38

Lilith’s POV
I let out a heavy sigh, weighed down by exhaustion, as Liam led Rose up the path to the Ashfords’ home. My body was aching for rest, a bed would be perfect, though honestly, I’d settle for a couch. But I knew, without question, that the guys had only one thing on their minds.
The part of me that had been deprived for so long was all in, ready for whatever came next. But the more rational side, the part that still clung to some sense of self-preservation, was whispering that we should put it off until tomorrow.
It was impossible for me to process everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. All of this, all of it, had unfolded in the span of a single day.
As we neared the house, Rose caught the scent of the twins and immediately picked up the pace, eager to see them now that she was shifted. I couldn’t blame her-at this point, I was just as eager to see how they’d all interact.
The house finally came into view, and Liam slowed his steps. Rose had enjoyed herself tonight, made a ton of new friends, and slipped right into the fold without issue. It was easy for wolves, after all. What’s there to fight over? Squirrels?
*Hey! Don’t demean our little world,* Rose snapped in response.
I started to respond, but then Caden strolled out onto the small porch, dressed only in basketball shorts. Suddenly, I found it difficult to think about anything else. His body was sculpted, lean and muscular, but not from hours in the gym-no, this was the physique of a man who worked with his hands, who knew how to use tools and build things. It was undeniably hot, and it made me feel a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I could change a lightbulb, but that’s about the extent of my handiness. My dad had tried to teach me, but I just never found the interest.
Caden squatted down, his arms open as Rose rushed to him, her little wolf form practically vibrating with excitement. She licked him eagerly, sniffing at him. His hair was still damp from a shower.
Caleb appeared in the doorway, waving to Caden, and I knew they were probably mind-linking. I wished I could ask him to grab my purse, but I was pretty sure Liam was sharp enough to figure that out on his own.
Rose launched herself at Caleb, laughing as he caught her, and I could tell they were making it clear I was supposed to shift inside. I turned, ready to take in my surroundings. To my surprise, the house looked… normal. Just an average middle-class home, nothing like the opulence of the Moon’s estate.
“Come on, baby. Upstairs. We’ve got a nice bath ready for you,” Caden called, giving Rose a playful swat on the rear.
She purred, wiggling in response, clearly enjoying the attention. Caleb chuckled.
“I don’t even know your name, sweetheart,” Caden said, rubbing Rose’s ear with a teasing grin.
“Yeah, that’s gonna be a conversation for another day,” Caleb quipped, pulling my attention back to him. Were their wolf names just as goofy? Rose and I certainly knew how that felt.
*Stupid human bullies. Look at us now,* Rose muttered, charging up the stairs.
“The room at the end with the door open,” Caden called after her.
I sank into the hot, bubbly water of the soaking tub, letting the heat soothe my muscles. I’d always loved a good bath, but never with an audience. Never with someone else. It was odd to think that in my entire life, I’d never shared a shower, not even with a boyfriend. I liked my privacy.
“If you smell like Liam, I swear, I’ll wreck his pretty face,” Caleb’s voice broke through my thoughts as he walked into the bathroom, dropping a towel on the floor and kneeling beside the tub.
I couldn’t help suppressing a grin. As much as I’d like to see Caleb and Liam go head-to-head, I was pretty sure Violet would be the one to tear Caleb apart if he ever tried to step out of line.
Caleb picked up a washcloth and began gently scrubbing my shoulder, then my arm. I closed my eyes, sinking back into the warmth of the water. It felt… nice. I wasn’t sure how far I was willing to let them go, but in this moment, I could just relax.
I had a million questions, the journalist side of me practically screaming for answers, but the look on Caleb’s face told me he wasn’t in the mood for any of them.
Caden joined us a few moments later, sitting on the other side of me, continuing the task of gently washing my shoulders. I looked around, taking in the bathroom, noticing the unique touches, the special design that made this room feel more personal than anything I’d ever seen.
As the two of them moved lower, I heard Caleb’s voice, soft but insistent: “Can you dunk your head?”
Without a word, I slipped under the water, letting the warmth embrace me. I stayed there longer than I meant to, letting the water and the quiet soothe me.
Sometimes, I wondered if I was too much like my old self-too wrapped up in old habits to change everything all at once. There was a part of me that still clung to what I knew, to who I had been.
I remembered something I’d read once, from a required novel I couldn’t fully recall, but the important parts stuck with me: *”You are who you are at your core, it got you this far. If you’re happy, own it. Own that power. If you’re not happy, own that ten times harder so you don’t repeat your regrets.”*
It was saying that you control your own destiny. Life might throw challenges your way, but at the end of the day, you decide the course. The world won’t live for you, and you have to make sure you don’t just go through the motions.
That was why I was determined to make something of myself. I wanted to stand out, to be the reporter who got it done. I wanted my name to matter, to be known and respected-not as just someone’s mate, but as Lilith Emory, a force in my own right.
But right now, there were more pressing matters.
*As Luna, we’ll be both,* Rose chimed in, her voice full of optimism. *We’ll be amazing. Everyone will know us and respect us.*
Before I could reply, their large hands were on me, pulling me from the water. I blinked, still half-immersed in the sensations, and saw their worried expressions. How long had I been under?
I felt Rose’s presence in my mind, keeping watch. Perks of being a wolf-she’d never let me go too far.
Neither Caleb nor Caden said a word, but I could see the concern in their eyes, and I knew they were waiting for me to speak.
“I don’t want to live with regrets,” I said abruptly, feeling the weight of the words as they left my mouth.
Both their faces shifted dramatically, and Caleb opened his mouth, but I cut him off with a sudden movement, sitting upright, drawing their gazes to a new part of me. They froze, caught off guard, and I couldn’t help but laugh. It was too easy to get their attention.
“I know that with both of you, I’ll have an amazing life. I… I need to apologize for how I’ve been this week. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around everything. You’ve had your whole lives to prepare for this, but I’ve barely had a chance to breathe. It’s not that I don’t want to embrace Moon Bay, but… I just need time to adjust. I’m willing to try…”
Before I could finish, Caleb’s lips were on mine. It was a kiss like none I’d ever experienced-deep, hungry, and urgent. It sent a rush through me that left me breathless and wanting more. I could feel the intensity behind it, the emotion, the passion, and it made me realize that maybe I didn’t need to understand everything right away. Maybe I just needed to feel.
Rose was practically pushing me to reach out, to reciprocate. And as I did, Caden’s hands moved to my chest, gently caressing, and the sensations swirled through me.
I wasn’t sure where this would go, but I was ready to let it unfold. Today had already proven to be the most emotional of my life, but I had a feeling this was only the beginning.
*We’re done thinking,* Rose declared. *Shut the hell up and feel it.*
“Anything else can wait until tomorrow,” Rose shouted, before quickly purring in my mind.
Rose wasn’t the type to show aggression often, so it took all my willpower not to laugh. She started teasing me, offering playful, flirtatious lines meant to stir things up. How she even knew about football lingo, I had no idea, but it was working.
“My wolf’s trying to flirt and be cute, but she understands football less than I do,” I said, feeling Caleb lift his head from my neck.
“Try me,” he grinned, his pace picking up, and I could hardly focus.
I stifled a giggle and let my head fall back. I was going to kill Rose later for making me say things like that.
“Is the tough quarterback looking to score?” I blurted out, immediately regretting it.
Rose laughed at me, but the sound cut off when Caleb yanked a fistful of my hair and kissed me with a raw urgency. It left me breathless. “What else have you got, wolf?” I thought, catching my breath.
He broke the kiss abruptly, his hand retreating from between my legs, leaving me breathless. In one swift motion, Caden’s strong arms slid beneath mine while Caleb gripped my hips, their movements coordinated like a seamless dance. Before I could process what was happening, I found myself slung over Caleb’s shoulder, utterly bare and dripping warmth against his skin.
**SLAP!**
A sharp sting jolted through me, and I gasped, the sound escaping before I could catch it.
“Ah!” I cried out, half in shock, half in something else entirely.
**SLAP!**
The second strike burned in the most delicious way, leaving me dazed yet wanting more.
“Damn, that’s a tight end you’ve got there,” Caleb teased, his voice rich with amusement.
I couldn’t help it-I giggled like an idiot, heat blooming across my cheeks. “Wait, wait,” I stammered, still laughing. “Is that a compliment or, like, a football thing?”
They both laughed, the sound deep and unrestrained, and I grinned, loving the way it vibrated through the room.
**”Oh, oh! I just remembered something I heard once,”** Rose chimed in, her voice mischievous in my mind.
Embarrassment be damned, I blurted out, “I’d love to see your backfield motion.”
Caleb shifted me off his shoulder in one smooth motion, tossing me onto the bed like I weighed nothing. The playful energy shifted instantly, their laughter replaced by something darker, hungrier.
Caden’s gaze locked on mine, his face etched with intensity as he knelt, kissing a slow, deliberate path up my thigh.
Caleb leaned close, his lips brushing against my ear, his breath warm and teasing. “Consider this your two-minute warning,” he whispered, his voice low and sinful. “Before you’re coming apart all over Caden’s face.”
My grin turned wicked as I met his eyes, my voice laced with challenge. “Is that a bet? You think I can’t last longer than two minutes?”
Caleb’s smirk deepened, his teeth grazing my neck. “Oh, it’s not a bet, sweetheart. It’s a promise. And after tonight, there’s gonna be a Lily bucket list. Number one: I’m gonna take you while wearing my jersey.”
The heat of his words sent shivers racing through me, but before I could respond, a moan escaped as Caden’s grip tightened on my hips, pulling me closer to the relentless pressure of his tongue.
Caleb’s lips curled into a sly smile as he pressed closer. “I’d love to score in your end zone,” he murmured, the double meaning sending a jolt straight through me. I laughed despite myself, toes curling from the dual sensations.
“You’re so bad,” I whispered, tilting my head to kiss him. “Isn’t that improper conduct?”
His lips hovered above mine for a moment before he captured them in a deep, consuming kiss.
The room melted into a symphony of sensations-Caleb’s lips teasing mine while his hands explored, the insistent rhythm of Caden below driving me closer to the edge. Caleb shifted, guiding me until his tip brushed against my lips, a silent demand I was all too eager to answer.
I teased him first, letting the anticipation build as his breaths grew heavier. But soon, I gave in, taking him fully, swirling my tongue as his hand cradled the back of my head.
The coil in my belly tightened, the pressure building to a crescendo as Caden doubled down, his movements more aggressive, more precise. Every stroke of his tongue sent me spiraling closer, until finally, the world shattered around me.
My head fell back, breaking away from Caleb as my body arched off the bed, waves of pleasure washing over me. “Caden! Oh, yes… oh, God,” I cried, the words tumbling out in a haze of ecstasy.
The bed seemed to cradle me in that moment, soft and grounding, as I floated on the aftershocks. My eyes fluttered shut, the intensity of it all leaving me weightless and spent.
When I opened them again, it was to find Caleb lightly tracing circles over my skin, his touch gentle and grounding. My gaze shifted to Caden, still kneeling between my legs, his lips glistening with evidence of his work.
He looked up, meeting my gaze with an expression so raw, so utterly satisfied, it left me breathless all over again. Unable to resist, I reached out, threading my fingers through his damp hair.
Caden pressed soft kisses along my thigh, his eyes never leaving mine. “She’s ready for you, brother,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.