CHAPTER 152: YOUNG LILITH XXIV

*~Young Lilith’s POV~*

"Why would you say that?" Alice snapped before I could even defend myself. Her voice was sharp, firm, almost shaking with anger.

"She clearly went to meet him to clarify something—"

Jonathan scoffed, cutting her off. "Clarify what? Don’t insult my intelligence, Alice. I put you in charge of her security, and what did you do? Sneak her out in the middle of the night, in her condition?!" His eyes burned with rage as he gestured toward me. "She’s heavily pregnant, for God’s sake. And you still took that risk?"

"No," Alice retorted immediately. "Don’t twist this, Jonathan. We didn’t sneak her out. If I hadn’t been the one on guard tonight, she would have gone alone. At least I was there to protect her."

Jonathan’s jaw clenched. His voice grew darker, harsher. "Protect her? From what? From the truth? That man is married. Married! He’s standing in front of an altar while you two are here plotting nonsense. And you—" he turned on me, his finger stabbing the air—"you have no shame left. You’d rather crawl back to a man who already belongs to someone else than keep your dignity."

"Don’t," Alice growled, stepping in front of me now, her stance wide and defensive like she was ready to fight him.

Jonathan sneered. "If you two think this is how it’ll be from now on—sneaking around, risking our location, putting us all in danger—then leave. Because I won’t have it." He leaned closer, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I’ll let this one go. Just this once. But if you ever dare to sneak out again, if you ever endanger us like this—" his voice dropped, low and threatening—"I promise you, this will be your last time here."

He spun on his heel and stormed out, his heavy steps crunching against the dirt outside the hut.

As soon as he was gone, my strength left me. I crumbled onto my bed, clutching my stomach, tears spilling down my cheeks. My sobs came out ragged, broken, as though I was tearing apart from the inside.

Alice sat beside me instantly, her hand brushing over my trembling shoulders. "Don’t think about him," she whispered softly. "He’s just bitter and miserable. Don’t let his words sink in."

But I couldn’t stop crying. My heart was breaking into a thousand unfixable pieces. "What did I do to deserve this?" I whispered between sobs. "Where did everything go wrong? Why does fate have to be so cruel to me?"

Alice’s hand rubbed my back in steady circles. "There’s no cruel fate for you, Lilith. Not for you, not for your child. You’ll leave this place one day, and when you do, you’ll create a beautiful life for that baby. A sweet, peaceful life. That’s the future waiting for you—I promise."

Her words were a balm, even if my heart still ached. I turned to her through wet lashes and gave her a faint smile. "Yeah... thanks."

She patted my arm and stood. "Sleep now. You need it." She slipped out into the night, leaving me alone with the silence of my thoughts.

I lay back against the thin mattress, my tears finally slowing. Just as my eyes began to drift shut, I felt it a gentle kick in my stomach.

"Ow!" I gasped, then laughed softly, placing my palm over my belly. "You don’t care that your mother’s in a dilemma, do you?"

Another kick.

I smiled, the ache in my chest easing. "My sweet, naughty child. Don’t worry. When you come into this world, I won’t let you suffer. You’ll live happily. No stress, no pain. You’ll grow with riches, with love, with everything I never had. And you’ll be super successful—I just know it."

My baby just kept kicking.

Kicking all night.

Almost as if trying to keep me awake. I placed my palm against my belly and frowned. Why won’t you rest, little one? Have I eaten something unusual? Am I lying in a way that makes you uncomfortable?

But no. I thought back carefully. I had eaten the same meal I usually ate. I had slept in my usual position. Nothing felt different—except for the restless weight in my stomach and the stubborn way my baby refused to be still.

I sighed and sat up, struggling against the heaviness pressing down on me. Perhaps it wasn’t food. Perhaps it wasn’t position. Perhaps... my child simply wanted fresh air.

With a soft groan, I pushed myself to my feet and padded out of the hut. Everywhere was quiet, even Alice, who was supposed to be on night watch, was nowhere in sight. Everyone slept peacefully.

I walked quietly to the back of my hut and lowered myself to the ground. The dirt was cool against my skin, the night air crisp and refreshing. Above me, the moon hung proudly—silver, bright, unbothered.

My baby stilled... i smiled faintly, rubbing my bump. "So, all you needed was fresh air, huh?"

But then... A sudden rustle.

The hair at the back of my neck rose. My head snapped toward the trees, and my breath hitched. Emerging from the shadows weren’t Crescents, but wolves with glowing, icy blue eyes...,The Blue Moon Pack.

My heart stopped...How... how did they find us?

Panic squeezed my chest as realization dawned. Marcus. He must have led them here. He betrayed me... he betrayed us.

I crouched lower, pressing myself against the hut, trying not to make a sound. My baby stirred again, kicking lightly as though sensing the danger.

And then—worse.

Not just wolves.

Another presence drifted from the shadows. A tall figure. Cloaked. Witchcraft bleeding into the air, heavy and suffocating. My throat closed when I saw her.

Dahlia.

And in her hand—a bell...My blood turned cold.

She was the one who made us. The creator of what we were. And if she could create us... then she could just as easily destroy us.

Fear crawled down my spine like icy water. "Holy Moon..." I whispered under my breath. This wasn’t an ordinary attack. This wasn’t chance. This was deliberate....And someone had betrayed us.

The timing was too cruel. The same night I had gone to see Marcus, the same night I let myself believe in him again—they found us.

Tears burned at the edges of my eyes. Jonathan would never believe me. He would never believe Marcus wasn’t behind this.

I clutched my belly tighter, my nails digging into my skin through the fabric.

There was only one thing I could do now.

Run.

Even if I was heavy. Even if every step threatened to split me in half. Even if the pain tore me apart. I had to run—for my baby, for my people.

I forced myself up, the ground unsteady beneath my feet. My chest heaved with sharp breaths as I staggered forward.

My mind flashed to Alice—sleeping peacefully, unaware of the dagger of death hovering above her. A vision of a blade sinking into her chest made my stomach twist violently.

"What have I done..." I choked, tears sliding down my face as I stumbled into the trees.