Lily wanted to kick him. Instead, she forced a smile.

 "Thanks, Derek. I appreciate it."

 "That's what family's for," Derek said smoothly.

 The word family felt like a lie in her mouth. They weren't family. They were enemies bound by a terrible secret and an even more terrible deal.

 After dinner, Lily volunteered to help clean up. Anything to avoid more forced conversation. She stood at the sink washing dishes while Mom dried, and Kane and Derek went to the living room to watch TV.

 "You seem quiet tonight," Mom said gently. "Are you okay, sweetheart?"

 Lily scrubbed a plate harder than necessary. "Just tired. It's been a long day."

 "I know this is a big change." Mom set down her towel and pulled Lily into a hug. "But I promise, it's going to be wonderful. Kane is amazing, and Derek... well, I think once you get to know him, you'll see what a good person he is."

 Lily buried her face in her mother's shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of vanilla and lavender. More than anything, she wanted to tell Mom the truth, about Derek, about the life-debt, about how scared she was.

 But she couldn't. Mom was so happy. So hopeful about this new life.

 Lily couldn't destroy that.

 "I love you, Mom," she whispered.

 "I love you too, baby. So much." Mom kissed the top of her head. "Now go get some rest. Tomorrow's a big day."

 Lily finished the dishes and headed upstairs with Luna. As she passed Derek's room at the end of the hall, she heard music playing-something low and intense, all bass and drums.

 She hurried to her own room and locked the door.

 Only then did she let herself break down.

 She sank onto the bed, and Luna climbed up beside her, whining softly. Lily buried her hands in silver fur and let the tears come.

 "What are we going to do, girl?" she whispered. "We're stuck here. Stuck with him."

 Luna licked her face, offering comfort the only way she knew how.

 Lily lay down, pulling Luna close. Through the wall, she could still hear Derek's music. He was so close, just down the hall, in the same house, unavoidable.

 Her stepbrother.

 Her blackmailer.

 Her... what? What was he really?

 The spark she'd felt when they shook hands tingled in her memory. It hadn't felt like pack magic. It had felt like something else entirely, something that scared her almost as much as the life-debt itself.

 Lily closed her eyes, exhaustion finally dragging her toward sleep.

 Tomorrow, she'd face Silver Creek High. Tomorrow, she'd start paying her debt.

 Tomorrow, her new life as Derek Stone's assistant would begin.

 But tonight, in the darkness of her room, she let herself hate him. Hate him for putting her in this position. Hate him for being right about pack law. Hate him for existing in her perfect, safe world and shattering it completely.

 And underneath the hate, buried so deep she barely recognized it, fear.

 Fear of the strange, electric connection she'd felt when they touched.

 The next morning, Lily's alarm went off at six-thirty, dragging her from nightmares of blood and gray eyes. She lay in bed for a moment, disoriented, before remembering where she was.

 The cabin. Derek. The life-debt.

 It hadn't been a dream.

 Luna was already awake, sitting by the window and watching the sunrise. Lily dragged herself out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom she now shared with Derek.

 She froze with her hand on the doorknob.

 What if he was in there?

 "He left for his morning run twenty minutes ago," a voice said behind her.

 Lily spun around. Kane stood in the hallway, already dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, holding a coffee mug.

 "Oh. I didn't hear him leave."

 "Derek's quiet when he wants to be." Kane smiled. "He runs every morning, rain or shine. Five miles through the forest. He'll be back by seven-fifteen."

"That's... dedicated."

 "That's what it takes to be alpha." Kane's expression turned serious. "The pack looks to their leader for strength. Derek's been training his whole life for this role."

 Lily nodded, not knowing what else to say. Kane seemed nice,  nothing like the cruel stepfather from fairy tales. That somehow made this whole situation worse.

 "Anyway," Kane continued, "I just wanted to check on you. First day jitters?"

 "A little," Lily admitted.

 "Derek will take care of you. He's good at making people feel welcome." Kane squeezed her shoulder gently. "And if anyone gives you trouble, you tell me. Pack or human, it doesn't matter. You're my daughter now, and I protect what's mine."

 The kindness in his voice made Lily's throat tight. She managed a smile and escaped into the bathroom before he could see the tears threatening to spill.

 She locked the door and leaned against it, breathing hard.

 This was so messed up. Kane was being wonderful, treating her like family, while his son was blackmailing her. How long could she keep up this act?

 One year, she reminded herself. Just one year.

She showered quickly, hyperaware that Derek would be back soon. The bathroom was twice the size of the one in their old apartment, with a huge shower and double sinks. Derek's side was neat, toothbrush, deodorant, cologne organized on the counter. The cologne bottle caught her eye: expensive-looking, dark blue glass.

Before she could stop herself, Lily picked it up and sniffed it.

 Pine and something darker. Cedar,

It smelled like Derek.

 She slammed the bottle down, horrified at herself. Why did she care what he smelled like?

 Back in her room, Lily stared at her closet. What did people wear to Silver Creek High? Her old school had uniforms, but Kane said this one didn't. She settled on jeans and a green sweater that brought out her eyes, then spent way too long trying to tame her hair into something presentable.

 "What do you think?" she asked Luna, who cocked her head and wagged her tail once. "Good enough?"

 A knock on her door made her jump.

 "Lily? Derek's giving you a ride to school," Mom called. "You've got ten minutes!"

 Lily's stomach dropped. A ride. With Derek. Alone.

 "Coming!"

She grabbed her backpack, already loaded with new notebooks and pens Mom had bought, and headed downstairs. Derek stood by the front door, keys in hand, looking annoyingly perfect in dark jeans and a gray henley that matched his eyes.

"Ready?" he asked.

 "Do I have a choice?"

 "Not really." His mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile.

 Mom rushed over and handed Lily a brown paper bag. "I made you lunch! Turkey sandwich, apple slices, and those cookies you love."

 "Mom, I'm eighteen. I can buy lunch."

 "I know, but I wanted to." Mom kissed her cheek. "Have a wonderful first day, sweetheart. Both of you."

She hugged Derek too, and Lily watched his expression soften slightly. Whatever else he was, Derek clearly cared about his father and now, apparently, her mother.

 Outside, Derek led her to a black truck parked in the driveway. It was huge and intimidating, like him.

 "Nice truck," Lily said, because she had to say something.

 "Graduation present." Derek unlocked it and climbed in. "You coming, or are you planning to walk?"

 Lily gritted her teeth and got in. The interior smelled like his cologne, that same pine and cedar scent. She cracked the window.

 Derek noticed but said nothing. He started the engine and backed out of the driveway.

 For the first five minutes, neither of them spoke. Lily watched the forest rush past, trying to ignore how aware she was of Derek beside her. His hands were steady on the wheel, confident. He drove like he did everything else, with complete control.

 "We need to go over some rules," Derek said finally.

 "More rules?" Lily crossed her arms. "You already gave me plenty."

 "These are different. These are about school." He glanced at her, then back at the road. "At Silver Creek High, I have a reputation. People expect things from me."

 "Let me guess,  you're Mr. Popular. Everyone loves you."

 "Not everyone. But most people respect me because they respect my father." Derek's jaw tightened. "That means they'll be watching you. Watching how we interact. Watching to see if there's any tension between us."

 "So what am I supposed to do? Pretend I worship the ground you walk on?"

The school loomed like a fortress.

Silver Creek High sat at the edge of town where the forest crept close, ivy crawling up its stone walls like nature was slowly reclaiming it. The building was old, older than the human town itself and Lily could feel it the moment she stepped out of Derek's truck.

Power lingered here.

Pack power.

Her stomach twisted.

"This is where you stop pretending you're invisible," Derek said quietly beside her.

Lily shot him a glare. "I've never pretended that."

"Yes, you have," he replied calmly. "You've survived by staying small. That ends today."

Students were already gathered in clusters across the wide courtyard. Some laughed. Some shoved. Some stood stiff and alert, eyes sharp, postures dominant.

Wolves.

Lily could feel their gazes slide toward her like knives.

Then Derek closed the truck door.

The effect was immediate.

Conversations stopped. Heads turned. Whispers spread like wildfire.

"That's Derek Stone."

"The alpha heir."

"Who's the girl?"

"She smells... different."

Lily swallowed.

Derek didn't slow. He walked straight into the crowd, and without touching her, he positioned himself just close enough that anyone watching would understand.

She was under his protection.

Her skin crawled.

"Rule one," Derek murmured. "You walk beside me. Not behind. Not ahead."

"I don't need,"

"Yes, you do."

They entered the building together.

Inside, the halls buzzed with energy, lockers slamming, voices echoing, dominance pushing against submission in subtle, constant ways. Lily felt it all. Every emotion hit her harder than it should have.

She stumbled.

Derek caught her elbow instantly.

Too fast.

Too familiar.

"Careful," he said, low. "Don't show weakness."

A tall blond boy blocked their path.

"Stone," he drawled. "Didn't know you collected strays."

Lily stiffened.

Derek's expression went glacial.

"This is my sister," he said evenly. "You will speak to her with respect."

The blond laughed. "She doesn't look like pack."

Derek leaned closer, voice dropping into something dangerous. "And you don't look brave enough to test me."

Silence.

The boy stepped back.

Lily stared at Derek, heart pounding.

He hadn't touched him.

He hadn't raised his voice.

And yet everyone around them looked terrified.

As they walked on, Lily whispered, "You didn't have to do that."

"Yes," Derek said quietly, "I did."

She looked up at him. "Why?"

His jaw tightened.

"Because if they sense you're unprotected," he said, "they'll tear you apart."

The rest of the day unfolded like a slow, suffocating dream.

Everywhere Lily went, she felt eyes on her.

Not curious eyes. Not friendly ones.

Evaluating eyes.

She walked beside Derek through the halls, her shoulders stiff, her senses overwhelmed by the constant press of pack energy. Wolves didn't need to bare teeth or growl to assert dominance. It was in the way they stood. The way they looked at you like they were deciding whether you were worth noticing or worth breaking.

Derek stopped at a locker near the center of the hallway.

"This is yours," he said.

Lily blinked. "How did you,"

"I had the administration assign it this morning." He opened the locker beside it. His. "You're next to me."

"I didn't agree to that."

"You agreed to the debt," he replied calmly. "This falls under protection."

Protection. Or surveillance.

She shoved her backpack into the locker harder than necessary.

As students passed, Lily caught snippets of whispers.

"Is she human?"

"No, but she smells wrong."

"She's tiny."

"Why is Stone guarding her?"

A girl with sharp eyes and long black hair slowed as she passed them. Her gaze lingered on Lily, then flicked to Derek.

"You didn't say you were getting a pet, Stone," she said coolly.

Derek didn't even look at her. "Move along, Rhea."

Rhea smiled, all teeth and calculation. "Careful. Pets get hurt."

Lily's breath hitched.

Derek finally turned. His eyes went hard. "So do threats."

Rhea held his gaze for a long second, then laughed and walked away.

Lily's hands were shaking.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"Rhea Blackwood," Derek said. "Beta bloodline. Ambitious. Cruel. Avoid her."

"Good advice," Lily muttered.

The bell rang before she could say more.

Classes blurred together.

In English, Lily sat quietly while Derek was greeted like royalty. In Biology, the teacher paired them automatically.

"Stone can help you catch up," the man said.

Derek didn't argue.

In History, someone deliberately kicked Lily's chair from behind. She stiffened, forcing herself not to react.

Omega.

Weak.

Easy.

Her wolf stirred uneasily inside her chest, and Luna's presence echoed in her mind like a soft whine. Lily pressed her fingers into her thigh under the desk, grounding herself.

By lunch, she was exhausted.

The cafeteria was divided the way packs always were, alphas and betas at the center tables, lower ranks around the edges. Humans clustered near the windows, oblivious to the invisible hierarchy ruling the room.

Derek walked straight to the central table.

Every conversation stopped.

"This is a bad idea," Lily whispered.

"Sit," he said quietly.

She hesitated.

Then she felt it again, that strange pull in her chest, firm and undeniable, like a command wrapped in instinct.

Her body moved before her mind caught up.

She sat.

The silence was deafening.

Derek took the seat beside her, casual, composed. "Anyone have a problem?"

No one spoke.

Lily's face burned.

He opened his lunch and leaned closer. "Eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"You are. And omegas who don't eat get lightheaded."

She glared at him. "Stop saying that word."

"Stop being one," he shot back softly.

That stung more than she expected.

As she pulled out her sandwich, a boy across the table sneered. "Didn't know you were into charity work, Stone."

Derek didn't look at him. "Didn't know you were into talking when you weren't invited."

The boy flushed and shut up.

Lily swallowed a bite of food she couldn't taste.

This wasn't protection.

This was ownership.

When lunch finally ended, Lily was ready to bolt.

But Derek stood.

"Don't go anywhere," he said.

She stared at him. "Why?"

"Because," he replied evenly, "this is where you start paying your debt."

Her pulse spiked. "Now?"

"Yes."

They left the cafeteria together, tension trailing behind them like a shadow. He led her down a quieter hallway toward the administrative wing.

"You're enjoying this," Lily accused under her breath.

Derek stopped abruptly and turned to face her.

"No," he said. "I'm preventing something worse."

"By humiliating me?"

"By showing the pack you're untouchable."

"I didn't ask for,"

"You don't get to ask," he interrupted. His voice dropped. "Not yet."

They stood there, inches apart. Lily could see the faint scar on his hand, the one she'd never really looked at before. Could feel the heat of him, steady and grounding and infuriating all at once.

"You don't trust me," she said quietly.

"No," Derek agreed. "But I don't trust the pack more."

He stepped back and opened a door marked STUDENT RECORDS.

Inside, shelves of files lined the walls. The air smelled like paper and dust.

"What are we doing here?" Lily asked.

Derek closed the door behind them.

"This," he said, "is your first task."

She crossed her arms. "I'm listening."

"There's a name in these records," he said. "An omega. Female. Age sixteen. She disappeared two months ago."

Lily's breath caught. "Disappeared how?"

"Officially?" Derek's jaw tightened. "Transferred. Unofficially? Taken."

"By who?"

"That's what you're going to help me find out."

Lily stared at him. "Why me?"

"Because she was registered as weak." His eyes locked onto hers. "And you're not."

Silence filled the room.

"I don't even know how to do this," Lily said.

"You will." Derek stepped closer. "Your abilities, whatever you're hiding, they react to pain. Fear. Traces of pack magic. I need you to read the files. Feel what doesn't belong."

Her heart pounded. "And if I refuse?"

Derek's voice softened, dangerously so. "Then another omega disappears."

Lily's stomach twisted.

She looked at the shelves. At the countless names. Lives catalogued and controlled.

Slowly, she reached for the first file.

As her fingers brushed the paper, a sharp pulse shot through her chest.

Her vision blurred.

Fear. Cold. Screaming.

Lily gasped and stumbled back.

Derek caught her instantly.

"What did you see?" he demanded.

Her voice shook. "She's alive."

Derek's eyes darkened.

And in that moment, Lily realized something terrifying.

This debt wasn't about the past.

It was about a war already in motion.

And she was standing right at the center of it.

The moment Lily stepped out of the records room, she knew something had changed.

The hallway felt heavier. Not louder, not busier, just tenser, like the air itself was holding its breath. Her skin prickled, instincts screaming even though she couldn't explain why.

Derek noticed immediately.

"You felt it too," he said under his breath as they walked.

Lily nodded. Her head still throbbed from the vision, flashes of fear echoing in her chest. "Someone's watching."

"Good," Derek replied. "That means your instincts are waking up."

"That's not comforting."

"It should be."

She shot him a look. "You have a strange idea of comfort."

They rounded the corner toward the main stairwell. Students crowded the space, laughter bouncing off stone walls, lockers slamming. On the surface, everything looked normal.

Underneath, it wasn't.

Lily felt it, threads of attention tugging at her from every direction. Wolves scenting weakness. Curiosity curdling into hunger.

Her steps faltered.

Derek shifted closer, his shoulder nearly brushing hers. Not touching. Never touching. But close enough that the pressure eased just a fraction.

"Don't shrink," he murmured. "They'll smell it."

"I'm not shrinking."

"You are."

She straightened her spine out of pure stubbornness. "Then stop walking like you're escorting a prisoner."

Derek's mouth twitched. "Can't. You are."

She opened her mouth to argue and froze.

A pulse rolled through the hall.

Sharp. Dominant.

Alpha-level.

Every wolf reacted instinctively. Heads dipped. Conversations died. Even the humans sensed something was wrong, though they couldn't name it.

Lily's knees went weak.

An older student stood at the top of the stairs, broad-shouldered, dark-haired, eyes glowing faintly amber. His presence pressed down like a weight.

"Derek Stone," the boy called out, voice smooth and dangerous. "Didn't expect to see you babysitting."

Derek stopped.

So did everyone else.

Lily felt his irritation spike, controlled, but real.

"Evan Cross," Derek replied evenly. "I didn't expect to see you back this term."

Evan smiled slowly. "Funny how expectations change."

His gaze slid to Lily.

She felt it like a hand closing around her throat.

Omega.

The word wasn't spoken, but it burned all the same.

"New blood," Evan said. "She's small."

Derek moved half a step forward.

"Back away," he said quietly.

The hall went dead silent.

Evan laughed softly. "Relax. I'm just curious." He tilted his head. "She doesn't feel registered."

Lily's heart slammed against her ribs.

Derek didn't deny it.

"That's none of your concern."

"Oh, I think it is." Evan descended the stairs slowly, deliberately. "Unregistered wolves are pack business."

"Not anymore," Derek snapped. "She's under my protection."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Claimed.

The implication was unmistakable.

Lily stared at Derek, shock crashing through her. You didn't tell me you were going to do that.

Evan stopped a few feet away, eyes narrowing. "Careful, Stone. Even you can't make that call alone."

"I just did."

For a heartbeat, Lily thought Evan might challenge him right there. The tension crackled, thick and electric.

Then Evan smiled again.

"Interesting," he said. "Very interesting." His gaze locked onto Lily one last time. "Be careful, little omega. Packs don't like what they can't control."

He turned and walked away.

The noise in the hallway slowly returned, but it felt forced. Fragile.

Lily's hands were shaking.

"What did you just do?" she whispered.

Derek didn't look at her. "Bought us time."

"By putting a target on my back?"

"You already had one."

They started moving again, but Lily couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted.

Evan Cross knew.

And if he knew, others would soon follow.

They reached the doors leading outside for last period. The forest loomed just beyond the school grounds, dark and watchful.

Derek stopped her.

"You don't go anywhere alone," he said firmly. "Not to class. Not home. Not the bathroom."

"I'm not helpless."

"You're valuable," he corrected. "That's worse."

Lily clenched her fists. "You don't get to decide what I am."

Derek finally met her eyes.

"No," he said quietly. "But the pack will. Unless we stay ahead of them."

The bell rang, sharp and final.

Lily swallowed hard.

Whatever life she'd known before today was gone.

And this, this dangerous, watchful existence under Derek Stone's shadow, was only the beginning.

The last bell rang like a warning shot.

Students poured out of the building toward buses and trucks, laughter too loud, movements too fast, predatory energy disguised as teenage normalcy. Lily stayed close to Derek as he guided her down the steps and across the courtyard.

She could feel it now.

Not just eyes.

Intent.

"Why is everyone suddenly acting weird?" she whispered.

"They aren't suddenly," Derek replied. "You're just finally noticing."

"That's not reassuring."

"It shouldn't be."

They reached Derek's truck, but before he could unlock it, Lily froze.

The air shifted.

Cold crawled up her spine, and Luna's presence flared sharp and frantic in her mind, like a warning howl trapped behind her ribs.

Danger.

"Derek," she breathed.

"I know."

A group of wolves stood near the treeline at the edge of the school grounds, older students, broad and confident, their postures relaxed in a way that screamed practiced violence. Evan Cross stepped forward from among them.

He smiled.

"Heading home already?" Evan asked lightly. "Thought we might talk."

Derek didn't move. "We're busy."

"So I see." Evan's gaze slid to Lily again, lingering longer this time. "She's reacting."

Lily's heart hammered.

Derek unlocked the truck with a sharp click. "Get in. Now."

Before she could move, Evan took one step closer.

Lily gasped.

The world tilted.

Fear, not hers, flooded her senses. A teenage girl screaming. Cold iron restraints. The smell of blood and wet earth.

Lily cried out and staggered forward.

Derek caught her around the waist, hauling her back against his chest.

"Don't touch her," Evan warned lazily. "You'll trigger it."

"Get away from us," Derek snarled.

Evan raised his hands. "Relax. I'm not here to fight." His eyes gleamed. "I just wanted to confirm something."

"Confirm what?" Lily whispered, trembling.

"That the rumors are true," Evan said. "That Silver Creek is sitting on something rare."

Derek growled, low and dangerous.

Evan stepped back, satisfied. "Careful, Stone. Rogues aren't the only ones who collect omegas."

Then he turned and disappeared into the trees with his pack.

Silence fell.

Derek shoved Lily gently into the truck and slammed the door shut before rounding to the driver's side. He started the engine and peeled away from the school grounds, gravel spraying behind them.

Lily clutched the seatbelt with white knuckles.

"What just happened?" she whispered.

"You touched the edge of your power," Derek said tightly. "Without training."

"I saw her," Lily choked. "The omega from the file. She's being held underground. Somewhere cold."

Derek swore under his breath.

"She's alive," Lily insisted. "And she's close. Not days away, hours."

Derek glanced at her, shock cracking his composure. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Tears blurred her vision. "She's terrified."

The truck roared through the mountain road toward home. Pine trees blurred past, shadows stretching long across the asphalt.

"We don't tell my father yet," Derek said suddenly.

Lily stared at him. "What? Why not?"

"Because the council will lock you away the moment they realize what you are," he replied grimly. "And Evan will move faster if he knows."

"So what do we do?"

Derek tightened his grip on the wheel.

"We act first."

The cabin came into view just as the sun dipped behind the mountains, the sky bleeding red and gold.

As Derek pulled into the driveway, Lily felt it again, stronger this time.

A presence.

Watching.

She stepped out of the truck and looked toward the forest.

Between the trees, something moved.

Not pack.

Not human.

Luna snarled inside her mind.

Derek followed her gaze, his expression darkening.

"We're not alone," he said.

And deep in the forest, unseen eyes locked onto the omega they had finally found.