Chapter 6

The morning after the chaos of the night before, the atmosphere inside the Bloodmoon Pack estate was strangely calm, as if the world had collectively decided to hold its breath. The sunlight filtered through the tall, arched windows, casting long shadows across the polished stone floors of Lily’s chambers. But despite the beauty of the day, there was an unease in the air that lingered like smoke from a fire that hadn’t quite burned out.

Lily hadn’t slept. The events of the night replayed in her mind, over and over, like a haunting melody she couldn’t shake off. Callum’s kiss, the fire that burned between them, the dangerous attraction that seemed to simmer just beneath the surface. It was all too much to process.

But what worried her more was the silence. The absence of Callum in her life since that moment in the forest was deafening. She had expected some kind of confrontation, some acknowledgment of what had happened. Yet, nothing.

Lily stood by her window, staring out at the courtyard where the pack members went about their early morning rituals which included warriors training, servants attending to their duties, the usual rhythm of life. But everything felt different now. Her place in the world, her role as the Luna, felt more like a cage than a sanctuary.

A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Luna Sterling?” Ava’s voice came through, gentle and respectful.

Lily straightened and turned away from the window. “Come in.”

The maid stepped inside, with a carefully neutral carefully neutral. “The Alpha requests your presence at breakfast. He said it’s important.”

Lily nodded. “I’ll be there shortly.”

As Ava left, Lily took a deep breath, gathering herself. She had to face Alistair, and whatever plans he had for her future, and perhaps whatever role he wanted her to play in this strange, shifting world.

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When Lily arrived in the dining hall, the scent of fresh bread and sizzling meat filled the air. The long, oak table was set with a collection of food, more than anyone could possibly eat. However, it was customary for the Alpha's table to be lavish, an offering to demonstrate power and abundance.

Alistair sat at the head of the table with a straight back and a commanding posture. His eyes lifted when Lily entered, a faint smile pulling at his lips. But there was something about his gaze. It was something guarded, distant, like he was weighing her presence.

“Good morning, my Luna,” he greeted her with his voice smooth, though there was an undertone of something she couldn’t quite place. “Please, sit.”

Lily hesitated but did as he asked, taking a seat across from him. She kept her eyes down, picking at the bread on her plate. “You wanted to speak with me?”

Alistair regarded her quietly for a moment before answering. “Yes. We need to discuss your place here, Lily. The time for introductions is over. It’s time for you to understand your role as Luna.”

She looked up at him, her brow furrowed. “My role?”

He nodded, his eyes darkening with seriousness. “The Blood moon Pack is a powerful entity. Its future depends on the strength of its leaders, and that includes you.”

Her stomach tightened. “And what do you want me to do?”

Alistair’s lips curled into a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You are not just the mate of the Alpha, Lily. You are the one who will guide the pack. Your decisions, your actions, will shape the direction we take. I need you to be ready for that.”

Lily swallowed, her throat dry. “I don’t know if I’m ready. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

The Alpha’s expression softened ever so slightly. “You are already showing strength, whether you realize it or not. Last night, when you faced the rogue, you displayed courage. That’s what we need in the Luna.”

Lily stiffened. “Callum… he was the one who fought the rogue.”

Alistair’s eyes flickered. “Yes, he did. But you were there, weren’t you? You didn’t run. You didn’t hide. You stood your ground. That’s something not many would do.”

Lily’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Callum. The memory of their encounter in the woods returned, and she couldn’t help but feel a familiar stir in her chest.

Before she could respond, a voice interrupted.

“You really think that’s enough to make her the Luna, Father?”

Lily’s pulse quickened as she turned to see Callum standing in the doorway, his broad figure framed by the sunlight behind him. His expression was unreadable, but there was a sharpness to his gaze that sent a shiver down her spine.

Alistair’s face hardened slightly, but he didn’t respond immediately. The tension in the room thickened, and Lily felt like an outsider, caught in the middle of something far bigger than herself.

Callum stepped further into the room, his eyes lingering on Lily for a moment before he turned his attention to his father. “You think she can just step into this role? You think she’s ready to lead the pack? What if she’s not?”

The words stung, but Lily refused to let them show. She met Callum’s gaze with a calmness she didn’t entirely feel. “I’m trying, Callum. I’m doing my best.”

He didn’t reply immediately, just studied her with that intense, penetrating gaze. Then, he turned to his father. “You should have been more careful, Father. The Luna’s role isn’t something to be rushed. You can’t just throw someone into it without understanding what they’re capable of.”

Alistair’s jaw clenched, and he stood from his chair. “I know what I’m doing, Callum. Don’t question me.”

Callum’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not questioning you. I’m warning you. This isn’t something you can control. Not completely.”

Lily felt the weight of Callum’s words, and for the first time, she realized the true depth of the divide between the father and son. They were both strong, both powerful in their own right, but there was an undercurrent of competition that couldn’t be ignored.

Alistair turned to her, his expression softening once more. “Lily, I know this is a lot to take in, but we need to be prepared for what’s coming. There are forces at work in this world that will test us. And we must be strong.”

Lily nodded slowly, trying to process everything. Her head was spinning. She wanted to ask about the rogue, about the pack’s enemies, about Callum’s strange behavior, but there was no time for that now.

Alistair rose and moved toward her, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. “We’re in this together, Lily. You and I.”

But as his hand rested on her, Lily’s eyes caught Callum’s again. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes, something she couldn’t ignore.

The tension between them hadn’t dissipated. In fact, it was more obvious than ever.

And Lily realized, with a jolt of realization, that whatever happened next, she was about to be pulled deeper into the dangerous world of the Blood moon Pack, a world where love, power, and secrets intertwined in ways she could never have imagined.