23

Lilith’s POV
Last night stretched on forever, an eternity I’d gladly erase from memory. Even downing seven beers wasn’t enough to drown out the vivid images haunting my mind-their hands on me, their lips tracing paths of fire, their bare bodies etched into my consciousness. Rose nearly drove me mad with the relentless flashes she dumped into our shared headspace.
I texted Caden a few times, mostly to keep him from thinking I was ghosting him. In typical Caden fashion, he replied with pictures of me, gushing about how amazing they looked. I hated admitting it, but I did love those shots. Normally, I despised being in front of a camera, but in that fleeting moment-fresh off two of the most mind-blowing orgasms of my life and teetering on the edge of giving him the same bliss-I’d been feeling damn good, and it showed in my face.
Eventually, I gave in to exhaustion, bringing myself to a shaky climax before drifting off. My dreams were no reprieve; they were filled with images of waking to Caden between my thighs, his expert tongue pushing me toward the edge before his thick, beautiful cock drove me over it.
**BEEP BEEP BEEP**
The obnoxious shriek of my alarm jolted me awake. With a groan, I slapped at it until it silenced, my body protesting the mere act of moving. Sleep had been a cruel joke.
I somehow made it to my final class-of the year, of my entire college career. Not that it mattered; I couldn’t recall a single word spoken. The only thing keeping me from complete collapse was the knowledge that I’d been diligent enough throughout the semester to hopefully scrape through finals. Studying this weekend? Not happening. My brain was fried.
Determined to stay on guard, I chose my outfit carefully: loose navy capris paired with a cute, low-cut white blouse. It was casual, unassuming-perfect for keeping Caleb’s hands far from temptation. Still, for reasons I refused to examine too closely, I couldn’t resist the lure of my push-up bra. It was tight and mildly uncomfortable, but I wasn’t about to pass up the chance to make the girls look their best. Just because he couldn’t touch didn’t mean I couldn’t tease.
Sneakers for a date? Weird, but I went with a pair of simple white slip-ons I’d snagged from a bargain bin. They were a far cry from the high-end wardrobe Caleb likely lived in, but I didn’t care.
*Behave yourself, Lily. I mean it,* Rose warned, her tone sharp.
I rolled my eyes just as a knock sounded at the door. Straightening my shoulders, I exhaled deeply. Time to see what Caleb had planned.
Opening the door, I grabbed my purse from the counter without sparing him a glance. When I finally turned, his hungry stare nearly made me falter. He wore a pale blue button-up and black cargo pants-casual, but somehow still managing to look unfairly good.
“If you want to call it off, we can stay in. I’m cool with that,” he said, licking his lips.
I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. There was no way I was letting him off the hook so easily. Did I trust myself alone with him, a bed within reach? Absolutely not.
“Staying in means actually studying, which I’d probably be doing if my entire week hadn’t been a chaotic mess,” I shot back, not entirely bluffing.
“Come on, sexy tits,” he replied with a cocky grin, grabbing my hand before leading me out.
The car he guided me to was the same one I’d seen Caden drive before. Caleb even opened my door, feigning a gentlemanly air. Satan in a Sunday hat, I thought bitterly.
“You eaten in the last couple hours?” he asked, placing my hand on his thigh.
I gave him a sidelong look. “Why would I eat before a date where food is presumably involved?”
He laughed, pressing a kiss to my hand before covering it with his own. I turned to the window, unwilling to let him see the flicker of warmth creeping into my chest.
*Give him the benefit of the doubt, Lily. For once,* Rose urged, claws metaphorically digging into me.
“Well, we’re not eating first. I’ve got something else planned. Prepare to have your breath taken away, baby,” Caleb announced, oozing confidence.
I scoffed, barely restraining my skepticism. Whatever he had in mind, I doubted it would live up to his swaggering bravado.
As he drove, the conversation turned to lighter topics, including the inevitable end of our college days. Nostalgia mingled with the curiosity growing as I realized we weren’t heading toward Blood Moon.
When we finally stopped, I stared out at a serene lake. My wariness spiked. Goddess help me if this involved paddle boats-or worse, fishing.
We stepped out of the car and made our way toward the dock. I held Caleb’s hand, curiosity bubbling inside me. There was this strange tower in the distance, towering hundreds of feet into the air. A small radio tower, perhaps? But at the end of a lake dock? That seemed odd.
“What is this place?” I finally asked, fed up with waiting for him to spill the beans.
“Let’s leave your purse here,” he said, taking it from me before I could react, “and probably those shoes too.” I shot him a skeptical glare.
“I’m not getting in the water,” I said, voice steady, even though I had no idea what was going on.
“You might get a little wet,” he said with a grin, “but not from the lake.” He squatted down to take off my shoes, his fingers brushing against my skin in the process.
He stood up, his eyes glinting with determination, hiding whatever he was planning. I frowned, confusion settling deeper. Were we going to wait for a boat? If so, why did I need to ditch my shoes? Why did he get to keep his?
“What the hell are you doing, caveman? I don’t like surprises,” I said, still clueless, frustration bubbling in my chest.
Then, a man appeared-Merrick, Caleb introduced him. I watched, even more intrigued and irritated, as Merrick helped Caleb step into some strange contraption. I had no idea what the hell was happening.
“Is your friend strapping on, or is she getting her own?” Merrick asked, his voice casual.
Caleb quickly pulled me into him, his voice low in my ear. “Do you trust me, Lily?”
I shoved him away, letting out a laugh that felt more like a defense mechanism.
“Fuck no,” I said, crossing my arms defiantly.
They both laughed, and Merrick held out what looked like a harness. I shot Caleb a look that could melt steel.
“Come on, live a little,” Caleb urged, rubbing my arm gently, clearly trying to coax me into whatever madness he’d planned.
I had no idea what was going on, but there was no way I was letting Caleb think I was too scared to take on whatever this was.
Reluctantly, I followed Merrick’s directions, letting him hook us together. A strange, uneasy feeling churned in my stomach as I realized I was now connected to Caleb by this odd apparatus.
“Hit it, bro,” Caleb said, his face inches from mine, a cocky grin spreading across his lips.
Suddenly, the floor shifted beneath me, and I realized we were standing on a metal square-nothing like the wooden dock we’d just left behind. My arms instinctively wrapped around Caleb, not yet comprehending what was happening, but knowing I was in way over my head. The ground was rising, moving further away with every second.
“What the fuck is this?” I snapped, staring at him, panic edging my voice.
Caleb’s arms encircled me, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that felt like an anchor in the storm of confusion inside me.
“I thought my first big experience with THE Lilith Emory, a she-wolf with a reputation as big as mine, should be… swinging,” he said, grinning as he pulled back.
I craned my neck down and saw the thick cables lifting us higher.
“FUCK ME!”
“You can’t be serious,” I shouted, my voice cracking as I gripped Caleb tighter.
Merrick seemed so small from this height, and the reality of the situation slammed into me.
I whipped my gaze back to Caleb, whose smug expression made my stomach twist.
“Caden said you were fine with the Ferris wheel. You’re not afraid of heights,” Caleb said, so sure of himself.
“A FUCKING CARNIVAL RIDE?! IT’S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THIS SHIT!” I yelled, my heart pounding in my chest, my pulse racing as I tried not to lose my composure.
Just as I was about to scream again, the lift came to an abrupt halt, and I froze, terrified by the slight jerk.
*Wait, what’s happening? I don’t get it,* Rose said, her voice calm yet edged with confusion.
I cursed Caleb in my mind, every word a venomous promise. If he survived this, he would be the first male I ever wanted to strangle.
“How high is this?” I managed to whisper, my voice shaky.
“A little over 420 feet,” Caleb said nonchalantly, as though it was no big deal.
“I fucking hate you, Caleb. I hate you, and I hope your dick rots off,” I spat, glaring at him, my fury only growing.
“Aww, baby, come on, where’s your sense of adventure?” He grinned, clearly amused.
“NO! NO! NO! Don’t you fucking dare, NO!” I yelled, trying to plant my feet firmly as he tipped us dangerously to the side.
“We can jump or fall. Or… I can signal Merrick to just drop the floor,” he teased, his grin widening.
My heart pounded in my chest, and Rose started pacing inside me, her anxiety echoing mine.
There was nothing she could do to help, and that realization only made my terror worse. Caleb, however, finally seemed to pick up on my panic.
“Baby, look at me, okay?” he said softly, his hands gently cupping my face, forcing me to meet his eyes.
“My mate… is the baddest bitch there is. Lilith Emory owns everything she does and makes it look flawless. You can do anything, be anything you want, even as our mate. Your life doesn’t end here. Take this leap of faith with us. Trust that we’ll always have your back, always put you first.”
His words sent a shiver through me, and he kissed me softly, his thumbs brushing my cheeks in the gentlest of touches.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. His touch felt too good, like a soothing balm to the raw panic inside me.
*Put me first*… that was something I wasn’t sure how to process, though it was a feeling I’d experienced with Caden before.
“Lily, this is supposed to show you that together, we can conquer anything. We’ll face our fears, tackle whatever comes our way. I know Caden said you have doubts, I know you’ve had to sacrifice so much, but we’re going to talk, all three of us. We’ll come up with a plan. I know we can.”
He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes searching, just like Caden’s had.
He looked at me like I was the answer to everything-like I alone held the key to saving him, to being the one he needed. The memories of that first night, when I’d gotten tongue-tied and nearly begged for them both, flooded my mind. I had been humiliated, but somehow, they’d won me over with nothing more than their presence.
If Caleb thought this stunt was some sort of test to prove I had what it took to roll with the big boys, well then, damn it, I was going to do it. He wasn’t reaching my heart the way Caden had, but he was getting to every other part of me. I needed someone who could challenge me, who wouldn’t just back down because things got tough.
We stared at each other, and after a long moment, I leaned forward, resting my head on his chest, my arms wrapping around him. I took a deep breath, my resolve hardening. Then, using every ounce of strength I had, I jerked us to the side.
And in that single moment, I realized I might just be falling… for Caleb fucking Ashford.