43

Lilith’s POV
I had pulled an all-nighter to finish my final paper as a college student. Exhaustion clung to me like a second skin, and the thought of downing a few beers and hibernating for two days sounded like pure bliss. But, of course, my mates had other plans. Finals week was behind us, and they couldn’t wait to show me our house.
Our house.
The thought alone made me smile as I grabbed the tape and sealed yet another box. It still amazed me how seamlessly Caden’s creative vision and Caleb’s sharp sense of style had come together. If the house looked half as incredible in reality as it did on Caden’s app, it was going to be nothing short of spectacular.
Right now, though, it was just framing. We still had a few weeks before it would be ready, which left one glaring question unresolved: where were we staying in the meantime? The idea of living under the same roof as our parents as a newly mated couple was enough to make my wolf, Rose, howl in protest.
I jolted slightly when the door to my apartment swung open. I hadn’t even realized I’d forgotten to lock it, though with most of the student body already gone, the place was turning into a ghost town.
“I’ve got the truck backed up to the stairs. Just point out what’s ready to go,” Caleb said as he strode in, his voice brimming with energy.
I bit my lip as I glanced at him. He was all sweat and muscle, wearing a black tee that clung to his chest and navy shorts that showed off his powerful legs. His damp hair and the faint, sweet scent of pineapple lingering on his skin were an intoxicating combination.
Since being marked, my senses had sharpened in ways I was still getting used to. Caleb had warned me that he and Caden were men of action, and oh, how true that was. My body still hummed from the “action” they’d been dishing out all week.
“Excited, are we? We’re finally moving!” Rose practically squealed, her excitement bubbling through the bond.
I blew a strand of hair out of my face and pointed Caleb toward a stack of boxes while I searched for a hair tie. As I caught my reflection in the mirror, a wave of nostalgia hit me. This little apartment had been the backdrop for so many milestones-getting ready for classes, parties, dates. But none of that could compare to the whirlwind of freedom and love I’d experienced this week with my mates.
As I mindlessly packed the contents of my drawers, I felt the heat of a familiar body behind me. Caleb pressed himself against my back, trapping me against the sink.
“You know, I think about that night in front of this mirror all the time,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my neck.
A shiver ran down my spine.
“Hmm,” I hummed softly as his lips found my marking spot, and a moan slipped out before I could stop it.
When they kissed me there, it wasn’t just a touch-it was a claim, a promise. The intensity of it awakened something primal deep within me, something ancient and untamed.
The bathroom door slammed shut, and before I could process, Caleb had spun me to face the mirror. His hand wrapped around my throat, firm but not harsh, while his other hand trailed up my thigh and between my legs.
“Did you wear this little dress just for me, baby?” he growled, his fingers finding their mark.
The truth? It was sweltering outside, but if it fed his fantasy, who was I to argue? Words escaped me as his movements stole my breath.
Just as I came down from the high of Caleb’s touch, I heard the front door open.
“Really?” Caden’s voice carried from the living room. “I can smell it from out here.”
“So join us or suffer,” I teased, laughing.
Before I knew it, Caden had stormed into the room, and I was swept onto the mattress. Clothes flew, and the next hour was a blissful blur of passion. By the end, Caleb had to text his family to let them know we’d be late to the graduation party they were hosting for us.
The picnic was beautiful, though. I spent much of it curled up next to my mom, who was an emotional wreck about my graduating and moving away. She and Dad begged me to take them on a run through my new home’s grounds, but I was too drained to do much more than nod along to conversations.
At one point, a little girl from the quay ran up to me, her wide eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Daddy, this is our new Luna! She gave me Snuggles! Isn’t she pretty?” she beamed, pointing at the stuffed animal I’d gifted her.
Her dad chuckled as the little girl launched into a story about her adventures with Snuggles. I smiled, her joy warming me in a way that few things could.
Later that night, as we gathered around a massive bonfire in the backyard of our incomplete house, Caleb turned to the group and asked the question that had been looming in the air all day.
“So, you guys planning to crash in the pack house until the house is ready?” he blurted out, beer in hand. I couldn’t help but bite the inside of my cheek as Caden wrapped me in a hug, laughing.
“Actually…” Sophia’s voice trailed off, her mate Kieran pulling her close and gazing down at her.
“It’s our anniversary Sunday, but we thought we’d start tonight,” Ethan said.
I suppressed the urge to make a face, fully understanding his vibe.
Sophia playfully traced her fingers up his chest, her voice light with excitement. “We’ve set up a little getaway about half a mile above the training grounds. We’re going to the woods for a bit, just like right after we got marked.”
“Gross,” Caleb muttered, throwing back his beer.
“Yeah, could’ve picked a better time to join the conversation,” Violet said, popping up from behind Caleb. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close.
Aunt Freya, blissfully unaware of our awkwardness, chimed in, “Oh, I didn’t get a copy of *The Full Moon Times* with your interview! Do you have any extras?”
Aunt Freya was always so perfectly oblivious-sometimes it was exactly what we needed.
“Yeah, there’s copies in the pack house kitchen,” Caden replied, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I hadn’t even seen the paper yet-honestly, with everything going on this week, I had barely remembered to breathe, let alone check the paper. I had been overwhelmed by people asking questions, gossiping, and even requesting autographs.
“I’ll walk you, Freya,” I said, pulling away from my mate and striding over to loop my arm around her.
“Oh, shit, let’s go!” Liam yelled suddenly, and a wave of movement swept past us.
I glanced around in confusion.
*What’s going on?* I mind-linked to my mates. It couldn’t be anything too serious-this was supposed to be the most peaceful pack on the planet. But a wave of nervousness crept up my spine, especially when I noticed Freya tense beside me.
“Apparently, a family of raccoons made their way into the pack house. They even reached the second floor,” Caleb responded, laughing.
*Yeah, that’s the level of excitement around here. Someone will shift and scare them off,* Caden added, still chuckling.
I relayed the information to Freya as we walked, and she started telling me about the strawberries in her garden, though I was only half listening. By the time we reached the kitchen to grab the papers, the excitement had fizzled, and everyone was heading off to bed.
My family was staying the night in some guest rooms, and I made sure everyone was settled before I climbed onto Caleb’s back for a piggyback ride to their parents’ house.
Once inside, they wasted no time undressing me together, just like every night since we’d been marked. It was a bit of a game between them-if one of them didn’t get to undress me, there’d be a fight. I was amused by it, but I decided not to ask about their private conversations. A girl’s got to keep some secrets, and I suppose they were owed theirs.
The next morning, as the guys went off to the training fields, I finally sat down with the paper and a cup of hot chocolate. I bent my head to sniff my shirt-it was Caleb’s jersey. Hmm.
The headline read: “EXCLUSIVE: ASHFORD TWINS ON FINDING THEIR MATE, END OF THEIR FOOTBALL CAREERS, AND RETURNING TO BLOOD MOON .”
I smiled as I skipped over the football game highlights and the part of the interview about their careers. Of course, Ivana had asked about *our* kiss after the game.
“Knowing she was there, cheering us on, was incredible. Even if she doesn’t follow football-and that’s probably why we never met-just having her there for us felt like a high. After the win, I just had to kiss her. No matter how public. It was the best feeling ever to finally be with her, out in the open,” Caleb had said.
I touched my lips, remembering both of their breathtaking kisses. We were probably going to be public exhibitionists-and I had to wonder how that would play out in the long run. But then again, there was always the haunted house.
“Lily is just a breath of fresh air. She’s challenging, feisty, but we need that. Everyone’s let us get away with everything our whole lives, but Lily grounds us. She doesn’t just see us as Alphas. She sees us as the men we are-and the ones she has to live with. The moment I met her, I knew my life would be forever changed. She’s everything I never knew I needed,” Caden had said.
A tear slipped down my cheek as Rose cooed in my mind. I grabbed my phone and texted Violet. There was only one more thing I needed to do. I couldn’t keep putting it off-I had to face it. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t let my mates appear weak, and it was time for me to step up and own my destiny.
Me: Could you set up a lunch for me, you, and your mom today? I think it’s time I have a heart-to-heart with her. I’m never going to be her, but I need to figure out what I’m going to be.
Destiny or not, I wasn’t walking into the lion’s den that was Sophia Ashford alone. Violet wanted another sister-well, your sister needs you, girl.
Violet: Hell yes.