The line I have to cross

Lukas P.O.V.

In all my long days, I never really believed the Goddesses would bestow a mate upon me, purely based on my heritage alone. But then I was forced by my grandmother to join the ridiculous war my cousin had started because of revenge or something, and the moment I entered her territory, I knew I had somewhere to be. When she ordered Leo to go to the vampire court to help, something primal inside me roared that I had to go in his stead, which I did.

Then Henri, that good for nothing imbecile, sent me on that suicide mission, which I have yet to find out was his own idea or actually was an order from my cousin. She doesn't really reek of family feelings and wanting to bond. Not that I blame her. I do not particularly want to bond with her or my great grandmother either. Let alone my grandmother and aunts. Mom and I were on our own for the majority of my life, as she was trying to keep me safe, give me a coincidence, a moral compass and just not make me like the others. 

More often than not Leo resided with us, and she basically raised him as well, but we both knew to hide our true colors whenever aunt Corvinna and our grandmother found us and visited. Mom implored and instilled in us a natural ability to hide our thoughts, play along with sinister plans, and find a way to sabotage them without getting caught. She was kind of skeptical about Leo and where his loyalties really lied when push came to shove between her and his mother, but he has proved more than once who he views as his real mom, and has called me his brother more times than I can count. 

When I returned to headquarters after the disaster with Henri a year ago, I licked my wounds in silence, observed and made plans. Mom and Leo came to me with their own observations, their own thoughts and their own input to how we can sabotage Miriam, our grandmother and great grandmother. It’s clear Hildra doesn’t want to be a part of anything her mother and sister is a part of, and she has retracted to her own ways more and more over the last year, only showing her face when she absolutely has to. Most times we find her in the kitchen, or in her room, trying to stay out of everyone’s way. 

Leo, mom and I know we’re playing a long game here, and we can only trust ourselves and each other, but then Miriam ordered me to go to the Moonstone pack and be here ears and eyes, her irrational mind coming up with allegations towards the men she already placed there. She’s sure they are working against her, and that Alpha Nate and Luna Olivia are not loyal to her. Not that she’s wrong about the last thing. It took time, a long time, but I managed to win Alpha Nate’s and his lovely Luna’s trust, especially when they saw that I continuously undermined Miriam’s men, who were still loyal to her, making her so suspicious of them, she pulled them out, and executed them publicly to show everyone else the consequences of being disloyal. 

That was a turning point. Alpha Nate started trusting me in small ways, and when I kept his secrets, passed his tests, he gradually became more relaxed. When he told me about the rebellion I immediately wanted to join, but he kept telling me someone else was calling the shots, without getting into details, until this morning. Luna Olivia had persuaded him to contact the leaders on our behalf to have a meeting in person. She knew they were going to want to meet me, and I can’t blame any of them. 

And then I saw her standing beside the siren by the throne. I knew at once when I stepped into the throne room that Lilith is my mate, and my undivided attention stayed on her until I had to greet the two protectors of the throne.

And now we’re here. Lilith is singlehandly the most divine woman I have ever laid my eyes on. Her figure, her aura, her eyes, which are very expressive. She reminds me of the King of vampires, which of course makes sense as they are family, but she also resembles Miriam a little, which kind of unnerves me a little. Not much, just a smidge. Something about the chin, the stubborn look in her eyes, the air around her. She is commanding, and blissfully unaware of it. 

“Well?” Drake asks, shaking me from the train of thoughts I landed in as I looked at my mate. “Why should we trust you?” 

“I would not be here if you could not trust me, Drake.” I tell him, eyeing my mate. “Alpha Nate and Luna Olivia would not have allowed anyone or anything to jeopardize your rebellion, especially not for some outsider like me.” 

Drake looks at Alpha Nate, who explains what I’ve done to earn his trust, and everything I’ve delivered of information. Lilith perks up at the mention of a specific transportation of high ranking vampires, who were helped into hiding after Miriam and Henri turned their eyes on them after we got other high ranking vampires out early. 

“You were part of that?” She asks, her eyes wide. 

“I was the one who warned Alpha Nate, who warned you guys. But I was also present to defend them at the attack, yes.” I answer. 

When Henri learned about the transport, however he did that, he had ordered someone to attack and kill everyone who was fleeing. I was there as an anonymous protective detail, hiding in plain sight, and I fought them off along with other rebellion warriors, making sure everyone got to safety. 

“You were the one who used ancient magic?” Lilith asks, narrowing her eyes a little. 

I almost laugh, impressed at her perception skills. 

“How did you know?” I ask back, intrigued. 

“You are related to Miriam, and I know who she is related to. It was only a normal deduction.” She says, shrugging.

“Do all of you know about her heritage?” I ask, getting nods all around the table. “Damn, that she doesn’t know, but I’m glad you know. Then you also know mine. I’m not proud of it, and I’m not defined by it. My mother raised me better, although she did it in the shadows.” I continue, trying to make them believe me. 

“So, what can you do for us? Why should we welcome you into our ranks?” Drake asks, his tone still kind of hostile. 

“Babe,” his mate says, placing her hand on his arm. “He would not be here if he had nothing to contribute, and Nate would not have asked for this meeting. Loosen up a bit, okay. He is also Lilith’s mate, and that is enough for me.” She continues, giving me a small smile. 

“We know nothing about him..” 

“I do, Drake.” Alpha Nate says, crossing his arms. 

“We both do, and he has been a tremendous help to our pack and our rebellion without knowing who he was helping exactly. We trust him, and we trust the Goddesses. They have chosen him for Lilith, and if that is not enough for you, I have no idea what you want more.” Luna Olivia says. 

Drake looks around, sighs and shakes his head. He opens his mouth to say something when someone knocks on the door. I frown, are we expecting someone, but Drake gets up with a small mutter and opens for the people outside. 

Two people step inside, excusing they’re late and join us at the table. Kitchen staff enter right then, placing food on the table on silent feet, eyes solely on their task, and then they’re gone. 

“We can’t stay long, Drake, I’m sorry.” The woman says, looking around the table. 

Her eyes stop at me, widening and then she snaps her gaze back to Drake. She then turns to the man at her side, whispering something in his ear, turns on her heel and walks out. The man looks at the door as it closes behind her, his eyes falling on me afterwards and then he sighs.

“I think I owe all of you an explanation.” The man says, closing his eyes for a second. 

All I want is for me and Lilith to have some time to talk, some time to get to know each other, but I have a feeling it’ll take a long while before I can get her alone. She doesn’t seem partial to rejecting our matebond, but on the other hand she is not exactly easy to read either. 

“First of all, do we trust the newcomer?” The man says, hauling me back to reality. 

“We trust him.” Iloni says, her hand still on Drake’s arm. 

He doesn’t protest, but he doesn’t look particularly happy either. 

“Alright, good enough. My name is Tristan, my mate, who left again, is named Tilly. And she recognized the newcomer.” 

“My name is Lukas, and I’m confused how she could have recognized me? I have never met her before.” I say, frowning again, a sinking feeling in my stomach. 

“She said you were present at the Moonstone pack one time as she visited, and you are spying for Miriam. She is worried about our pack members since you are here, and has gone back home.” 

His blunt statement makes everything much clearer, and easier to digest. 

“I’m not spying for Miriam, I’m spying on her. Your mate most likely saw me with Miriam’s men at the Moonstone pack?” I say, getting a nod back. “Yeah, I kept close to the last ones, and keep close to the current ones as well. I’m not one of them, but one of you.” 

“You are saying she misunderstood?” Tristan asks, brows knitting together. 

“That is exactly what I’m saying. Why did she leave when she saw me just now? What do I have to do with her pack?” I ask, my curiosity getting the best of me. 

“People have been disappearing, kidnapped, or killed whenever she’s not there. Even with the precautions we’ve taken today, seeing you here, she thought you had infiltrated and her pack is in danger.” Tristan says, rubbing his eyes. 

“Do you even know which pack he is talking about?” Lilith asks me, her quiet serene voice making everything in me perk up. 

“Haven’t a clue to be honest.” I answer, making everyone look surprised except Lilith and her friend Elenie. 

“Tilly is the Beta of the Umbral Moon pack. Athena’s pack.” Lilith says, taking me aback a bit. 

“As in the female Alpha Queen we’ve got imprisoned?” I ask, trying to clarify. 

“The one and the same.” Lilith says, nodding. 

“Fuck. She’s.. Well, then I got things to tell you.” I exclaim, hoping they are not going to kill the messenger.