Chapter 39 - A kiss

**Lily** (***One Week Later***)

"Ouch!" I glare at Keely's hand and wince when she adds more pressure to the cut on my neck.

"Well no one told you to fight that son of a b - "

"Keely!" My mother scolds her with a stern look, fighting a smile.

I did it. I accepted my biological family. Sometimes it's weird when I call them "mother" and "father" or "mom" and "dad" but it's a process and I'm getting used to it. We've been eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner together ever since that day. We talk about whatever, past and present.

"But *mom*, it's true. Lily should have asked for help fighting that," Keely pauses and taps her chin. "That son of a demon." She grins at her choice of words.

I raise a brow. "Really? I can come up with better names." I muse and smirk when she quirks a brow at me.

She scoffs. "Names we can't say in front of our parents."

"And you better not say them." Our dad walks behind Keely and pokes her side. "At least not in front of your mother. She's a bit strict." I can't help but giggle with Keely.

"I heard that." Our mother rolls her eyes. "And I can be a cool mom too." She grins and begins shaking her hips not so graciously, more like a drunk robot trying to hump the air.

"Sure you can." Keely's words are too sarcastic to go unnoticed.

We chuckle.

"Lily?"

I beam at Megan whose leaning against the door. "What's up?" I stand up and put an arm around her shoulder, wincing at the cut on my neck.

"Not much. Victor and Jesse are just annoying. Strangling and kicking them may be the only option for peace." We laugh, Keely joining us. "So how are you?" Megan's smile turns sweet.

I smile at the question. "Great, things are finally coming together." I look at Keely, to my mom and then my dad with a tender smile.

These past few days have been amazing. I feel so relaxed and it seems like I can't stop smiling. Everytime we talk together, the smile immediately appears on my face as if we've known each other forever. The thought that I haven't been with them since birth doesn't cross my mind. At least until they talk about what they did as a family without me. It doesn't hurt as much as it used to and I'm grateful for that.

"That's great and all..." Megan scratches the back of her neck almost awkwardly.

"Where's your dad?" My mother asks, picking up the dirty rag Keely was using to clean my neck.

"He's sorting some things out. Thinking things through..." An uneasy look crosses her eyes.

I give her a look. "What's wrong?" I cross my arms.

She inhales sharply. "We have to leave, Lily." She holds my hand gently.

My heart drops, my smile disappearing. "Why?" It would be a lie to say I didn't know why. "Isn't it too soon?"

Her lips turn into a straight line. "Lily, we've been here for more than two weeks and we have to go back to our pack. We can't stay here forever, we don't belong." She tightens her hold on my hands. "It's beautiful but it's not home."

"Lily?"

I slowly peel my eyes off her and stare at Victor and Jesse with a blank face. I didn't see them enter.

"We are so sorry, Lily." Jesse apologizes and licks his lips, avoiding my gaze.

"We hate doing this when you're with your family." Victor runs a hand through his orange hair. "But we have a new assignment. Our replacements have finished helping the Red Dawn Pack but they need reinforcements. They are having some border issues and we've been called up for backup."

It's so weird seeing Victor so... professional.

I snatch my hands away from Megan and bite my lip. If I bite it hard enough, I may be able to act brave in front of them. "I know. It just doesn't feel fair." I exchange a look with Keely. "I've grown really fond of them and I don't know if I leave right now."

"We know."

Chase, Jeremy, and the others enter, standing beside Megan. I blink in confusion.

"Lily, *we* are leaving. *You're* staying."

I'm not okay.

Victor fakes a smile. "We can't kidnap you this time." He exchanges a look with Jesse, who rolls his eyes and firmly shakes his head "no". "Jesse says we can't. But you can... if you want. You belong to the Royals but you're still a current member of the Dark Moon Pack."

"I'm not sure." My voice sounds foreign.

"Lily, this wasn't supposed to happen to you. I should have taken better care of you. Now you have to choose where to live." A sob escapes my mother's lips. My heart clenches.

"No." My father grabs my mother's hand. "*We* should have taken better care of you. And as much as it pains us, it's not our decision. You know them better than us and we understand if you wish to go with them. We won't stop you, no matter how much it hurts."

Keely nods. "It was great meeting my twin. The best thing that's happened to me... somewhere along meeting my mate." She giggles. "You don't know how great it was having you here, even if most of the time we were either tied up or in the dungeon. I don't know how you're feeling but I know I'll still come visit if you leave. I support you, I do." She wraps her arms around me, arms snug and tight. Two figures wrap their arms around us tightly. The figures I learned to describe as mom and dad.

"We'll let you talk." My mom and dad follow Keely out the door, their steps seeming more hesitant then the one before. "Love you." My mom smiles, her eyes soft.

"What they said." Victor wraps his arms around my waist and arms. "You'll always be my *annoying* little sister no matter where you live. We'll visit on the weekends and even stalk you on Instagram or something." I can't help but giggle at his words. He unwraps his arms around me, hand on my shoulder. "Can I get your room?" He raises an eyebrow.

Jesse shoves him away. "We'll appear in your room at night and go shopping with you. We'll stop by at your new school and threaten all those boys." Jesse promises and places a kiss to my cheek. I glare at him.

"See you." Jesse waves and walks out with Victor.

Why does it feel like I won't see them again?

"Lily." Megan grabs my hand, smiling. "I've always wanted a sister and when we met, I knew you'd be someone I'd have trouble getting along with." Megan wraps her arms around me tightly. "I just want to tell you that I hate you and that I never want to see you again." Her eyes widen, eyes staring right into me.

I roll my eyes and nod. "Same." I hug her back, fighting back a sob. That's so nice of her! Megan grins one last time before walking out the door.

"We don't know you that much as we wish we should have." Joanne smiles and walks in front of me with Brandon and Alexis, "But we know that whereever you stay we'll keep in touch or something touching like that." Joanne scrunches up her face, grimacing.

"Sorry about the bullying, we know you forgave us but we're still sorry about it." Alexis chuckles nervously. "And if you decide to come with us, to the Red Dawn Pack, we'll make everything up to you and treat you like a luna." Joanne and Brandon nudge her. "I mean like a queen!" Alexis beams at me, staring at Chase then to me repeatedly. My face heats up.

"Yeah." Brandon smiles. "What they said." With those words, they leave me alone with Chase.

He looks at me from head to toe, memorizing my features.

"Are you going to stand there?"

He chuckles and walks in front of me. I crank my neck up and meet his eyes.

"I just don't know what to say. I mean, I - I just don't..." His face turns bright pink.

I smile at him and push a strand of hair behind my ear. "Maybe you'll support my decision as well?" My voice comes out more hopeful than I intended it to be. His smile falls and I bite my lip not knowing what to say.

"Lily, it's not my place to say anything or even decide for you. I mixed up, okay? I *fuckin*' mixed up and I'm sorry." His eyes stare into mine intensively, causing me to choke on my spit in surprise.

My heart falls. "Chase - "

"Please let me finish." His eyes hold hope as he quickly grabs my hands tightly. Tingles run throughout my body and it takes all my power not to collapse in his arms.

I gulp but nod. "Okay."

"I love you with all my heart, and it may seem hard for you to believe because I rejected you, and threatened you at school, and kissed a girl in front of you but I've changed. I promise." I pull my hands away, heart burning in anger with out past. "But it's not because you changed and showed off all your curves, I promise. It's just..." He inhales and holds my cheek. I hold my breath. "I was scared, *so* scared. When I first saw you, I knew I'd love you for how you are despite all the bullying. B - But everyone expected me to be with Debra and I wanted to keep my reputation. Plus I was dating Debra at that time and I wouldn't know what to tell her."

I bite my lip. "I already forgave you, Chase. Let's just move on, it doesn't matter no more."

"But it does." Chase's face seems closer. "It matters so much to me because I rejected the best thing that would have happened to me."

My eyes soften up and I feel my heart clench at the pain visible on his face. "Chase... I don't know what you want me to say."

"Just say that you'll stay come with me and live with the Red Dawn Pack. Be my mate and become my girlfriend, my Luna."

My eyes water. "Chase, I don't know if I can." I confess and let out a small sob.

He takes another step closer to me until our fronts are touching, wiping the tears off my face. "Can't you feel that? Our strong connection that brings us together. Lily, we are *meant* to be. And I know the Moon Goddess brought us together for a reason. Can you feel it too?" His breath fans my lips.

"Yes." I say the truth and lean in while looking into his eyes. His hands caress my cheeks and his mouth comes down into mine. His soft lips dance against my own, our teeth clash but we continue and try to find our rhythm. I place my hands on his shoulders and try to keep up with his hungry pace. It's almost as if he's trying to eat me alive. His hands run up and down my hips, causing tingles to erupt wherever our skin meets.

I pull away and take a deep breath for oxygen but he pulls me back in. Deep desire fills my body and I can't help but moan lowly as he moves down my neck. I run my hand up his hair and grip it tightly between my fingers. "Chase..."

His lips lightly suck on a certain spot behind my ear where a certain someone always kisses and I freeze.

*Jeremy*.

I shove him away.

His eyes flash with recognition. "Jeremy." I nod and avoid his gaze. His hands softly caress my cheeks and I look up. "I do support you, Lily. And no matter what you choose, you'll always have a special place in my heart." With a small smile, he walks away and lightly shuts the doors behind him.

I stare at the door and groan in frustration. They are making things harder.

I sigh and plop myself down on the couch, hands holding my head up. The Dark Moon Pack supported me and helped me get stronger. And the Red Dawn Pack regrets everything and are determined to make everything up to me. And the Royals are my biological family. I sigh and rub my temples. "Why is it so hard?"

"Because you don't want to hurt anyone."

I snap my eyes to the voice and my heart skips a beat. Jeremy stands on the doorway. Wearing skinny jeans, a white button up shirt half way buttoned, and his hair neatly gelled to the side. He looks as handsome as ever.

"Jeremy." I quickly stand up and walk towards him. I stop in front of him, ready to spill everything on how I cheated on him with Chase.

"I know you and Chase kissed. Your scent was all over him." His voice sounds deep and forced, trying to keep his feelings in check.

"Jeremy, I - "

"Lily, don't apologize. I get it, he's your mate and you guys are meant to be." He grits his teeth and takes a deep breath. "But do I still have a chance?" I'm caught off guard by his question and stare at him with wide eyes. "I know I'm not your mate. I can't make you feel like he can but I love you. I haven't found my mate so I don't know how it feels. But I know how I feel about you."

I'm so confused.

"I - I want to know how I make you feel. And if Chase is the one, I would understand. A mate is meant to be forever." He groans. "He must be so happy right now!"

I cross my arms. "Do you want me or not?"

"I do, more than anything but I want you to think things through." His eyes fall to my lips.

I nod. "You're amazing, you know that?" The corner of my lips quirk up.

He chuckles and wipes a fallen tear from my eye gently, his finger leaving a trail of tingles behind. "Maybe and maybe not. Just let me know what you decide. Just tell me, do I stand a chance?"

I look at him through my lashes.

Does he?

**_**

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for making it this far with me. I know its been a little rough but I appreciate everyone's thoughts and constructive criticism, its really helped me grown and I can't thank you all enough.

In the next chapter, Lily will chose between Jeremy and Chase. It is also the second to last chapter before the epilogue.

So, who do you think she will choose?