Chapter 117

The crisp morning air carried the scent of pine as Lillian stepped onto the balcony of Sebastian Blackwood’s estate. The sun had barely risen, casting a golden hue over the sprawling gardens below. She tightened the silk robe around her, the fabric whispering against her skin.

Last night had been… unexpected.

Her fingers traced the faint mark on her neck—Sebastian’s claiming bite. The memory of his lips, his hands, his possessive growl sent a shiver down her spine. She had never imagined their bond would deepen so quickly, especially not after everything with Donovan.

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Lillian?” Beatrice’s voice was muffled through the wood. “Are you awake?”

Lillian sighed, turning away from the view. “Come in.”

The door creaked open, revealing Beatrice’s wide-eyed expression. She clutched a steaming cup of tea, her gaze darting from Lillian’s disheveled hair to the rumpled sheets behind her.

“So,” Beatrice drawled, a smirk tugging at her lips. “You and the Lycan Chairman, huh?”

Lillian groaned, burying her face in her hands. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“Oh, please.” Beatrice plopped onto the bed, handing her the tea. “The entire pack heard his declaration last night. ‘Mine.’ Very dramatic. Very… possessive.”

Lillian’s cheeks burned. She took a sip of the tea, the warmth doing little to soothe her nerves. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” Beatrice snorted. “You’re his fated mate, Lil. That’s about as straightforward as it gets.”

Lillian opened her mouth to argue when another knock interrupted them. This time, it was Theodore Whitmore, Sebastian’s ever-composed butler.

“Miss Lillian,” he said smoothly, bowing slightly. “Alpha Blackwood requests your presence in his study.”

Beatrice’s eyebrows shot up. “Ooh, summoned by the big bad wolf himself.”

Lillian shot her a glare before nodding at Theodore. “I’ll be right there.”

As the butler retreated, Beatrice leaned in, lowering her voice. “You know what this is about, right?”

Lillian hesitated. “His claim?”

“No,” Beatrice said, her expression turning serious. “The council. They’ve been questioning his judgment ever since he took you in. If they find out he’s marked you without their approval…”

Lillian’s stomach twisted. She hadn’t considered the political ramifications. Sebastian was already under scrutiny for protecting her—a rogue werewolf with a target on her back.

“I have to go,” she murmured, setting the tea aside.

Beatrice caught her wrist. “Be careful, Lil. The game’s changed now.”

Lillian nodded, squaring her shoulders as she stepped into the hallway. The walls of the estate seemed to loom taller, the air heavier with unspoken tension.

She had no idea what awaited her in Sebastian’s study. But one thing was certain—nothing would ever be the same again.

"You know your father and I have a long history," Penelope said, forcing an awkward laugh.

Victoria nodded thoughtfully.

"Yes, his fated mate—my mother—was your sister," Victoria replied coolly. "Unfortunately, my father isn’t exactly in the market for dating right now."

Penelope pressed her crimson lips into a thin line, her sharp gaze narrowing at Victoria. Even she knew better than to say anything reckless in front of Sebastian Blackwood’s daughter.

"Of course, we’re just friends," Penelope said through a tight, insincere smile. "Don’t read too much into it." Her eyes flicked toward me, raking over my outfit with disdain before curling her lip. "That dress is far too tacky for my taste. I’ll find something else," she muttered, spinning on her heel and strutting away.

I exhaled sharply, unaware I’d been holding my breath. The moment Penelope was out of sight, Victoria’s polite mask dropped.

"I loathe that woman," she muttered under her breath.

Surprised by her bluntness, I relaxed instantly, a soft laugh escaping me. Victoria nudged me toward the changing room with a playful smirk. "Go change. We’ll grab lunch before heading back. I know you have tutoring later."

"Sounds perfect," I agreed.

As much as I adored the dress, slipping back into my usual clothes was a relief. Felicity swiftly took the gown and packaged it for me while Victoria selected a stunning dress for herself. At the counter, Felicity rang up our purchases.

"For Lillian, the dress is three million. For Victoria, one million," she announced, glancing up.

My jaw dropped. Three million? For one dress? I hadn’t expected such an exorbitant price.

Without hesitation, Victoria pulled out a sleek black card and handed it over. "Charge both to this," she said, already checking her phone.

I gaped at her, stunned by how casually she spent that kind of money. Felicity, however, looked thrilled as she processed the payment. Once approved, she handed the receipt and card back to Victoria before carefully passing us each an elegant box.

Marcus and Julian—who had been lingering so discreetly in the background I’d nearly forgotten they were there—stepped forward to take them from us.

I flashed Marcus a grateful smile, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

Thankfully, we left the boutique without another encounter with Penelope and headed to lunch. This time, we invited Marcus and Julian to join us—I didn’t want to be alone for even a second.

After lunch, we returned to the Blackwood Villa so I could tutor Oliver.

"Mind if I steal you away for a moment?" Nathaniel asked during the combat training session.

Oliver was engrossed in perfecting his stance, barely noticing our exchange, so I nodded. Nathaniel slipped his arm through mine, guiding me a short distance away before stopping to face me.

"So, I don’t know if you’ve heard," he began, his words tumbling out in a rush, "but the masquerade gala is this weekend." My cheeks warmed, and I bit my lip, nodding. "I managed to get a couple of tickets," he continued, his gaze hopeful. "I was wondering… would you be my date?"

A strange urge to decline flickered through me, but the memory of the extravagant three-million-dollar gown hanging in my closet silenced it.

"I’d love to," I replied, forcing a smile. "It sounds like fun." His shoulders relaxed, and he exhaled in relief.

"Perfect. I’ll pick you up at eight on Saturday," he said, then leaned in to press a soft kiss to my cheek.

I nodded. "I’ll see you then."

As he walked away, I noticed the extra spring in his step. A pang of guilt twisted in my chest—I just hoped I wouldn’t be the one to wipe that smile away.

Third Person POV

Saturday arrived swiftly, and Victoria spent most of the day preparing for the gala. Excitement thrummed through her at the thought of showcasing her dazzling gown and having her striking fiancé, Donovan, on her arm. He had promised to pick her up at eight that evening before meeting Nathaniel and Lillian. They had arranged to share a limousine for the event, and the idea thrilled her beyond measure.

Her father, Sebastian, would also be attending, though he had opted to go alone. Victoria had urged him to bring a companion, but he’d refused. Truthfully, she didn’t want him arriving unattended—not when Penelope would be there, single and undoubtedly hoping to catch Sebastian’s eye. The thought of her aunt worming her way back into their family made her skin crawl. She couldn’t stand Penelope and wanted her as far from them as possible.