(Lillian's Point of View)
The moon's light filtered through the curtains of my small office, casting long, hazy shadows on the walls. I sat at my desk, papers spread out before me, my fingers tracing over the edges of a set of new identification documents. The weight of what we were about to do pressed heavily on my chest, but I knew it had to be done. For Azaria. For our survival.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The faint scent of ink and paper filled my nose, a comforting reminder of the tasks at hand. We were running out of time. Every moment wasted was a moment closer to disaster. I glanced at the clock on my desk; it was already late in the night. Zari's limo would be pulling up soon, and I needed to have everything ready.
I picked up the documents again, flipping through them with a practiced hand. Each one was carefully crafted, down to the smallest detail. Birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses—all forged with the help of Zari's powerful cousins. They had always favored her mother, Helena Alidan, and their loyalty had extended to Zari in her time of need. It was a blessing I didn't take lightly. They understood the urgency of our situation, the need to disappear, to start fresh. They didn't question why; they only helped.
As I continued to go over the papers, my mind drifted to the conversation I'd had with Beta Marcus not too long ago. He had tried to manipulate me, to convince me to stay behind, to end my relationship with Zari now that she no longer served her purpose to them. He had cornered me in the hallway, his voice low and insistent.
"Lillian," he had said, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. "You're a smart woman. You know that the Luna's time here is done. She's outlived her usefulness to Alpha. Why tie yourself to someone who has no future pack?"
I had stared at him, trying to keep my expression neutral, my heart pounding in my chest. "Marcus," I had replied, my voice steady but firm, "The Luna is my friend. My sister. I wouldn't even be here if not for her. I'm not abandoning her just because you think she's no longer of use. I don't follow people because of what they can do for me; I follow them because I believe in them. Besides, you always knew I would choose her anyways, why do you think I never let you mark me?"
He had sneered, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "You're a fool, Lillian. You'll regret this. Ethan won't forgive you for siding with her, and neither will I. Consider this our end"
I had walked away, refusing to let him see the hurt that gripped my heart. But his words had stuck with me, a dark shadow over my thoughts. I knew Marcus well enough to know he wouldn't forgive easily, especially since I know our four-year fling meant way more to him than it did to me. Not to mention Ethan, he is a man who hold grudges, who seeks revenge when he felt slighted, and Azi is his favorite target. And Stephanie—well, I just don't trust her either. She is too entwined with Ethan, too willing to play both sides. Her presence in Azi's life had always unsettled me, and now, more than ever, I fear what she might choose. I don't know if Zari is truly prepared to face that kinda pain.
The vibration of my phone pulled me back to the present. I quickly picked it up, seeing Sirona's name flashing on the screen. I met her at the prestigious medical school Ethan sent me to. She was technically my rival, we competed hard against each other to solidify the top spot in our first year. In the end, I beat her out by a 10th of a point. We had already become extremely close by then and just decided to stay friends. Each year until graduation, either she or I top the top spot, with the other close behind. I swiped to answer, pressing the phone to my ear.
"Hey, Lills," Sirona's voice came through, steady and calm despite the chaos around us. "How's everything going?"
"Just about ready," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "We're cutting it close, though. Zari should be here soon."
"I've got everything set up on my end," Sirona said. "Once you get here, we can start the process. New citizenships, new lives. It's all in place."
I exhaled, relief washing over me. "Thank you, Sirona. I can't tell you how much this means to us."
"Don't mention it," she replied. "You have always had my back. It's the least I can do. Besides, you know how much I hate your Alpha and his so-called power plays. This is just me doing my part to make sure he doesn't fuck with your only other friend. "
I smiled, a small spark of hope igniting in my chest. "I guess. We'll be there as soon as we can. Just… be ready. Things might get messy."
"Always am," Sirona replied, her tone lightening. "Take care, Lills. I'll see you soon 'kay."
I ended the call, setting the phone down on the desk. Taking a deep breath, I moved to the closet, pulling out the last of my clothes and stuffing them into a suitcase. My mind was racing, thoughts of Zari flooding my senses. I was so worried about her. She had been through so much, suffered so deeply, and now, with everything falling apart around us, I wasn't sure how much more she could take.
I glanced at the clock again. Where was that limo?
My hands trembled slightly as I zipped up the suitcase, my mind flashing back to the secret I carried, a secret that could change everything. Zari didn't know, not yet. And I wasn't sure if she would ever be ready to hear it. But I knew that it was vital, that it was the reason we had to disappear, to start anew. For her safety. For our safety.
I grabbed the suitcases, hauling them towards the door and setting them down beside the other bags. I paused, taking a moment to collect myself, to steady my nerves. I had to be strong. For Zari. For both of us.
Finally, I heard the distant rumble of the limo's engine pulling up outside. Relief washed over me, and I quickly opened the door, dragging the bags down the stairs and out to the front of the house. I glanced around, nerves thrumming through me. The weight of our escape bore down on me, reminding me that every second counted.
As I reached the bottom of the steps, I saw the limo come to a stop, the driver quickly getting out and moving to the back door. My heart clenched when I saw Zari slumped in the back seat, barely conscious. Her face was pale, her eyes half-closed, her body limp and lifeless.
I rushed forward, my fear spiking. "Zari!" I called out, my voice breaking with worry. "Zari, are you okay?"
The driver helped her out of the limo, and I moved to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist to support her. She looked up at me, her eyes glazed and unfocused.
"Lilly…" she murmured, her voice weak. "She…She choose…"
"Shh, it's okay," I whispered, guiding her towards the car. "We're getting out of here. You're going to be fine."
I helped her into the back seat, my heart aching at the sight of her so weak and vulnerable. I couldn't let her down. I wouldn't.
As I settled her in the back seat, I glanced up and down the street, my eyes searching for any sign of danger or anyone who might have followed. The streets were quiet, but I knew that didn't mean we were safe. Ethan's reach was long, and his temper was fierce.
I slipped into the driver's seat, my hands gripping the wheel tightly. My mind was buzzing with the implications of what we were about to do. Sirona would be our lifeline once we crossed the border. Her connections in Drakova would help secure our safety and anonymity, but getting there was the real challenge.
I turned the key in the ignition, the car roaring to life. Zari mumbled something incoherent from the back seat, and I glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing her eyes flutter shut again.
"It's okay, Zari," I said softly, my voice trembling with emotion. "Just rest. I've got you."
The car moved forward, leaving behind everything we had known, everything that had been familiar. As we drove away, leaving the packhouse and the life we'd known behind, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and relief. Fear for the unknown, and relief that, at least for now, we were free.
But as the reality of what lay ahead settled over me, I knew that this was only the beginning. There was still so much to be done, so much to prepare for. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: we were not going back. We were moving forward, towards a new life, a new beginning. And I would do everything in my power to ensure that Zari had the chance to heal, to rebuild, to find the peace she so desperately deserved.
As I drove, the cityscape gave way to open roads and rolling hills. The sun was rising, casting a warm, golden glow over the horizon. I felt a small flicker of hope stir within me, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there was always a chance for light to break through.
"We're going to make it, Zari," I whispered, more to myself than to her. "I promise."
With that, I focused on the road ahead, my determination solidifying with each passing mile. We had a long journey ahead of us, but we were not alone. And as long as we had each other, I knew we could face whatever came our way.