LOGINLillian's POV I took a slow step backward. Then another.I had to try something.I suddenly turned and ran."Grab her!"One of the men jumped down from the jeep.Another pulled out a gun.My heart stopped. He raised it and pointed it straight at me.They needed me alive. They needed my baby alive..They wouldn't shoot me.At least, that's what I told myself.So I ran.A gunshot exploded through the forest.Pain tore through my leg.I cried out.My leg gave way beneath me, and I stumbled forward before crashing hard onto the ground.For a moment, I couldn't breathe.I tried to push myself up. I couldn't.Something heavy seemed to settle over me, pressing down on my body and making it difficult to move.My vision blurred. The voices around me became distant.I reached for my stomach. "Baby..." My fingers trembled against my bump.I tried to push myself up.My entire body felt weak, and dizziness washed over me, but I refused to stay on the ground.I planted my hands against the earth an
Lillian's POV Another man came at me from behind. I heard his footsteps before he reached me.I turned. His fist came toward my face.I ducked. Then I struck him across the jaw.The force sent him stumbling sideways.He looked at me as though he couldn't believe what had just happened.Neither could the others.They had expected a pregnant woman who had been chained to a bed for days.They hadn't expected me. Another man rushed in. Then another. Six of them now.I didn't stop.My body moved before I had time to think.I dodged one punch, blocked another and drove my knee into a man's stomach. When he bent forward, I grabbed the back of his shirt and slammed him into the floor.Another tried to grab me from the side.I turned and struck him hard across the chest, sending him stumbling backward into one of the others.They crashed into each other.I moved between them, using everything Ronan had taught me.Footwork. Timing. Balance. Defense.I didn't need my powers. I didn't need Xath
Lillian's POV I had been tied to this bed for several days.I had lost count of exactly how many.The only times they untied me were when I needed to eat, use the restroom, or take a bath. Even then, someone was always watching me.At first, I hated every second of it.I hated waking up with my wrists restrained. I hated having to wait for someone to come into the room before I could even move freely. I hated the feeling of being trapped.But after a while, I realized something.They had made one mistake. They had given me time. Time to watch them. Time to listen. Time to learn.Whenever they untied me, I made sure to use those few minutes wisely. I stretched my arms, rolled my shoulders, moved my legs and flexed my fingers. I stretched my back whenever I could, carefully working through the stiffness that came from spending so many hours in one position.I needed my body to remain strong.If I was going to escape, I couldn't afford to be weak.I couldn't depend on my powers either.
Hayes POVI was still studying the forest when I heard footsteps approaching.Adrian appeared between the trees a moment later."Alpha."I turned toward him. "I found something."He immediately walked closer.I pointed toward the disturbed ground and the damaged trees."Lillian used her Flowermoon abilities here."Adrian's eyes moved across the roots and broken branches. "Then she fought whoever was following her.""Exactly."I told him everything I had discovered. Adrian listened carefully. When I finished, his expression had hardened. "Someone from the pack is betraying us.""I know."He nodded slowly. "I've suspected it too."I looked at him. "You have?""Something hasn't felt right for a while. Too many things have happened that shouldn't have been possible. But I can't put my finger on who it could be.""Leave that to me."Adrian nodded."Right now, I need you to search this entire area."His expression became serious."Look for anything that could identify the people who were
Hayes's POVI had been sitting in Lillian's apartment since yesterday.I didn't know why.There was nothing here for me to find. She wasn't here. Her scent had already faded from the rooms, and there was no reason to believe she would suddenly walk through the door.Yet I couldn't make myself leave.Some part of me kept believing she would come back.Maybe she would open the door, look at me with those greyish-brown eyes, and tell me she had changed her mind.Maybe she would forgive me. Maybe I could finally tell her everything properly.I knew none of it made sense. Lillian had every reason to stay away from me.I had lied to her.I had allowed her to believe things about our relationship that weren't completely true, and when she finally discovered the truth, I hadn't even been able to look her in the eyes when she asked me if I loved her.I closed my eyes.How was she doing? Where had she gone? Was she somewhere safe?The questions had been running through my mind since she disappe
Lillian's POV The man stared at me for a moment before a slow grin spread across his face."You don't have to worry," he said. "You and your baby will be taken care of."I stared at him. Taken care of?I glanced down at the chains around my wrists before looking back at him."It doesn't exactly look like that."His smile disappeared. I swallowed, but I refused to look away."How did you find me?" I asked. "Why am I chained up here? If you're helping me, then why am I chained to a bed?"The man's face tightened. He suddenly stepped forward. "Shut the fuck up!"I flinched. "You don't get to question me."My heart pounded. He turned toward the doorway."Get in here, Mave. Quickly."The young woman hurried away, and within moments, another man entered the room.Before I could say anything, he approached me and pressed a strip of tape over my mouth.My eyes widened. I struggled against the chains, but my body was still too weak.The man stepped back and looked at me."She talks too much







