The days went on, but the strange feeling in Lily’s chest only grew stronger.

Maya had noticed her being distracted in school.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked for the third time that week, sitting next to Lily in the courtyard during lunch.

Lily nodded her head to answer.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired" She replied.

“Tired from what? It’s not like you’re pulling all-nighters for school,” Maya teased, but her eyes were filled with concern. “Look, I know things have been tough with the twins, but something feels off. You’ve been acting weird.”

Lily sighed, leaning back against the tree they sat under.

“It’s not just them,” she admitted. “There’s… something else.”

Maya frowned.

“What do you mean?” she asked almost immediately.

Lily hesitated, unsure if she should even bring it up.

She didn’t want to sound paranoid, but the feeling of fear had been in her mind for days. Finally, she decided to tell Maya about the person she’d seen outside her window.

“I think someone’s been watching me,” Lily whispered. “A few nights ago, I saw someone standing by the trees outside my house. They were just… there, watching. And then they disappeared.”

“You saw someone? Who? Was it one of the twins?” Maya asked as her eyes widened in surprise.

“I don’t know. It was too dark to see their face, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was either Liam or Lucas. Maybe this is their sick way of trying to get me to become more terrified" She replied.

Maya’s face turned paled.

“Lily, that’s… really creepy. I'm scared for you" She said. "Maybe you should tell someone."

“Tell who?” Lily asked, her voice filled with pain. “No one in the pack cares about me. They’ll just think I’m making it up. And even if they did believe me, why would they do anything to help?”

Maya didn’t have an answer for that. They both knew the pack wouldn’t lift a finger to protect Lily.

She had been an outcast for as long as anyone could remember. No one cared if she was scared or in danger.

“Maybe it's not any of the twins,” Maya suggested. “Maybe it was some random person passing by.”

Lily didn’t believe that for a second, but she didn’t want to worry Maya more than she already had.

“Yeah, maybe" She said.

Still, the memory of the person haunted her. And as her eighteenth birthday drew closer, her anxiety grew.

It was finally her birthday and the Moon Goddess Festival preparations were in full swing.

The entire pack was buzzing with excitement, especially because this year, the Alpha twins would come of age.

The festival would mark the moment the twins were officially named as the next leaders of the pack.

The thought made Lily sick.

She sat through another boring history class, staring blankly at the board as Mrs. Davis talked about some ancient werewolf legend.

She barely paid attention, her mind too busy racing with thoughts of her escape.

In a couple hours, she would be gone. She just had to make it through the festival without drawing too much attention, and then she could slip away while everyone was distracted.

Just as she was about to let her mind wander completely, the classroom door swung open.

Everyone turned to see Lucas standing in the doorway, his usual confident smirk disappeared. Instead, his face was blank, his eyes unreadable as they scanned the room.

Mrs. Davis stopped teaching and looked at him, clearly surprised.

“Mr. Lucas, is there something you need?” she asked.

Lucas’s gaze locked on Lily, and she felt a chill run down her spine. He didn’t answer the teacher’s question. Instead, he walked into the classroom.

He was certainly acting weird. He wasn't him usual hateful self.

Lily’s heart pounded in her chest. What was he doing? He never showed up to random classes like this.

Lucas walked straight to her desk, ignoring the curious stares of their classmates.

He stopped in front of her, standing over her. His presence felt suffocating and Lily couldn't help but be afraid.

“What do you want?” Lily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas didn’t respond right away. He simply stared at her, his piercing blue eyes searching her face as if he was trying to figure something out.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

“You need to be careful,” he said quietly, his voice so low that only she could hear.

Lily was confused at his words.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Just watch your back,” Lucas added, his tone serious.

Without another word, he turned and left the classroom, leaving everyone, including Mrs. Davis, stunned into silence.

Lily stared at him as he left, her mind racing.

What was that about? Lucas had never said anything like a warning to her before. Usually, he was the one causing her trouble, not warning her about it

Maya leaned over from her desk, her eyes wide with confusion.

“What the hell was that?” She asked.

“I have no idea,” Lily muttered. She was just as shocked as everyone.

Lucas’s weird warning left her shaken.

It was like he knew something she didn’t.

In school, Lily couldn’t concentrate. She mind wasn't listening to any word coming from her teacher's mouth because her mind was filled with questions.

What had Lucas meant? Why did he care if she watched her back? Was he playing some kind of twisted game with her?

As the classes continued, she found herself thinking more and more about the person she had seen watching her.

What if Lucas knew something about that? What if he had seen the person? Or perhaps he knew who it was? But why wouldn’t he just tell her?

Frustrated and exhausted, Lily finally got up from her seat and went to the restroom.

She washed her face, trying desperately to calm herself and focus on her escape plan instead of thinking about Lucas.

Suddenly the door to the restroom opened and Lexa walked in with her large group of friends.

They were laughing about something Lexa had said but as soon as they saw her, their laughter disappeared.

Lily’s heart raced. She didn't want to be anywhere near these girls because they were just as mean to her like Lucas and Liam.

She attempted to leave but the girls blocked her passage.

"You've got some nerves" Lexa began. "I honestly don't know what the twins see in you to even bother talking to you."

"That's exactly what I wonder too" Lily said, trying to act cool instead of being afraid.

Lexa raised an eyebrow then landed a slap on Lily's face within seconds.

Lily held her face, staring at Lexa with astonishment written all over her face.

"First of all, I'm not the twins that you can just talk to" Lexa applied lipstick to her lips. "You're beneath me and that means you shouldn't even look at me. Well, when the moon goddess picks me to be the twins mate tonight, I'll make sure your life here becomes worse than hell."

Lily wanted to retaliate but she knew it will only make things worse for her. She needed to just endure everything even if it meant being humiliated in the girl's bathroom.

"Now apologize, you wolf trash" Lexa's friends said, pushing Lily from different corners.

Lily didn't want to, but if she disobeyed them, she wouldn't be able to handle the consequences.

"I'm sorry" She said, bowing her head to avoid staring directly at Lexa.

Lexa smiled, pleased with herself.

"Whatever, I don't care about anything that comes out of your filthy mouth"

She pushed Lily out of her way and walked outside.

Lily stared angrily as tears fell from her eyes.

She was done enduring this horrible treatment.

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.