25

Lilith’s POV
I held my stomach, laughing so hard I could barely breathe. Trading undercover reporting stories with Ophelia Moon herself felt surreal. Sylas would never believe this. Would it be tacky to ask for a selfie? This was *Ophelia Moon*-a living legend, a goddess among mortals.
**OPHELIA FREAKING MOON.**
Was I even surprised that the Ashfords knew her? I shouldn’t have been. But Caleb using our date to introduce me to my idol? A woman I’d aspired to emulate in every way? That was next level. She and her mate had built their newspaper empire from scratch-she wielding her pen like a weapon, he orchestrating the business side with equal brilliance.
I didn’t want her in any sexual way, but I was drunk on admiration, nearly swooning just sitting in her presence. Could I meet her again sometime just to talk shop? I’d kill for that opportunity. Everyone knew Ophelia didn’t give interviews. She let her stories speak for themselves. I felt the same way-never wanting to *be* the story.
“She-wolf reporter meets her idol and promptly goes into heat. Girl Scout cookies now available at your local grocer!”
“Now,” Ophelia began, snapping me from my spiraling thoughts, “tell me about the twins. It’s all anyone can talk about-how they’re part of the auction. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bids hit six figures. You’re a lucky one, you know that? They might’ve been the heartthrobs of college, but you couldn’t have found better mates. Those boys are good through and through, and they’ll be absolutely devoted to you.”
She fixed me with a piercing gaze, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
We were sitting on a garden bench, far enough from our mates that they wouldn’t overhear. She’d even mind-linked a servant to bring us drinks. I sighed heavily, her words striking a chord.
Based on Caleb and Caden’s actions this week, I didn’t doubt their loyalty. But could *I* be loyal to their pack?
“What did I say?” Ophelia asked, her brow furrowing. “Is it because you’re not marked yet? You can tell old Ophelia.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, making me laugh despite myself.
She was so disarming, so easy to talk to-yet that was exactly what made her dangerous. Sweet, perceptive, and utterly ruthless with a pen, Ophelia Moon was a force to be reckoned with.
“It’s just… a lot,” I admitted, staring into the garden. “I thought I had more time. I thought I’d intern at *The Full Moon Times*, live in the city for a while…”
“Oh? Live the single she-wolf life? Party it up?” she teased, shimmying her shoulders playfully.
“Something like that. I’m a workaholic. During my first year in college, I practically carried the entire paper. There weren’t even any other females trying to write. My boss-this pathetic womanizer-didn’t think I was worth anything. I had something to prove, and I feel like I did. Now I’m ready for more… professionally, anyway. I’m not a homebody.”
I grabbed my drink and took a generous gulp. The amber liquid burned its way down my throat, warming me from the inside out.
Ophelia studied me thoughtfully, clearly weighing her next words.
“And the Ashford boys? They’re not exactly going to put off being Alphas so you can jump out of bushes with a microphone,” she said, brushing at her pant leg.
Tears pricked my eyes, and I hated it. I wasn’t usually an emotional person, but this week had been anything but normal. Could I trust her with this secret? Probably.
She didn’t push, sitting quietly for a long moment.
“I remember when Sophia became Luna,” she said eventually. “Of course, I covered it-it was a massive headline. I thought she might be nervous or afraid, but she wasn’t at all. She was ready. She knew what she wanted, and she couldn’t wait to claim it. Maybe you just need to tell them to wait until *you’re* ready.”
I gave her a look and took another long sip of my drink.
“Tell the pack I don’t want them? Tell them my own life matters more than theirs? Goddess, no. I might as well let them reject me-it’d be just as humiliating.”
Shame curled in my stomach. This week, I hadn’t spared much thought for what being Alpha meant to Caleb and Caden. But seeing the pride in Caden’s eyes at the quay-and in the way his pack looked at him-made it clear I didn’t share the same feelings. And I didn’t see that changing.
I’d never considered myself selfish, but now? I embodied it.
A single tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly, disgusted by my own weakness. But Ophelia reached out, taking my hands in hers.
“Darling, love will find a way.” She paused, then winced. “Oh, hell, that’s a cliche, isn’t it? But it’s true. Those Ashford boys-they love fiercely, with everything they have. Sometimes, they just need a little guidance. Their grandfather Theron was the same way. And let me tell you… Cassie wanted *nothing* to do with Seth when they found out they were mates. It was a scandal!”
Her grin turned mischievous. “You won’t believe this, but Seth was literally screwing another she-wolf when Cassie stumbled on him-in broad daylight, no less! He saw her, realized who she was, and… didn’t stop.”
My jaw dropped, and I burst out laughing, my earlier tension evaporating. I couldn’t picture it, but the image was so absurd it hurt to think about.
She made him endure three entire full moons before she finally allowed him to mark her. The suspense was excruciating, especially since *everyone* knew what was going on. Poor Cassie-she was utterly humiliated. By then, Seth had already claimed the title of Alpha, and the man was unbearable with his arrogance. I couldn’t stand him. It irked me that Theron, my best friend, was so close to him, but they’d grown up together, and that bond ran deep.
So, to sum it up, Cassie Ashford didn’t exactly start off her journey as Luna on the right foot. For those three long months, we were all convinced she would reject him outright. She avoided him, stayed at her parents’ house, and went about her life like nothing had changed. Seth? He had to beg-*literally* beg-on his knees nearly every day just to earn a shred of her attention.
But sometimes, rules are made to be bent. Times change, and you have to put yourself first, no matter the cost. I was one of the lucky ones. Theron had been my biggest supporter, pushing me to chase my dreams with everything I had. In his eyes, when one of us succeeds, it’s a win for both of us. But that comes with a responsibility-loving their passions as fiercely as you love your own.
I had to bite back a laugh. Ophelia’s words echoed in my head, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much more she knew. The woman could probably take down the world with the secrets she kept, and I was riveted by every word. She was making this situation even harder than it already was. After the night with Caden, my emotions were all over the place. I was burning with desire, but my mind was the one in the driver’s seat, slamming on the brakes.
She was right about one thing: sharing their interests. But what did they even *like* outside of football? Ugh, damn it. I should’ve read their interviews.
“You certainly broke the mold,” I said, still in awe of her. “I’ve admired you my entire life.”
She waved it off with a laugh. “Don’t kiss my ass too much. My name might be on the paper, but these days, it’s my daughters running the show. My sons handle the sports section, but they’re more focused on the business side of things-leaving the real work to the women, as always. Story of my life.”
Her laughter was so genuine, so contagious, and I found myself laughing along with her, wishing the night would never end. And yet, she wasn’t even *my* date. The reality of it hit me, and suddenly Caleb’s words from earlier that day made perfect sense.
“Take this leap with us.”
“Together we can do anything.”
But he also said something else: *”Your life doesn’t have to end.”* Which, in my mind, was the biggest contradiction.
*You know what I think,* Rose’s voice finally broke through the silence in my head. She had been watching me, giving me space to process everything, but she knew what Ophelia meant to me.
You think that if you sleep with them, it’ll all magically fall into place, don’t you? She was practically smirking through the mind link.
I’m not stupid, I snapped back. I’ll sleep with them, and I’ll be marked, and that’ll be it. Stuck. My choice taken from me. That’s not me being dramatic-that’s reality.
Suddenly, Caleb and Theron reappeared, looking like old friends-maybe they were, I didn’t know. But Caleb? He was nervous now, and I could see it in his eyes. It wasn’t the usual cool confidence. No, something was different this time, and it wasn’t because of the paper.
“Ophelia, I can’t thank you enough for your time, but Lily and I are on a date tonight, and we still have one more stop,” Caleb said, shoving his hands in his pockets, trying to cover up the awkwardness.
Ophelia smiled warmly, standing up to give me a hug. “Of course, you kids have fun. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lily,” she said, before pulling Caleb into a hug as well.
“And you, stud! I’ll see you and Caden on the field,” she added, playfully rubbing his back as they parted.
“I can’t believe you like football,” I said, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
Ophelia stepped back, glancing at Theron. “Darling, football is sexy as hell! How could you not get it? Oh, I spent years going to those games when I was writing sports, and trust me, I always found my way into the locker rooms for the right interview,” she said, fanning herself dramatically.
Caleb just chuckled, his laugh polite but clearly holding back amusement. Theron, on the other hand, didn’t seem at all fazed by Ophelia’s antics.
“Yeah, Lily, you should really give it a shot,” Theron said with a grin, taking my hand in his, his fingers intertwining with mine.
I looked back at the *Full Moon Times* building, shaking my head with a smile. “I hope both sides lose,” I muttered. “But maybe I’ll try walking into the locker room with a microphone in hand.”
The entire group burst into laughter, and I felt a little lighter, even as my thoughts remained conflicted.