Cain^
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"Good morning" I chirped as I entered the kitchen.
"Good morning Luna" they all greeted back with happy smiles.

I nodded to them and went to my regular seat beside Noah at the table. Breakfast was already laid out so I grabbed a plate and filled it up with pancakes, bacon and fruits.

"Have Marie and Sophie come down yet?" I asked Noah.
"No but I have a feeling that it's because of all the people around" he shrugged.
"I'll bring them up some breakfast" I nodded to myself and began eating.

After finishing, I grabbed two plates and filled them up with different breakfast foods then went upstairs. With difficulty, I knocked on their door and a few seconds later Marie opened the door.

"G-Good morning" she smiled shyly before opening the door to let me in.
"Good morning. I brought your breakfast since you may be uncomfortable eating downstairs with everyone else" I replied and set their plates on the beside table.

"T-Thank you L-Luna" she said thankfully before sitting on the bed.
"How are you feeling today?" I asked.

"B-Better. My wounds are f-fully healed and besides t-that we're both just hungry" Marie replied then she began eating her breakfast.
"Well I'll leave you to it then. If you need anything just look for me or Noah" I waved then left the room.

I followed Noah's scent to his office and peeked my head inside. He smiled at me then gestured for me to come in. I closed the door behind me and walked towards him.

"What are you up to?" I asked as I stood behind him and rested my chin on his shoulder.
"Finishing up on some pack work" he mumbled as he scanned through a document.

I read the title and titled my head.

"Who's getting adopted?" I replied and smiled at the thought of one of the kids having a family again.
"Two twin sisters, Jessica and Jennifer. Jared and Steven adopted them and now I'm just finalising it" he replied, referring to the mated couple I met during the Luna ceremony.

"I'm glad they decided to adopt" I grinned. Noah nodded then set his pen down and spun his chair around to face me.

"Do you want kids?" He asked as he rested his hands on my hips.
"Do you?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes and many of them" he replied.
"How many?" I smiled, relieved that he wanted kids too.

"Six. Maybe more" he shrugged.
"Six! You'd be lucky that you might get that many, never mind more" I exclaimed with a giggle.
"Making them is the fun part" he winked which made my cheeks flush, "and whenever your ready, we can start our family" he said with a soft smile.

I took a deep breath and mulled over my thoughts. I think I am ready to go the whole way with Noah and finally start building a life together. I've grown stronger and I'm happy here. My life is just how I would've dreamed it to be and hopefully it'll stay that way.

"I am ready" I mumbled shyly as I looked at my shoes.
"What?" He asked. I hesitantly lifted my head up, wearing a shy smile.
"I'm ready. I'm ready to stop living in fear all the time. I'm ready to be with you in every way. I'm ready to start a family with you"

"You have no idea how happy it's makes me to hear you say that" he grinned and sat up, wrapping his arms around my waist then twirled me around. A childish giggle left my lips at the action.

He pressed his lips against mine and I happily kissed him back. He pulled away and I noticed his eyes sparkling with happiness which made me smile.

Noah's office door opened behind us and we turned around to face my brother and Luke.
"Hey guys" I smiled but my smile dropped when I noticed their expressions.

"Noah it's time" Luke stated grimly.
"It's time for what?" I asked with a frown.

"It's time to start the plan" Luke replied.

"We'll need to prepare the pack. You never know what he might have up his sleeve" Noah frowned.
"We better call a pack meeting to explain what's happening to everyone" I sighed then took Noah's hand and led us downstairs.

We got to the meeting place and Noah called everyone to meet us. A few minutes later the whole pack was standing in front of us with curious and worried expressions.

"Thank you all for coming so soon. We have an announcement to make and I ask you all to stay calm and do not panic" Noah's voice boomed throughout the clearing.

"I'm sure many of you are aware of the body that was discovered recently. That body was sent as a warning by the Rouge Alpha. His name is Cain and he is also the brother of your Luna. Cain wants your Luna and her brother, Zander, to surrender themselves to him" Noah began explained and paused to let everything sink in.

"That will not be happening. Cain will be coming tonight, expecting your Luna and Zander to surrender themselves. We have a plan but for everyone's safety we ask that you all, apart from the pack warriors, stay in the safety bunker until it's safe to come out" Noah continued.

"Are there any questions?" He asked and when no one moved, Noah nodded his head and dismissed the meeting. Everyone left to prepare for tonight and Noah and I walked back to his office.

"Noah you realise this plan is terrible right?" I sighed as I flopped onto the office couch.
"It's all we got right now sweetheart. I won't let anyone take you away from me again" he replied and sat beside me, pulling me to his chest and playing with my hair.

"When will all this end? The constant threats and danger. When will we be able to live without constantly looking over our shoulders" I frowned.

"I don't know baby. But what I do know is that I will do everything in my power to protect you and everyone else" he mumbled then placed soft kiss on my forehead.

"I love you" I sighed and snuggled closer into his chest.
"I love you more" he replied. I smiled and closed my eyes, listening to his calming heartbeat.

I felt myself dozing off but the office door opened again. I kept my eyes closed and listened as the person closed to door and walked towards us.
"What is it Luke?" Noah asked quietly as he continued playing with my hair.

"Just an update Alpha. The warriors are ready and everyone else is safely situated in the safety bunker" Luke informed him.
"Thank you" Noah replied and I felt him nod his head.

Luke didn't move so Noah asked him what was wrong.
"How's Lily doing?" Luke asked, believing that I was unaware of their conversation.

"She's overwhelmed with everything that's going on. With finding the dead body then getting kidnapped and tortured again and now Cain. Once we deal with Cain and the council deal with her old pack, hopefully she can finally relax" Noah replied in a soft tone then moved his hand to rest at the top of my head.

"After everything that's happened to her, she deserves a break" Luke sighed. I felt Noah nod his head in agreement.

"I'll leave you to it then Alpha" Luke spoke before leaving the office.

Noah sighed heavily and I felt him slump into the couch. I could feel the stress flowing off him in waves. I pretended to wake up and looked up at his tired face.

"You need rest Noah" I frowned worriedly.
"I will later. We have to deal with Cain first" he replied then a yawn left his lips.

"I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"Because your stressed and tired. All of these problems are revolving around me and I feel guilty that it's affecting you too."

"Lillian, you're my mate. Your problems are my problems and no matter how stressed or tired I am, I'm going to do anything I can to help you get rid of these problems. You're my mate and it's my job to be there for you and to protect you" Noah told me sternly.

"You're the best mate ever, you know that" I smiled and titled my head up to look at him.
"I know" he smirked.

I laughed but was cut short by a knock at the door.
"Come on love. It's time to meet your brother" Noah sighed and stood up, pulling me up with him.

We met the warriors, Zander and my father in front of the pack house and we all made our way to the border to meet my brother. We waited in silence until my head snapped up at the sound of a branch breaking.

A few minutes later, several men emerged from the trees and my grip tightened around Noah's hand.

A man, who sported many tattoos, was leading the group and I guessed it was my brother.
"Cain" my father nodded towards the man leading the group.
"Ah father, how nice of you to join us" Cain smirked then his eyes gazed around.

"Zander, it's lovely seeing you again after all these years" my brother proclaimed.
"Wish I could say the same" Zander sneered in reply. Cain rolled his eyes and he moved his gaze onto me.

"Well hello little sister" Cain greeted with a coy smile.
"Cain" I nodded blankly in greeting.

"Well now that the greetings are out of the way, are you two ready to leave?" Cain asked, his lips now set in straight line.
"Cain why do you want us? To play happy siblings?" I stated and rolled my eyes.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out little sister" he winked before turning to Zander then back to me.

"So I'm guessing by the looks on your faces that you will not be surrendering yourselves?" Cain questioned as he tilted his head in a childish manner.

"Cain please. We don't have to have any bloodshed. Just come back home and we can be a family again" I pleaded. He snapped his head in my direction and wore an angry scowl on his face.

"Family?! My family left me for dead when I was still a child. They never looked for me! As far as I'm concerned my family is dead" Cain spat furiously which made me flinch.

"Cain please. I didn't have the best life growing up either. My childhood was pretty much a living hell but I found my mate and I was reunited with my family again. Please come back home. Make our family whole again" I pleaded desperately.

"Why would I come back home? There's nothing there for me" he glared.
"Yes there is. Your family; me, Zander, dad and you might even meet your mate Cain!" I exclaimed, finding some hope that I'm actually changing his mind.

"I don't have a mate. People like me don't have mates Lillian"
"Everyone has a mate Cain. I know you do. All you have to do is look for her, I'll help you. Please Cain, you can be happy again. Please just come home and stop this war"

Cain was silent for a while but he looked back up at me with cold, emotionless eyes before speaking.
"If you won't be surrendering yourselves, prepare for war. I will be coming back with my pack in a matter of days. Until then" he nodded then turned around, his men followed obediently behind him.

I collapse onto the ground and began crying.
"I was so close. I almost convinced him but something held him back. Goddess Noah! We were so close" I cried as he crouched beside me and pulled me to him.
"I know sweetheart. We'll find a way" he cooed reassuringly.

"I just want my family together again" I sobbed.

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