CHAPTER 140: YOUNG LILITH XII

*~Young Lilith’s POV~*

I blinked rapidly, tension tightening every muscle in my body. My heart was pounding so loudly I could barely hear Alice and the others. Tonight. The word echoed through me like a warning bell. I stood abruptly, forcing a weak smile.

"Yeah... tonight. Tonight will be good," I muttered. "I think I should... make a plan. I’ll be right back. I just... I have an intense stomachache."

Before anyone could question me further, I rushed out of the room. Jonathan was right behind me, his footsteps sharp against the stone floor.

"Lady Lilith!" he called, reaching for my arm.

I turned to face him, my breathing uneven.

"Are you alright?" His tone carried genuine worry as his green eyes searched my face.

"No, no... I’m fine," I lied, though my voice betrayed me.

He touched my forehead, feeling for a fever, and the warmth of his hand sent an unexpected flutter through my chest. Then he drew me closer, his voice soft yet firm.

"Anything wrong with you, you can tell me."

I met his eyes, and for a fleeting second, I felt my heart stutter. No. Not now. I pushed him back gently, breaking the spell.

"It’s fine," I murmured.

"You said you were having a stomachache, right? I can prepare a concoction for you," he offered, his gaze earnest.

"No, Jonathan. Really, it’s fine. The entire pack is waiting for you. Go meet them."

"But my pack cannot be fine when their Luna is not," he said, his voice trembling slightly on the word.

I froze. Luna?

I turned to him slowly. "What did you say?"

His chest rose with a deep breath, and then he said it. "This is a strange way to propose, but... I, Alpha Jonathan, would love you to become my Luna. Your beauty is... too alluring for me to overlook. I’ve never met anyone who has soothed my heart the way you have."

My heart thudded painfully in my chest. His words were sweet, heartfelt—dangerous.

"Jonathan... like you said, this is the wrong time," I whispered. "I’m sorry."

And then I left him standing there, his confession hanging heavy in the air. I hurried to my room, shutting the door behind me and leaning against it. My pulse raced. My thoughts were a storm.

Jonathan was really in love with me. But no, this couldn’t happen. Not now.

And what did they mean they were striking tonight? Tonight—when I was supposed to meet Marcus?

This was bad. But no. I couldn’t let fear stop me. I would see Marcus, no matter what anyone said.

That night, I pulled off my scarf, sneaking out into the cool darkness. Every step toward the High House sent another wave of panic and longing through me.

Finally, after an hour, I reached its towering gates. The air felt sharp, dangerous. I no longer felt like I belonged here. But then... I saw him.

A figure standing on top of the High House. Marcus.

My heart skipped a beat, and before I could think, my body moved—teleporting me to him.

His blue eyes locked onto mine, his expression softening as he rushed forward, pulling me into his

Oh my god...

. the way he leaned in and inhaled my scent, his nose grazing my skin, sent a tremor through my chest. The embrace broke, but his eyes—those light blue eyes—held me still. "I thought I’d lost you," he breathed, voice thick with longing.

"Marcus..." I whispered, feeling my throat tighten. His hands trembled as he cupped my cheeks, then pulled me back into his arms, holding me like he never wanted to let go.

Tears slipped down my face before I could stop them. I had forgotten how solid he felt, how broad and strong his shoulders had become. He was taller now, bigger—time had sharpened him into a man. And yet, when he looked at me, I felt like the same girl who used to sneak into his arms under the moonlight.

"You’ve changed," he murmured, brushing his thumb under my eye. "You’re even more beautiful than I remembered."

"Marcus..." I forced a small smile but turned away, my heart cracking. "I don’t think we can do this anymore. I’m... I’m not who I used to be. I’m Crescent now."

He didn’t let me finish. His hand pressed gently against my lips. "Don’t say that here. We don’t know who’s listening. The walls of this world have ears."

His words made my stomach twist, and then his gaze grew grim. "Lilith, the pack and the witches are joining forces tonight. They’re going to attack your people."

My heart stopped. "What?"

"And..." His jaw clenched. "The Crescents are striking too. They’re coming for you, Lilith. For all of you."

Panic rose like a scream in my chest. "This... this is bad. We have to go. We have to—"

"No." He caught my hands, steady and firm, his voice low but fierce. "Don’t let them take this from us. Not tonight. If this is our last night together... I refuse to let it be filled with fear. Let’s end it on our terms. Just once, let us pretend the world isn’t burning."

My lips parted, trembling. "Marcus, I... I can’t. What if—"

"You are the bane of my existence, Lilith," he cut me off, pulling me closer until our foreheads touched. "You are the reason I wake up every day. The reason I fight. You’ve been my only dream... and in that dream, we’re not hunted. We’re together. You, me, and a baby girl with your eyes and my smile. A family. Peace."

The tears fell harder now, burning down my cheeks. "That’s not our world, Marcus. It never will be. There’s nothing left for us anymore."

"Don’t say that," he whispered, holding me tighter. "You didn’t choose this. You aren’t a monster. You never were. And as for your parents... their choices were theirs. Not yours. The blood on their hands was long before yours."

I swallowed the sob rising in my throat. "What can we do, then? What can I do?"

"Tonight..." His gaze softened, but there was fire behind it. "Tonight, we don’t think about tomorrow."

I exhaled sharply, hands trembling, before turning away. Slowly, I loosened the leaf pin holding the back of my gown together. It slid down my shoulders, pooling at my feet.

Marcus’s jaw nearly dropped.

"I wore my prettiest brown pants for you," I said, smirking through my tears. "Come on, Marcus. If tonight is all we have, then let’s make it ours."