Lilith’s POV
*What the hell just happened?* Rose’s voice echoed in my head, pushing me closer to the edge of sanity. Her shout was like a blade twisting in my gut.
I had to get out. I couldn’t face this, couldn’t endure the humiliation. I needed to run-run far away from this mess before it suffocated me. My fingers fumbled as I reached for the limo door. Liam was outside, engrossed in a conversation with the driver. I thought I could slip away, make it out, shift, and find somewhere to hide for the night.
But of course, I was wrong.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Liam’s voice was calm but firm, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Running away isn’t the answer, Lily. I get it-it’s the easy choice, the obvious one. But you’ve got to face this. Don’t run. If you make me chase you, trust me, it’ll only get worse.”
Before I could even think of another move, he was across the seat in a flash, gripping my wrist with a strength that left me breathless. Damn him. He was too quick, too strong. I had to remember that.
I slumped back into the seat, trying to ignore the fire burning beneath my skin. “My personal life is nobody’s entertainment,” I muttered, wiping away the tear that had escaped.
Liam settled beside me, silent. Thank God for that. I regretted those words the moment they left my mouth. They were a defense mechanism, a false shield to cover up the truth-that I’d made my personal life very public. There was no room for privacy when I’d practically handed it over to the world. My mind spiraled, imagining how much damage I could’ve done, how vulnerable I had made myself.
I’d always taken risks. Sleeping with people I barely knew, never fully trusting anyone. How could I not wonder if someone had recorded me, made a spectacle of me?
The thought made me sick. I was beyond nauseous. And then the rage bubbled up.
“Caleb said the other day he was desperate to know what goes on in your head. I get it now,” Liam’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “Your face says a thousand things, but your silence… it’s like a weight in the room.”
I shot him a look, my brow raised. “Are you a poet or something?” I barely whispered the words.
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Having to wait nearly a decade for my mate to come of age… yeah, it gives you a lot of free time. I read a lot. Violet and I trade books; it’s something we can actually do together that’s… public.” He looked away, his gaze distant for a moment.
“Aren’t full moons unbearable?” I asked before I could stop myself, genuinely curious.
He shrugged, eyes focusing back on me. “Not yet. Maybe in her last year or so, my wolf will get too restless. But I try to stay away from her then. I feel on edge, but it’s manageable.”
I took a deep breath, the tension easing just a little. Liam had a way of calming the storm inside me. There was something about him-he was laid-back, easygoing, and yet, it was clear that if things came to a head, he’d be someone to reckon with. The twins trusted him, and now I saw why.
But his calm only made my own lack of control more glaring. I was stuck in my old ways, my old habits. I’d spent too long in a life that wasn’t sustainable, not in this new world.
I had sworn, once, that I’d never regret anything. I was a woman of action, of certainty, but now… I just felt foolish. So many years wasted, so many things left unsaid. I’d changed so much, but I didn’t know if it was for the better.
And then there was Rose’s laughter, pushing me further into this overwhelming self-awareness. Maybe it was time to put the bottle down. Maybe two drinks, for life. No more.
I’d told myself I’d never let anyone have the upper hand, and yet here I was, trapped in Quinley’s games. I knew it was her. She was the one pulling the strings, orchestrating this disaster. And damn Sonia, who’d probably found out about the interview, seized it, and then made it look like a break-in to cover her tracks. Even Quinley could put two and two together-suddenly the Ashfords, who’d found their mate, were all over campus with me. It was too obvious.
*Should’ve come clean from the start…* Rose’s voice echoed in my mind, just fueling my frustration. Liam, damn him, was holding me back, keeping me locked in this damn car. But he was older, stronger, and if Alpha had given him orders, there was no getting past him.
I still wanted to run.
I glanced out the window as the driver got in and started the engine. “Where are the guys?” I asked, my voice low, heavy with the need for answers.
“They’re handling something,” Liam replied. “I’m taking you home. Our home. They’ll stay behind to clean up the mess, do some damage control. Then they’ll do their charity dates. Alpha thinks it’s best.”
My heart pounded in my chest as the door opened. I held my breath, hoping to see the twins. But it wasn’t them. It was Violet.
She slid into the seat across from me, her body flopping into place like she was already exhausted from the weight of the day.
I waited for her to speak, tension building with every passing second. The old me would’ve snapped, would’ve demanded she get to the point. But now… I could feel the calm I was trying to hold onto slipping away.
Finally, she spoke, her voice measured. “The guys are leaving a check as a donation for your date. They’re going to randomly select a couple to take the boat ride.”
I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to scream. *Get to the damn point.*
“They know who did it,” Violet continued, her eyes glancing between Liam and me. “Apparently, they had to hold each other back from chasing her down.”
“Quinley, isn’t it?” I snapped, my blood boiling. “I knew something was off, but I didn’t think she’d be this reckless.”
“Who’s Quinley?” Liam asked, genuinely confused.
I raised an eyebrow, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. If he didn’t know her, it meant the twins hadn’t thought her worth mentioning. It didn’t take the sting out of knowing they’d slept with her, but it was something.
“Caleb called her a jersey chaser,” Violet added, her tone flat.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Violet knew my reputation. I’d never cared about what others thought, never worried if my mother knew… but now, with the whole world watching, it felt different. It was like I was no longer in control.
The world had seen everything. The girl-on-girl kiss. The drunken brawl. What a mess.
It felt like a lifetime ago, but it had only been last night.
And in front of me, this 15-year-old girl had somehow made me want to be better. She’d shown me that real life was messy, but it was also about doing the hard things, the selfless things.
I pulled out my phone, heart pounding as I texted the Registrar, calling in a favor I had long held over her.
Me: “Calling in that favor. Quinley Hawthorne, is she graduating? Any chance of that not happening? She very publicly leaked a video of me, and heads will roll. Well, hers. Please delete this thread, discretion is of the utmost importance.”
I knew she’d cave. She had to-her job was on the line. And if that wasn’t enough, I had footage of her son drunkenly doing a toga dance, mostly naked, with an underage girl at his frat. The way he kissed her? It would burn everything to the ground.
I watched the screen as dots appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again. She was probably sweating bullets trying to figure out what to say. I didn’t see the entire video earlier when it played on the damn screen behind me, but something told me the person who filmed it was smart enough to keep Quinley’s face hidden. No one would know she’d been attacked unless they’d been there.
**Nina:** *I’ll let you know Monday, but from what I remember, she’s got a huge file-lousy grades and attendance. Likely only passing because of donations.*
Perfect. I could work with that.
**Me:** *Fire your secretary. Immediately. She’s 100% responsible for the break-in. Lock her out of everything. Don’t let her touch another file or email. Check her computer.*
Sylas wouldn’t respond right away, and I didn’t care. Whatever he was doing was none of my business. He owed me everything-his career, his credibility-and if he ever forgot it, I had the means to remind him. A single lawsuit for all the sexual harassment I’d endured over the years would ruin him. I’d put up with it because I needed him, but Sylas was just another pawn I’d bent to my will. Creepy, sleazy, but useful.
I smiled to myself. Some battles weren’t worth fists when words could cut deeper.
But the twins? They wouldn’t settle for words.
I glanced up, catching Violet and Liam exchanging a look so intense it practically set the air between them on fire.
“Your parents must hate me,” I said, gauging her reaction.
She sighed, fidgeting with her hands. “They know how my brothers are. Trust me, this isn’t new for them. But knowing they’d be Alphas someday, they kept things… contained. Most of the drama stayed in college. Still, this is bad. And Caden announcing you were their mate like that didn’t help.”
Her voice softened, almost apologetic. “Our pack is understanding. They’ve waited decades to know who their Luna would be. If you play your cards right… you’ll have two thousand people ready to follow you, no questions asked.”
Two thousand. I swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking in. I knew the pack was big, with many living in the city, but hearing the number out loud was something else entirely.
**They’re our mates. It’s what they’re supposed to do. Remember, they were wronged too. This is bigger than just us.**
Rose’s voice was calm, steadying.
I sighed, leaning my head against the window. Violet and Liam were in their own world, lost in each other. The sight of them burned, but it was easier to focus on their drama than my own.
The car slowed as we passed the Blood Moon guard station, the imposing structure looming in the night. My stomach churned, my mind racing.
“Is there… a quiet place I can go?” I asked, my voice smaller than I wanted it to be. “To hide?”
They both laughed.
“What?” I snapped, irritation flaring.
Ahead of us stood a massive building, the glow of a bonfire lighting up the night. People gathered in clusters, their laughter and chatter echoing in the cool air.
“You’ll run me inside, right?” I asked, panic creeping into my voice. “To a room. Preferably one without windows.”
Even if they didn’t officially announce who I was, it wouldn’t take long for the truth to spread. The Luna of Blood Moon, hiding her first night on pack grounds. What a joke.
The thought of shifting and running flickered through my mind. If only it were that simple. But Liam would just mind-link the guards, and then I’d really be screwed.
I was spiraling with irrational thoughts-like shifting and bolting into the night. But that would only make things worse. Liam would undoubtedly mind-link a guard, and I’d be intercepted before I even made it past the first tree. Still, the thought of stepping out of this car to face a crowd felt like walking into my doom. Why did the idea of hundreds of strangers watching me kiss a girl seem less horrifying than getting out and meeting them?
*Time to man up! Isn’t that what they say? Let’s meet our people,* Rose urged, her excitement bubbling over.
Before I could argue with her-or myself-a soft hand gripped mine. Violet had slid into the seat between Liam and me. Her calm presence did little to quell the rising panic in my chest. I needed the twins. I needed my mates. Without them, I felt like I was going to throw up and pass out in the aftermath of it.
“I’ve been mostly staying at the pack house, so Liam can sneak into my room,” Violet said casually, as though her words weren’t sending my anxiety into overdrive. “My parents are crashing there tonight, too, which means you three will have the house to yourselves. It’s about a quarter-mile up the path to the right. But…”
She hesitated, and my heart dropped.
“After the football game, your secret kind of got out. People have never seen my brothers act so publicly with a female before. It was obvious. I think some of them even assumed you met today-like at the game.”
My breath quickened, and the panic clawed its way up my throat. Every hair on my body stood on end as if bracing for an attack.
Without a word, Liam thrust a cookie in my face. I snatched it and took a massive bite, the sugary sweetness doing little to calm my nerves. They waited patiently as I finished it, brushing the crumbs from my hands.
“I’ll go first,” Violet offered, pushing past Liam as he opened the door to let her out.
“They’re great people, really,” Liam said, his voice steady and reassuring as he turned back to me. “But I won’t leave you. Not until the guys get here. They wouldn’t want me to.”
Oh, Goddess. This was it. I closed my eyes, sucking in a slow breath as I heard Violet being greeted outside. The murmurs of hushed whispers made my skin prickle.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered, leaning toward Liam. My voice shook with the weight of my nerves.
My stomach churned, and sweat pooled in places I didn’t even know could sweat. Rose was pacing, her usual confidence muted by my overwhelming dread.
Liam reached for my hand, holding it firmly before clapping his other hand over it. His strength was a tether I didn’t know I needed.
“They’ll be pissed if you smell like me, but… oh well,” he joked, his laugh light and warm.
A nervous chuckle escaped me. He wasn’t wrong. The twins would lose their minds over it, but at this moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care. If they only knew how uninterested Liam was in me-or ever would be.
Finally, he let go and stepped out of the car, turning to offer me his hand. I hesitated, looking up into his eyes. His calm smile and small nod were all the encouragement I had to lean on. Trusting him felt like trusting a stranger, but honestly, I barely knew my mates either.
*Help me, Rose,* I pleaded inwardly.
*I’ve got you,* she said, her strength and optimism flowing through me like a warm current. For a brief second, I entertained the idea of shifting and making a dramatic escape. That would’ve been easier than this.
*I’m down! Let’s go!* Rose chimed in, her excitement undeniable.
Liam dropped my hand but steadied me by the arm as we rounded the car. That’s when it happened-complete, utter silence. Every single person in sight stopped moving, their eyes locked on us.
“WELCOME HOME!” they all shouted in unison.