With the moon and stars twinkling above them like tiny gems, Max and co drove down the winding road. The Argent mansion was now a distant memory, a fading silhouette against the dark sky. Simon and Samantha's house was located on the outskirts of Beacon Hills, nestled among the trees. It was a cozy and welcoming cottage-style house, with a well-maintained garden in front of it, decorated with a variety of vibrant flowers that seemed to glow in the moonlight.The journey had been lively, with Simon and Samantha making jokes and telling stories that left Lily and Max in stitches. The air was filled with laughter and happiness, a stark contrast to the dark and dangerous events that had taken place earlier in the day. Lily felt grateful to have met amazing friends who could lift her spirits and bring some much-needed joy into her life. She was glad that she had come for this dinner with Max.As Max pulled up to Simon and Samantha's house, Simon turned to Lily with a mischievous grin on h

Max's heart pounded in his chest as the strange man began to approach him and Lily. He could feel his breaths coming in short gasps as the man's menacing figure drew closer and closer. Instinctively, he pushed Lily gently behind him, trying to shield her from the danger that lay ahead."Run," he whispered hoarsely to her, his voice trembling with fear and desperation. "Run into the woods and hide. I'll come find you. Don't come out until I do."But Lily refused to budge. "I won't leave you," she said, her voice shaking with terror. "I can't. I won't."“Just go Lily, I promise I will be fine and I will come for you,” he screamed in a rush as the man was approaching.“No Max, I am not going anywhere.” Lily said amidst panic, and stood firmly behind him, temporarily forgetting the pain and bleeding on her forehead.Max knew that he couldn't protect both himself and Lily from the Lycan without shifting into his wolf form. He had to make a choice, and quickly; his secret or their safety. H

Emma sat at the head of the bed, her eyes heavy with fatigue, but her mind was racing with a million questions. She wrapped her arms around her legs and gazed at Lucas, who stood watch at the door, his back turned towards her. The room was dimly lit by the dying moonlight that seeped through the small window, casting a pale glow on their faces.Despite the warmth of the blankets around her, Emma shivered uncontrollably. The attack from the Lycan men had left her rattled, and Lucas put in a bad mood. Neither of them had been able to shake off the feeling of fear, anger and danger that still lingered in the air.Emma could tell that something was bothering aside from getting attacked by Lycans, he had come to get her from the underground tunnel after nearly thirty minutes and even though there were little to no scratches on his body, signifying that he won the fight, it felt like he lost. He had that look in his eyes, that of regret and sorrow, Emma couldn’t just understand what it was.

Lucas steps out of the hospital and takes a deep breath of fresh air. As he walks down the hallway and takes a few turns, he feels like he is being followed and intentionally heads towards an empty room. As he enters, he hears footsteps behind him and turns around to grab the person, only to realize it's Emma."Emma, what are you doing here? Were you spying on me?" Lucas asks, suspicion in his voice."Huh? Of course not. I… I wasn't spying on you," Emma replies, her voice soft and shaky. "I just wanted to talk to you.""Talk about what?" Lucas asks, trying to hide the confusion in his voice. “Last night?” he added immediately as it crossed his thoughts; of course he didn’t want to talk of last night, not the first or second activity.“Yes and no.” Emma shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes avoiding his. "Last night. But not...not about what happened between us," she stammered, her cheeks flushing as she remembered having his lips explore all parts of her body.Lucas

Samantha lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The room was silent, save for the soft rustling of the curtains in the gentle breeze that drifted in from the open window. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been plaguing her since the meeting earlier that day. Suddenly, she heard footsteps walking past in the hallway. Samantha sat up, her heart racing with anticipation. She slowly crept towards the door and peered out into the hallway. It was Lucas, walking towards Emma's room. She watched as he stopped in front of Emma's door and knocked softly. After a moment's pause, Emma opened the door and Lucas slipped inside.Samantha's heart sank, and she closed the door quietly, retreating back into her own room. She knew she shouldn't be jealous, but she couldn't help the way she felt. She wondered if moving into the Argent mansion was a mistake. Was it worth it to be close to Lucas, only to watch him fall in love with someone else?As she lay back down on her bed, Sam