CHAPTER 128: ORGANIZATION..

*~Young Lilith~*

Author’s note; You can skip Lilith’s story if you find it boring or stretched. You won’t really miss anything, as I will still explain it in Hazel’s POV.

I couldn’t stop smiling. My cheeks hurt, but I didn’t care.

Everyone at the party had been staring at me—sixteen-year-old Lilith, the girl who shifted before her time. Wolves weren’t supposed to awaken until eighteen. That was the way of the Goddess, the natural order. But tonight, under the glowing moon, I felt my wolf burst forward in front of the entire pack.

I had only gone to the meat party to watch, to clap for those older wolves shifting for the first time and finding their mates. I never expected the fire in my veins, the sudden ache in my bones, the pull that dragged my wolf out of me. One moment I was clapping beside my parents, the next I was trembling on the ground, fur sprouting, claws raking, and my wolf’s howl tearing into the night sky.

The crowd had gasped, whispers spreading like wildfire. Sixteen. Too young. Too soon.

When I finally stumbled back home with my parents, my mother couldn’t stop kissing me, her joy overflowing. She pressed her lips to my forehead, her tears wet against my skin. "Oh, my child, you’re now a full wolf. The Moon Goddess herself has blessed you early. Even without you being eighteen, I always knew you were special."

Her pride made me glow inside, though part of me still trembled from the shift. The one thing that gnawed at me, though, was that I hadn’t scented my mate. At the meat party, everyone said that was when it happened—you shifted, and fate drew you together. But no one came to me. No familiar scent tugged at my heart. I was still alone.

And then a name cut through my thoughts. Marcus.

What would Marcus think if he knew?

My pulse quickened. Marcus—my secret crush since I was ten. He was strong, handsome, the one every girl noticed. But his letters, his stolen smiles, were mine. I shook the thought away quickly. It was too much to hold onto, too dangerous now that my wolf had awakened earlier than expected.

Back at the house, my father said little. He had always been a man of few words, stern and unreadable. But tonight, as he sat at the table, his lips curved into something I had rarely seen on his face—a soft smile.

"You’ll be a very good investment," he said at last. "I’m sure of it."

The words sank deep inside me. My father never gave compliments. For him, approval was rare, almost sacred. And in that moment, I vowed I would do whatever it took to make him proud.

From the kitchen, my mother’s voice cut through my thoughts. "Lily, come help me! I’m making your favorite."

I laughed, running to her side, and together we cooked egg toast. The smell of warm bread and melted yolk filled the air, a comfort that wrapped around me like a blanket. I ate until my belly was full, my heart fluttering with pride and confusion all at once.

Later, alone in my room, I opened the little drawer beside my bed and pulled out Marcus’s letter. My hands trembled as I unfolded it, reading the words again as if they were a secret spell written only for me.

"One day, when we are eighteen, I will be the leader of this pack. And I want you, Lilith, to be my wife. I hope the Moon Goddess makes us mates. Then we’ll live happily ever after."

Tears stung my eyes. His dreams were so simple, so sweet. But how could I tell him the truth? That my wolf had already awakened? That fate might call me to someone else long before our eighteenth birthday?

My heart ached as I folded the letter back into the drawer. I wanted to believe his words, to cling to the picture he painted of our future. But the weight of destiny pressed against me, heavy and unrelenting.

I lay back on my bed, staring into the shadows of my room..And I slowly drift off..

I was deep in sleep when I felt it—a hand tapping me gently on the shoulder. My eyes flew open, startled, only to meet the familiar gaze of my father. Before I could speak, he pressed a finger to his lips, then placed his hand softly over my mouth. His eyes were firm but not unkind, silently urging me to be quiet.

He gestured for me to get up. Confused but obedient, I rose from my bed and followed him outside. The night was heavy, the air cool beneath the watchful eye of the moon. Midnight silence hung over the park; not a single voice, not even the faintest sound of footsteps, echoed around us.

There, in the clearing, two chairs had already been placed beneath the moonlight. My father motioned for me to sit first, and once I settled into the seat, he took the other, facing me.

My heart raced. The only times Father asked me to sit with him privately were when I had done something wrong, when his stern voice carried the weight of discipline. I fidgeted nervously, my voice low.

"What is it, Father? Did I... did I do something wrong?"

He turned to me with a smile, surprising me. His face, usually carved in strict lines, softened. "No, daughter. You’ve done nothing wrong."

Relief flooded through me.

"I simply want to tell you something," he said quietly, glancing over his shoulder as though to ensure no one was listening.

"What about Mother?" I asked, searching the shadows, expecting to see her.

But he shook his head sharply. "Your mother must not know of this. What I’m going to share with you remains between us. Do you understand?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, Father."

He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "A friend of mine has been building something... an organization. It is secret, known only to a select few. And it requires brilliant young wolves. Wolves like you."

My breath caught. "A secret organization? In this park?"

"Yes." His tone was grave. "You are young, but you have awakened early. That is no small thing, Lilith. Do you even realize what that means? Your wolf shimmered awake before its time. Power like that... it cannot be ignored."

I felt the truth of his words in my chest. The restless energy of my wolf still buzzed beneath my skin.

Father studied me carefully, then stood as if the conversation were finished. "It’s all right if you’re not interested. There are other gifted wolves out there. Thousands, perhaps. I thought to present this to you only because you are my daughter. If you choose not to—"

Before he could finish, I grabbed his hand. My voice shook but carried conviction. "No, Father. I’m interested. Truly, I am."

His brows arched slightly, and I pressed on, words tumbling from my lips. "You’ve always been strict with me, but I know it’s because you expect more. I want that. I want to make you proud. I want to prove that I’m enough for you, that I’m worth the faith you’ve placed in me."

For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then, slowly, his expression softened further. His hand tightened around mine before he pulled away.

"Good," he said finally, a faint smile curving his lips. "Tomorrow, I’ll tell you more. For now, sleep well."

He rose, tall and commanding even in the pale light, and walked back into the house without another word.

I sat frozen in the chair for several breaths, my thoughts spinning wildly. Excitement tugged at my heart, though it was laced with confusion. I didn’t fully understand what this organization was, or why it was so important that Mother never knew, but I didn’t care. If this was my father’s way of showing faith in me, then I would embrace it with everything I had.

Morning came faster than I expected. As soon as it did, I rushed to the bathroom to bathe, then slipped into my clothes, anticipation gnawing at my chest. I was ready to know what my father had in store for me.

At the breakfast table, I turned to my mom.

"Mom, where’s Dad?"

"Your dad? He went out this morning, but he’ll be back very soon."

I nodded, and just then, he walked in. Without a word, he gestured for me to follow him, and I did instantly.

We went into his room, and he locked the door behind us. His voice was low and serious when he spoke.

"Lilith, tonight, make sure you don’t sleep. At the same time I woke you yesterday, I’ll try to wake you again. But if I don’t, come and meet me outside. Every single one of us will be gathering tonight."

Then, without another word, he told me to leave.

I walked back out and joined my mother, who was serving breakfast. She gave me a curious look.

"Lilith, is anything wrong between you and your father?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, Mum. Everything is fine."

But her frown lingered. "Your father has never..." she began, suspicion heavy in her voice.

"Yes, Mum has figured something feels off," I thought. But I brushed it away with a lie. "He’s just congratulating me," I said lightly. "Because I awakened my wolf early."

But that was far from the truth.