Alpha Caspian

chapter 12

Lily

The moment Caspian disappeared behind the door, an uncomfortable silence settled over the room. I stood there staring at the place where he had been only seconds ago, my fingers still remembering the warmth of his hand around mine. I didn't know what had changed between us tonight, but something definitely had. For the first time since he discovered I was his mate, he had looked at me without trying to hide everything he felt.

But now there was a different problem. Rogues.

I had heard the urgency in Damien's voice, and I had seen the way Caspian's expression had changed. He wasn't the man who had been standing in front of me a few moments ago, almost smiling while teasing me about being stubborn. He had become the Alpha King again, the one everyone feared and respected.

I walked towards the window and looked outside. The moon was high in the sky, illuminating the dark forest surrounding the territory. Somewhere beyond those trees, something was happening, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it had something to do with me.

“Please be safe,” I whispered.

I didn't know why I cared so much. He wasn't mine.

At least, he had made it clear that he didn't want to accept the bond.

Yet the thought of him walking into danger made my chest ache.

I turned away from the window and paced around the room. Maybe I should go downstairs and find out what was happening. But Caspian had specifically told me to stay here, and for some reason, I didn't want to disobey him.

Not because he was my Alpha. Because I trusted him. A few minutes passed before I heard footsteps approaching my room.

I immediately looked towards the door. It opened, revealing Meredith. Her face looked unusually serious.

“Lily,” she said as she stepped inside.

“Are you alright?” I nodded.

“I'm fine. What is happening?” i asked.

She closed the door behind her before walking towards me.

“Something is happening at the western border.”

“Damien said there were rogues."

“There are," she nodded.

She paused before continuing.

“But they aren't attacking yet," her words shocked me. My brows knitted together.

“Then why is everyone so worried?” i asked.

“Because they are waiting," she replied.

“For what?” Meredith looked towards the window.

“We don't know.” A strange feeling settled in my stomach.

“Does Caspian know?” i asked again feeling restless.

“He is at the border with Damien, Liam and Carl.” I immediately took a step towards the door.

“I want to go there," i said with desperation. Meredith grabbed my arm stopping me in my tracks.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because Alpha ordered you to stay here," she answered.

“I can help," i said, trying to free my hand from her hold.

She stared at me as if I had said something ridiculous.

“You have been recovering from broken ribs," her words were laces with worry.

“They're healed," i said.

“That doesn't mean you should run towards a group of rogues.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but she interrupted me.

“Lily, I know you want to help him," My face warmed at her words.

“That's not why," i said in a low voice. She raised an eyebrow.

“Really?” I looked away immediately.

“Maybe a little," i agreed. A small smile appeared on her face.

“Don't worry. He'll be fine," she said patting my shoulder.

“I hope so," i said with a sad smile. Meredith squeezed my arm.

“He always comes back.” I nodded, but the uneasiness in my chest refused to disappear. Then suddenly...

A sharp pain shot through my head. I stumbled backwards.

“Lily!” Meredith rushed towards me.

I grabbed the side of my head as images flashed through my mind.

Dark trees. A blood-covered hand. Someone screaming. A woman crying. And then. A voice...

“Run, Lily!”

My eyes snapped open. I was breathing heavily. Meredith was holding my shoulders.

“What happened?”

“I...”

I looked around the room. The vision was gone.

“I saw something," i panted.

“What?”

“I don't know.” My heart was pounding.

“There were trees.”

“And someone told me to run.” Meredith's expression changed.

“Was it a memory?”

“I think so.”

Before either of us could say anything else, another voice echoed inside my head.

Lily...

My breath caught.

“Maya?”

For the first time in days, I heard her clearly. Her voice was weak, but she was there.

“Maya!” I closed my eyes trying to connect with her.

“Where were you?”

A faint whimper answered me.

“Lily...”

“I'm here," she answered. I felt tears gather in my eyes.

“Why did you leave me?” i asked my voice breaking at the end.

“I didn't.” Her voice trembled.

“I was protecting you," she added.

“From what?” Silence. Then her voice came again.

“You are not ready.”

“What does that mean?” i asked her in confusion.

“Something is coming.” My heart tightened.

“What?”

“The darkness.”

Before I could ask anything else, she disappeared again.

“Maya?”

I called her repeatedly. Nothing. Meredith stared at me.

“Was that your wolf?” I nodded slowly.

“She came back.” A small smile appeared on Meredith's face.

“That's good.”

“No.” i said as I shook my head.

“She sounded scared.”

The room suddenly felt colder. Before Meredith could answer, a loud alarm echoed through the mansion.

Both of us froze. The sound repeated again. And again.

“What's that?” I asked.

“Border alarm.” Meredith's face went pale.

“We need to get downstairs.”

She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door. We rushed through the hallway. The mansion had completely changed.

Warriors were running in every direction while omegas hurried towards the underground shelter. Children were being carried by their parents, and the guards near the entrance were preparing their weapons.

“What is happening?” I asked.

“They breached the outer border,” someone shouted. My heart stopped. Caspian. I ran towards the entrance.

“Lily!” Meredith shouted behind me.

I didn't stop. The moment I stepped outside, a powerful wave of energy hit me.

I stumbled. Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones. A distant howl echoed through the forest.

Then another. And another. The ground beneath my feet seemed to vibrate.

“Get her inside!” a warrior shouted.

“No!” i screamed as I pushed his hand away.

“Where is Alpha?” i asked.

“Lily!” A familiar voice came from behind me. I turned around. Damien was running towards us.

His clothes were torn and there was blood on his forehead. My heart dropped.

“Where is Caspian?” He didn't answer immediately.

“Where is he?” my voice rose as i searched his face for something.

“He's at the border.”

“Is he hurt?” i asked.

“No.” He wiped the blood from his forehead.

“But something isn't right.”

“What happened?” Damien looked towards the forest.

“They aren't ordinary rogues.” A cold shiver ran down my spine.

“What do you mean?”

“They knew exactly where our weakest point was.” My brows furrowed.

“How?” i asked.

“We don't know.” He looked at me.

“But they weren't trying to enter the territory.”

“Then what were they doing?” a dread set in the pit of my stomach.

“Looking for something.” My blood ran cold.

“Something?”

“Or someone.” His eyes moved towards me. I felt my stomach drop.

“Why are you looking at me?” i asked taking a step back.

“I don't know.”

“But the moment they reached the border, they kept asking about a girl.” My heart began pounding.

“What girl?” Damien's expression darkened.

“They described you.” I couldn't breathe.

“What?”

Before he could answer, a deafening roar echoed from the forest.

Every warrior froze. I knew that voice. Caspian. My body moved before my mind could stop it. I ran towards the forest.

“Lily, stop!” Damien caught my arm.

“Let me go!” i yelled.

“It's dangerous.”

“That's where Caspian is!”

“He told you to stay here.” he said.

“He could be hurt!”

“He isn't!”

“Then let me see him!”

Damien stared at me for a moment before releasing a frustrated breath.

“You are going to be the death of me," he muttered under his breath. He grabbed my wrist.

“Stay behind me.” We ran towards the border.

The closer we got, the stronger the sounds became, Growls, Roars. Weapons clashing. Then I saw him.

Caspian stood in the middle of the battlefield in his wolf form, covered in blood.

His massive black wolf was fighting three rogues at once.

“Caspian!” i yelled.

His head snapped towards me. His green eyes locked onto mine.

For one second. Everything stopped. Then his wolf growled. Not at me.

At the rogue standing behind me. My body froze. I slowly turned around.

A man stood several feet away. He wasn't fighting. He was simply staring at me. And when our eyes met. He smiled.

“Found you.” Caspian's roar shook the entire forest.

“LILY, RUN!”