Kieran's POV

She didn't notice the change in herself, but I did. Every bit of it.

The trembling little thing who once stared at me with wary eyes had learned to pout, to glare, to challenge me with those wet, pleading looks.

But what fascinated me most was how her body responded to me now.

She's learning to crave it--my touch, my kisses, my body against hers.

"Kieran...enough..." Her voice is soft, no strength behind it as she pushes my chest, her voice too soft, too broken to be anything but a lie.

I pin her wrists above her head, leaning down to kiss the pulse jumping in her neck.

Her skin's drenched in my scent--exactly how I want it.

She smelled like me.

Like mine.

She hasn't awakened her wolf, so I can't mark her yet, but my wolf and I know she's our mate.

No doubt.

That thought makes me hold her tighter.

"Liar," I growl, nipping her earlobe, feeling her shudder. "You want this."

She whimpers, her cheeks flushing like a blood-red moon.

Maybe I shouldn't go to that damn pack meeting alone.

I should keep her glued to me--on my lap during talks, by my side at night.

"Open your mouth," I say, gripping her chin.

She glances back, shy but obedient, offering her small tongue.

I lean in, pulling her closer, and then hold her as I catch my breath.

Collapsing, I pull her into my arms. She curls into my chest, instinctive, trusting.

That unconscious need hits me harder than any victory.

***

Lilith's POV

The alarm yanked me out of sleep.

I groaned, reaching out to silence it--only to touch cold sheets. I opened my eyes. The familiar scent of mint lingered in the air, but Kieran was already gone.

I glanced down at myself. The inside of my thighs was still pink, faintly warm to the touch. No bruises, no broken skin--just smooth, tender flesh. That ointment he insisted on using last night really worked.

"Your skin's so soft," Kieran's voice echoed in my memory, hot breath brushing the back of my neck.

Face burning, I pressed a hand to my cheek. I slipped quietly out of bed, hoping to sneak back to my own room before anyone noticed.

It had been three weeks. And the whole thing still felt like an affair. We were hiding from the maids. Hiding from Daegan, whose Alpha nose could pick up a lie from a mile away.

Like always, I moved like a thief, toes sinking into the thick carpet.

The lock clicked softly as I opened the door. I held my breath and tiptoed down the hallway.

I dodged the third creaky floorboard, only three steps from my room--

"Morning, Lilith."

I froze.

Daegan stood at the stair landing, leaning casually against the wall. Dressed in workout gear, his golden-brown hair damp with sweat. Morning run. Great.

My throat tightened.

Thank god I'd already scrubbed off every trace of Kieran's scent.

"M-Morning," I managed, forcing a smile. My nails dug into my palms. "I'll get ready. I'm heading to school soon."

He just gave a grunt in reply and stepped aside, brushing past me.

I let out a breath and bolted into my room, shutting the door behind me.

My heart was still racing.

***

Daegan's POV

By the time I came downstairs after my shower, Lilith was already in the car.

Typical. Quiet to the point of vanishing. No wolf, no presence.

And yet...impossible to ignore. Even my wolf wouldn't shut up about her.

I made myself look away, but something was off. She looked exhausted. Faint shadows under her eyes. The moment she got in the car, her head started to nod.

Annoying.

I slid into the far end of the seat, turning my face to the window. The passing scenery was way more interesting than her sleeping face.

At least, that's what I told myself.

But I could still see her in the reflection. The car rumbled to life and her head bobbed like a sleepy pup. Small. Unaware. Weirdly adorable.

"She's so cute," my wolf sighed.

Shut up.

Before I could stop him, there was a dull thud. Lilith's forehead smacked against the window.

Idiot.

I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms.

Let her bash her head. Not my problem.

Then came another bump in the road. Her head tilted back this time, her neck arching, pale skin stretched and exposed--

That's when I saw it.

A red mark. Bold. Obvious. Right above her collarbone, barely hidden by her shirt.

A mark.

A damn mark.

Who the hell did this?!

"Who the hell did this?!" my wolf roared inside my head.

My hands curled into fists. The leather seat creaked under the pressure.

Then she tipped forward again, about to fall--and my body moved before my brain could catch up.

I reached across the seat, catching her head with my shoulder just in time.

It wasn't planned. It was pure instinct.

Her cheek pressed against me, warm and light. I turned my head slowly, afraid to even breathe.

Was she awake?

No. Thank god.

But now she was too close. Her hair brushed my neck, her scent curling in my nose--soft, unfamiliar, but maddening.

She shouldn't have a scent. Her wolf hasn't awakened yet. And still, she smelled like something mine.

Then, as if to kill me, she nuzzled in, like a kitten finding its spot.

I went stiff.

"Sorry..." The driver glanced at us through the mirror, looking awkward.

I shot him a look. Cold. Sharp. Warning.

He shut up fast. Smart move.

I didn't know what to do with the warmth in my arms. I should move her. Now. Immediately.

But my wolf was growling, "Hold her."

And somehow, my hands listened to him. I adjusted her gently, helping her settle more comfortably against me.

Goddamn it.

The school gates were up ahead.

I reached under her chin, lifting her head carefully--her skin was even softer than it looked--and eased her back against the seat.

I didn't wake her.

Just like always, I got out of the car without waiting.

I never wait for her.

Not before. Not today. Not ever.

Lilith's POV

"Miss, we've arrived. Miss!"

A voice pulled me from sleep. I jolted awake, nearly smacking my forehead on the seat in front of me.

"We're at school now, miss," the driver said.

My eyes shot to the seat beside me--empty. I looked outside the window and caught a glimpse of a tall figure walking away.

Daegan. Of course he didn't wake me.

That was just like him.

"Thanks," I mumbled as I scrambled out of the car. I needed to get to class fast--I hadn't finished my homework thanks to Kieran keeping me busy all weekend.

Soon after, my best--okay, only--friend at this school, Brielle, arrived. She plopped down next to me, already mid-sentence.

"You didn't finish the homework?!"

I looked up and met her wide, shocked blue eyes. My face immediately felt hot.

It wasn't totally my fault. If it weren't for Kieran...

"Almost done," I said, flipping to a blank page in my notebook. "Just a little left."

Brielle suddenly leaned in, and the soft scent of citrus from her shampoo floated over to me. She always smelled light and clean--completely different from the suffocating dominance of the Blackthorn alphas.

"You're so pretty, Lili."

There it was--her daily compliment. She said something like that at least three times a day, and I still had no idea how to respond.

But today, her gaze froze.

"Wait...do you have a boyfriend?"

My heart stopped. I instinctively pulled back so fast my head almost hit the locker behind me.

Damn it, Kieran. Damn the mark. Damn our instincts.

"There's a hickey right here," Brielle whispered, pointing toward my neck. "Someone definitely kissed you."

My brain scrambled for a lie. My throat felt dry.

"It's just a bug bite," I said, too quickly.

She scrunched her nose. "It must've been a huge one. That looks painful."

"It's...it's fine." My voice was barely a whisper.

Thankfully, she let it go and changed the subject. "Lili, do you want to sleep over at my place tonight? My parents are out of town."

My whole body tensed.

Ever since moving into the Blackridge Pack, I'd gotten used to being judged. I wasn't sure if Brielle's parents would be like her...or if they'd try to keep her away from me too.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Brielle pouted. "My brother's not home either...come on, please?" She tugged at my sleeve, her voice soft and pleading. "I'm always alone. You'd be my first friend to ever come over."

My ears caught the quickening beat of her heart--she was nervous.

"First?" I was honestly surprised. With her bright personality, I thought she'd have people over all the time.

She looked down slightly, her smile dimming. "I used to have friends...but they weren't real. Their eyes always had something else behind them."

And then I understood.

It wasn't that Brielle didn't have friends. It was that she could tell which smiles were fake. And she'd decided I was real.

The least I could do was return that trust.

"Okay," I said softly. "I'll come home with you tonight."

After school, I didn't wait for Daegan. I texted the driver and followed Brielle instead.

Daegan wouldn't care anyway.

Her house wasn't far from mine, but it felt completely different--warm, inviting, like an actual home instead of a cold estate.

Brielle was so excited she practically dragged me inside before the car had even fully stopped.

"Our chef is amazing--" she started, then froze mid-sentence.

A pair of men's dress shoes sat by the entrance.

"Jarek?" Her voice jumped an octave.

I followed her gaze and saw a tall figure sitting on the living room couch.

Something in me pulled back instinctively.

Maybe it was because I was getting close to shifting for the first time, but I was way too sensitive to Alpha energy lately.

And this one...this one felt dangerous.

"I'm home for a few days," he said, setting aside his tablet.

Then he stood and walked toward me with calm, smooth movements.

"Hi, I'm Jarek. Brielle's brother."

He held out a hand--large, clean, perfectly trimmed nails. Everything about him screamed control.

I hesitated, then took it. The moment our skin touched, a faint spark ran up my arm.

I nearly pulled back, but his fingers lightly squeezed mine. Not rough, but enough to leave me uneasy.

That feeling stayed with me the rest of the night.

Later, when someone knocked on the guest room door, I realized I should've trusted my instincts.

Jarek's POV

Knock. Knock. Knock.

My knuckles turned white as I rapped on the guest room door.

Three firm taps. Polite enough not to seem aggressive, but deliberate enough to ensure I'd be heard.

I adjusted my cuffs, smoothing my expression into something resembling concern--the perfect picture of a caring older brother checking on his sister's friend.

Not the man who had spent nights imagining her beneath him, writhing and begging.

The door swung open.

And there she stood, wrapped in white silk that clung to every curve, so tight it looked ready to tear. All the blood in my body rushed south in an instant.

Fuck.

Brielle had no idea what she'd done--giving this girl a nightgown that looked innocent on her but was nothing short of a sin on Lilith.

The fabric strained over full breasts, the peaks of her nipples pressing visibly against the thin material. I could almost feel them between my teeth, the way they'd harden if I--

"Jarek?"

Her voice snapped me back.

I forced my gaze upward, only to freeze at the sight of her neck.

Pink marks. Bruises. And--my pupils dilated--bite marks.

Not just any love bites.

Wolf marks.

The kind left by canines breaking skin. A claim.

Someone had gotten to her before me.

My fangs lengthened on instinct, sharp and aching. I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, the metallic tang of blood flooding my tongue.

Who?

Which one of the Blackthorn bastards had touched her?

She crossed her arms--stupid, stupid girl--pushing her tits together, the valley between them deepening. My dick throbbed.

She had no idea what she looked like right now. No idea how badly I wanted to ruin her.

"Jarek?" she repeated, lashes fluttering.

I should answer.

Should smile.

But all I could think about was pinning her against the wall, dragging my teeth over that marked skin until my scent drowned out whoever had dared to claim her first.

***

Lilith's POV

Jarek's eyes darkened, his scent shifting into something predatory.

I wanted to slam the door. To run. To scream.

But fear locked me in place--if I panicked, he'd pounce. So I stayed still, forcing calm into my voice.

"Is the room to your liking?"

The polite question barely left his lips before he stepped inside, crossing the threshold like he owned it.

I stumbled back, my spine hitting the wardrobe behind me, the wood biting into my skin through the thin silk.

"It's fine," I managed, voice brittle.

Jarek sank into the armchair, fingers drumming lazily against the armrest.

Moonlight cut across his face, half in shadow, half in pale glow.

His icy blue eyes gleamed--unnaturally bright.

Like Kieran's.

The realization twisted my stomach.

Same predator's gaze. Same calculated stillness.

But at least Kieran didn't pretend to be anything but a wolf.

Jarek? He was still playing human, even now.

"We should talk," he said, lips curving.

"About what?" I hugged myself tighter, making myself small.

His fingers brushed the back of my neck.

I jerked away, my hip slamming into the desk behind me. Pain flared, tears pricking my eyes--but worse was the way his gaze lit up at the sight of me hurting.

"About the marks on your neck."

The words were a knife to my ribs.

"It's just...a bug bite," I lied.

His laugh was low, dangerous. "You really think I'd believe that?"

Then his hand snapped out, gripping my wrist, and the world spun as he yanked me into his lap.

I went rigid.

Too close.

Too fucking close.

I could feel the hard muscle of his thighs, the heat of him--and the unmistakable press of his erection against my hip.

"Ah--!"

His thumb dug into the bite on my collarbone, pain sparking sharp and bright. I gasped as his fingers traced my jaw, tilting my face up to his.

His eyes weren't blue anymore.

They were wolf eyes.

"What kind of bug leaves a wolf's teeth marks, little one?" His breath was hot against my cheek.

Shame burned through me, but worse was the traitorous heat pooling low in my stomach.

My skin prickled where he touched me, my body reacting for me, even as my mind screamed to run.

"An Alpha did this," he murmured. "Let me guess...Kieran?"

I turned my face away, but his hand fisted in my hair, forcing me back. The silver chain around my neck burned, but not as much as the hand sliding up my thigh beneath the silk.

"Jarek--" My voice shook. "Let me go."

"Not yet." His thumb brushed my lower lip, rough and possessive. "You haven't answered me."

Tears welled, but I nodded.

Not just from humiliation.

From the way my body ached for him--the way the wolf inside me, still half-asleep, stirred in answer to his nearness.