*~Young Lilith’s POV~*
"I’m serious," I stamred, my throat dry.
Jonathan only smirked, his eyes dropping again to my swollen stomach like it was the center of his universe.
"Like I said," he murmured, voice low and dangerous, "you’re still mine. But... I no longer feel that push towards you. Not the way I used to." His jaw tightened, but his gaze never left my belly. "I feel it now... in there."
My breath caught. The air left my chest like a punch.
"What nonsense are you saying?" I struggled, forcing myself to stand, my hand stretched toward him in anger. "My child hasn’t even been born. What right do you have to—"
"She’s your mate," I spat, fury cracking through my voice. "Do you even hear yourself?"
"I don’t know how," he admitted, his lips twisting into a smile that chilled . "But I can feel it." His eyes glead, and he leaned closer. "She’s mine."
"Stay away from , you creep." My voice shook, but I didn’t care. "This child hasn’t even been born yet, and you—"
"Don’t," he cut off sharply, his eyes flashing wolf-gold. "Don’t twist this into sothing vile. I’m not... sexualizing her. I’m telling you what the bond is screaming at . The mont she draws breath, she’s mine. That’s the truth of it."
"Shut up," I hissed, shaking my head violently. "You don’t even know if it’s a her."
He smirked again, infuriatingly calm. "The na is a her. I can feel her. And when she’s here, you will give her to ."
My stomach twisted, nausea curling inside . "Over my dead body."
"If it’s a boy, then fine—you win this argunt." His tone was mocking, almost playful, but his eyes were sharp as blades.
"I’m not making any dumb bets with you. You’re insane."
"I’m ssing with you?" He stepped forward, his height and heat closing in around , his presence suffocating. "You seem to forget who is ssing with who, Lilith. You’re alive, well fed, and well protected—all because of . I could throw you out this very mont. Cast you to the wolves who still want your head."
"Really?" I snapped back, chest rising and falling, fury clawing through the fear. "Is this what we voted for when we made you Alpha? Was it your power alone?
"No. It was a collective decision, Lilith. Not only yours."...His smile was sharp and cruel, but behind it I glimpsed sothing darker—desperation. "So, my dear... do you accept? Do you accept that this baby—your baby—will be my mate?"
"This is not my choice to make," I bit out, trembling with rage. "I will never decide the future of my child for you."
"Then fine." His tone shifted, colder, more dangerous. He stepped closer, so close his breath ward my cheek. "But if this child is a girl, she’s mine. If it’s a boy, then you’re right, and this ends here."
He leaned in further, his mouth brushing the shell of my ear, his words dripping poison.
"Do you?" he whispered, his voice rumbling through like thunder. "Do you accept?"
My chest pounded, my lungs clawing for air. I shook my head, trying to resist, but his shadow lood over , his authority pressing down like a weight I couldn’t fight. My baby kicked, hard, as if protesting too.
Jonathan’s hand twitched near my stomach, not touching, but close enough to feel the heat radiating from . My legs buckled under the pressure. My voice faltered.
"I..."
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing, wolf inside him clawing for my submission.
"Do you?" he demanded again.
My throat burned. I swallowed, and before I could stop myself—I nodded.
His smirk spread slowly, victorious and sinister.
"Good." Then he walked away.
I crashed on the bed before rembered who I was again.
No, Lilith. This is the ti you are supposed to be strong.
I tightened my hands together, forcing air into my lungs. I needed Marcus. Secretly. I couldn’t write him a letter from here, couldn’t send a word through anyone without Jonathan sniffing it out. I had to see him with my own eyes. But how?
Only Alice... maybe she could help .
I moved to the window, whispered her na. Soone outside noticed and signaled for her, and monts later Alice slipped into the room, worry written all over her face.
"Lilith? Any problem? You called for ."
"Please, sit," I said quickly. My voice shook, my heart pounding against my ribs. She obeyed, though her eyes narrowed.
I turned to her. "I need to see the father of my baby."
Her eyes widened instantly. "What?"
"Please," I begged. "You’re the only one who can help now. You’re the only one I can run to. I need to see him."
"What are you even talking about?" she whispered harshly, glancing back at the door.
"Jonathan..." My throat closed but I forced the words out. "He claims my baby is his mate. That he can feel the spark with her."
"What?" Alice gasped. "Is your baby—a girl?"
"I don’t even know!" I snapped, frustration burning hot. "But he swears she is. He says he can feel her. Alice, this is sick. This is wrong. I need Marcus. He’s the only one who can help ."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "No. We can’t. You can’t go to him."
"We should," I insisted, leaning forward, voice shaking with desperation. "I’m helpless here. Stranded. Please, Alice, you’re all I have left."
Her head shook, tears threatening her lashes. "And what if Marcus—or whatever you call him—doesn’t help you? What if he turns you in? What if both of us are caught?"
I grabbed her hands, my fingers digging into her skin. "Marcus would never betray ."
"Then why hasn’t he co for you all this while?" she shot back, her voice trembling. "If he loved you so much, why has he never shown up?"
"Because I was running from him!" I cried. My chest hurt from the weight of it. "He searched everywhere for . But now—I want to see him. I need to see him."
Alice stared at , eyes swimming with pity and fear. "Even if he does see you, Lilith... what do you expect? That he’ll take you back in? He can’t. You’re a Crescent. He’s a Wolf. The two of you were never ant to remain together. You’ve crossed lines that can’t be undone."
"I love him," I whispered, shaking. "Our love is stronger than this. Stronger than all of this."
"No." Her voice cracked. "You’re blind. Maybe Jonathan is right. Maybe this baby really is his mate."
The words sliced through like a blade.
"What are you saying? This is literally a baby! This is a child, Alice!" I snapped, tears burning at the edges of my eyes.
She flinched. "What do you want to say, Lilith?"
"Help !" My voice cracked. "You are my sister, the closest thing I have to family. And now—you talk like this? Maybe it was a mistake... a mistake to even ask for your help."
"Lily, wait—"
"No." I jerked back when she reached for my shoulder. "I told you to leave. Just go."
Her lips trembled, but she didn’t move. She just looked at for the longest mont, like her heart was at war with her head.
Finally she whispered, "Fine. What do you want to do? Risk my life?"
"You’re not risking your life," I pressed. My voice steadied, iron in the middle of the storm. "It’s just a task. Just one escape. We’ll be back before morning, before anyone notices we’re gone. I swear to you, Alice, I will not endanger you."
She swallowed hard. Her hand slid into mine, her grip tight, trembling. "Fine," she breathed. "What’s the plan?"
Relief surged through . "We sneak out tonight. You just make sure nobody is active, no guards hovering. I know a passage... it cuts straight to the High House. We won’t take the normal route—too risky if one of those old watch-hounds stumbles back from the city."
Alice nodded, pale, her jaw set. "Then by night," she said.
And by night, she kept her word. She watched the guards, noted when the shifts grew lazy, when sleep dulled their senses. She even took charge of security herself, waving the others away with her quiet authority.
When the hour ca, she slipped into my hut. I was already waiting, heart thundering.
Both of us were scared—terrified—but she clutched my hand like it was a lifeline, and I led her through the secret passage, out into the night. The forest swallowed us whole, shadows licking at our heels, but I knew the path. I knew every root, every bend.
We moved fast, silent, until the dark trees parted and the glow of the High House lood ahead.
A carriage waited near the gates, lanterns flickering, and soon we slipped inside. My heart hamred, my stomach tight with dread and anticipation.
The High House was alive with noise. Buzzing. Too alive for that hour.
"What’s happening?" I whispered.
Alice’s fingers tightened in mine. "I... I don’t know."
We slipped through the crowd, unnoticed at first, until my gaze lifted to the center of the hall—
And my world stopped.
My knees weakened. My breath ca out as a broken sound. "No. No. No, no, no..."
Alice followed my eyes, and when she saw, her own mouth fell open. She covered it with her hand, stifling a gasp.
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