4

Lilith’s POV
Seven excruciating hours they’ve been camped in my apartment, refusing to leave. Three hours ago, they had the audacity to order Chinese, and the mouthwatering aroma had me *this close* to caving. Desperate, I texted one of my on-and-off hookups, begging him to bring me something edible.
When he showed up, though, he saw them lounging at my door and bolted like a scared rabbit. Now he won’t even answer my texts. Great. Clearly, calling anyone else would be a waste of time-same outcome.
So here I am, a prisoner in my own damn apartment.
*”Reporter starves to death due to sheer stubborn pride; stay tuned for Ollie the circus cat,”* I muttered under my breath.
It’s ironic, really. I’ve always been convinced that most “real” news stories only exist as filler for the mindless garbage people actually tune in to watch. Now I might become the headline in one of those useless segments.
If it weren’t for the bathroom attached to my bedroom, I’d be in real trouble. Not that I haven’t considered making a dramatic escape. My third-floor window looks increasingly tempting, but let’s be honest-I’m not *that* reckless. Yet.
*”Mates, mates, just say it already,*” my wolf, Rose, chimed in, practically giddy.
She was basking in their scent like it was her personal heaven, pleading with me to open the door. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I hadn’t expected them to stay this long. Surely, they’d get bored. Or at least need to use the bathroom by now. But no. They’d even resorted to ordering more food since my fridge was a barren wasteland of beer, wine, and bottled water. It’s pathetic, really-twenty-one years old and surviving off cafeteria slop and takeout. Cooking has always felt like an exercise in futility: too much effort for too little payoff.
*”Go out there! You’re always a stubborn ass, but this is beyond ridiculous,”* Rose huffed.
*”This is about principle now! They’re not going to wear me down,”* I shot back.
In a small victory, I dug through my backpack and found two granola bars. I ripped one open and devoured it like it was a five-star meal.
*”You better not be having fun in there without us,”* came a voice from just outside the door.
I launched a pillow in its general direction, knowing it would hit nothing. Pulling the covers over my head, I let out a frustrated groan. They could easily blow the door off its hinges if they wanted to-and they’d just cut a check to fix it without blinking.
*”Lilith, seriously, you can’t stay in there forever. Just talk to us,”* another voice said.
That had to be Caden. He seemed like the weaker link. Mental note: exploit that later.
I inhaled the second granola bar, feeling marginally better. Then, to my surprise, I heard movement in the living room and kitchen, followed by the sound of the front door closing.
Was this a trick? A ruse to lure me out?
Cautiously, I opened the bedroom door a crack. Their scents were faint now. Could it be real? I bolted out, checking every corner of my apartment. To my shock, they’d actually left. I dashed to the front door and threw the deadbolt, just in case.
My stomach growled, and I couldn’t help wondering if they’d left any food. Sure enough, the top shelf of the fridge was now stacked with containers-egg rolls, drinks, and enough takeout to feed a small army.
*”See? They care for us! Thoughtful mates,”* Rose purred.
*”Yeah, sure. Real gentlemen,*” I scoffed. *”They probably wear spandex and throw themselves at each other for fun. Dumb jocks thinking with their dicks. We need a real partner, someone with a brain,”* I muttered, mouth full of lo mein.
As I ate, my eyes landed on a neatly folded note. The handwriting was so flawless it practically screamed perfectionism. I almost didn’t read it, but curiosity won.
Big mistake.
The moment I processed the words, I choked. Literally. A chunk of chicken lodged itself in my throat, cutting off all air.
I panicked, flailing uselessly.
*”Do something! Ram into the counter!”* Rose shrieked in desperation.
With no other options, I hurled myself into the edge of the kitchen island. The chicken dislodged, flying out of my mouth and landing on the floor with a disgusting splat.
I collapsed, gasping for air, my chest heaving.
*”Reporter chokes to death on General Tso; story at five,”* I muttered, bitterly amused.
I rolled onto the couch, exhausted and shaken. My wolf’s smug commentary didn’t help.
*”Ooooh, yeah, that’s Caleb’s scent,*” Rose sighed dreamily. *”He probably rubbed his bare ass on that pillow.”*
I groaned, burying my face in the cushion. My instincts told me I couldn’t avoid this forever. Sooner or later, I’d have to face my mates. But Alphas. Ashford Alphas, no less.
The Blood Moon pack.
They were notorious for their arrogance, their wealth, their *everything*. Even in casual dating, I’d avoided anyone from that pack like the plague. One slip-up, one “oops,” and you’d be tied to them forever.
And now?
Here I was.
I must have dozed off at some point, though I wasn’t entirely sure. When I finally sat up properly, my gaze landed on a pen lying atop Sylas’s folder. Curiosity piqued, I grabbed it and opened the folder, only to freeze in shock. Not only had they answered every single question, but they’d also gone above and beyond, drafting two full pages as though they were writing the article themselves.
For a brief, fleeting moment, I considered just submitting it as-is and calling it a day.
*Oh, let’s read it!* my wolf piped up, her excitement buzzing through me. *I want to know all about them-and about our new family!*
I waved her off, ignoring her insistent tone, and stood up, suddenly reminded of my food. But as I turned toward the kitchen, reality hit me like a freight train. My stomach dropped as my eyes caught the clock on the wall. I’d lost half an hour.
“STUPID, STUPID!” I hissed under my breath, grabbing my phone and frantically flipping through the call log. My fingers moved faster than my thoughts as I dialed.
RING. RING. RING.
“Come on, pick up!” I muttered, my pulse hammering in my ears.
They had at least a 72-minute head start on me now. There was no way I could close that gap-not without a car.
Panic crept in. Maybe I could try to get their cell numbers? But that would take time, and there would definitely be questions I didn’t want to answer.
“Think, Lily, think! You need a car. Who has a car?”
Snatching my shoes and purse, I shoved an egg roll into my mouth on my way out the door. I took the stairs two at a time, practically vaulting down to the next building.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
“Briar? It’s Lily!” I called, knocking harder.
The knot of anxiety in my stomach tightened with each second that passed. My mind raced through worst-case scenarios. Maybe I should just give up and crawl into a hole. No, that wasn’t an option.
Finally, the door opened, and there stood Briar, the undeniably sexy werefox I’d sort-of-dated in the past. Her tousled hair and flushed face made it clear I’d interrupted something. She leaned casually against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, hey, Lily… Not the best time. Unless, of course, you’d like to join?” Her lips curved into a mischievous smirk.
On any other day, I might have shoved her back inside and torn that robe off her, but right now, I was teetering between losing my lunch and clawing someone’s face off.
“No, thanks,” I muttered, forcing myself to focus. “Actually, I need a favor. My visitor came unexpectedly, and I need to run to the pharmacy. Can I borrow your car?”
Her smirk softened. “Sure, no problem. I’m staying in anyway.” She tossed me her keys, which I caught mid-air.
“I’ll owe you one. I’ll fill it up,” I said, already turning away.
“No rush. Just bring it back tomorrow. Oh, and the door’s usually unlocked-if you remember.”
I nodded, but my eyes betrayed me, glancing at the curve of her exposed skin. She adjusted her robe lazily, giving me an accidental-or maybe intentional-glimpse of her perfect body. My mind wandered for a split second, recalling old memories, and I quickly shook the thought away.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, retreating as fast as I could.
Two hours and ten unanswered calls later, I was on the verge of losing my mind. No amount of wishful thinking or denial could shake the sinking feeling in my gut. This wasn’t a prank. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t.
As I reached the Crystal Moon packhouse gate, one of the guards approached, clearly unfamiliar with the car I was driving.
“Hey, Lily!” he greeted, flashing a smile. “I just met your mates. Really cool dudes, super funny.”
My jaw clenched. “Shit!” I muttered under my breath before flooring the gas pedal, speeding past him.
The pack’s security was laughable-no way that guy could stop anything more threatening than a squirrel.
I slammed on the brakes when I spotted the sleek black pickup truck parked outside my parents’ house. Completely out of place among the other cars, it stood like a gleaming monument to arrogance.
Voices and laughter carried from the backyard. My temper flared as I stormed around the house.
There they were, sitting comfortably by a small fire with my parents, looking as if they owned the place.
“Oh, sweetie!” my mom called, her face lighting up as she noticed me. “The boys told us you might drop by. Why didn’t you tell me you found your mates? And they’re such lovely gentlemen!”
“Lovely gentlemen,” I muttered under my breath, suppressing a hysterical laugh.
“Oh, Mrs. Emory,” Caleb began, taking my mom’s hand and pressing a kiss to it, “Lily wanted to keep us all to herself, but we thought it was only right to introduce ourselves.”
*Adorable!* my wolf cooed.
I balled my fists, growling under my breath. “Caden. Caleb. Inside. Now,” I said, my voice tight with barely restrained fury.