LOGINChapter 55 - Lilly’s pov.Thin sunbeams filter in through the narrow slits in the curtain. For a brief moment, I simply lie there. In a state between sleepiness and waking up. I listen to the surrounding sounds. Dex's breathing sounds deep and steady beside me. Claire's breathing softer from her little bed next to ours.A warm feeling of happiness fills my chest. For a few seconds, the looming danger does not exist. I am not thinking of Alex or Lucy, but only of the little piece of happiness that is here in the room with me. My hand moves instinctively to his back.Barely touching him, I let my fingertips glide over his back. Tracing the muscles on his back. The movement is slow, absentminded, soothing more for me than for him.His skin is warm under my touch. He feels strong. Safe. I have to restrain myself from wrapping myself around him. I don't want to wake him up. I watch the rise and fall of his shoulders, letting my hand glide up and down again. The mating bond hums faintly ins
Chapter 54 - Dex. pov.Pride, that's all I feel right now.This woman was so nervous, so full of doubt, that I was afraid she'd run away. The last thing I expected was for her to address the pack. And man, I've addressed these people countless times. Give them orders, encourage them. But none of those times comes close to how Lilly talks to them.Her nerves are slowly but surely easing, but the pack doesn't notice. The way she speaks is anything but nervous. If there were any doubts among the pack members, she dispelled them word by word.She chooses honesty over fear. And the pack senses that. I see it in the eyes of the pack members closest to us; they see the same thing I do. Lilly is a natural-born Luna. I see it in Ronan and Reece's eyes. Proud of their Luna. MY Luna. When she's finished, she looks at me expectantly. I see the unspoken question in her eyes. "Was I good enough?" I nod approvingly, and she gives me a quick smile, her relief palpable.I briefly tell them what to ex
Chapter 53 The silence that follows after Lucy and Alex have fled is almost worse than the confrontation itself. It settles over the rooftop like ash after a fire—thick, clinging, impossible to ignore. No one speaks. No one moves. Even the night seems to hold its breath, as if the world itself is waiting to see what comes next. Because something is coming, that's for sure.Alex doesn't retreat, doesn't give up. No, Alex retreats to regroup. Processes the things he's learned and incorporates them into a new plan.And Alex has learned more than enough today. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. This was his plan all along. To lure us out of hiding to discover my weaknesses, Dex's. To see how Dex operates.I'm so caught up in my own thoughts that I barely notice Dex starting to give orders.Dex's arm is still around me, firm and steady, a silent anchor. "Lilly?" he says softly. I look up. "Hmm?" My eyes meet his, filled with worry. "I asked if you were okay."I nod slowly, thoug
Chapter 52“Took you long enough."Lucy stands further away, leaning casually against a car. Alex's car. Her arms crossed, and a bored look in her eyes.Dex’s jaw clenches, his eyes never leaving Lucy.Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ronan and Reece scanning the area. I'm doing the same, searching for any sign of Alex. He must be here somewhere. It worries me that I don't see him. Lucy's sharp voice interrupts my search. "I'm surprised you took her." Dex remains silent."Apparently, your bond isn't that strong after all. If you take her to the lion's den." A wicked smile spreads across her face. "A weak little human. You'll see I'm right." The fact that Dex isn't responding to her seems to irritate her. And judging by the glint in Dex's eyes, that's exactly what he's after."I hate to orphan little Claire. But I'll do what it takes to get back what's rightfully mine."I try not to show that her words are affecting me, but that's not as easy for me as Dex. I don't have much time to
Chapter 51 Dex stares ahead while we wait for the others. I ask for clarification, but he doesn't seem to hear me. A deep frown forms on his forehead as he looks around. "Dex?" I try again. "Hmm?" it sounds without him looking at me. "Are you going to tell me your suspicions?" I try not to show my impatience. "Later," he says curtly. "When the others get here." He paces back and forth. It seems like he's talking to his wolf, so annoying that I can't hear what they're saying. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the others approaching. The car slows down, and before Reece has even properly parked it, the others jump out. Except Beth, who just manages to muster up the patience. "Her scent is going that way," Dex says when we're all together, pointing to the street behind us."Well, that sucks," Reece mutters, pointing out that this is one of the busier streets in the neighborhood. "That's not all. I'm pretty sure she's not alone," he says. "What?" Beth reacts, shocked. Bruce also str
Chapter 50I informed the omega who's looking after Claire that it might take a little longer now that we have an emergency meeting. Luckily, she's no stranger to that and assured me it's no problem. It's a perk of pack life, I guess; there's almost always a sitter available, and they're all equally sweet to Claire, and Claire seems to be smitten with everyone.I bite my lower lip and look away when Dex glances at me briefly. From the moment Bruce delivered the news, he's gone into Alpha mode. And I can't say it leaves me unmoved; it makes him... even more attractive. There's a clear difference between my mate, Dex, and Dex the Alpha, and I can't say which I prefer.I squeeze my thighs together, hoping the others won't notice my arousal, though I suspect it's a futile effort with their werewolf senses. Judging by Dex's eyes, it certainly isn't going unnoticed. Thank god they act like they don't smell anything.Dex clears his throat. "Beth, are you sure she took her most important thin
Chapter 27 - Lilly's pov.I check my missed messages for the umpteenth time. I sigh in frustration. "Don't worry, honey," Beth says for the third time. "But they've been gone so long. What if something happened? What if it wasn't a lost hiker?" Claire follows my pacing from her playpen, clueless as
Chapter 26 - Dex Pov.The only reason I agreed to go to the lake was so Lucy wouldn’t get suspicious. But what a mistake that was. It took all my strength to keep my eyes off her. It took even more effort not to rip Bruce’s hands off when he wrapped his arm around her beautiful, half-naked body. I l
Chapter 24By the time I get back downstairs, the others have arrived, and laughter can be heard from the kitchen. I smile when I hear Bruce laugh. Lucy talks to Claire in a high-pitched voice while feeding her small pieces of bread. Since Claire started eating solid food, she hardly wants anything
Chapter 25Claire seems to love being in the water, and she thoroughly enjoys the attention she gets. I am continually amazed at how friendly and welcoming everyone is here. Everyone feels so familiar so quickly, and it doesn't take long before I'm talking to everyone as if I've known them for years







