04

Lilith Indigo

Walking into the round table room, I was met with the four familiar faces of Nova, Gabriel, Kagura, and Cliff. My eyes wandered instinctively, searching for Ethan. A strange unease settled in my gut when I realized he wasn’t in the chamber with us.

Before I could dwell on it, both Nova and Gabriel wrinkled their noses, waving their hands in front of their faces dramatically.

“Did you sleep with the mutts or something?” Gabriel took a theatrical step back, his disgust obvious.

I sniffed the air around me, confused. Turning slightly, I looked at them. “I only smell them?” I offered uncertainly.

“No, it’s definitely you.” Gabriel stepped closer, leaning in to sniff just above my head. “You smell just like—”

“Good evening,” King Eric’s booming voice cut him off as he burst through the round table room doors, a wide grin plastered on his face. “I hope you’re all ready for your second night.”

He scanned the room. “As I’ve been informed, the Beta will be a little late tonight, Lilith,” he added with a glance in my direction.

“That’s fine, King Eric,” I assured him, though a quiet sliver of worry gnawed at the edge of my thoughts.

“Excellent. Be safe, all of you. I’ll see you at sunrise.” He nodded once before stepping aside to let us leave.

“Be safe out there, Lilith.” Nova bumped my shoulder playfully before taking off at full speed toward her post.

“You too, Nova!” I called after her, walking more slowly since I’d be patrolling alone—at least for now.

“Be on your best behavior, Gab!” I teased as he sped past.

He laughed and tossed over his shoulder, “Always.”

Huffing a little, I turned to the King. “Good night, King Eric.” I bowed respectfully.

“Night, Lilith.”

Then I took off running toward the front gate to wait for my partner.

I paced near the front gate of the Animal Lands, glancing down at my watch again, more irritated than before.

“It’s been an hour,” I muttered aloud. “And he’s still not here.”

The other two pack members had been on time. So why wasn’t their Beta?

“My apologies,” came a voice from the shadows of the forest.

Ethan stepped into view with that smug smile on his face. “The Alpha and I had a few things to discuss.”

I froze mid-step, my hand on my hip, as his scent drifted toward me. It didn’t repulse me the way it had before. It pulled at something deep in my core. He smelled… enticing.

“Miss me?” he teased, clearly amused by the way I was staring.

Rolling my eyes, I turned away and headed east to begin our patrol. I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reply.

“Oh, that’s right—can’t miss me when you’re too busy with Vampire King up there,” he muttered to himself.

I glanced over my shoulder, shooting him a glare. “What is it to you?”

“What’s going on with you two, anyway? Are you lovers?” Ethan pried, annoyingly nosy.

“I love him, yes,” I said honestly, not sure where he was going with this.

Suddenly, a heat wave crashed over my body. Sweat broke across my skin like I was on fire. I turned to Ethan and saw his chest rising rapidly, his breathing shallow.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked, alarmed.

Before I could process, he slammed me against a tree, caging me between his body and the trunk.

What the hell? My eyes widened in shock.

He was breathing hard, fingers clawed into the bark beside my head, barely keeping himself in check.

“Ethan…” I whispered, shaking with confusion and a twinge of fear.

At the sound of his name, his eyes met mine. Something in him snapped back into place, and he pushed away from me, backing up quickly.

“I shouldn’t have asked,” he muttered, turning and walking away fast.

Heart pounding, I slid away from the tree, dusting off my uniform.

“I told you not to touch me!” I shouted after him, furious now.

Ethan scoffed, throwing a hand up in a lazy dismissive wave that only infuriated me more.

“Who do you think you are?!” I snapped, pointing at him. “Waltzing into our territory like you own it!”

He stopped, and I heard the crack of his neck as he turned to face me, that smug smirk back on his lips.

“We should finish our patrol,” he said mockingly, clasping his hands together like a teacher dismissing a tantrum.

“I’ll be telling the King about this,” I growled.

“Your King couldn’t stop me even if he wanted to,” Ethan threw back with a dark chuckle.

“Is that a threat?” I shot back. “We’re doing you a favor just being here.”

In a flash, he was inches from me, his lips hovering just above mine.

“It’s definitely not a threat… Major Indigo, Lilith,” he purred, the sound of my name in his mouth like velvet. Then he backed away, chuckling. “You’ll see, Lilith.”

I shoved past him, walking along the edge of the gate. The silence between us stretched long and tense.

Then Ethan snapped his head up, nose twitching in the air.

“Behind me,” he ordered, crouching low, his fists clenched as the hair on his arms began to morph. His transformation was fast, furious, beautiful.

“Take your clothes off first!” I hissed, catching the stench of wolves closing in.

But it was too late.

Three rogues burst from the trees, and Ethan shifted fluidly before my eyes. His massive form met them head-on. Two lunged for him, while one tried to dart around toward the cattle.

Not on my watch.

I jumped, spin-kicking the rogue away from the fence line. He shook it off fast, while Ethan was locked in brutal combat with the others.

One went for Ethan’s throat, and instinctively I grabbed a stake from my belt, throwing it like a dagger. It hit the wolf’s hind leg, bringing it down. It whimpered, twitching before shifting back into unconscious human form.

I turned—too slow.

The rogue I had kicked barreled into me, slamming me against a tree hard. Pain exploded in my ribs.

“Damn it,” I gasped. “Forgot about you.”

He howled and charged, fangs bared.

I grabbed another stake and waited, determined to ram it down his throat.

“GRH!” Ethan’s roar shook the trees.

He came out of nowhere, jaws clamping down on the rogue’s neck. The rogue screeched, flailing wildly, sending debris flying. Ethan didn’t relent—his growls deepened, unrelenting, feral.

I watched, hypnotized. His paw held the rogue’s face to the dirt as his teeth ripped mercilessly into the other wolf. I… I admired him. Admired how powerful he looked. And somewhere deep, dark, and unwanted… I wanted him. Wanted him to pin me like that, devour me with the same raw intensity.

I blinked. My eyes had closed without me noticing.

When they opened, Ethan was right in front of me—still in wolf form, sniffing me. My heart skipped.

He shifted back into human form, panting on all fours, his voice a guttural rasp.

“I can smell you.”

“What?” I whispered, stunned, breathless.

He stayed still, then slowly rose to his feet—naked, unbothered, gloriously exposed.

I swallowed hard, my gaze trailing him unwillingly, pulse racing.

He leaned in close, lips brushing my ear, his breath hot and dangerous.

“I said… I can smell you.”

Our eyes locked. Heat passed between us like lightning.

“Are you guys alright?” Nova’s voice cracked through the moment.

Gabriel and Cliff jogged over, weapons out.

“We heard the commotion!” Gabriel scanned the area. “Would’ve been here sooner if the King hadn’t delayed the relief.”

Kagura appeared and rushed to Ethan’s side, fussing over him with delicate hands.

Jealousy. Ugly, uninvited, seared through me. I wanted to rip her hands off him.

“Lilith! Why are your fangs out?” Nova asked, touching my shoulder.

Ethan met my eyes as he pulled on spare clothes from Cliff’s bag. Our gaze held something… unspoken. Then I looked away, calming myself.

“We should alert the King. Ethan’s been hurt,” I said firmly. “I’ll go ahead.”

And I ran.

My heart thudded in rhythm with my feet.

What the hell was that? I screamed inside my head, face hot with embarrassment and something else I didn’t want to name.

I burst into the round table room. King Eric stood at the window, gazing down at the crop lands.

“King Eric!” I cried, tears brimming in my eyes.

“It’s okay, Lilith.” He turned, speaking like he already knew. Just like Ethan. It was driving me insane.

“I have something to tell you.” He sat me down, his hand resting on the nape of my neck.

“But King—”

“Lilith, it’s important,” he said firmly. The worry already bubbling inside me tripled.

“Okay.” I bowed my head in respect.

“The Alpha had contact with the rogue wolves,” he began, pausing to take a breath he didn’t even need. “And it seems they’re preparing for war. They told the Alpha that if we don’t back down, they’ll come after the pack next.”

He said it calmly. Too calmly.

“Then we should prepare for war!” I stood up, fire in my chest.

He pushed me back down.

“Why are you so eager for war, Lilith?” he asked quietly, hands gripping my shoulders…

“It’s not that I want war, King Eric. But what are we supposed to do? Just not put up a fight?” I shot back, matching his tone, refusing to back down.

“Not yet, Lilith,” he said, his shoulders sagging as if the weight of the kingdom had finally settled into his bones.

“And why not?!” I demanded, my eyes wide with disbelief.

“Because the Beta of the pack has already found a solution,” he said calmly, turning away and strolling down the length of the table. He paused at the window, gazing out like the answers were written in the sky. “When I first saw you, Lilith… I felt something I hadn’t in years. A kind of peace. A flicker of happiness.” His voice dropped, almost a whisper. “My Queen was murdered—slaughtered by jealous servants who betrayed us all. They took everything from me. But when I saw you…” he looked back at me, eyes softer now. “I found hope again. I thought maybe—once you were older—you could rule beside me. Together.”

My breath caught in my throat. My jaw dropped open as his words settled in the silence between us.

“Why can’t we?” I asked, the words escaping before I could stop them. It was what I had been longing for—what I had dreamed of. I reached for his hand, desperate for connection.

But he pulled it away, tucking it behind his back. His lips tightened into a sad line as he shook his head.

I didn’t understand. If he wanted me, and I wanted him—then why? Why couldn’t we?

My stomach twisted painfully. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“What is it, King Eric?” I asked quietly, desperate to understand. “Why can’t we be together?”

“You.”

That single word cracked like a whip. My whole body stiffened as it echoed in my head, louder than any shout. My vision blurred.

The feeling I’d had since the beginning—the strange pull, the tension, the way he looked at me—everything suddenly clicked into place. From the moment I fell from that tree… to now.

My hands balled into fists. I gripped the King’s mantle so tightly I nearly tore the fabric.

“Do you understand now, Lilith?” he asked, his hand suddenly on my chin, lifting my face toward his.

I stared into his eyes, heart pounding. My voice came out breathless. “So that means—”

But just before I could finish, the heavy doors burst open.

The patrol entered in formation, boots echoing against the marble. Ethan strode in front and center, looking smug and far too pleased with himself.

“You are my mate,” he said, voice cold and certain.

The declaration boomed through the room like thunder. His glare was fixed on King Eric’s hand still lingering near my skin, his body radiating territorial fury.