Chapter 108

The evening air was thick with tension as Lillian stood frozen in the dimly lit hallway of Sebastian Blackwood’s mansion. Her heart hammered against her ribs, each beat echoing the dread that coiled in her stomach.

She had overheard Donovan’s hushed conversation with Evelyn moments ago—words that confirmed her worst fears.

"It’s time to end this," Donovan had murmured, his voice laced with something dark and final. "She’s becoming a liability."

Lillian’s fingers trembled as she pressed them against the cold wall, steadying herself. She had known Donovan was ruthless, but hearing him speak so casually about her demise sent a chill down her spine.

A floorboard creaked behind her.

She whirled around, pulse spiking, only to lock eyes with Marcus Grayson, Sebastian’s beta. His sharp gaze flickered over her pale face, then narrowed.

"Lillian?" His voice was low, cautious. "What are you doing here?"

Her throat tightened. She couldn’t tell him the truth—not yet. Not when Donovan still had allies in the pack.

"Just... needed some air," she lied, forcing a weak smile.

Marcus studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow nod, he stepped aside. "Be careful. The halls aren’t safe tonight."

The warning sent another shiver through her.

As she hurried away, her mind raced. She needed to find Sebastian. If Donovan was making his move, she had to warn him—before it was too late.

But when she reached his study, the door was ajar. Inside, the room was empty, the fireplace casting flickering shadows over the polished desk.

A note lay atop it.

Her breath hitched as she recognized Sebastian’s handwriting.

"Gone to meet Alpha Harrison. If I don’t return by dawn, trust no one."

Lillian’s blood ran cold.

Alpha Harrison—the same alpha who had tried to take advantage of her weeks ago. The same man Donovan had been secretly meeting.

This wasn’t a coincidence.

It was a trap.

And Sebastian was walking right into it.

She grabbed the note, crumpling it in her fist. There was no time to waste. If she didn’t act now, she’d lose him—and possibly her own life.

But as she turned to leave, a figure stepped into the doorway, blocking her path.

Evelyn smirked, her arms crossed. "Going somewhere, Lillian?"

Behind her, Donovan leaned against the frame, his golden eyes gleaming with predatory amusement.

Lillian’s stomach dropped.

She was out of time.

Cold.

The shock of icy water jolted me back to reality. My heart pounded violently, my entire body numb from the sudden chill. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering as the freezing water lapped at my skin. Blinking through the haze, I took in my surroundings—an unfamiliar bathroom, tiled walls gleaming under harsh lights.

Where was I?

Fragmented memories surfaced—kidnapped, trapped in a cage with Victoria.

Victoria.

Where was she?

My breath hitched as I realized I was nearly naked, clad only in a torn tank top and shorts. Then, warmth. A pair of hands pressed against my back, steady and grounding. A rich, intoxicating scent filled my senses, making my pulse stutter.

I looked up.

Sebastian Blackwood sat beside the tub, his fingers tracing slow, soothing circles along my spine. The heat of his touch seeped through the numbness, thawing the ice in my veins.

And then it all came rushing back.

The heat. The desperation.

I threw myself at him.

Mortification burned through me. My fingers flew to my swollen lips, recalling the bruising pressure of his kisses. Tears pricked my eyes.

What had I done?

Why had I needed him so badly? Why had I been so out of control that I would have clung to anyone?

"Hey." His voice was soft, fingers skimming my shoulders. "Breathe. It's over."

As if he could read my spiraling thoughts.

"How... how did we get here?" I whispered.

"I brought you."

"But—the rogues. The basement." My voice cracked. "Victoria—"

"She's safe. Donovan took her to the hospital."

Donovan.

Another memory slammed into me—his arrival, the fight, the way he'd looked right past me, as if I were nothing. He'd chosen her. Left me there, writhing in agony.

"He abandoned me," I choked out, staring at the rippling water. "That bastard left me."

Sebastian didn't answer. His fingers continued their slow path along my back, the cold water doing little to ease the fire still simmering beneath my skin.

"I'm still in clothes," I muttered, tugging at my damp tank top. Despite the chill, my body hummed with restless energy.

Sebastian exhaled, his grip tightening slightly. "You're safe now. That's all that matters."

But was it?

Because right now, all I could think about was how much I still ached for him.

And that terrified me more than anything.