The Moon Goddess Festival arrived faster than Lily expected. All around her, the pack buzzed with anticipation.

Decorations hung from the trees and houses, and people seemed to be enjoying the evening's grand celebration.

The festival had always been a massive event for the pack, a tradition going back centuries.

It was meant to honor the Moon Goddess and her guidance over the wolves, particularly in matters of mates.

But for Lily, tonight held a much darker significance. It was time for her escape, the day she had been counting down to for years, the day she would finally leave.

No one in the pack had cared about her birthday; no one even acknowledged it, they probably didn't remember.

All they cared was the Alpha twins mate ritual. But that didn’t matter. She didn’t need their well wishes. What she needed was freedom.

She clenched her fists at the thought of Lucas and Liam.

All these years, they had tormented her relentlessly, making her life a living hell. And now, they were about to ascend to the role of Alpha leaders.

The pack worshipped them, adored them. No one knew the true monsters they were, except for her.

But after tonight, they wouldn’t be her problem anymore.

She needed to stick to her plan. She planned on waiting until the festival had already began and people didn't even care about her presence, then she would slip away unnoticed.

She had checked out a path through the woods that led out of pack territory. From there, she would follow the river to the nearest town.

It was risky, but it was her only option. She couldn’t stay here any longer. Not after everything she’d endured.

Taking a deep breath, Lily grabbed her bag and carried it over her shoulder. She made her way downstairs, the house empty as usual.

Her mother had left hours ago to help with the festival preparations, not that she would have noticed her absence anyway.

She was practically invisible to her, an outcast in her own family.

As she stepped outside, she looked around to make sure that she wasn't being watched by anyone.

She kept her head down, walking quickly past the crowd, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might recognize her.

As she reached the edge of the forest, Lily hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the city.

This was it. Once she crossed into the boundary, there was no turning back.

"Goodbye hell" She said.

She stepped into the woods and made her way down the road.

The path she had mapped out in her head was clear, and she moved swiftly, her senses on high alert.

She knew she wasn't entirely safe until she has successfully crossed the border. It was most important.

Lily had only been walking for about fifteen minutes when she heard it, a rustling sound behind her.

She froze, her heart skipping a beat. Slowly, she turned, looking at the trees, but there was nothing there. Just the wind, she told herself. Just the wind.

But as she started walking again, the sound came back, louder this time. Footsteps.

Someone was following her.

Panic surged through Lily’s body as she quickened her pace, her eyes moving around the forest.

She could feel the presence behind her, following each step she took. Whoever it was, they were close, too close.

Suddenly, someone stepped out from the shadows, blocking her path. Lily’s heart leapt into her throat as she recognized him instantly.

Lucas.

He stood there, arms crossed over his chest, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Going somewhere?” he asked, his voice filled with mockery.

Lily’s blood ran cold. How had he found her? She hadn’t seen him anywhere near the edge of the forest. Had he been following her this whole time?

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to remain calm. "Aren't you supposed to be at the moon goddess festival?"

Lucas took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

“I could ask you the same thing. But I already know the answer" He said.

Lily clenched her fists, her mind racing. She had to think of something, some way to get past him. But Lucas was fast, stronger than her, and she knew he wouldn’t let her go easily.

“I’m leaving,” she said, her voice more confident than she felt. “I don’t care what you or anyone else in this pack thinks of me. I’m done being your punching bag.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, looking almost impressed by her defiance.

“You think it’s that simple? That you can just walk away?” he asked.

“I don’t care if it’s simple,” Lily snapped. “I’m not staying here another day.”

For a moment, Lucas didn’t respond. He simply stared at her, his eyes narrowing. Then, without warning, he lunged forward, grabbing her arm. Lily gasped, trying to pull away, but his grip was like iron.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Not tonight.”

Fear gripped Lily as she struggled against him, but Lucas held her firmly, his strength overpowering her.

“Let me go!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the trees.

Lucas’s expression darkened, and for a moment, she thought he might actually hurt her. But then, something shifted in his gaze. The smirk vanished, replaced by something colder, more serious.

“You don’t get it, do you?” he said quietly, his grip loosening slightly. “You can’t leave. Not now.”

Lily’s heart pounded in her chest.

“Why? Why do you care?” she asked.

Lucas let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head.

“Because, surprisingly, you’re important, whether you like it or not" He replied.

Lily blinked continuously, trying to understand what he was saying to her.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

But before Lucas could answer, another voice cut through the air.

“She deserves to know, Lucas.”

Lily turned to see Liam stepping out from behind a tree, his expression unreadable. He walked toward them, his eyes locking onto Lily’s.

“You're our mate,” Liam said, his voice steady, but filled with anger. “The Moon Goddess chose you, Lily.”

The words hit her like a punch to the gut.

Mate?

Her mind went blank, her body going numb. This had to be some kind of sick joke. The twins, her mates? The very same boys who had tormented her for years?

She shook her head, stepping back, her heart racing.

“No,” she whispered. “That can’t be true.”

Lucas’s grip tightened on her arm again.

“It is, Lily. You can’t run from this" He said. "If you do, the entire pack will be thrown in chaos and you'll eventually end up dead."

Lily’s world spun out of control. Everything she had planned, every hope of escaping, shattered in an instant.

How could the Moon Goddess have done this to her? How could she bind her to the very people who had made her life unbearable?

Her knees failed her, but before she could fall, Lucas caught her, his arms steadying her. She felt trapped, suffocated by the reality crashing down on her.

“I… I can’t…” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

But it didn’t matter. There was no escaping now.

Lily stood in complete silence, the weight of the Moon Goddess's choice pressing down on her heavily.

It felt surreal to be named the mate of Lucas and Liam, the very twins who had turned her life into a living nightmare.

A rush of anger filled her veins and judging from the cold expression on both their faces, it was obvious they hated the idea of being tied to her too.

“This can’t be real,” she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re both sick for even thinking I would accept this.”

Liam stepped forward, arms crossed as he rolled his eyes. He felt she was being too dramatic.

Every girl would kill to be chosen as their mate but Lily was behaving like she hasn't just won a lottery.

“But the Goddess has chosen you, Lily. You don’t get to decide. This is destiny” He replied.

“Destiny?” Lily spat, her voice rising. “Destiny is not being forced into a relationship with two bullies! You think I would ever want to be with you after everything you’ve done?”

“Look, Lily,” Lucas said, his patience with Lily's behavior already running out. “You’ll learn to accept this bond. It’s for the good of the pack. You might make a great Luna, but all I care about is you not running away and leaving the pack to surfer the wrath if the moon goddess for disobedience.”

“A great Luna?” she repeated. They were absolutely kidding right now. “You’re delusional! You've hated me for years, since I was ten years old. How can you expect me to just roll over and accept this?”

The twins exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from amusement to annoyance.

Lucas leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a menacing whisper.

“You don’t understand how powerful this bond is. We’re connected now. You can’t just walk away from it” He said sternly.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to escape this pack and your twisted plans!” she shot back, her heart racing. “I don’t want to be your mate. I’d rather be alone than endure this nightmare!”

Liam stepped closer, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“You’re making this harder on yourself, Lily. We could make your life so much easier if you just accepted your place” He added.

“Easier?” Lily laughed bitterly. “Is that what you call bullying? Making my life a living hell? I will never accept this. You can’t force me to be with you!”

“Watch us,” Lucas replied, his smile returning but devoid of any warmth. “We have our ways of making you comply.”

She felt a chill run down her spine at the implication.

“You think you can intimidate me into submission? You’re wrong! I’ll fight you every step of the way" Lily struggled to be free from their grip but they were much stronger than her.

“Then you’re in for a rough ride,” Liam said, his voice low and cold. “You think you’re strong enough to resist us? The pack won’t support you if you refuse to accept your destiny.”

“Good!” Lily shouted, her fists clenched tightly. “I don’t care if they don’t support me! I’d rather be on my own than tied to you two.”

The twins exchanged glances again. It was as if they were silently planning what they would do to her if she kept on being stubborn.

“Lily,” Lucas said, his tone shifting to an obvious fake sympathy. “You’re only making this harder on yourself. You’ll come to regret rejecting us. Just think about it, do you really want to be the outcast forever?”

She felt a wave of fury rise within her.

“I’d rather be an outcast than live with both of you! You think I want to be paraded around as the mate of the twins who’ve tormented me? Never!” She screamed at both their faces.

“Then we’ll have to show you just how serious we are,” Liam said, stepping forward, his gaze sharp and threatening.

Panic gripped her.

“What do you mean? You can’t just force me to accept this!” She said.

“Watch us,” Lucas echoed, his voice cold. “We can make your life a nightmare if you keep fighting us.”

“No,” Lily said, taking a step back. “I will not be bullied into submission. I will not be with either of you, no matter what you do.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re making a mistake, Lily. You think you can just walk away? The pack will turn on you, and you’ll be alone.”

She straightened herself, refusing to back down.

“Better alone than with you. I’ve been alone for years, and I survived. I can do it again” She replied.

The twins shared a look that sent shivers down her spine.

“Fine,” Lucas said, his voice chillingly calm. “If you think you’re strong enough to refuse, we’ll see how long that resolve lasts.”

As their grip on her arm tightened, she felt her heart race, a mixture of fear and determination surging within her. She would not give in. She had endured their torment for too long to let them win now.

“No! Stop! You're hurting me!” she yelled, but they didn’t stop.

She tried to run, desperation taking over her.

“You can’t escape your fate, Lily. You belong to us now" Liam said fiercely.

“Let go of me!” she shouted, trying to free herself, but he held on tight, his grip like iron. “You don’t own me!”

“Yet,” he said, leaning closer, his breath hot against her skin. “But you will.”

With a sudden surge of strength, she twisted away from his grasp, gasping as she broke free. She stumbled backward, her heart racing with fear and adrenaline.

“You’ll regret this!” she yelled, gathering her courage. “I won’t be your mate!”

Liam’s laughter echoed in the air, dark and mocking.

“We’ll see about that, Lily" He said.

As she turned to run again, her mind raced with thoughts of how to escape this nightmare.

Just as she reached the edge of the boundary, she felt a sharp pain in her wrist as Lucas grabbed her again.

“You’re not going anywhere" He pulled her back before she could cross.

“Please, stop!” she cried out, panic rising in her chest. “I won’t accept this!”

But as she struggled against their grip, she felt the weight of their words crashing down on her. They were determined to make her submit, and she knew she needed to find a way out, fast.

As they dragged her back into the pack territory, the realization of her horrible new reality hit her.

This fight was far from over, and she would have to summon every ounce of strength to defy them.

In that moment, as they began to drag her back to continue with her horrible life, she made a silent vow: no matter what they did, she would never accept the bond.

She would fight back with everything she had, even if it meant facing the wrath of the pack and the twins.

She wouldn’t go down without a fight. The choice was hers, and she was determined to reclaim her freedom, no matter the cost.

The cool night air hit Lily’s face as Lucas and Liam dragged her back to the city square. She was already boiling, her mind filled with anger and frustration.

The town square was full, all eyes turning as the twins brought her into the center.

A loud gasp rose from the crowd, and whispers went through the pack as people recognized her.

“Isn’t that Lily? What’s happening?” someone murmured.

“She tried to run, didn’t she?” another voice said, obviously with hate.

“Traitor,” someone added, and soon enough, the crowd’s murmur turned into a loud series of sneers and insults.

Lily clenched her jaw, refusing to let their words wound her.

They had called her every name possible over the years; what was one more insult?

She kept her gaze ahead, narrowing her eyes as she spotted Alpha Dean, Lucas and Liam’s father, standing at the front of the gathering.

He held his head high, a look of both anger and disappointment plastered into his face as he looked at her.

“She tried to cross the boundary,” Lucas reported to his father, gripping Lily’s arm even tighter as if he could prevent her from even thinking about escaping again.

“Typical,” Alpha Dean scoffed, shaking his head. “You are part of this pack, yet you attempt to abandon your duty, to disrespect the very bond the Moon Goddess has granted you.”

The crowd gasped, shock and hate flooding their faces.

“Traitor!”

“Ungrateful!”

“A disgrace to the pack!”

But Lily didn’t care. She lifted her chin and, with fire blazing in her eyes, yelled,

“I don’t care what any of you think of me! And I definitely don’t care what the Moon Goddess decided. I will never accept being mated to them. Never!”

The crowd fell silent, stunned by her words.

Lucas and Liam stared at her, taken aback, while Alpha Dean’s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. He took a step forward, his gaze fixed and intimidating.

“Silence, Lily,” he commanded, his voice a low growl that sent shivers through the crowd.

But Lily wasn’t afraid. Not anymore.

Her heart beat loudly with anger, but her voice remained steady.

“No. I’m done with being silent, with all of you thinking you can decide my life for me. I am not your property, and I won’t be the mate of anyone who has treated me like I’m nothing!”

Alpha Dean’s eyes flashed with rage.

In an instant, he raised his hand and slapped her across the face. The slap rang out in the square, sharp and harsh, leaving a stinging pain on her cheek.

Lily stumbled, her hand flying to her face, eyes wide with shock. The crowd gasped, an uncomfortable silence falling over them as they looked between Lily and their Alpha.

Alpha Dean glared down at her.

“You will respect your place, Lily,” he said coldly. “And you will obey.”

Lily’s vision blurred with tears, not from the pain but from the overwhelming anger and humiliation.

She clenched her fists, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

“Take her to her new room in the mansion,” Alpha Dean ordered the guards. “She needs time to reconsider her position.”

The guards seized her arms and pulled her away from the square, past the whispers and the accusing glares of the pack members.

Once they reached the mansion, the guards led her to a room on the top floor.

They pushed her inside, and she heard the lock click behind her. She looked around, realizing she was alone in a large, well-furnished room.

She rushed to the door and twisted the handle, but it didn’t budge.

“Locked,” she muttered under her breath.

They expected her to just stay put, like some prisoner awaiting judgment.

Her mind raced as she thought about what they’d just done to her, as if she was nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game. But she wasn’t going to stay locked up like this. Not when she had the smallest chance of getting out.

She put her hand inside her hair, pulling out a small hairpin she’d hid there earlier.

It took only a few seconds to work it into the lock, her hands quick and practiced. With a quiet click, the door swung open.

Lily stepped into the dimly lit hallway, her heart pounding as she moved silently along the corridor.

The mansion was mostly quiet, though she could hear distant voices somewhere downstairs.

She pressed herself against the wall, inching forward, keeping her ears open for any sound.

As she rounded the corner, she heard voices coming from a room nearby.

She froze, recognizing the deep tones—Lucas and Liam, their voices low but filled with frustration. She moved closer, listening intently.

“This is ridiculous,” Liam was saying, his tone seething with anger. “Why should we be forced to accept someone like her?”

“We don’t have a choice,” Lucas replied, though his voice held an edge of resentment. “Father insists. The Moon Goddess made her our mate, and he says we can’t go against it.”

Liam scoffed.

“I don’t care what Father says. I don’t want anything to do with her. She’s a disgrace to the pack.”

Lucas was silent for a moment, and Lily could almost feel his reluctance.

“Father won’t let us out of this,” he muttered finally. “He’ll make us bind to her no matter what.”

Hearing their words was like a slap to Lily’s face.

She had no idea they were as repulsed by the bond as she was, but it didn’t make her feel any better. In fact, it made her resolve even stronger. She would never be bound to anyone who saw her as a burden, who saw her as something to be tolerated out of duty.

Lily turned to slip back down the hallway, her anger and determination fueling her as she considered her next move.

But just as she turned, she froze, her heart seizing in her chest.

A tall figure stood at the other end of the hallway, watching her with cold, piercing eyes.

It was Graham, the Alpha twins’ Beta, a man known for his loyalty to the Alpha family and his merciless ways of enforcing pack rules.

His stare was as intense as it was unforgiving, and there was an air of authority about him that made her uneasy.

“What the hell are you doing here, Lily?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Her throat tightened, but she held her ground, meeting his gaze with defiance.

She knew she couldn’t afford to look weak in front of him, even if her heart was pounding in her chest.