The Full Moon Pact
1426 Words
Lily Harper didn't sleep.
Not after Marcus's confession.
Not after learning he'd killed her father.
Not after seeing the look in his eyes when he said it.
A man could lie.
A monster could manipulate.
But regret like that?
Regret that old?
That was harder to fake.
Unfortunately, none of it changed the fact that her life had become a complete disaster.
By sunrise, she had exactly three facts.
Fact one: Marcus knew things about her past.
Fact two: Jace knew things Marcus didn't want revealed.
Fact three: both of them were driving her insane.
Which was why she was currently climbing out a second-floor window.
"Excellent life choices, Lily," she muttered.
She dropped onto the grass below.
Nothing exploded.
No wolves appeared.
No Alpha Kings descended from the sky.
Progress.
She headed toward the forest bordering the estate.
Far away from Marcus.
Far away from Jace.
Far away from destiny.
The universe laughed.
Half an hour later, something felt wrong.
At first it was subtle.
A strange warmth beneath her skin.
Then the warmth became heat.
Then the heat became fire.
Lily stumbled.
"What the hell..."
Pain shot through her veins.
Not normal pain.
Not injury.
Not illness.
Something deeper.
Something alive.
She pressed a hand against her chest.
Her heartbeat sounded wrong.
Too fast.
Too powerful.
As if another pulse existed beneath her own.
The closer she got to town, the worse it became.
By afternoon, she could barely stand.
Sweat soaked her clothes.
Every nerve burned.
Her blood felt molten.
People stared as she staggered down the sidewalk.
A woman asked if she needed help.
Lily tried to answer.
Instead she collapsed.
The pavement rushed upward.
Darkness swallowed everything.
—
Somewhere far away, wolves howled.
Dozens of them.
Hundreds.
The sound echoed through her dreams.
Calling.
Hunting.
Searching.
Then she felt it.
A scent.
Sweet.
Silver.
Moonlight.
Blood.
Her blood.
The howls grew louder.
Closer.
Hungry.
—
"Lily!"
A familiar voice cut through the darkness.
Strong arms lifted her.
Heat surrounded her.
Pine.
Smoke.
Rain.
Marcus.
She tried opening her eyes.
Everything blurred.
The world glowed strangely.
Silver light pulsed beneath her skin.
She looked down.
And screamed.
Her veins were visible.
Every one of them.
Lines of pale silver light running beneath her flesh.
Glowing.
Actually glowing.
"No..."
The full moon was tomorrow.
The transformation had already begun.
Marcus's expression darkened.
"We're out of time."
Around them came growls.
Low.
Dangerous.
Hungry.
Lily looked up.
Wolves emerged from every direction.
Not werewolves.
Wild wolves.
Dozens of them.
Yellow eyes.
Bared teeth.
Drool dripping onto pavement.
Every predator in the area had caught her scent.
And they wanted it.
Marcus handed her his jacket.
"Stay behind me."
"Marcus—"
The first wolf lunged.
Marcus met it head-on.
The impact shattered a nearby bench.
The wolf flew backward.
Another attacked.
Then three more.
Marcus transformed partially.
Golden eyes.
Extended claws.
Fangs.
Pure Alpha violence.
He tore through the pack like a storm.
Blood sprayed.
Growls echoed.
Bodies crashed.
But more kept coming.
Drawn by Lily.
Drawn by her blood.
A wolf slipped past Marcus.
Its jaws opened.
Aimed directly at her throat.
Marcus moved faster than sight.
He threw himself between them.
The wolf's teeth sank into his shoulder.
A savage roar erupted from him.
Marcus snapped the creature's neck with one hand.
Then turned toward the rest.
Murder radiated from him.
The wolves hesitated.
Too late.
The Alpha attacked.
And the forest became a slaughterhouse.
—
The world faded again.
Lily drifted between consciousness and dreams.
Then the memory came.
Not a dream.
A memory.
Fire.
So much fire.
Orange flames swallowing a house.
Smoke everywhere.
People screaming.
A little girl crying.
The girl couldn't be older than four.
Tiny.
Terrified.
Alone.
Lily.
It was Lily.
The child sat trapped beneath burning debris.
Coughing.
Crying.
Waiting to die.
Then someone crashed through the flames.
Marcus.
Younger.
Bloodied.
Desperate.
He lifted the little girl into his arms.
Shielding her from falling fire.
The child clung to his shirt.
Crying.
Marcus held her tighter.
His face twisted with agony.
And then he said the words she'd never forgotten.
The words she'd heard in nightmares.
"I'm sorry."
Another explosion.
More fire.
Marcus stumbled.
Still carrying her.
Tears streamed down his face.
"I'm so sorry."
The memory shattered.
—
Lily woke with a gasp.
Moonlight filled the room.
She was back in the mansion.
Back in the Luna Suite.
A wet cloth rested on her forehead.
Someone had been caring for her.
The realization felt strange.
Her body still hurt.
But the burning had eased.
A chair sat near the bed.
Marcus occupied it.
Asleep.
The sight startled her.
He looked different.
Not Alpha.
Not king.
Just exhausted.
His injured arm remained bandaged.
Fresh claw marks covered his neck.
Blood stained his shirt.
He'd fought an entire pack for her.
Again.
Lily studied him silently.
Then remembered the memory.
The fire.
The apology.
The little girl.
Her.
The pieces were finally starting to fit together.
And she hated every single one of them.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
Jace stepped inside.
Silver eyes immediately finding hers.
Marcus woke instantly.
The room's temperature dropped ten degrees.
Neither Alpha looked happy to see the other.
Good.
That made three of them.
Jace leaned against the wall.
"The full moon rises tomorrow."
Marcus stood.
"I know."
"Then you know she has to choose."
Lily rolled her eyes.
There it was again.
Choose.
Choose Marcus.
Choose Jace.
Choose destiny.
Choose a magical blood marriage.
Nobody seemed interested in asking what she wanted.
Marcus crossed his arms.
"The bond ceremony will happen."
Jace laughed.
"Only if she agrees."
Both men turned toward her.
Waiting.
Expecting.
Claiming.
Lily stared at them.
The Alpha King.
The Rogue.
Two powerful wolves.
Two men trying to decide her future.
Without her.
Something cold settled inside her chest.
For days she'd been running.
Reacting.
Surviving.
No more.
If her blood was truly this valuable...
Then maybe she held more power than either of them realized.
A slow smile appeared.
Both wolves immediately looked concerned.
Good.
They should be.
"What?" Marcus asked carefully.
Lily climbed out of bed.
Ignoring the dizziness.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring everything except the idea forming in her mind.
"No."
Marcus frowned.
"No what?"
"I'm not choosing."
Jace straightened.
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"The ritual requires—"
"I said no."
For the first time, both Alphas fell silent.
Lily walked toward the balcony.
The moon hung above the estate.
Huge.
Silver.
Watching.
Tomorrow night everything would change.
Unless she changed the rules first.
—
The following evening, wolves gathered across the estate.
Pack members.
Rogues.
Observers.
Warriors.
The entire supernatural world seemed to be holding its breath.
The full moon rose overhead.
Brilliant and enormous.
Lily stood atop the mansion roof.
Wind whipping through her hair.
Silver moonlight bathing her skin.
Her veins glowed faintly beneath the surface.
Alive.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Below her stood Marcus and Jace.
The two most dangerous wolves she'd ever known.
Waiting for her choice.
Instead, she drew a silver dagger.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
Moonlight flashed across the blade.
Lily smiled.
Slowly.
Coldly.
Like a queen claiming a throne.
Both Alphas dropped to one knee before her.
Not in submission.
In accordance with ritual.
Waiting.
Expecting.
Certain they understood the game.
They didn't.
Lily raised the dagger.
Pointing it toward them.
Her voice carried across the rooftop.
Clear.
Sharp.
Absolute.
"Neither of you gets my blood."
Shock flashed across their faces.
For the first time, she enjoyed being the most dangerous person in the room.
"You both want me to choose."
Silence.
"You both think you're entitled to my answer."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
Jace's eyes narrowed.
Lily smiled wider.
"Here's my choice."
The wind howled.
The moon blazed overhead.
Every wolf present watched in stunned silence.
Lily stood on the edge of the rooftop, moonlight turning her into something almost supernatural.
Something untouchable.
Something neither Alpha could control.
Then she spoke.
"The rules of the duel are simple."
The silver dagger gleamed in her hand.
"Only one of you gets to live."
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
Marcus and Jace slowly turned toward each other.
The hatred between them instantly ignited.
Ancient.
Personal.
Deadly.
Lily pointed the dagger downward.
Directly between them.
Her voice never wavered.
"Only one man walks away."
The moon hung behind her like a crown.
"Whoever survives..."
Her eyes locked onto theirs.
"...comes to me for my blood."
Two Alpha wolves stared at one another.
And murder filled both their eyes.
- Writer
