Bitch ain't Stupid

Leila's POV:

I knew exactly what Lily was up to, summoning my mate in the middle of the night like that. She was trying to worm her way back into his life, playing on his kindness and sense of responsibility. But if she thought I was going to let her do whatever she wanted, she was sorely mistaken.

 As I made my way to her room, I could feel the tension in the air. When I opened the door and stepped inside, I watched her face change dramatically. The moment she saw me, the mask of the vulnerable, needy woman she had put on for Drake vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. It was as if she had shed her skin to reveal the snake underneath.

 Her eyes narrowed, and she almost hissed at me, "I called for Drake, not you."

 Her voice was shrill, laced with a mix of anger and disbelief. She clearly hadn't expected me to show up instead of him. Good. She needed to know that I wasn't someone she could easily manipulate or push aside.

 "Well, my mate is tired and sleeping," I replied calmly, though my words were laced with irony, "So I came on his behalf. Aren't you happy I'm here?"

 I watched her closely, a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. She was clearly rattled by my presence, her initial confidence wavering. But that wasn't my concern. I was here to make sure she knew that Drake was 'mine'—and that I wouldn't allow her to undermine what we had.

 Lily's face twisted with frustration as she realized her little scheme wasn't going according to plan. Her eyes flickered with annoyance, but she quickly tried to regain her composure. She forced a sweet, sickening smile onto her lips, but I could see right through it.

 "How considerate of you," she sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But really, Leila, don't you think it's better if Drake handles this himself? After all, we share a history, and he's the father of my child. We have certain... connections."

 Her words were laced with an undercurrent of possessiveness that made my blood boil. She was trying to remind me of her past with Drake, as if that gave her some kind of hold over him. As if she still had a claim on him.

 But I wasn't going to let her intimidate me. I wasn't the scared little girl she seemed to think I was. I had fought my own battles, endured my own pain, and I wasn't about to let her waltz back into Drake's life and tear apart what we had built.

 I met her gaze head-on, refusing to back down. "History is just that—'history'," I said firmly. "Drake and I have something far more important: the present, and the future. You may share a child, but that's where your connection ends."

 Lily's eyes darkened, and she took a step closer, her voice dropping into a venomous whisper. "You really think you can keep him, don't you? You're nothing compared to what we had. Drake was mine once, and he'll be mine again. Just wait. I'll make him see that he still belongs with me."

 Her words were sharp, meant to cut deep, but I refused to let them get under my skin. Instead, I smiled—calm, controlled, and unbothered.

 "If you think you can take him from me, then by all means, try," I replied coolly, stepping closer until we were practically nose to nose. "But let's make one thing clear: I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to stay. And I won't back down without a fight."

 Lily's eyes flashed with fury, and for a moment, I could see the real her—the manipulative, desperate woman who had left Drake without a second thought, now scrambling to reclaim what she had so easily discarded. But I wasn't afraid of her. I wasn't going to let her rattle me.

 Then, without waiting for her response, I turned on my heel and walked out of the room, leaving her seething behind me. I could feel the tension still crackling in the air, but I didn't care. She could play her games all she wanted—I wasn't about to let her get between me and Drake.

 As I made my way back to our room, I felt a sense of calm settle over me. I knew this wouldn't be the last time Lily tried to pull something, but I also knew I wasn't alone in this fight. Drake and I had a bond she could never understand.

 And I wasn't about to let her break it.

 In the morning, I noticed that Drake had already gone off to handle his pack duties and oversee the warriors' training. Left with the quietness of the house, I decided to head downstairs for breakfast, hoping to spend some time with Nelly. Since entering the pack, Nelly had become more than just a friend; she was like a sister to me, always warm, funny, and fiercely loyal. Sitting across from her now, our usual laughter filled the kitchen as we chatted about random things. It was moments like these that made me feel at home in the pack, not just as Drake's mate but as someone who was genuinely accepted.

 But as soon as Lily walked into the room, the air seemed to shift. The temperature dropped, and I could practically feel the tension creeping in behind her. She greeted Nelly with a fake sweetness that made my stomach turn, but Nelly didn't even bother acknowledging her. It was like she hadn't even seen Lily walk in—though we both knew she had.

 Undeterred by the cold shoulder, Lily continued, her voice sentimental and deliberate. "Nelly, I know things didn't end on the best note between us," she said, her eyes wide with innocence, "but we were friends once, and I was hoping you could find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving the way I did. We could still be friends, you know? And..." She paused for a moment, adding with a calculating smile, "I was also thinking that you and Lucas could be my child's godparents. For old times' sake?"

 I nearly choked on my drink. Her audacity knew no bounds. The way she said it—so casually, as if it were some small favor—masked the true depths of her scheming. She wasn't just looking to mend fences with Nelly. No, she was attempting to rebuild the old friendships and reinsert herself into the pack's inner circle. The worst part was, I could see her strategy clear as day: with Lucas and Nelly on her side, it would be easier to influence Drake. She was hoping to recreate their old power group, cutting me out completely.

 This woman wasn't just clever—she was dangerous. She knew exactly what she was doing, and she was playing a long game. I had to admit, she had brains, but that didn't make her any less of a threat. It made her even more of one.

 I glanced at Nelly, trying to gauge her reaction. Nelly had been a rock for me since I joined the pack. I had feared that I might be treated as an outsider, that people would only tolerate me because I was Drake's mate. But the reality was, I had been embraced by the pack. They loved and accepted me for who I was, not just for my title. Nelly, especially, had become a close confidante, and I cherished her friendship. If she turned to Lily's side, it would hurt me deeply.

 I watched as Nelly's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips pressing together in a skeptical line. I could almost see her mind working through Lily's words, weighing her options. The pause felt like it stretched forever as I held my breath, wondering what she would say. Would she fall for Lily's act? Would she betray me for the sake of old friendships?