Chapter 7

The night fell over the Bloodmoon Pack like a heavy blanket, the sky painted in shades of deep purple and black. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the quiet rustle of trees stirring in the wind as if the forest itself was alive, watching. Lily stood at the edge of the estate grounds, her gaze lost in the distance, her mind swirling with thoughts she couldn't quite grasp.

The conversation with Alistair earlier had done little to calm her racing thoughts. His words still echoed in her ears: "You must be prepared." Prepared for what? She had no idea. And even more pressing was the tension that had developed between Callum and his father. It was clear that the Blood moon Pack wasn’t just battling external threats, but also the silent war between its leaders. Between father and son.

She was in the middle of it all, expected to lead a pack she barely understood. She wasn't sure if she was strong enough for the task, but she had no choice now but to face whatever was ahead.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice from behind her.

"Lily?"

She turned to see Callum standing at the edge of the trees, his expression unreadable. He wore a loose tunic that hung over his broad shoulders, the faint glow of moonlight casting shadows across his chiseled features. His eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, yet there was an undercurrent of something else, something darker.

Lily hesitated for a moment before speaking, unsure of how to address the tension between them. "I needed some air. It's... been a lot to process."

Callum took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate. "I understand." He paused, studying her with that unwavering gaze. "But I also know that you're not here just because you need air. You're troubled."

Lily's heart skipped a beat, and for a brief moment, she considered turning away, escaping the weight of his stare. But something inside her kept her rooted to the spot. "I don’t know what you want from me, Callum," she confessed, her voice trembling slightly.

He tilted his head, his lips curling into a faint smile. "I don’t want anything from you, Lily. At least, not in the way you think."

Lily frowned, the confusion clouding her thoughts. "Then what do you want?"

Callum’s expression softened, and he stepped closer to her. She instinctively took a step back, feeling a mix of unease and longing. "I want you to understand that things are more complicated than they seem," he said quietly. "My father...... He doesn't just want you to be Luna. He wants to control everything. And that includes you."

Lily's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean? He’s my husband. He’s the Alpha. I don’t think he’d want to control me."

Callum’s jaw clenched as he took another step toward her, now standing just inches away. "That’s exactly it. You’re a tool to him, Lily. An instrument to secure his power. But what about what you want? What about your freedom?"

Lily’s mind spun. "I... I don’t know what I want," she whispered, her heart racing. "I just... I don’t know what’s happening anymore. I’m torn between my duties as Luna and my own feelings. And then there’s you. You make everything so complicated."

Callum’s eyes darkened at the mention of himself, his emotions hidden behind a mask of restraint. "I never asked you to feel anything for me, Lily. But I can’t ignore what’s happening between us."

Lily shook her head, feeling a sharp pang in her chest. "This is wrong. We’re not supposed to feel like this."

Callum took a deep breath, as if trying to control the urge within him. "You don’t get it, do you? It’s not just us. It’s this entire pack. My father has his plans. And they don’t include you having a choice. He won’t let you lead the way you want to. And that’s where I come in."

Lily’s confusion deepened. "What do you mean?"

Callum stepped back, his hands clenching at his sides. "I don’t trust my father’s intentions. He’s trying to manipulate you, to use you. But I’ll make sure you’re not just a pawn in his game. You deserve more than that."

Lily felt the weight of his words, the gravity of the situation settling in. "And what do you expect me to do, Callum? You’ve seen how I’ve struggled. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to stand against him. I don’t even know if I want to."

Callum’s expression softened, but there was a hard edge to his words when he spoke again. "I’ll help you, Lily. I’ll make sure you’re not alone in this. But you need to make a choice. And soon."

The forest around them seemed to hold its breath as Lily processed his words. Was she ready for this? Was she ready to take a stand, to challenge the very people who had once seemed like her protectors? And more than that, could she trust Callum?

She glanced up at him, meeting his intense gaze. "And what do you want from me in return?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Callum’s lips parted, as if considering her question, but he didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes softened in a way that sent a shiver down her spine. "I don’t want anything from you, Lily. But I do need you to make the right choice. The pack’s future... your future... depends on it."

A long silence hung between them, the tension palpable, before Lily finally spoke, her voice firm but uncertain. "I’ll think about it."

Callum nodded, his expression unreadable. "You have to. And soon."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lily standing in the moonlit clearing, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had no idea what was coming, but she knew for certain that everything was about to change.