29

Caden’s POV
I couldn’t wrap my head around the dynamic between Caleb and Lily-fire and ice, but somehow, both emanating from the same source. I hated games, detested bullshit. I was a straightforward guy, always had been. But Caleb was convinced she needed this push-and-pull to come around, so I bit my tongue and played along with his theatrics. I just wanted us to figure things out and move forward with our lives. We couldn’t do that if she was still wavering, still unsure if she wanted us-if she wanted our life.
The moment I stepped into the bathroom, the air reeked of sex and tension. I locked the door behind me, and Caleb turned to me, his expression calm but firm.
“Follow my lead. Say nothing unless I tell you to,” he instructed.
He called it role-playing, but I knew better. This wasn’t just a game; it felt endless, like it had no off switch. If this dragged on, it would drive me insane.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Lily sitting on the floor. Her makeup was smeared, her dress bunched up around her waist, but she wore a soft, glowing expression that made her seem… ethereal. She glanced up at me with the smallest, most playful smirk. My pulse kicked up.
“On your knees,” I commanded, keeping my voice neutral, giving nothing away.
She began fixing her dress, but Caleb quickly grabbed her wrist, shaking his head in silent warning. Her eyes flicked back to me, and I noticed her lips curve ever so slightly. God, she was breathtaking, even with the faint red marks left on her skin.
Slowly, she lowered herself, kneeling before me as her delicate fingers reached for my belt. My breath hitched when she freed my dick, her soft hand wrapping around my hardness. I could feel Caleb’s gaze burning into me from the side.
*Are you happy now?* I snapped through the mind-link. *This is what you wanted? Why can’t we do this like normal people-in our bed? This is messed up.*
But Caleb, ever smug, didn’t miss a beat. *You’ll stop complaining soon enough. Trust me. She’s ready to please.*
As Lily’s lips wrapped around me, I gritted my teeth, unable to suppress the groan that rumbled from deep within. Caleb stood off to the side, watching, his expression infuriatingly satisfied. He unzipped his pants, pulling his dick free and stroking his length as he watched our mate.
My frustration dissolved as her warmth surrounded me, leaving me powerless to resist. Every stroke, every flick of her tongue had me forgetting my own damn name. All that mattered was her-this intoxicating, infuriating woman who somehow held all the power over me.
Just when I thought I couldn’t take more, Caleb stepped closer, hooking a finger into her mouth and guiding her to take us both. Her hands moved in tandem, working each of us as her lips stretched to accommodate.
The pressure built, blinding and all-consuming. I couldn’t hold back if my life depended on it. My release crashed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless and spent. Caleb wasn’t far behind, his own groans mixing with mine as we both gave her everything we had.
By the time we pulled back, she was covered with our release-her face, her chest, even her dress bore the evidence of what we’d done. Caleb took a step back, tucking his dick away.
“Have you ever seen anything so damn beautiful?” he muttered, almost reverently. “And she’s ours.”
Lily’s voice cut through the haze, soft yet teasing. “I’m sorry for kissing Briar, Caden.”
The words hit me like a slap. So that’s what this was about.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to look at Caleb. “It better never happen again,” I said simply, my tone leaving no room for argument.
She didn’t react, didn’t move to clean herself up. Instead, she stayed on her knees, her head lowered as if awaiting further instruction. It wasn’t like her-Lily wasn’t submissive, not in this way.
*What did you do to her?* I demanded through the link.
Caleb didn’t answer, instead kneeling to tilt her chin up. “Clean yourself up,” he said. “Then head back outside. Don’t drink another drop. You’ll smell like us, and everyone will know you’re ours. Afterward, you’re coming to bed-our bed.”
I followed him out without another word, though tension simmered just beneath my skin. Once we were alone, I grabbed his arm, pulling him to the side.
“Explain yourself,” I hissed.
“Relax,” he said with maddening ease. “Everything is under control. But we need to see Dad tomorrow morning. I’ll text him.”
He typed quickly, and my phone buzzed with his message:
*”Hey Dads, we need to see you both in the morning. Can’t wait until the game. Be home at 9 a. m.”*
Our father’s response was almost immediate.
*”Whatever you need.”*
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. We were lucky-our parents were too damn good for this world. If Lily could just see what the pack meant to our family…
A few minutes later, Lily emerged from the house. She’d cleaned up, her makeup gone, and her hair pulled into a neat ponytail. My heart clenched at the sight-natural, radiant, just her. She walked straight to me, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head against my chest.
“All is as it should be,” Caleb said, smirking before wandering off.
I leaned down, brushing my lips against her ear. “You tired, baby? Want to go inside?”
She looked up at me, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “What was on your card?”
I chuckled softly. “Didn’t take one. Caleb did.”
She smiled, her voice a whisper. “I want to have both of you at the same time.”
Heat shot through me like wildfire, and I adjusted her in my arms to hide my reaction.
“Well, that’s a hell of a thing to say in public,” I murmured, trying to sound calm.
She giggled, her laughter light and unrestrained, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Not tonight,” I said firmly, stroking her cheek. She needed to be sure-completely sober and certain. She deserved nothing less.
Especially after the hellish week she put us through, I couldn’t be sure if whatever Caleb pulled in that bathroom had actually changed her mind. I wanted to believe it had, but nothing about this situation was straightforward. Still, I had to give his ridiculous plan a chance-if it worked, we’d be golden. Lily would get what she wanted, and we’d finally have some room to breathe, time to learn each other’s rhythms and focus on building our life together.
But there was another part of his plan-one so absurd it bordered on outright stupidity. Crazy enough to work, sure, but I hadn’t agreed to it yet. It was the kind of gamble that required both of us to be all in, and I wasn’t sure I could stomach it.
Lily looked at me then, her disappointment clear before her gaze shifted. That’s when I heard it-a sharp, overly loud laugh. My head snapped toward the source, and there she was: Quinley, her hand draped over Caleb’s shoulder like she belonged there.
Oh, for fuck’s sake. What the hell is he doing?
*I’ll kill him!* Hade’s voice roared in my mind, brimming with rage. *Get that slut away from him!*
You won’t get the chance. Not if I get to him first.
Before I could process it, Lily was out of my arms and storming toward them, her movements swift and purposeful. I moved to follow, but she was already a step ahead. Every instinct screamed at me to warn Caleb, to intervene somehow, but another part of me-the one thoroughly fed up with his bullshit-wanted to let this play out. Whatever was coming his way, he probably deserved it.
But to my surprise, Lily by passed Caleb entirely and went straight for Quinley. Her hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of Quinley’s hair and yanking hard enough to snap her head back. Quinley toppled over, landing with an awkward thud.
A laugh bubbled up inside me that I barely managed to suppress. I shouldn’t have wanted to see where this was going, but damn it, a part of me did.
The room erupted. A chunk of Quinley’s hair-obviously fake-went flying, and the crowd jeered. Lily didn’t care. She was on top of Quinley now, fists flying, her shoes kicked off in the chaos.
I didn’t exactly hate Quinley, but I sure as hell didn’t like her. She’d always been just … there. We tolerated her presence because she didn’t ask for more than casual hook-ups, and we didn’t give her more. But this? This was calculated. She’d done this to provoke Lily, and it had worked.
“Get off me, you bitch!” Quinley screeched, but no one stepped in to help her.
“LILY! LILY! LILY!” The chant started somewhere in the crowd, gaining momentum.
I glanced at Caleb, who was busy brushing spilled beer off his shirt like he didn’t have a care in the world. Asshole.
Lily was relentless, clawing at Quinley’s clothes until they shredded, exposing more skin than anyone needed to see. When the sharp tang of blood hit the air, my instincts kicked in. I surged forward, grabbing Lily before this turned into something worse.
“You’re a stupid whore! That’s all you’ll ever be!” Lily spat, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.
*Don’t you dare help that skank. Tell everyone to leave. Now.* Hade’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
I hoisted Lily over my shoulder, ignoring her squirming and curses, and prayed to the gods this wasn’t being filmed. But deep down, I knew better.
Once inside, I roared at the crowd to get out, channeling every ounce of Alpha command I could muster. People scattered like leaves in a storm, leaving the house eerily quiet except for Lily’s ongoing tirade.
I slapped her ass-an impulsive, stupid move-and told her to calm the hell down. Tomorrow, she’d be mortified. I already knew that. This wasn’t her. Not really. But damn it, I understood the jealousy, that unrelenting possessiveness. Seeing someone else so much as touch her would make me murderous too.
*We need to mark her. Now. End this nonsense.* Hade’s voice was sharp with urgency.
My mind reeled as I carried Lily into the bathroom I shared with Caleb and dropped her into the walk-in shower. She growled, feral and unrelenting, but there was something else there too-something vulnerable beneath all the fury.
Turning on the cold water, I crouched down beside her, letting the icy spray drench us both. Her curses were drowned out by the sound of the water, her dress clinging to her like armor she desperately needed to shed.
“You don’t want to hear this,” I said, my voice low but steady. “But you’re my Luna. Whether it happens in a month or a year, that’s who you are. And I’m not letting you ruin it.”
She snarled at me, her eyes wild, but she didn’t strike. Instead, her gaze searched mine, as if trying to find something-maybe a reason to believe me.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally let out a heavy sigh and muttered, “Help me get this damn dress off.”