Lilia’s POV
My heart took a long time to settle, and I still didn’t understand what Kael wanted.
In the car I’d lied about being involved with Jace, hoping he’d spare my life for his sake.
Maybe it had worked…?
What a strange man.
I went to wash off the makeup.
Pale in the mirror, but with the fright mask gone I finally looked like myself again.
I’d washed my lips countless times and could still feel the warmth he’d left there.
The way Kael kissed me, unashamed,kept floating back no matter how hard I pushed.
My kiss taken by a man who’d nearly killed me.
I touched my lips and tried to rub the feeling off with my fingertips,
The mirror had someone else in it.
I spun around.
Grace stood behind me, soundless as ever, tray in hand, expression blank.
“Miss Lilia. Dr. Harrison has arrived.”
It took a few seconds to get my pulse down.
“…Grace, could you walk with a little more noise?”
”Sorry.” Grace stepped aside and gestured.
“The doctor is in the medical room.”
I followed her down the long corridor.
The Pack House was too quiet,it had been ever since Nathan’s parents passed.
Only he lived there now; every servant had been let go, except three.
Grace turned into the side wing.
The medical room smelled of antiseptic.
Dr. Harrison, Nathan’s private doctor, stood arranging his instruments.
He looked up with a professional smile.
“Miss Lilia. Sit, please.”
I sat in the treatment chair and held out my left arm.
When the needle went in I turned to the window.
Blood ran down the tube and slowly filled the vial.
“Done.” Dr. Harrison withdrew the needle, and Grace pressed a cotton ball to the puncture.
“I’ll hold that for you.”
Her hands were practiced, but that was only duty.
The three who stayed,Grace, Thomas, Margaret,had always treated me somewhere between correct and cold.
They didn’t like me; none of them said so.
Nathan paid them extraordinarily well and looked after their families, and he’d set one rule in plain words: my existence stayed secret.
To outsiders I was maid who’d come to work with them.
Whoever leaked it went to the dungeon.
Behind its doors, Nathan required a Luna’s courtesies.
I’d been flattered at first, but he insisted until I gave in,servants polite to my face, talking behind my back.
Once, thirsty at midnight, I went down for water and caught their low voices through the kitchen door.
That room was meant for the Luna.”
”Grace, keep your voice down.
What if Alpha Nathan hears?”
”I don’t care.
That woman is an orphan somebody picked up.
Why do we wait on her with the highest honors?
She hasn’t even been through the mating ceremony,”
Thomas cut in.
“Enough. We obey the Alpha. We collect our pay, our families stay safe. Leave the rest alone. Go to bed now.”
I stood outside with my empty cup and went back only after their footsteps faded.
I never told Nathan,I didn’t want anyone thrown in a dungeon over me.
Grace had a point,I didn’t know where I’d come from.
My parents were only a blur: members of some Pack, I think, and a mother who sang to me before bed.
Even that was far-off memory now.
After Nathan rescued me, my health stayed frail,migraines like clockwork, held down by daily medication.
Childhood exams never found the cause; the best any doctor could say was that it might be hereditary.
Even before I moved in pack house, Nathan had looked after me quietly,monthly exams and blood draws, medicine on schedule, there whenever the Pack’s scorn found me.
He was the only one who cared whether I was well.
If I hadn’t overheard that conversation, the thought would never have crossed my mind.
Dr. Harrison set the vial back on the tray and glanced up.
“How are the migraines?”
”Same as always.”
He wrote on his clipboard.
“I’ll come again next month, same time.
The Alpha has asked that we monitor your bloodwork closely.
It may have to do with the change of seasons.”
”…Did he say anything else?” I aimed for casual.
“How have the results been?”
His pen stopped half a second.
He looked up, seamless smile back in place.
“All normal, Miss Lilia.
Nothing to worry about.
The results go directly to the Alpha.”
”…Okay.”
He carried the tray out.
Blood draws always left me drained.
Where did all that blood go?
What was Nathan testing for?
Whenever I asked, he smoothed it over,a hand in my hair, “you just focus on resting.” He’d always been so caring.
Drowsiness pulled at me.
I dragged myself back to the bedroom.
Everything stood as I’d left it. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
One thing was new: a white cashmere rug.
I got cold easily,I’d mentioned it days ago, and Nathan had picked it out himself.
I burrowed under the covers and sank into sleep.
I woke in the middle of the night.
A figure sat at the edge of my bed, moonlight through the half-drawn curtains laying a soft silver film over him.
Nathan sitting there, silent.
The light carved his profile; his eyes held a faint amber glow in the dark, black hair mussed over his brow.
This man had set my heart racing more times than I could count.
Now he felt like a stranger.
“Nathan?” I rubbed my eyes and tried to sit up.
His hand pressed my shoulder.
“Lie down.”
He looked tired, collar hanging open.
On his cuff was a small dark stain,mud, or…
blood.
I shrank deeper into the covers and turned my face away.
“When did you get back?”
”Just now.
Grace told me you’d had your checkup.” His eyes dropped to the bandage on my arm.
“Anything wrong?”
”No.
Just tired.”
He took out a long slim box, the ribbon tied with care.
“I’m sorry, Lilia. Your birthday,I missed it. I’ve been swamped.”
I opened it.
A long dress of deep blue velvet, the fabric glowing faintly in the moonlight.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” He leaned in a little, brushing the hair from my shoulder, fingertips grazing my chin.
“Blue suits you. Keep it,wear it to your Luna ceremony.”
My hand stopped on the skirt.
Luna ceremony?
For a second I nearly laughed out loud.
Liar.
As if the word “Luna” could erase everything I’d heard through that door.
What he’d discussed with the Elders was a Breeder.
I laid the dress at the foot of the bed.
The room was quiet for a moment.
“…Nathan.”
”Hm?”
He still wore that concern,a brother who’d missed his sister’s birthday and come bearing gifts out of guilt.
“Thank you.” My voice was very soft.
“But… is it really all right, spending this much on a gift for a Breeder?”