Chapter-9
1522 Words
Lily
"The transition needs to be seamless, Luna," Elder Thomas said as we walked through the glass-walled corridor leading toward the courtyard. "The annual Alpha Meet is only a few days away. Are you certain Kara is ready to oversee the final preparations?"
"She has to be," I replied, keeping my voice steady and professional. I tightened my grip on my tablet, focusing on the schedule I’d laid out. "I’ve gone over every detail with her. She will handle all the pack affairs while I am in the city. Rowan’s reputation depends on it, and I've made sure she understands that."
The elders murmured among themselves, the sound of their shoes sharp against the floor. I didn't look at them. I didn't want them to see the tension in my jaw. I was focused on the exit, counting down the minutes until I could get past the gates and away from this house.
As we stepped out onto the terrace overlooking the courtyard, the words died in my throat.
Davian was there, but he wasn't standing at attention like the other guards. He was crouched on the grass, and for a second, I didn't recognize the hardened warrior from the night before. A group of Omega children was swarming him, climbing over his broad shoulders and tugging at his sleeves. He let out a low, genuine laugh as one of the toddlers pulled at his hair, his eyes bright with a warmth that completely transformed his face.
I stood there, paralyzed. He looked so natural with them. So gentle.
Without thinking, I rested my hand over my stomach, my fingers pressing against the hidden secret beneath my coat. For a fleeting second, the courtyard blurred, and I didn't see him with the pack’s children—I saw him with mine. I saw those large, calloused hands carefully holding a baby, that deep laugh being used to soothe a crying infant. The image felt so right, so hauntingly perfect.
Then, the warmth in my chest turned to ice as I turned my eyes.
A group of young she-wolves were lingering near the fountain, pretending to talk among themselves but clearly staring. They were giggling, their eyes tracing the lines of his arms and the way his shirt pulled tight across his broad back as he moved. One of them said something that made the others burst into laughter, her gaze lingering on the curve of his jaw.
A sharp, hot spike of jealousy shot through me. It was a sudden, territorial bite that made my fingers clench. I hated the way they looked at him. He was my mate, the father of my child, and seeing them admire him felt like they were trying to put their hands on something that belonged only to me.
"Where did you find this man, Luna?" another Elder asked, snapping me back to reality. "He has a rare presence for a lone wolf."
"He intervened when a bunch of men attacked me at the Luna Ball," I said, my voice coming out tighter than I intended.
"He does look like a warrior," the Elder noted, watching Davian stand up. "There is a weight to his stride. He isn't an ordinary wolf."
I simply nodded, though the elder's words stuck in my head. I realized then how little I actually knew about him.
Why had Elder Elian chosen him specifically for this? Who was he? Was he a member of Elder Elian's pack? A warrior, or maybe someone of rank?
As I watched him, the questions piled up, but they were quickly drowned out by the way my wolf paced with a possessive, restless hunger in my head.
Davian looked up then. Across the courtyard, our eyes locked, and the mate bond pulsed violently, making the air in my lungs vanish. I held my breath as he gently dislodged the children and began walking toward me. He moved with a quiet, dangerous confidence that made the giggling she-wolves fade into the background.
"Luna," he said as he reached the terrace. He gave a respectful nod to the elders, but his eyes never really left mine. "Do you need anything?"
"Get the car ready," I told him. I tried to sound composed, but my voice came out unsteady, vibrating with the tension between us. "We leave for the city in fifteen minutes."
"Understood." He gave the elders one last nod and walked away. I watched him go, feeling far too exposed under his gaze. Shaking my head, I turned back into the house to finish the last task. Kara was already in my study, leaning against the mahogany desk with a smug look on her face. I didn't waste time on small talk. I walked over and dropped the keys to the study and the safe into her open palm.
"Everything is in here," I said coldly.
Kara’s fingers curled around the keys, her smile wavering. "Why the sudden change of heart, Luna? Why hand me the keys now?"
"Isn't this what you wanted?" I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a low, hard edge. "You took my husband. You f****d him in my bed. Why hesitate now that there's actual work to do? Or are you afraid? Being Luna requires more than just keeping the Alpha’s bed warm, Kara. Let's see if you can actually lead."
Kara’s face went pale, then flushed a deep, angry red. She snatched the keys and shoved them into her pocket.
I didn't wait for her to find a comeback. I grabbed my bags and walked out to the driveway, where Davian was waiting with the SUV. When I stepped out onto the driveway, my heart dropped. Rowan was there. I hadn't expected him to be waiting, and the sight of him standing by the car made me stumble for a split second.
The moment he saw me, he wiped the scowl off his face and replaced it with a practiced, charming smile—the one he used for the benefit of the pack members who had also gathered around.
"Safe travels, Lily," Rowan said, his tone that of a doting husband.
He stepped forward, closing the distance before I could pivot away. He pulled me against him, his grip firm and possessive. Before I could even draw a breath to protest, he leaned down and kissed me deeply, claiming my mouth in a way that felt less like affection and more like a brand.
I went rigid in his arms. The touch felt like ash on my skin, and a wave of pure revulsion hit me so hard I felt nauseous. I was acutely aware of Davian standing just a few feet away. Through the bond, I felt a sudden, violent spike of his anger—a cold, sharp fury that made my own blood run hot with a mix of shame and shared rage.
Rowan pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark and mocking. He knew I hated this. He leaned into my ear, his breath hot and smelling of coffee.
"Come back soon," Rowan whispered, his tone carrying a sharp, unsettling edge. "I’ll miss you."
He moved to open the car door for me, his hand reaching for the handle as if to play the part of the perfect husband one last time. But Davian was faster.
With a fluid, predatory grace, he stepped in between us. He didn't say a word, but used his body to shoulder Rowan aside, forcing him to take a step back or be shoved. Davian gripped the handle and pulled the door open wide.
"Luna," Davian said.
His voice was perfectly even, but his eyes were like flint as they met Rowan’s. The air between the two men turned electric, a silent clash of dominance that made the hair on my arms stand up. Rowan’s expression darkened instantly, his jaw tightening as he realized he’d been sidelined by a man he considered a servant. He looked like he wanted to snap—to shift and tear Davian’s throat out right there, but with the Elders and half the pack watching, he was powerless to make a scene.
I didn't wait for the tension to break. I climbed into the back seat, staring straight ahead. Davian shut the door with a firm thud and slid into the driver's side.
As we pulled away from the estate and the heavy iron gates finally closed behind us, the silence in the car became thick and suffocating. I looked at the side of Davian’s face in the rearview mirror; his jaw was set so tight it looked like stone, a muscle leaping in his cheek as he stared at the road ahead. I opened my mouth to explain because I felt like I should, but before I could, Davian’s voice cut me off.
"We need to talk," he said.
My stomach flipped. I knew I couldn't hide it anymore. We were going to be alone for three days, and the secret about the baby was a heavy, living thing between us.
"I know," I whispered.
It was time I told him the truth.
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