Chapter 99

The crisp autumn air carried the scent of fallen leaves as Lillian stepped onto the cobblestone path leading to Blackwood Manor. Her heart pounded against her ribs, a mixture of anticipation and unease coiling in her stomach. Today was the day she would finally confront Donovan—the man who had once been her fated mate, the man who had betrayed her in the cruelest way possible.

Sebastian Blackwood stood by the grand oak doors, his piercing silver eyes watching her approach. The Lycan chairman’s presence was as commanding as ever, his broad shoulders accentuated by the tailored black suit he wore. Beside him, little Oliver clung to his father’s leg, his curious gaze darting between Lillian and the imposing figure of Marcus Grayson, Sebastian’s ever-loyal beta.

"You don’t have to do this," Sebastian murmured, his deep voice laced with concern.

Lillian lifted her chin. "Yes, I do."

The doors swung open, revealing the opulent foyer of Blackwood Manor. The scent of polished mahogany and fresh roses filled the air, but Lillian barely noticed. Her attention was immediately drawn to the figure standing near the fireplace—Donovan, his golden hair catching the flickering firelight. Beside him, Evelyn smirked, her fingers entwined possessively with his.

"Lillian," Donovan greeted, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth. "I didn’t expect you to come."

Her fingers curled into fists. "You didn’t think I’d let you get away with what you did, did you?"

Evelyn scoffed. "Oh, please. You’re just bitter because he chose me."

Sebastian stepped forward, his presence radiating dominance. "Enough. This ends today."

A tense silence settled over the room. Then, from the shadows, Victoria emerged—Sebastian’s daughter, her engagement ring glinting ominously on her finger. "Father," she said coolly, "you’re making a mistake."

Lillian’s breath hitched. Victoria had always been a wildcard, but siding with Donovan? That was unexpected.

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. "Victoria, step aside."

She didn’t move. Instead, she smirked. "Or what?"

The air crackled with tension. Then, Beatrice burst into the room, her cheeks flushed. "Lillian! You need to see this!"

She thrust a crumpled letter into Lillian’s hands. The moment her eyes scanned the contents, her blood ran cold.

"If you want the truth about your mother’s disappearance, meet me at midnight. Alone."

The signature at the bottom sent a shiver down her spine.

—Archibald Winslow.

Lillian’s gaze snapped to Donovan, but his expression was unreadable. Had he known about this?

Sebastian’s voice cut through her thoughts. "Lillian, what is it?"

She swallowed hard. "I think I just found my mother’s killer."

And with that, the game had changed.

"Kill us?? W-why would they want to kill us?" Victoria's voice trembled, her wide eyes reflecting sheer terror. "What did we even do?"

"Victoria, listen to me," I murmured, shifting closer while carefully avoiding the sharp sting of the silver cuffs around my wrists. "You need to stay calm. If they realize we're awake, they might come back sooner—and we can't let that happen. Right now, surprise is our only advantage."

The damp, musty air of the basement clung to my skin as I strained to listen. Footsteps creaked on the floorboards above us, and I held my breath, praying they wouldn't descend.

"So we just... pretend to be unconscious?" Victoria whispered, tears glistening in her lashes.

"Until we figure out a way out, yes," I replied firmly.

She hugged herself tightly but gasped when the cuffs seared her skin. A choked sob escaped her as tears traced down her ashen cheeks.

"My father will find us," she whispered, more to herself than to me. "He's the strongest Lycan in the world. He has to."

I wanted to believe her. But the gnawing dread in my gut refused to fade. I couldn't admit to Victoria that I was just as terrified. My entire life had been spent training as a Gamma warrior—yet now, faced with real danger, my instincts felt useless.

The basement had no windows, trapping us in suffocating darkness. My gaze flicked upward, spotting a ventilation grate on the ceiling. A fleeting thought crossed my mind—could we escape through it? But with these cuffs, the idea was nearly impossible.

Victoria curled into herself, burying her face against her knees as she took a shuddering breath. "We will get out of here," she repeated under her breath, like a desperate mantra. "We have to."

Third Person POV

Donovan smirked as his phone lit up with a message from his subordinate. Everything is set.

Perfect.

Lillian had been taken by a few harmless pack members—nothing more than pawns in his game. They'd bound her with silver and wolfsbane, keeping her weak but unharmed. Not that she knew that. No, she believed she was in mortal danger, and that was exactly what he wanted.

He planned to let her stew in fear for a full day before swooping in as her savior. By then, she'd be so desperate, so grateful, that she'd do anything he asked—even become his mistress.

The thought sent a rush of heat straight through him, his body reacting instantly. His mind conjured images of Lillian in that expensive lingerie he'd bought just for her, and his grip tightened around his phone.

He scrolled to Victoria's contact, his lips curling into a dark smile.

Soon.

Donovan's fingers hovered over Victoria's contact. He needed an escape, and confronting his fiancée seemed like the perfect solution.

When the call went unanswered, his jaw tightened. He tried again.

Still nothing.

What the hell? She never ignored his calls.

Frustration simmering, he switched to texting.

Donovan: Where are you?

Minutes ticked by with no reply. His grip on the phone turned white-knuckled before he exhaled sharply and stood. Fine. If Victoria was going to play games, he’d drag her out of hiding himself.

Ignoring him? Unacceptable.

Storming out of his penthouse, he slid into his sleek black sports car and peeled toward the Blackwood Estate. One hand on the wheel, he fished out his phone again. Might as well check on the other loose end while he drove.

His men had assured him Lillian was secured, but he wanted confirmation straight from the source. He tapped the contact labeled Cleanup Crew and held the phone to his ear.

The engine roared as he merged onto the highway, the city lights blurring past. Victoria’s silence gnawed at him. Was she with him? That thought alone made his foot press harder on the accelerator.

He’d get answers tonight—one way or another.