CHAPTER 139: YOUNG LILITH XI

*~Young Lilith’s POV~*

Training had turned brutal—and exhausting... I’d mastered every spell Alice threw my way: cloaking, teleportation, even the energy-binding incantations Dahlia once used.

My hunting skills sharpened too, instincts honed to the edge. Alice, already a witch, had grown fiercer, stronger. In turn, I’d drilled her through every nuance of werewolf instinct—tracking, scenting, reading movement. She’d taken to it unnervingly well.

Now, sprawled on the training ground, sweat streaking our skin, we stared up at the fading dusk. Around us, the others collapsed in heaps, groaning from exhaustion, yet grinning with pride. Jonathan and a few others had gone to meet the Alpha today...

Ruby strolled over, wiping blood from her knuckles. "What do you think Klaus will say about our offer?" she asked, smirking.

"He’s going to reject," Alice muttered, pushing herself up, brushing grass from her legs. "They’ve been hunting us for weeks. Then we just show up, bold enough to demand coexistence? Please. They’ll laugh in our faces."

I smirked, dark and sharp. "Then it’ll be to their disadvantage."

They looked at me. I let the silence hang before adding, "When the Crescents strike, the packs won’t see us coming."

Their laughter filled my ears... My fingers clenched the crumpled paper I’d hidden in my palm.

Marcus had written to me. My chest tightened just thinking about it. The letter had come by bird and his words had been clear: Meet me. Tonight. In front of the High House.

Dangerous. Beyond dangerous. If any wolf saw me, suspicion would bloom. Worse, if Jonathan and others found out?

I swallowed the paper, forcing myself to chew until the edges went soft, bitter on my tongue.

Alice’s gaze snapped to me. "What was that?"

"What?" I blinked at her. Too fast. "You’ve been... off. Since morning."

"No. Nothing." I stood before she could probe deeper, smoothing my clothes.

Her eyes stayed sharp. "You sure?"

"Yes, yes." I forced a laugh, grabbed her arm, and tugged toward the house. "Jonathan will be back soon. We need to prepare for his news. Coexistence... or destruction."

But behind me, Ruby whispered to Alice, Something’s definitely wrong with her.

Inside, my heart wouldn’t settle. Marcus. My parents. The memory of blood, of my own hands shaking. I’d buried that night deep. I couldn’t afford to dig it up again.

The bathtub steamed, filling my lungs with heat. I sank into it, letting the water scald, then cooled it with a sharp, whispered command. "Versa."

The temperature flipped, goosebumps racing over my skin. Being a witch and a wolf—no, a Crescent—had its perks. Dahlia had been right. We were dangerous. Special.

I rose, dripping, and stared at the two gowns I owned. One was Jonathan’s gift—silken, elegant, the kind of dress meant to make me his. The other was mine, saved for Marcus, for tonight.

Jonathan. Always hovering closer than he should. Watching me longer than necessary. Offering compliments that burned and lingered. His dark hair, green eyes, tattoos curling over muscle—any other girl would’ve melted. But my heart wasn’t his to claim.

Marcus owned it. My Marcus.

Still, I caught my reflection as I slipped into the second dress. The one Jonathan gave me.

And then, that was when I heard the noise outside. They were back. My pulse jumped as I quickly dried off, slipped into the gown Jonathan had gifted me, and walked toward the meeting room.

They were already seated, voices low, tense. But the moment he saw me, Jonathan rose immediately. "Greetings, my lady," he said with that charming half-smile before taking my hand and placing a soft kiss on it. I bowed slightly, keeping my face neutral, though my heart gave an uninvited skip.

Alice’s eyes went wide the moment I sat beside her. "Oh. My. Goddess. You two look so cute together! When are you going to give in to him? This man loves you."

I rolled my eyes dramatically. "Oh, please. He’s like this with every female Crescent."

Alice leaned closer, whispering fiercely, "No, he’s not. He didn’t even look at Ruby like that. And the way he rose when you walked in—girl, you are rising in his heart."

I tapped her head playfully. "Focus, Alice."

Jonathan cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. "Alpha Claus has denied our offer."

Alice gasped. "Just as expected!"

Jonathan nodded grimly. "But it gets worse. He also warned that if we ever show our faces again in New Orleans or near the High House, we will be killed. No negotiations. No second chances."

Ruby growled under her breath, but I barely heard her. My focus snapped to Jonathan when he added, "And there’s more. Dahlia... she’s with him."

"What?" The word left my mouth like a hiss.

"Yes. Dahlia was in the High House today. Alongside the Luna. Whatever plans we thought we had—those two are already working together, likely against us."

The room went silent, heavy with the reality of betrayal. Ruby was the first to break it. "Then we strike first," she said sharply. "If we wait, they’ll crush us before we even get a chance."

Jonathan considered it, then gave a slow, grim nod. "It might be our only option. Werewolves and witches have never truly joined forces before. But with Dahlia on their side? We’ll need every ounce of power we’ve trained for."

I sat still, trying to appear calm, but my mind was already racing elsewhere. Dahlia with Claus. The Luna at her side. A possible war forming against us. And yet... Marcus’s letter still burned in my memory.

What about tonight?

Alice’s voice jolted me out of my thoughts. "What about tonight?" she asked suddenly.

My heart skipped hard. "Tonight?"

"Yes." Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Yes any problem?"

I forced a small, weary smile, hoping she couldn’t hear the pounding of my heart. Tonight was when Marcus wanted to meet me....right in front of the High House. The most dangerous place to be.

No... it can’t be tonight... Tonight is meant to be special for me.