Mag-log inLillian's POV "I'm getting fatter," I whispered.His arms loosened slightly. He pulled back enough to look at me.I couldn't meet his eyes. "I can see it. My hands look bigger, and my body keeps changing. What if I become hideous?"Hayes stared at me for a moment. Then his expression softened. "Lillie, look at me." I slowly raised my eyes. "You are carrying my child."His thumb brushed gently across my cheek. "Your body is changing because it is doing something extraordinary. There is nothing ugly about that."My lips parted. He continued, his voice calm and certain. "And if your hands become fuller, your face becomes rounder, or you gain more weight, it changes nothing about how I see you."My eyes filled again. "You don't have to become smaller to be beautiful."He leaned closer. "You don't have to look like the woman you were yesterday either."His gaze remained fixed on mine. "You're beautiful now, Lillie. You will be beautiful tomorrow. And when the child is born, you will stil
Lillian's POV A moment later, I heard familiar voices outside."Good morning, Madam Lillian."The maids had arrived.I stared at the door, still sitting on the floor.Xathura sighed inside me.Well... this should be interesting.I groaned. "I don't want them to see me like this.”After sitting there for a while, I finally forced myself to get up and walk toward the door.I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand before opening it.The maids stood outside with warm smiles."Good morning, Madam Lillian.""Good morning."They stepped inside."How are you feeling this morning?""I'm fine." The words barely left my mouth before one of them headed toward the kitchen."I'll prepare your breakfast."The other maid looked at me carefully."Would you like me to massage your feet? You were on your feet quite a bit yesterday."I looked at her. Then my eyes dropped to my hands. I stared at them. Had they always looked like that? My fingers seemed slightly fuller than they had been before.I tur
Lillian's POV My alarm went off earlier than usual, pulling me out of a surprisingly comfortable sleep.I groaned and reached for my phone, silencing it before the sound could become too annoying. The maids would be arriving soon, and I had deliberately set the alarm early enough to get ready before they came.I didn't want another morning of them insisting on helping me bathe or standing around while they chose what I should wear.I could still take care of myself.At least, I hoped I could.I hurried into the bathroom, took a warm shower, and washed my hair before drying myself and putting on a simple dress. Once I was dressed, I headed downstairs to the kitchen.The doctors had recommended a herbal tea for me, something I was supposed to drink regularly, so I decided to prepare it myself.I filled a small pot with water and placed it on the cooker. Then I added some chamomile, ginger, peppermint leaves, and a little dried raspberry leaf that the doctor had said was suitable for me
Lillian's POV Even after I defied him, he was still gentle with me, still calm with me. How could Xathura ever think he was pretending to care? He rose from his chair and moved closer to me. "Don't cry."His fingers came to my face, gently wiping away the tears that had escaped."I was worried about you. That's why I was upset that you left. I wasn't trying to control you or punish you."I sniffed. "I know.""I need you to understand something."I nodded."If something like this happens again, you come to me. You don't leave the pack on your own because you're afraid something might have happened."His hand remained against my cheek."I have people who can find out what is happening. You don't have to put yourself in danger just because you're worried about someone."I lowered my eyes. "Okay.""Promise me.""I promise."He studied my face for another moment before gently wiping the last tear from beneath my eye."Good."He returned to his seat and glanced at my untouched food."And n
Lillian's POV I wanted to be your mother.I wanted to hold you when you cried, watch you take your first steps, teach you everything I had never been taught. I wanted to wake up every morning knowing you were there. I wanted to watch you grow into someone kind and strong.And, for reasons I was almost afraid to admit, I wanted your father there too. I wanted Hayes to be beside us.The realization struck me so suddenly that I drew in a quiet breath.I wasn't only attached to my baby. I was attached to Hayes.I turned my head and looked at him. His face was calm, he gave me a gentle smile. I remembered the way he had held me when I came home crying. The way he had listened to me. The way he spoke to me when I was afraid.The way he looked at me when he told me I was beautiful.The way he had made me feel like my body wasn't something I needed to hide.The way he had welcomed me into his life without making me feel like I was merely carrying his child.And now, even after everything th
Lillian's POVWhy did he stop?The question kept circling through my mind.Only minutes ago, I had been drowning in the pain I carried home from the sports center. The image of Isabella and Jake together had felt like a wound I couldn't close.Then Hayes had held me.His gentle words had slowly quieted the storm inside me. He had made me feel safe again. Wanted again. When he lifted my face and kissed me, it felt as though all of his attention was on me, as though for those few moments, I was the only woman in the world.He had kissed me like I meant something to him.Like he wanted me.I had thought the kiss would lead somewhere else.When my fingers reached for the buttons of his shirt, I had believed the Alpha was finally going to make love to me.Then he stopped.Why?I lowered my eyes, embarrassed by the memory.Maybe I had moved too quickly. Maybe he regretted kissing me. Or perhaps it was because I was pregnant.He is playing games with you. Xathura's voice cut through my thoug







