Her slender frame was almost merging with the oak tree in front of her.

Her hands were trembling, because in addition to the first voice she heard, murmurs followed, low and ominous,

Her heart was beating so fast.

Could that really be Altair's voice?

But how could this happen?

Could they have also seen Callum?

Did they see what he was about doing to her?

What would they do to her now, how could she had allowed all these happen on her first night?

She was trembling like like a leaf in the rain.

Why was he here? How did he know she was right here?

Then the voice echoed again, this time it was unmistakable, sharp and commanding,

It was indeed Alistair.

The King. Her Alpha. Her husband.

Her arms instinctively wrapped around her torso afraid that the fear might make her collapse.

Her panic doubled by twice.

Only twenty-four hours.

It wasn't even up to a full day since he had explicitly warned her against leaving the palace grounds without his knowledge.

And foolishly she had disobeyed him. And not just that his stepson had almost fucked her in the very same forest.

How could she explain herself now? What excuse could possibly justify her actions?

The footsteps were growing louder, closer. Lily shifted uneasily, stepping back halfway into the shadows.

When she looked closer, the world felt like it had stopped as she realized they were right there, just beyond her hiding spot.

The murmurs vanished.

Silence fell like a heavy blanket.

After then a shadow moved, and then she heard the whisper.

"Lily."

His voice. Low, firm, and edged with restrained anger.

She jolted, her gaze snapping upward.

Through the leaves and shadows, she saw him, standing tall and imposing.

His eyes locking onto hers in the dimness, freezing her in place.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

His expression was unreadable, a dangerous calm that unnerved her more than any outburst ever could.

Unable to hold his gaze, Lily looked down quickly, her cheeks were burning with shame.

Her hands fidgeted and fumbled with the edge of her dress.

Finally Alistair’s voice penetrated the silence , this time it was directed to one of the guards

“Wrap her with an extra robe. It’s cold.”

“Yes alpha” Came the energetic response.

In minutes a robe was draped over her shoulders almost immediately, the heavy fabric enveloping her shaking frame and half naked body.

We will now proceed to the palace,” Alistair ordered, his tone uncomfortably steady, but there was an undercurrent of something darker.

As the guards moved to organize themselves, Lily risked a quick glance upward.

Altair was still looking at her.

It wasn’t anger alone that burned in his eyes, there was a hint of disappointment, but enough to show whether or not he had seen what happened earlier.

She dropped her head again, his silent reproach pressing down on her.

Her knees threatened to buckle, but she forced herself to stay upright.

The journey back to the palace lay ahead like a punishment she couldn’t escape.

The moment they arrived at the palace, the large doors shut behind them with a heavy thud.

The guards and attendants dispersed quietly, leaving Lily standing alone in the sitting room

her frame dwarfed by the grand furnishings.

She barely had a moment to collect herself before

Alistair threw himself around sharply, his cloak sweeping through the air.

His eyes blazed with fury.

“What were you thinking woman?” he thundered,

Lily flinched, her shoulders jerking upward in fresh apprehension.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Alistair’s gestures were even wilder now, as he paced before her like a restless predator.

“Less than forty-eight hours. Less than two days since you’ve entered this household, and already you defy me?”

He stopped abruptly, turning to face her directly.

“Do you realize the danger you put yourself in?

The risk you posed not just to yourself but to me, to this pack ? Have you no common sense, Lily? None at all?”

His voice rose with each sentence, each word was sharp and biting, like they were literally causing injury to her skin.

Lily kept her gaze down, unable to meet his eyes, her hands on her robe. She was partly filled with guilt now and also with a measure of relief, at least it was only her first offence he knew of.

“I gave you a simple command,” he continued,

“A single command, and yet you you…”

“Enough father.”

The calm, steady voice made her heart jump.

Both Alistair and Lily snapped their heads toward the source of the voice.

Standing in the doorway, his figure half-hidden in the shadowy hall, was the man who had saved her from the rogue only to glue his lips with hers moments after.

, the man whose hairy palms had dug under thighs, the man who had stripped her naked and pinned her to a tree in a unfamiliar forest.

It was Callum.

Lily's heart sank.

The glow of the sconces threw light on those God like features of his,... the same features Lily had seen in the forest, the same voice that had saved her from the rogue wolf and warned her to stay away.

“Callum,.”

Alistair growled, his voice hinting of irritation.

“You realize this is a private talk going on? And is none of your concern?.”

Lily watched blankly, her eyes on her Callum, her anxiety making her head ache as she could not tell why Callum was here. What was he about to say.

Callum stepped forward, his movements deliberate and composed.

“i know but It became my concern the moment you decided to roar at our new queen in the middle of the night.”

His gaze switched to Lily, showing no fresh emotion before returning to Alistair

“She’s new to all this. You can’t expect her to adapt overnight. If anything, your fury will only push her further away.”

Lily could not help but gasp in silence.

She wasn’t sure whether it was from the unexpected defense or the memory of what he had done to her in the forest.

She tightened her arms around herself, her wide eyes still shifting between the two men.

Alistair’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides.

“This isn’t your place, Callum.”

“Perhaps not, and for that I am sorry” Callum replied evenly, his tone unyielding

“But I guess someone has to remind you that leadership requires control, not chaos. She’s your queen, not your adversary.”

The words hung in the air.

And for the first time since he had started, Alistair hesitated, his gaze back to Lily.

Her expression one of quiet fear and uncertainty.

“Leave us,” Alistair muttered finally, his voice low and strained.

Callum’s eyes remained on Lily for a moment longer before he inclined his head slightly and turned to leave,

his footsteps echoing back softly as he disappeared down the corridor.

Lily swallowed hard,

She couldn’t tell if Callum’s words had reached him, but that was secondary to what actually mystified her at this time.

Callum? Why had he returned to defend her so fiercely before his father?

Why?