Fighting Fate

Lily’s body tensed as Sebastian’s words echoed in her ears. Mate? Her mind rejected it instantly. No. This wasn’t happening. She wasn’t going anywhere with them.

“I’m not going with you,” she said firmly, stepping back, but they were already inside, their sheer presence making her apartment feel suffocating.

Sebastian sighed, his expression unreadable. “Lily, you don’t understand yet, but you will. You belong with us.”

“No,” she snapped. “I don’t belong to anyone.”

Jonah and Liam exchanged glances, standing by the door like sentinels, blocking her only exit. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She had to get out of this. She had to do something.

She felt for her phone in the pocket of her hoodie. Alex. She needed Alex. He was the only one who could help her.

Keeping her movements slow, she slid her hand inside her pocket, her fingers shaking as they brushed against the smooth surface of her phone. She couldn’t let them see. If they did, they’d take it from her.

Sebastian took a step closer, his eyes filled with something strange—an intensity she couldn’t ignore. “I can feel the bond, Lily. So can you.”

She gritted her teeth. No, I can’t.

With a swift move, she pulled her phone from her pocket, fingers blindly finding Alex’s number.

Sebastian’s eyes flickered to the motion. “What are you—”

She pressed the call button just as Jonah lunged for her.

Lily let out a scream, not caring how desperate she sounded. “Alex!” she yelled as Jonah grabbed her wrist, trying to pry the phone from her hand.

There was a click. A faint sound from the speaker.

“Lily?” Alex’s voice came through.

Hope surged inside her, giving her a burst of strength. She kicked Jonah’s leg hard, making him stumble. “Alex, help me!” she shouted.

A low, dangerous growl came from the other end of the line.

Jonah finally yanked the phone from her grasp and tossed it onto the couch, but it was too late. Alex had heard.

Sebastian’s expression darkened. “That was a mistake.”

Lily’s chest rose and fell rapidly. “So was coming here.”

She wasn’t going to make this easy for them. If they wanted her, they would have to fight for it.

Lily didn’t hesitate. The moment Jonah released her wrist, she spun on her heel, darting toward the kitchen. If she could reach the knives, she had a chance.

She barely made it two steps before Liam caught her by the arm. His grip was like steel, unyielding. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” he muttered, but Lily was past reasoning.

She twisted in his hold, bringing her knee up with all the force she could muster. It connected hard with his ribs, forcing him to loosen his grip just enough for her to yank free.

Sebastian’s voice was calm, but there was an edge of warning in it. “Lily.”

She ignored him, diving toward the counter. Her fingers closed around the handle of a kitchen knife just as Jonah recovered.

She turned sharply, brandishing the blade in front of her. “Stay back.” Her voice was shaky, but her grip was firm.

Jonah raised his hands in mock surrender. “Come on, we’re not here to hurt you.”

“Yeah?” she spat. “Then why did you break into my apartment?”

Sebastian exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples as if she were a headache he couldn’t shake. “Because you’re my mate, and I can’t let you stay here.”

Her stomach twisted. The way he said it, so certain, so final—like she didn’t have a choice.

“I don’t care who you think I am to you,” she hissed. “I make my own decisions.”

Liam took a step forward, and she pointed the knife at him. “Don’t.”

Jonah exchanged a glance with Sebastian. “She’s a fighter. I like that.”

Lily’s hands trembled slightly. Think, think! They were stronger than her, faster, but she wasn’t helpless. If she could just get to the door—

A deep, rumbling growl filled the space, making every hair on her body stand on end. It wasn’t from any of them.

It was from the phone.

Alex had heard everything.

Sebastian stiffened, his eyes flicking toward the couch where her phone lay. The call was still connected.

A dangerous silence stretched between them.

Then, Alex spoke.

“Lily.” His voice was low, deadly. “Are you hurt?”

Her throat tightened. “Not yet.”

Another growl, this one laced with a fury she had never heard before. “Good. Keep it that way. I’m coming.”

Sebastian’s jaw clenched. He looked at Jonah and Liam. “Time’s up.”

Lily’s heart pounded. She tightened her grip on the knife, ready to fight with everything she had.

But deep down, she knew—she just had to hold out long enough.

Because Alex was coming. And there would be hell to pay.