MY STEPFATHER'S SON IS MY FATED ENEMY

The moving truck rumbled up the mountain road, and Lily pressed her face against the window. Tall pine trees stretched toward the cloudy sky, and somewhere in that forest, wolves were running. Real wolves. Pack wolves.  Her stomach twisted into a tight knot.  "Isn't it beautiful?" Her mother, Sarah, smiled from the driver's seat. Her eyes sparkled with happiness, the kind Lily hadn't seen in years. "Kane says the cabin has a huge backyard. You and Luna will love it."  Lily glanced at the silver-white wolf sleeping in the backseat. Luna's ear twitched, sensing Lily's worry even in sleep. They'd been hiding for three years, staying away from other packs, living quietly in their small apartment. Now Mom was marrying an alpha, the leader of the entire Silver Creek pack, and everything was about to change.  "Mom," Lily said quietly, "are you sure about this?"  Sarah reached over and squeezed her hand. "Sweetheart, I know this is scary. But Kane is a good man. And his son will be a wonderful brother to you."  Brother. Lily's chest tightened. She didn't want a brother. She didn't want a new family. She just wanted things to stay safe and simple.  But she couldn't say that. Not when Mom looked so happy. The truck turned onto a long driveway, and Lily's breath caught. The cabin wasn't small at all, it was huge, built from dark wood with a stone chimney and wide windows. Gardens surrounded the front, and the forest pressed close on all sides. It looked like something from a storybook.  "Welcome home!" A deep voice called out.  A tall man stepped off the porch, and Lily recognized him from the wedding photos. Alpha Kane, soon to be her stepfather, had graying black hair and kind eyes. He looked strong and important, the way alphas were supposed to look.  Mom jumped out of the truck and ran into his arms. They kissed, and Lily looked away, her cheeks warming.  Luna woke up and pressed her cold nose against Lily's neck.  "I know," Lily whispered, scratching behind Luna's ears. "We'll be okay. We have to be."  She opened the door and climbed out. The mountain air smelled like pine and rain. In the distance, she heard a river flowing.  "Lily!" Kane walked toward her with a warm smile. "I'm so glad you're here. Come inside, Derek's been waiting to meet you."  Derek. The son. The future alpha who would one day lead this whole pack.  Lily forced a smile and followed them toward the house. Luna stayed close to her side, as always. They'd been through everything together, Luna had been a gift when Lily turned thirteen, a magical companion that bonded with her soul. Most werewolves didn't get companions anymore. They were rare, special, and that made them valuable.  And dangerous to have.  The inside of the cabin was even more beautiful than the outside. Wooden beams crossed the high ceiling, and a stone fireplace took up most of one wall. Comfortable furniture filled the space, and stairs led up to a second floor.  "Your room is upstairs, second door on the right," Kane said. "Derek's room is at the end of the hall. The bathroom is between you two, you'll have to share, but it's big."  "Thank you," Lily said softly.  "Derek!" Kane called up the stairs. "Come meet your sister!"  Lily's heart pounded. She heard footsteps, slow and heavy, coming down the stairs.  And then she saw him.  Tall. Black hair. Gray eyes that looked like storm clouds. Broad shoulders. A scar on his left hand.  No.  No, no, no.  Lily couldn't breathe. The room spun. Luna growled low in her throat.  Because she knew that face. She knew that scar.  Three years ago, in the forest, when Luna was bleeding and crying, when Lily thought her best friend was dying, this boy had been there. This boy with the gray eyes and the cold expression. This boy who had hurt Luna. And now he was her brother.  Derek stopped at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes met Lily's, and something flickered across his face, recognition. He knew her too.  For one long moment, nobody spoke.  "Derek," Kane said, "this is Lily. Your new sister."  Derek's mouth curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He walked forward and held out his hand.  "Nice to meet you, Lily," he said smoothly. "I'm sure we'll get along great."  His voice was deeper than she remembered. Colder.  Lily stared at his hand, unable to move. Luna's growl grew louder.  "Lily?" Mom touched her shoulder. "Is everything okay?" She had to respond. Had to act normal. She couldn't ruin Mom's happiness, couldn't cause problems on the very first day.  Slowly, Lily reached out and shook Derek's hand.  His grip was strong and warm. His gray eyes held hers, and in them she saw a warning: Don't say anything.  "Nice to meet you too," Lily whispered.  Derek released her hand and looked at Luna, who bared her teeth at him. "Beautiful wolf," Derek said. "What's her name?"  "Luna," Lily managed.  "Luna," Derek repeated. "I'll remember that."  The threat was clear. He remembered Luna. He remembered everything.  Kane clapped his hands together. "Well! Let's get your things inside, Lily. Derek, help with the boxes, would you?" "Of course, Dad," Derek said.  He walked past Lily toward the door, and as he did, he leaned close enough that only she could hear. "We need to talk," he whispered. "Tonight. Alone." Then he was gone, heading outside to the truck. Lily stood frozen in the entry hall. Her whole body shook. This couldn't be happening. Of all the boys in all the packs in all the world, why did her mother have to marry HIS father?  "Sweetheart?" Mom bent down, concerned. "Are you feeling sick?" "Just tired," Lily lied. "Can I go see my room?"  "Of course! Go ahead, I'll bring your bags up in a bit."  Lily practically ran up the stairs, Luna racing beside her. She found the second door on the right and stumbled inside, closing the door behind her.  The room was perfect, big windows looking out at the forest, a comfortable bed with a blue quilt, shelves for her books, and a desk by the window. Any other day, she would have loved it.  But today, all she could think about was Derek.  Luna whined and pushed against Lily's legs.  "I know," Lily said, sinking onto the bed. "I know, girl. He's here. The boy who hurt you. And now we have to live with him."  Luna's blue eyes were full of fear and anger. She remembered that day too. The pain. The blood.  Lily hugged Luna close, burying her face in silver fur. "We'll be careful. We'll stay away from him as much as we can. And maybe... maybe we can convince Mom to leave. Somehow."  But even as she said it, Lily knew it was impossible. Mom loved Kane. Really loved him. And Lily couldn't break her mother's heart just because of something that happened three years ago.  Something nobody else knew about.  A knock on the door made them both jump. "Lily?" Derek's voice came through the wood. "I brought your suitcase."  Lily's hands clenched into fists. "Leave it outside."  "We need to talk. Now."  "I have nothing to say to you."  "Yes, you do." His voice dropped lower. "Open the door, Lily. Or I'll tell my father that your mother never registered you with the pack council. Do you know what happens to unregistered wolves?"  Lily's blood went cold.  He was right. Mom had been scared to register them officially after what happened with Luna. She'd been protecting them, hiding them. But if the pack found out...  Slowly, Lily stood and opened the door.  Derek stood in the hallway, her suitcase in one hand. He looked bigger up close, stronger. He'd grown a lot in three years. His gray eyes swept over her, taking in every detail.  "Come in," Lily said, her voice barely a whisper. "But Luna stays between us."  Derek nodded and stepped inside. He set the suitcase down and closed the door quietly behind him.  Then he turned to face her, and his expression was hard as stone.  "You owe me a life-debt, omega," he said. "And it's time to pay."