Then another. Each second felt lik
Kai took another slow step toward me, his smirk growing wider. His dark eyes glowed with amusement, and something else that made my stomach flip."You wanted to tempt me, Lily?" His voice was low, teasing, and it sent a shiver all the way down my spine.I opened my mouth to say somethingโanythingโbut no words came out. My brain completely stopped working the second he reached the bed. He was standing right in front of me now, towering over me like he had all the control in the world.And maybe he did.Because I had lost control of mine. My stupid, raging hormones were definitely the enemy here.I just sat there, frozen, my wide eyes locked on him, unsure of what he was going to do next. My heart was hammering against my ribs, and every inch of my skin felt like it was on fire.Then, he moved even closer, so close that I had to tilt my head up to keep looking at him. But before I could, my gaze dipped lowerโstraight to his crotch.Oh god.Heat rushed to my cheeks as I quickly looked aw
Kaiโs smirk deepened as he watched me struggle to say somethingโanything. His fingers skimmed over my wrist again, slow and teasing, like he was testing me, waiting to see if Iโd finally pull away.But I didnโt.I couldnโt.My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. My breath felt uneven, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldnโt focus on anything except the warmth of his touch and how close he was."Youโre quiet again, Lily," he murmured, his voice like a slow, dangerous melody. "Didnโt expect that."I swallowed hard, my fingers digging into the sheets beneath me. "Youโreโฆ really close," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.Kai chuckled, the sound deep and amused. "I noticed." His fingers traced a slow circle on my wrist before he let go, only to place his hands on either side of me, caging me in.I sucked in a sharp breath. Now, I was really trapped.He tilted his head, eyes locked on mine. "You still havenโt told me to stop."I wanted to look away, to break free
Instead, I let myself sink into the moment, into the heat of his touch and the way his lips moved against mine like he had been waiting forever to do this. His kiss grew rougher, more desperate, as if he wanted to leave no room for doubt, no chance for me to run away. His fingers pressed slightly against my stomach, the warmth of his palm spreading across my skin, sending another shiver through me.A soft sound escaped me before I could stop it. It wasnโt loud, barely more than a breath, but I knew he heard it.Because he smirked.I felt it against my lips, the way the corners of his mouth curled in satisfaction. The realization made my face burn even hotter. He liked knowing he had this effect on me. That thought alone made me feel even more flustered, but I was too lost in the moment to care.Finally, after what felt like forever, we broke apart.My chest rose and fell rapidly as I tried to catch my breath. My lips felt swollen, tinglin
Kaiโs POVI leaned in closer, watching as her breath hitched, her fingers curling into the sheets like she was bracing herself. Good. I wanted her to feel that anticipation, to sit in the moment and wonder what I would do next.Her wide eyes locked onto mine, her lips parting slightly, but she didnโt move. She just sat there, completely frozen, trapped between wanting to stop this and wanting to see where it would go."Maybe," I murmured, my voice teasing, daring her to deny it, "you donโt want me to."She sucked in a breath, but before she could respond, I closed the space between us and kissed her.The second my lips touched hers, something in me shifted.I had kissed plenty of girls beforeโfast, slow, passionate, lazy. I had done it all. But this? This was different.Because it was her.Lily gasped against my lips, the sound barely making it out before I stole it away. She stiffened, but she didnโt pull back.
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