Chapter 8

The days following her conversation with Callum felt like an endless blur. Lily couldn’t escape the knot in her stomach, the one that twisted tighter with every passing moment, as if the universe itself was conspiring to push her toward something she wasn’t ready for. The night had revealed too many truths, some of which she wasn’t sure she could handle.

As much as she tried to focus on her duties as Luna, her mind kept returning to Callum. The fire in his eyes, the power in his words, the unsettling sense that something between them had shifted, something neither of them could control.

Lily hadn’t spoken to Callum since that night. She had avoided him, staying close to Alistair, her husband, who had noticed her distance but chose not to comment on it. His cold, calculating demeanor had made Lily uncomfortable, especially after Callum’s revelations. She couldn’t stop wondering whether Alistair was aware of what was happening between his son and her. Was he testing her loyalty? Or was he blind to the tension growing in the pack?

Today, the air felt heavier than usual. The clouds had gathered above, casting a gray hue over the estate. Lily was in the garden, walking among the flowers she had planted herself, the only space she felt a sense of peace. The scents of the roses and lavender calmed her, even though the storm brewing inside her was anything but calm.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The presence was unmistakable, like a force of nature, undeniable and potent.

"Still avoiding me?" Callum’s voice broke the silence, low and steady.

Lily’s heart stuttered in her chest. She had hoped for a few more moments of peace, but there was no escaping the inevitable. She turned slowly, meeting his gaze. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way he watched her that sent a chill down her spine.

“I’m not avoiding you,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’ve just been busy.”

Callum raised an eyebrow, a half-smile curving on his lips. "Busy avoiding me."

Lily couldn’t help the small frown that creased her forehead. She didn’t want to admit it, but the truth was, she had been avoiding him. Not because she didn’t want to see him, but because she didn’t know how to face him after everything that had happened. What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to act around him now?

“Lily,” Callum said, his tone suddenly serious. “We need to talk. It’s not just about us anymore. The pack is in danger. My father has started making moves that could destroy everything we’ve worked for. I don’t want to stand by and watch him do it.”

Lily’s heart skipped a beat. She could feel the weight of his words pressing against her, demanding her attention. The air around them seemed to grow colder, the tension palpable as she tried to wrap her mind around what he was saying.

“What do you mean? What’s he doing?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Callum glanced around, his gaze sharp as he checked to make sure no one was listening. “I’m not sure yet, but I’ve seen signs. He’s making alliances with rogue packs. I think he plans to expand his power. And if he succeeds, he’ll be unstoppable. It won’t just be the Blood moon Pack that suffers...... It’ll be all of us.”

Lily’s breath caught in her throat. Her husband, the Alpha, was making deals with enemies? The thought of it sent a cold shiver down her spine. "But why? He has everything already. What more could he want?"

Callum’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenched. “Power. Control. My father is never satisfied. The pack means everything to him, but only because it’s his tool for domination. And you,” he added, his voice suddenly softer, “you’re caught in the middle of it. You’re the key to everything, Lily.”

Lily took a step back, her pulse quickening. “What do you mean? How am I the key?”

Callum’s gaze locked onto hers, his expression intense. “You’re not just Luna. You’re the mate of the Alpha, and you hold the respect of the pack. If you side with me, we can take control. We can stop my father before he goes too far.”

Her head was spinning. The weight of Callum’s words was suffocating, and she struggled to make sense of it all. Could she truly defy Alistair, her husband, the man who had promised to protect her? Could she risk everything for Callum and his vision of a better future for the pack?

“You’re asking me to choose between you and him?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Callum didn’t hesitate. “Yes. It’s time to choose. The pack is at a crossroads, and if we don’t act now, it’ll be too late.”

Lily felt her chest tighten as the storm of emotions swirled inside her. Her loyalty to Alistair had always been unquestionable, but now, in the face of Callum’s conviction, her resolve was starting to falter. Was it possible to stand by a man who would use her like a pawn in his power games? Was it possible to align herself with someone who might actually care about the future of the pack, even if that meant going against her husband?

For a long moment, Lily stood in silence, trying to process the weight of the decision she had to make. Her thoughts were scattered, her heart torn between two forces, one that had always been there, and one that had recently awakened within her.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered, more to herself than to Callum. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

Callum took a step closer, his eyes softening for the first time. “You don’t have to do it alone, Lily. I’m with you. I will always be with you.”

His words, though comforting, sent a surge of guilt through her. She couldn’t deny the pull she felt toward him—the undeniable connection that had only deepened since the night in the woods. But was that enough to make the right choice?

“I need time,” she said, her voice trembling.

Callum nodded, his expression unreadable once again. "Take all the time you need. But remember, we don’t have much of it. The clock is ticking, Lily."

As Callum turned and disappeared into the trees, Lily stood frozen in place, her heart pounding in her chest. The storm inside her was no longer just a whisper, it was a roar, a thundering reminder that the time to choose was coming, whether she was ready or not.