CHAPTER 27

DRAKE POV

Moonlight shimmered on the balcony where everything has begun and nearly ended. I found Lillian there, her hands gripping the railing like it was the only thing holding her up. The scent of her tears… bergamot and salt….stung my heart.

“Lily.”

She didn’t turn. She sniffed and said weakly, “I thought you would be with the scouts.”

“The scouts can wait.” I moved to stand behind her, not touching, though every fiber of my being yearned to pull her against me. “I thought I lost you today.”

Her shoulders shook. “You nearly did.”

“The mountains…” I said stiffly, trying to force the words out. “We will not send you back. You stay here. Where I can protect you.”

Finally, she turned. The tear tracks on her cheeks reflecting the moonlight. “That is what I am afraid of.”

The words landed heavily like a blow. “What?”

“I have loved you since forever,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Even when you didn’t see me. Even when your other friends tripped me in the halls or poured ink on my projects. I would go home and write out your name in my diary like that would somehow make you mine.”

Kael whined, pressing against my ribs violently. “Lily—”

“Then I had to leave Luxembourg, leave my mum, my friends, my life,” her voice broke, but she continued, relentlessly. “And I spent ten years telling myself I hated you. But the moment I saw you again…” Her laugh was hollow. “It all came rushing back.”

I reached out for her, but she stepped back. “Don’t.”

“Why are you saying this?” My voice came out rougher than I intended. “After everything we have—”

Because it’s the truth!” She wiped off her tears. “From the beginning, loving you cost me everything. My childhood. Ten years of my life. And now….” Her hand went to her hip, where the tattoo lay hidden. “Now it might cost the entire pack.”

I cornered her against the railing and caged her in. “That is not true.”

“Isn’t it?” Her eyes flashed. “Andre is my mate. The Eastern pack wants to weaponize our bond. And you…” Her voice dropped. “You have not even found your true mate yet. What happens when you do?”

The question hung between us, heavy with no answer within reach.

I cupped her face with my hands, forcing her to meet my gaze. “I don’t need the Moon Goddess to tell me who my mate is. I have known from the moment you disappeared from my life ten years ago that you belonged to me.”

Her breath seized. “You mean that?”

“Ofcourse I mean it.” My thumb brushed her cheekbone. “I remember every thing that happened between us, even if we didn’t say a word to each other.”

Tears welled in her eyes again. “Drake…”

“I love you, Lillian.” I said, the words raw and unblemished. “Not because of some bond or destiny. Because you are the bravest, most infuriatingly stubborn person I have ever met. And if you think I am letting some tattoo or prophecy take you from me, you don’t know me at all.”

I crushed my mouth fully to hers.

It was not gentle. It was a claiming. A promise. A vow sealed with tongue, teeth and desperation.

She melted against me, her fingers tangling in my hair as she kissed me back with equal intensity. The bond between us roared back to life, brighter and more intense than ever before.

When we broke apart and gasped for air, I rested my forehead against hers. “I lost you once. I will not lose you again.”

“Even if it means war?”

“Even if it means burning the world down.”

Her smile was enchanting. “That is terribly romantic and slightly terrifying.”

I nipped on her lower lip. “I am a terribly romantic and slightly terrifying Alpha.”

I kissed her again, slower this time. Exploring. Memorizing. My hands slid down her back, pulling her whole form against me. Hers crept under my shirt, nails piercing my skin.

The world all down to this, her scent, her taste, the way she sighed my name against my lips.

Kael purred, smug and possessive. Ours.

For the first time, I let myself believe it.

The balcony door slammed open.

“Lily, we need to—oh.” Josh froze, taking in our messy state. His scent dripped with disapproval.

I stepped in front of Lillian, shielding her from view. “This isn’t a good time, Josh.”

He narrowed his eyes skeptically. “It never is with you.”

Lillian touched my arm. “It is okay. What is it?”

“I need to talk to you.” He gazed at me over Drake’s shoulder. “Alone.”

The possessiveness that flared through me was white hot and unreasonable. “Anything you want to say to her, you can say to me.”

Josh curled his lips sarcastically, “Like you said anything to her before you decided to wreck her life?”

The word hit home. Exactly as he intended and Lillian winced.

“Josh,” she said warningly.

“No, let him speak.” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “What exactly am I wrecking?”

“Everything!” Josh exclaimed and threw his hands up. “She is going to be safe with Andre. She is going to be happy. Now you have got her wrapped up in your…your Alpha bullshit again.”

Lillian moved to stand beside me. “I can make my own choices, Josh.”

“Can you?” He laughed bitterly. “Because from where I am standing, you are making the same stupid choices you made at sixteen.”

I saw red immediately.

In a blink, I had him pinned against the wall, my hand around his throat. “You will show respect.”

He choked, but he spat defiantly, “Or what? You will kill me too?”

Lillian pulled my arm, trying to wrench it off Josh’s throat. “Drake, stop!”

I released him and stepped back, but not after my claws had unsheathed and drew thin lines of blood on his neck.

Josh rubbed his throat and glared at me. “You see? This is what I mean. Violence is always your answer.”

“And protection is always mine,” I snarled. “I am trying to keep her safe.”

“By starting a war?”

“By ending one!”

The truth of it all echoed between us. The Eastern Pack had started this. I would finish it.

Lillian hurried to stand between us and placed her hands firmly on my chest. “Enough. Both of you.”

She turned to Josh. “Whatever you need to say, say it now. In front of both of us.”

Josh’s gaze rested on where her fingers spread against my shirt and something in his expression shattered. “Your mother. She is awake. And she is asking for you.”

My resolve weakened instantly. “Is she—”

“Fine,” Josh bit out. “But she is agitated. Something about the bond.”

Lillian was already moving towards the exit. “I need to see her.”

Josh caught her arm. “Lily, wait—”

I moved without thinking and shoved him back. “Don’t you touch her.”

Josh looked from me to Lillian with his expression bleak. “You have chosen, then.”

It wasn’t a question.

Lillian held my hand and muttered. “I made my choice a long time ago.”

As she led me inside, I glanced back at Josh. He remained behind on the balcony, watching us with an expression I knew all too well.

It was the same way I had looked at Lillian ten years ago.

Like a man watching the moon, knowing he could never touch it.