The room was painfully quiet.
Lily stood in the center, shaking slightly. Her legs felt weak, her breath shallow. Zayn stood across from her, arms crossed, his face hard to read. The fire in the room gave off warmth, but she couldn’t feel it. All she felt was fear, heavy in her chest.
“Just tell the truth,” Zayn said, his voice low but sharp. “Did you steal the totems?”
Lily quickly shook her head, eyes already filling with tears. Her mouth moved slowly, shaking a little—but clear.
‘No.’
She lifted one hand, placing the other over her heart. Her lips moved, trying to say the words that couldn’t co out. Her whole body was tense.
Zayn narrowed his eyes. “You’re swearing on it now?”
She nodded slowly.
His voice stayed cold. “Don’t lie to , Lily. I don’t care what you’ve been through. If I find out you’re lying....”
Her hands trembled, but she didn’t step back.
Instead, she took a cautious step forward and reached for his hand.
Zayn jerked away, frowning. “Don’t touch .”
Lily flinched. Her shoulders dropped, her body curling inward. But after a pause, she tried again.
This ti, slower. Softer.
Zayn’s eyes narrowed as she gently took his hand. Her fingers moved against his palm, tracing letters. A familiar feeling washed over him.
F-O-O-D.
He stared at her hand, rembering the first ti she’d done this—the night she traded that crystal totem just to eat. His jaw clenched.
“You wanted food,” he said, more quietly now. “That’s why you were looking for them.”
She nodded, eyes wide, desperate for him to understand.
He looked at her. Her face was pale, her body thin. She was clearly exhausted, barely holding herself up.
Zayn let out a long breath. “That’s it? You were stealing from others so that you can eat?”
Lily shook her head, her eyes full of emotion. He was getting increasingly impatient, the conversation seed to go nowhere. Just as he was about to turn away, she reached for his hand again.
She traced quickly on his palm: ‘No steal.’
She pointed to herself over and over again.
“You found them yourself?” He asked, “All of them?”
She nodded vehently. She placed his hand on her chest once more, wanting him to feel her heartbeat again.
He watched her intently for a few more seconds, then removed his hand from her grasp. He turned and walked toward the door.
“Prove it,” he said, his voice low.
Lily blinked.
Zayn looked back at her, eyes cold but calm. “Show . If you’re telling the truth, take to where you found them.”
Lily hesitated for just a second before nodding again. Her legs felt shaky, but she followed as Zayn opened the door and walked into the hallway.
They didn’t say a word.
Zayn walked ahead, his steps quick, his face tight with focus. Lily stayed a step behind, holding her arms close to her chest. The hall was quiet, but it didn’t feel calm. The silence felt heavy.
By the ti they stepped into the courtyard, quiet whispers filled the air.
Lily could feel them. Eyes everywhere. So curious. So cold. All of them were watching her.
She kept her head down at first, but the stares were like crawling insects under her skin. She tugged her sleeves down, uncomfortable in the clean tunic they’d given her. It felt too new, too strange.
Then she looked up.
And froze.
Across the courtyard, seated on stone benches, she spotted three alphas, They were all well-dressed and well-fed, even a little smug. She recognized them instantly.
They once stood beside her father—laughing, drinking, pretending to be allies.
But she rembered their words, the ones they whispered when they thought she wasn’t listening.
“Pretty thing for a broken pup.”
“She won’t make it long. Soone should break her in early.”
“She’s lucky she’s his daughter, or I’d have had my turn.”
Her stomach turned. Her throat went dry. Her legs almost gave out.
Without thinking, she stepped a little closer to Zayn—barely a step, just enough to feel sothing solid next to her.
Zayn flinched at her sudden movent.
He looked down, frowning. “What are you doing?”
Lily didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her eyes were locked past him, on the n.
Zayn followed her gaze.
The Alphas.
Their faces said everything—like they were enjoying the sight of her squirming.
Zayn’s expression darkened.
Lily looked down quickly, her shoulders tight, her hands shaking.
He watched her.
It hit him then—she wasn’t standing closer for comfort.
She was scared.
Zayn turned back toward the Alphas. One of them gave him a smug smile, lifting his cup like a joke.
Zayn’s jaw clenched.
He looked at Lily again. She hadn’t moved. She stood frozen, clearly wishing she could disappear. His fingers twitched at his side like he almost wanted to reach for her.
‘Why do I feel like this?’
He’d rejected her. Ignored the bond. But now... the more he saw her—the way she tensed when others passed, the way she looked at him like he was both her shield and her trap—the more that strange pull stirred in him.
It felt as though she was still his mate.
Zayn closed his eyes for a mont.
‘Get it together.’
This wasn’t the ti to lose focus.
When he looked up again, the Alphas were still staring, smug, and waiting.
Zayn took a quiet step closer to Lily—not enough to draw attention, but enough that she’d feel safe.
She blinked, startled, and looked up at him.
He didn’t look back at her, simply muttering in a low voice, “Move.”
Eventually, they arrived at the field. It was dark out, only able to see well due to night vision.
“Well?” he asked, voice firm. “Show .”
Lily stood a few steps away, frozen in place. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her. She looked around nervously. The field looked different at night—everything blurred together under the dim light. Where was the spot?
She bit her bottom lip, stomach twisting with nerves.
Zayn watched her impatiently, eyes sharp. “You said you found the totems yourself. Now’s the ti to prove it.”
She took a slow step forward, then paused again. She scanned the rows of soil but couldn’t find anything familiar.
Zayn let out a sigh, clearly getting annoyed. “You’re wasting my ti.”
He turned to leave.
Lily panicked. Her eyes widened, and without thinking, she rushed forward and grabbed his hand.
Zayn spun around, surprised. “What are you—?”
But she didn’t let go. She held on tightly and pulled him with both hands toward the far corner of the field, near the old fence.
He followed, though a bit stiffly, keeping his eyes on her the whole ti.
Lily stopped suddenly and crouched down, hovering her hand over the dirt. Her breath caught in her throat.
Zayn raised an eyebrow. “Here?”
She nodded quickly, heart racing.
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