Chapter 126

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood’s penthouse, painting the marble floors in warm hues. Lillian stretched beneath the silk sheets, her body still humming from the intensity of last night. The scent of Sebastian—rich, intoxicating, and undeniably alpha—lingered on her skin, a silent reminder of the bond they now shared.

She turned her head, expecting to find him beside her, but the bed was empty. A note rested on his pillow in elegant script:

"Emergency meeting. Don’t leave the penthouse. I’ll be back soon."

Lillian sighed, running a hand through her tousled hair. Of course. Even after everything, duty still came first.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Beatrice’s name flashed across the screen.

"Girl, where are you?! The whole campus is talking!"

Lillian frowned. "Talking about what?"

"About you and Sebastian Blackwood! Someone saw you leaving the gala together last night. The rumors are wild—some say you’re his new mistress, others say you’re blackmailing him!"

Lillian groaned. "It’s not like that."

"Then what is it like? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you just landed yourself in the middle of a Lycan power play."

Before Lillian could respond, the penthouse door clicked open. Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.

Sebastian strode into the bedroom, his tailored suit immaculate, his expression unreadable. But his scent—sharp with tension—betrayed him.

"We have a problem," he said, his voice low.

Lillian sat up, the sheets pooling around her waist. "What kind of problem?"

"Evelyn."

The name sent a chill down her spine. Donovan’s new mate. The woman who had replaced her.

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. "She’s filed a formal complaint with the council. Claims you’re interfering with her mating bond."

Lillian scoffed. "That’s ridiculous! I haven’t even spoken to Donovan since—"

"It doesn’t matter if it’s true," Sebastian cut in. "What matters is that she’s using it to pressure the council into revoking your enrollment at the academy."

Lillian’s stomach dropped. The academy was her only chance at a future outside pack politics. Without it, she’d be forced back into the shadows—or worse, into Donovan’s control.

Sebastian’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening further.

"They’ve called an emergency hearing. Tonight."

Lillian’s pulse spiked. "What do we do?"

Sebastian’s golden eyes burned with quiet fury. "We fight back."

My cheeks burned at his words. I never expected Sebastian Blackwood to care about such matters, especially not when it involved me.

"You shouldn't be too harsh on him. He’s your nephew..."

"That makes it worse," Sebastian muttered, his voice low and edged with disapproval. "Family doesn’t raise a hand against women. He won’t go unpunished."

I knew arguing was pointless. Biting the inside of my cheek, I dropped my gaze to my hands, fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve.

"He asked me to be his girlfriend," I admitted in a whisper, feeling Sebastian tense beside me. "I said no. He didn’t take it well... said some cruel things."

"Why did you refuse him?" His tone wasn’t accusatory—just curious, as if he was genuinely trying to understand. My heart fluttered at the thought that maybe, just maybe, he cared for me... even a little.

"I didn’t feel the same way about him," I confessed. "I didn’t want to hurt him, but... I didn’t like him like that."

Sebastian nodded, his expression softening slightly. "And he got angry," he murmured. It wasn’t a question, but I nodded anyway.

"Yes," I confirmed quietly. "He did."

Without another word, Sebastian wrapped an arm around me, pulling me against his side. His warmth enveloped me, and despite everything, I felt my body relax almost instantly, the tension melting away.

A thought suddenly surfaced, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, "I thought we agreed that night was a mistake—that we’d pretend it never happened."

"You decided that."

I lifted my brows, meeting his gaze. "And that’s not what you wanted?"

His jaw tightened slightly before he admitted, "I wasn’t thinking clearly then."

"And now?"

For a moment, he was silent. I almost thought he wouldn’t answer, but then he exhaled sharply, as if steeling himself.

"Now," he said, his voice firm, "I think we should be together."

My heart stopped. My lips parted in shock.

"I’m sorry... what?"

Even after hearing it twice, I still couldn't believe my ears. My breath hitched as I stared up at him, completely frozen. Was this some kind of joke? Should I laugh it off? Agree immediately? Did I even want this? He was Victoria's father—my ex's former father-in-law.

And oh right, my damn boss.

This was a disaster waiting to happen.

A slow, knowing smirk curled his lips before he leaned down, brushing the lightest kiss against my mouth. The contact sent sparks skittering down my spine.

"I'm not proposing marriage. Or even mating," Sebastian murmured, his lips grazing the bridge of my nose. "Just... us. Together. It gets Cassandra and Penelope off my back, and Donovan and Nathaniel off yours. Plus..." His thumb traced my lower lip. "We already know how well we fit in other ways."

My brows shot up as realization dawned.

"You want a pretend relationship?"

His chuckle was dark velvet. "I'd call it... mutually beneficial companionship." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, fingers lingering. "With very generous benefits. You can't deny the chemistry between us."

A teasing smile tugged at my lips. "You're admitting you're attracted to me?"

He rolled his eyes, but amusement glittered in his gaze. "Focus, little wolf," he chided, tapping my forehead with his knuckle.

The raw honesty in his next words stole my breath. "It's been years since I've done this. I'm out of practice." His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "But after tasting you... I can't pretend I don't crave more."

Heat flooded my cheeks as his words curled around me like smoke. I bit my lip, peering up through my lashes.

This would end badly. I knew it.

Yet when his storm-gray eyes held mine, I found myself nodding.

"Okay," I breathed. "Let's try."

His grin flashed bright before turning serious. "This stays between us. No media. No rumors. Can you handle that?"

The words stung more than they should have. He'd saved me from being Donovan's dirty secret... only to make me his.

My chest ached, but I lifted my chin. "Yeah. I can handle it."

The lie tasted bitter on my tongue.

The morning sun filtered through the heavy drapes of Lillian's bedroom at Blackwood Manor. She stretched lazily, her werewolf senses immediately picking up the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm croissants from the kitchen below. The digital clock read 8:17 AM - she'd slept later than usual after last night's intense training session with Sebastian.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. "Miss Lillian? Mr. Blackwood requests your presence in his study when you're ready," came Harper's polite voice through the door.

Lillian's pulse quickened. Sebastian rarely summoned her formally like this. "Thank you, Harper. I'll be down shortly."

She dressed quickly in dark jeans and a cashmere sweater, running a brush through her chestnut hair before heading downstairs. The mansion buzzed with its usual morning activity - maids polishing silver, Lucien shouting orders in the kitchen, and Oliver's laughter echoing from the breakfast room.

Sebastian's study door stood slightly ajar. Lillian knocked lightly before entering, finding him seated behind his massive mahogany desk, documents spread before him. He looked up, those piercing silver eyes making her stomach flutter.

"Good morning," he said in that deep, velvety voice. "I have news."

Lillian perched on the edge of the leather chair opposite him. "Good news or bad?"

Sebastian's lips twitched. "That depends on your perspective." He slid a cream-colored envelope across the desk. "You've been invited to the annual Lycan Summit in Geneva."

Her breath caught. The Summit was the most prestigious gathering of werewolf leaders worldwide. "But...I'm just a college student. Why would they invite me?"

Sebastian leaned back, studying her. "Because you're my mate, and whether we've completed the bond or not, the council recognizes our connection." His gaze darkened. "There's more. Donovan will be attending with Evelyn."

Lillian's fingers tightened on the envelope. Of course her ex-fated mate would be there, flaunting his new relationship. "When do we leave?"

"Three days." Sebastian stood, rounding the desk to stand before her. "This won't be easy. The Summit is as much about politics as it is about werewolf affairs. There will be challenges, both social and...physical."

She met his gaze steadily. "I can handle it."

A slow, approving smile curved his lips. "I know you can." He reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering just a moment too long. "Pack for cold weather. Geneva in December is unforgiving."

As Lillian turned to leave, Beatrice burst into the study without knocking. "Lil! You'll never guess what just—" She stopped short upon seeing Sebastian's raised eyebrow. "Oh. Sorry, Alpha."

Sebastian sighed. "What is it, Beatrice?"

Beatrice grinned, waving her phone. "Isabella just texted! She's flying in tonight with that designer, Genevieve. They want to take Lillian shopping for Summit outfits!"

Lillian groaned. Shopping with her best friend's glamorous model sister sounded exhausting. But one glance at Sebastian's amused expression told her she had no choice. The Summit would be her debut into high werewolf society, and apparently, she needed to look the part.

As she followed Beatrice out, Lillian couldn't shake the feeling that this trip would change everything. Between Donovan's presence, the political maneuvering, and whatever unspoken tension simmered between her and Sebastian, Geneva promised to be anything but a peaceful winter getaway.