Fenris held me closely, not knowing this red wolf's intention.

"I’ll kill you, Lilith!" Layla screeched, finally stable enough to disrupt everyone.

Amara grumbled in response to her hostility towards me as a fierce growl erupted from Fenris to meet her declaration of intent. He wouldn’t allow her assertions to stand any longer. Before, the announcement of my pregnancy had stunned him, but he was determined to defend me himself.

Shade wouldn’t have to lift a nail to do so.

"If you even try to do anything to her. You’ll wish Shade ended you." My wolf glowered at her, triggering his eyes to shimmer a brighter hue than before.

There was no doubt in my mind that he would rip into her himself the next time she came at me. The female elder Lycan sighed, clapping her hands to catch everyone's attention.

"Okay, enough. I think this is a problem that the other races don’t need to hear. Can I kindly ask the council to reconvene tomorrow?" she asserted.

The members sighed in response, as watching the Lycans fall apart was a great show. However, Jasper was happy to hear her, as he had wanted out since it started.

"Very well, as enjoyable as that was. I believe we have the day to think over things. Let’s continue to discuss our approach tomorrow. This Lycan matter has nothing to do with us. Although it’s rather amusing to watch even you fail, Evan." Asher, who had fixed his white hair, chuckled, standing up from his chair.

He went out of the room without looking back.

"I hope you can get the information we need for tomorrow's reunion," Nyla huffed at Fenris.

“Let it to me. I’ll get all the information you need from my pack.” He nodded.

"Make sure you reattach that arm." Jasper gagged, standing up from his chair and running out.

Amara mumbled, “Stupid sea ball, you think it’s that easy?!”

"Fenris... I expect great things from you." Charles, who looked like Ryker, smiled before leaving the room.

"Crap... I wanted to see more." Jaxon, who had purplish hair and grey skin, shrugged.

Kaiden, who had bright red hair and tanned skin, dragged the reluctant moon elf away, along with the other members. The only ones who stayed behind were Ryker and Amara, who were busy tending to Layla, whose intense glares made me shiver.

Though Fenris stayed by me, surprisingly, Amelia slowly stepped towards us, glancing at my lower abdomen.

Ben, who had a bright smile on his lips, followed her.

"Are you holding my kin in there?" the white wolf asked, slowly reaching my abdomen.

Fenris watched her closely, and even though she was not hostile, I took a step closer to him. She had been acting weird since the day I retold my story.

"I... don’t know," I mumbled.

The fact I might carry life within me was surreal and scared the living soul out of me.

Something must be wrong. This can’t happen. I’m not ready for any of this!

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Shade rubbed her head on my cheek to comfort me. However, I felt light lighting had struck me where I stood when I saw tears rolling down Amelia's cheeks.

“I... can’t hate the mother of my baby brother’s child or it, even if it’s a hybrid." She softly sobbed, tugging her hand away from me.

She was confused about how to feel about my current predicament. It was the first time I had seen the cold-hearted Lycan move by something.

"Ah, how silly can you be? You hate an innocent life before it’s born. Ami, you aren’t a monster or heartless even though you try to be." Ben sighed, pulling her into his arms.

This family had fractures, but besides harsh words exchanged between us, this wolf had done nothing to hurt me. For the first time since that horrible day, she was trying to break all the walls placed to prevent me from getting in.

At this point, I didn’t know the meaning behind her change of emotions, but I would later learn she could never bear a child because of a congenital disability. The children that her brothers would have were the only ones she would ever meet.

Ben had none, even though he was the second oldest. So, I would be the first to have little feet running in the family, even if I still didn’t know how to feel about it. Evan, however, wasn’t as willing to accept the growing child within me.

After everyone left the room for us, the show began again when the older man retook the stage. He was determined to end whatever was growing within me.

"I hope you all know that abomination must be terminated," he started.

Instinctively, I grabbed onto my abdomen.

No! I…

Evan’s words caused chills to go down my spine, sending me back to the moment my father said he tried to end me.

This child... Is it going to have the same fate? Will Fenris want the same?

My heart dropped, shaking my head. Even though I didn’t understand the first thing about being a mother, this life growing within me came from the wolf I adored—something that couldn’t be destroyed.

The looming thought of what my mother went through came to mind.

You gave up everything for me. Is this how you felt? Will I… be able to do the same? If it’s between the baby and Fenris, I…

Stings rose in my chest as my wolf held me closer, noticing my subtle gestures of distress.

"If you do anything to Lily, Grandpa, I’ll make sure it is the last thing you do." He growled.

Unlike me, my wolf appeared unshaken by his words of hatred.

"You dumb child! Your line’s made of pure blood! The next child will be no less! You’ll marry Layla and make a true heir!" He confronted his grandson, who was about to lose his patience as his grip on me tightened.

His reluctance to leave me unguarded prevented him from pouncing on the elderly man. Amara, who had finished tending to Layla, stood up from where she was, heading to join us. Her eyes were twitching as her eyes gave off a soft hue.

The fact that the old Lycan would call my child a thing bothered her. Someone was worse off, though. Melody couldn’t contain her rage, throwing the closest thing to her towards the elder. A chair he barely dodged as it smashed against the wall behind him.

Liam held her back before she could pounce on him.

"How dare you?! That’s an innocent life! My best friend's baby! You’ll respect her child!" she snarled, trying to get away from her lover to dig her claws into her prey.

Her devotion left me open in ways I had never felt before.

Best friend?

"Silence! You’re nothing but a curse to your kind!" Evan spurred out in the heat of the moment, catching everyone's attention.

Finally, the subject shifted away from me, much to my relief.

"What?" The black wolf mumbled.

Evan would kindly fill her in as his anger took hold of his words.

"You’re a disgrace to even look at! Your slut of a mother could seduce my son, but you surely won’t seduce this pack your way!" Evan fumed, trying to put her in her place.

In his moment of rage, though, he didn’t realize the storm he had set off.

"Wait… Wait… M-Melody’s d-dad's daughter?" Ben stuttered, shifting his eyes back and forth between the two.

Amelia glanced down at the floor, biting her lip. Even though Evan didn’t speak, his hesitance to say anything else was enough to conclude what everyone was thinking. Fenris shifted his gaze between his grandfather and Melody, unable to follow along.

The black wolf was close to Fenris's age, shy of a year older than Liam. In an instant, the picture of the family he knew was gone, as he knew nothing of the secrets the adults in his life hid. Something that Amelia, who had been holding back the family secret for years, finally broke.

"It’s true, she’s dad’s child," the white Lycan announced, refusing to look at her.

My friend was utterly speechless by what was unveiled. She never mentioned her parents to me as she didn’t know them. The only one she knew was her grandmother, who was killed in the bombing of Silverant.

Is that why Amelia looked at you full of contempt before?

Her previous actions could have concluded that but more than that, they meant she was Fenris’s older sister—one he never knew and I loved.