My Most Precious Human

I was told that Draven should recover in a day. The cut he received from Sariel was quite deep, but it was meant to make him unable to fight, not to kill him in an instant. Of course, it would have been deadly fo a regular wolf, but it was way not enough for a strong Alpha whose healing process started immediately after his flesh had been torn.

Even defeated, Draven kept his position in the pack. Sariel couldn't care less about becoming the werewolves' leader. Besides, I doubt he ever had their complete loyalty. Certainly, it didn't make Draven's position any less complicated, and I bet his dreams of becoming a king would have to wait for a while. Nonetheless, the Moon Hill Pack deserved to rule over the entire north and south, and that automatically made Draven the leader of the werewolf race.

The fact that Alpha Randall D'Apolito had been killed by some unknown creature was hidden from the majority of the packs' members. Only a few knew the truth. Sariel, Leo, Beta Ari, and I decided that it would be the best option until we could take full control of administrating the area. With Alpha Draven still healing, we needed to maintain the feeling that everything was working just fine. The information about a mad, killing creature that might have still been around the area surely wouldn't have helped. We needed to avoid anything that could lead to absolute chaos.

There was a lot to be done in a matter of hours, and a lot of bodies to be buried. The wolves from the Southern Woods Pack who surrendered or willingly joined our side turned out to be very helpful in securing the crucial facilities and informing the rest of the pack members about the change in leadership. For some reason, they felt comfortable listening to orders coming from me. They knew that I was the daughter of Alpha Randall and Alpha Eve, which naturally earned me their respect... Sadly, I had to come to my father's pack with an army and whoop their wolf asses for them to acknowledge my existence. Their unexpected submission to me put me in the group of leaders dealing with the south crisis.

My new position came with consequences. Sitting at one table with the members of the Moon Hill Pack felt awkward and annoying. Neither Ari nor Raiden looked me in the eyes. I could see that they were more comfortable talking with the Vampire King who had just beaten the shit out of their Alpha, than saying a single word to me. Their attitude pissed me off. As soon as our meeting was over, I rushed over to Ari and blocked his way out.

"You knew, didn't you?" I glared at him.

He sighed as his eyes finally met mine. "Yes... but I was against lying to you like that."

"But you lied anyway," I hissed

"Draven is my Alpha."

"Perfect excuse," I scoffed. "Did the whole pack know that I wasn't his mate?"

"Only the inner circle..." he replied hesitantly. "It wasn't a publicly announced fact since Jade, Jetta's sister, died soon after their bond linked them together. Draven was young, and he suddenly had to step in as an Alpha... He kept blaming himself that he couldn't protect his mate."

"And how's that an excuse to manipulate me?!" I snapped.

"Please, Lilith..." Ari lowered his head. "He lost his father, and then he lost the one who was supposed to be his Luna. When your father offered you to him, he initially wanted to make you the key to his revenge, but then he realized that you could be the way to fill his void."

"Void, my ass!" I grunted. "Do you have any idea how I felt? He made me believe that I was special to him, that he felt something when I was with him, but the worst of all was the guilt he implanted in me. He made me feel guilty for not loving him and made me torment myself that there was something wrong with me."

"I'm sorry, Lilith! I don't know what else you want me to say!" Ari burst out.

"Now... I don't want you to say anything," I said coldly. "It was your job to tell your Alpha that his idea was a terribly bad one, but you didn't have the balls to do it. I hope you'll grow a pair someday." I turned around and walked out of the room, leaving Ari alone with the bewilderment I gave him.

Only once I stepped into the corridor did I notice Leo leaning against the wall with a wicked grin on his face. His expression proved that he listened to every bit of my conversation with Ari, and found it entertaining.

"I like the new you," he commented, looking me up and down.

"You think I've changed?" I raised my brows at him.

"Not physically... maybe you lost some weight, but you surely became bolder." He nodded his head in appreciation. "Don't lose that confidence when you talk to the King. I'm sure you have a lot to discuss..." Leo chuckled, then patted my shoulder before walking away.

I smiled wryly as he passed by me, uncertain whether it was a compliment or mockery. Nonetheless, I knew he was right. Sariel and I were about to have THE conversation, and I was freaking out at the thought of reopening every issue that made me hurt before.

Sariel stood at the end of the corridor, talking to Patrick and two other soldiers from the Royal Army. He held a composed and confident expression that made him irresistibly sexy. That dark and dangerous kind of look fitted him perfectly. I walked towards him, ogling at him like an idiot until his eyes unexpectedly turned my way. I gasped and nearly stumbled, but when I regained my balance and looked at him, I noticed a sudden change in his expression.

His eyes brightened and welcomed me with warmth. His features softened as if he felt more relaxed by merely watching me approach him. As I took another step, he impatiently reached out his hand and pulled me closer. I smiled nervously. Unlike him, I felt more tense and more anxious, not knowing what to expect and how our discussion would end.

Sariel dismissed everyone around and led me down the corridor, which surprisingly ended in a beautiful orangery. Various plants filled the space, creating a mosaic of beautiful shapes generously decorated by the sunlight. The vines went up, ornamenting the wall-size window frames while the flowers sparkled in every color known on Earth. There was a white round table and two matching chairs standing in the middle of the room, making it the most romantic place I had ever seen.

Sariel pulled out a chair for me, inviting me to sit. Then he left me for a second and came back holding a bottle of wine and two glasses. He put one glass in front of me and filled it with deliciously fragrant Pinot Noir.

"You're doing it on purpose." I frowned and started nervously tapping my fingers on the tabletop.

He grabbed my hand and leaned closer. "I just want you to relax." The sound of his voice sent an electric wave down my stomach.

I exhaled, avoiding his gaze, and drank my wine until the last drop.

"Good girl," he murmured seductively, and then refilled my glass and sat in his chair.

"I can't get drunk as easily as before, and the wine won't help you. I'm still hurt by the way you've treated me," I stated confidently in one breath.

He smiled wryly, "I didn't assume you would."

"And you can't hate me for sleeping with Draven." I continued my speech, afraid that I would instantly lose confidence if I stopped.

"I would never hate you."

"That's what..." I paused as I acknowledged his words. "Why?"

"Because you had every reason to choose him," he said, trying to focus on swirling the wine in his glass.

I leaned forward, placing my elbows on the table with my hands supporting my chin. "I didn't do it to hurt you. I did it because I didn't want to suffer."

"Ouch..." he grimaced, "this actually hurt."

I shrugged. "That's the truth."

Sariel sighed and looked down, "I know I hurt you... a lot. I acted like-"

"A total asshole," I finished.

He smirked. "Yes... but I only did it because I wanted Elora out of our lives as soon as possible. I knew that she had been obsessed with me for over thirty years, so I thought that if I gave her enough of my false attention, she would reveal every secret she had, but I couldn't be more wrong..." Sariel lowered his head and clenched his fists.

"I've been trying to help you, but you cut me off completely. I thought that those notes Kanan and I decrypted could have been enough to prove that Elora was behind many crimes." Agitation rose in my voice.

"You don't understand... When you

showed me those notes, I was

terrified!" He leaned forward and grabbed my hands. "Leo discovered that Elora's supporter might have and

been the one behind the attack

that there were many spies within the Palace. I didn't know who to trúst, and I didn't know how to keep you safe, except for staying away from you as far as possible..."

"You should have told me!" I snapped. "I would have understood!"

"I thought that the less you knew, the safer you'd be... but I've never thought that I would lose you this way..." His voice cracked, making my heart ache.

"You have no idea what your kiss with Elora did to me..." I squeezed through my throat.

He stood up, took a step forward, and then kneeled before me. "I will regret those choices for eternity... but if you let me, I will make it up to you every day, for the rest of your life."

His statement woke up every

butterfly living inside my stomach.

Perhaps I was naïve, perhaps I shouldn't have believed him, but I loved him. With every single tone that escaped his throat, I heard nothing but sincerity, and I felt nothing but raw and desperate emotions. I cupped his face, trying to smile despite the tears filling my eyes, and then leaned down to place my lips on his.

"I love you," I breathed against his mouth, a heartbeat before he took over with lush strokes of his tongue.

He stood up without breaking our

kiss and then pulled me up into a

me

tight embrace. I could feel his need for me, just like I needed him. It was something beyond physicality. I craved him wholeheartedly, and could feel he craved me too. He risked being emotional before me. He broke all of his walls for me, and I could sense it in his touch and his caresses. He didn't try to ask for my blood; he needed me, the whole me, and that made me love him even more.

His hands stroked my back as his deepening kiss made me struggle to grasp the tiniest breath. The arousal grew within the mutual hunger of our bodies. It all came naturally, and I adored every second of it. "Sorry to interrupt!" Leo's voice invaded our mutual affection with the power of a tornado.

Sariel broke our kiss and shot him a look, far more dangerous than simple warming. Yet, Leo's expression didn't change despite the situation, which could mean only that the situation was crazy serious.

He took a deep breath and said, agitatedly, "The army of degenerates has besieged Greystoneville."