Chapter 168

The crisp morning air carried the scent of pine as Lillian stepped onto the balcony of Sebastian Blackwood’s sprawling estate. The sun had barely risen, casting golden streaks across the sky, but her mind was already racing. Last night’s confrontation with Donovan still burned in her memory—his cold dismissal, Evelyn’s smug smirk, and the way they had flaunted their bond in front of her.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. How could he?

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. “Lillian?” Beatrice’s voice was gentle but laced with concern. “You’ve been out here for hours. You should eat something.”

Lillian exhaled sharply, forcing her shoulders to relax. “I’m not hungry.”

Beatrice stepped beside her, leaning against the railing. “You can’t let him get to you like this. He’s not worth it.”

“It’s not just him,” Lillian admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s everything. The way everyone looks at me now—like I’m some pathetic, discarded mate.”

Beatrice frowned. “That’s not true. You’re stronger than this. And you have people who care about you.”

Lillian glanced at her best friend, gratitude flickering in her chest. Beatrice had always been her rock, even when the world seemed determined to break her.

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from inside. Sebastian appeared in the doorway, his piercing gaze locking onto Lillian. “We need to talk.”

Her pulse quickened. There was something in his tone—something urgent.

Beatrice squeezed her hand. “I’ll give you two some space.”

Once they were alone, Sebastian crossed his arms. “I just received word from Marcus. Donovan’s pack is making moves against us.”

Lillian’s breath hitched. “What kind of moves?”

“Sabotage. They’ve been targeting our supply routes.” His jaw tightened. “And they’re not being subtle about it.”

A cold realization settled over her. This is because of me.

Sebastian seemed to read her thoughts. “Don’t blame yourself. This was bound to happen sooner or later.”

She shook her head. “No. If I hadn’t—”

“Lillian.” His voice was firm, cutting her off. “We deal with threats head-on. That’s what packs do.”

She swallowed hard, meeting his gaze. “What do we do now?”

A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. “We fight back.”

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 golden streaks across 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 claim. The memory of his lips against her skin sent a shiver down her spine. She had fought it, resisted the pull of the mate bond, but in the end, the chemistry between them had been undeniable.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, turning to face the door.

The door creaked open, revealing Beatrice, her best friend, balancing a tray of steaming coffee and pastries. "You look like you didn’t sleep at all," Beatrice teased, setting the tray on the small table by the window.

Lillian scoffed, pouring herself a cup. "That obvious?"

Beatrice smirked, plopping onto the plush chair. "Oh, please. The whole pack heard the commotion last night. Sebastian isn’t exactly subtle."

Heat flooded Lillian’s cheeks. She took a long sip of coffee, avoiding Beatrice’s knowing gaze. "It wasn’t like that."

"Sure, it wasn’t." Beatrice wiggled her eyebrows. "So, what’s the plan now? You’re officially the Luna of the Blackwood Pack. That comes with responsibilities."

Lillian sighed, staring out at the horizon. "I don’t know. Part of me still feels like this is a mistake. I never wanted this life."

Beatrice’s expression softened. "But do you want him?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Before Lillian could answer, her phone buzzed. A message from Donovan.

"We need to talk. Alone."

Her stomach twisted. Donovan, her ex-fated mate, had no right to demand anything from her. Not after everything he’d done.

Beatrice peered over her shoulder. "Ugh, ignore him. He lost his chance."

Lillian hesitated, then typed a quick reply. "There’s nothing left to say."

She hit send, but the unease remained. Donovan wasn’t the type to let things go.

A sharp knock at the door startled them both.

"Lillian?" Sebastian’s deep voice resonated through the wood.

Beatrice grinned. "Speak of the devil."

Lillian rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the flutter in her chest.

The game had changed.

And she wasn’t sure if she was ready for what came next.

The morning sun cast golden rays through the sheer curtains of Lillian’s bedroom, rousing her from a restless sleep. She blinked against the light, her mind still heavy with the weight of last night’s confrontation. Donovan’s betrayal had left a bitter taste in her mouth, but what stung more was the realization that she had been nothing more than a pawn in his twisted game.

Rolling onto her side, she reached for her phone, only to find a string of missed calls from Beatrice. Her best friend had been blowing up her phone since the news broke—Evelyn, Donovan’s new mate, had made sure the entire campus knew about their engagement.

Lillian groaned, burying her face in her pillow. She didn’t have the energy to deal with the whispers and pitying glances that would inevitably follow her today.

A soft knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.

"Lillian?" Sebastian’s deep voice resonated through the wood. "Are you awake?"

Her heart skipped a beat. The Lycan chairman had been her unexpected sanctuary these past few weeks, offering her a place to stay when her dorm became too suffocating. She hadn’t expected kindness from him, not after everything that had happened between them.

"Come in," she called, sitting up as the door creaked open.

Sebastian stepped inside, his towering frame filling the doorway. His dark eyes flickered with something unreadable as he took in her disheveled state. "You look like you didn’t sleep."

"Gee, thanks," she muttered, running a hand through her tangled hair.

He smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Oliver’s been asking for you. He wants you to join us for breakfast."

The mention of Sebastian’s son brought a reluctant smile to her lips. Oliver had a way of brightening even her darkest days. "Tell him I’ll be down in a minute."

Sebastian nodded but didn’t move. His gaze lingered on her, intense and searching. "You don’t have to face today alone, you know."

Lillian swallowed hard. She knew what he was implying—the stares, the gossip, the humiliation waiting for her on campus. But she wasn’t about to let Donovan win.

"I’ll be fine," she said, forcing confidence into her voice.

Sebastian’s expression darkened. "If he so much as looks at you the wrong way—"

"Don’t," she interrupted, shaking her head. "I don’t need you fighting my battles for me."

A muscle ticked in his jaw, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he pushed off the doorframe and turned to leave. "Breakfast is in ten. Don’t keep Oliver waiting."

As the door clicked shut behind him, Lillian exhaled sharply. She had no idea what she was walking into today, but one thing was certain—she wasn’t going down without a fight.

Grabbing her phone, she shot Beatrice a quick text: Meet me at the coffee shop before class. We need to talk.

Whatever Donovan had planned, she wouldn’t face it unprepared.

The campus coffee shop buzzed with its usual morning crowd, but the moment Lillian stepped inside, the chatter dimmed. Heads turned, whispers followed. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to keep walking.

Beatrice was already at their usual table, her expression tight with worry. "You okay?" she asked the second Lillian sat down.

"Peachy," Lillian deadpanned, stirring her coffee absently.

Beatrice leaned in, lowering her voice. "Evelyn’s been running her mouth all morning. She’s telling everyone you couldn’t satisfy Donovan, so he had to upgrade."

Lillian’s grip on her spoon tightened. "Of course she is."

"You can’t let her get to you," Beatrice insisted. "She’s just trying to provoke you."

Lillian knew that. But knowing didn’t make the sting any less sharp.

Before she could respond, the bell above the door chimed. A hush fell over the room as Donovan and Evelyn sauntered in, their arms linked. Evelyn’s smirk was downright predatory as her eyes locked onto Lillian.

"Looks like the trash decided to show up," she purred, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Lillian’s blood boiled. She opened her mouth to retort—

But a familiar, commanding voice cut through the tension first.

"Problem here?"

Sebastian stood just inside the doorway, his presence alone enough to silence the room. His gaze swept over Donovan and Evelyn with icy disdain before settling on Lillian.

The air crackled with unspoken tension.

Evelyn paled, her grip on Donovan tightening.

Lillian met Sebastian’s eyes, and for the first time that morning, she felt a flicker of something other than anger—hope.

Maybe she didn’t have to face this alone after all.

A sharp, mocking laugh sliced through the air, silencing me mid-sentence.

#25 BONUS

"Oh, you mean the woman who just signed a contract to become our live-in maid for the foreseeable future?" Arabella sneered, crossing her arms over her chest with a triumphant smirk. "Now you're nothing more than a maid's daughter—lower than dirt. Soon enough, you'll be sharing a cramped servant's quarters with your precious mother. My mother would never allow filth like her to stay in our pristine guest rooms. She'll be moved in by tomorrow morning at the latest."

My lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line. They had promised her—guest room privileges, still part of the family, just with added chores. Had it all been a lie? Did she even read the contract before signing? My stomach twisted into knots, my hands trembling at my sides. I couldn’t let this happen. These people were vipers, thriving on our suffering.

"I swear, if you lay a single finger on my mother, I'll end you," I snarled, my vision tinged red with fury.

Her hand moved faster than I could blink. The sharp crack of her palm against my cheek echoed through the room, followed by the searing pain. Before I could retaliate, her fingers tangled in my hair, yanking me to the ground. Then came the agonizing pressure—her boot crushing my already injured hand. A scream tore from my throat as I grabbed her ankle and yanked hard, sending her crashing down beside me.

Pain shot through my fractured hand, but I gritted my teeth, channeling every ounce of combat training I had. With a desperate lunge, I flipped her onto her back and pinned her beneath me.

She shrieked like a banshee, her wolf claws unsheathing in a flash. Razor-sharp nails raked across my arms, drawing blood. The metallic scent filled the air as I hissed in pain, trying to pry her off.

Before I could strike back, the door burst open. A horrified gasp cut through the chaos.

"Arabella!" Eleanor shrieked as her daughter bucked beneath me, swiping her claws across my face. Fire erupted along my cheek—wolfbane-laced polish searing into my skin. I recoiled with a choked cry, the poison burning like acid.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Marcus Grayson's voice boomed as Silver Crescent guards surged forward, hauling Arabella off me.

"She attacked my daughter!" Eleanor spat, rushing to Arabella’s side. "She needs to be punished!"

I kept my face hidden, fingers trembling over the bleeding gashes.

"Pack Lillian’s belongings," Marcus ordered a guard, who immediately retrieved my suitcase—now flung across the room. His glare then landed on Reginald, who stood frozen in the doorway, eyes darting between me and his daughter. "Is this how you raised her? You should be ashamed. Alpha Sebastian will hear of this."

"P-please," Reginald stammered. "This is just a misunderstanding—"

"He made it clear before leaving—no harm was to come to Lillian or her mother. You broke that vow," Marcus growled, pointing at my battered form. "Look at what your daughter did!"

"I’ll discipline Arabella myself. She wasn’t present for the discussion. She’ll be punished, but please—"

"Punish the rest of us for her actions?" Reginald's voice trembled as he pleaded, his hands clenched at his sides.

Marcus Grayson, Beta of the Silver Crescent pack, regarded him with icy detachment. After a weighted pause, he finally spoke, his tone sharp as a blade. "Deal with her." His golden eyes narrowed, the unspoken threat hanging thick in the air. "Or we will. And when we do, your position as Delta of the Redmoon pack will be revoked. Your son’s future as Alpha? Gone. Every cent of Silver Crescent’s funding? Withdrawn."

Reginald swallowed hard, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Y-yes, Beta," he muttered, bowing his head in submission. "I’ll handle it."

Without another word, Marcus turned away, his movements swift and decisive. In one fluid motion, he swept Lillian into his arms, cradling her against his chest as if she weighed nothing. His guards released Arabella without hesitation, falling into step behind him as they strode toward the exit.

Arabella stood frozen, her entire body trembling—not with fear, but with rage. Her fists clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palms. "What the hell is happening?" she shrieked, her voice cracking with fury. "Where are you taking her?!"

"Arabella!" Reginald roared, his voice shaking the very walls of the manor. "Enough!"

"But Father—!" she protested, her face twisted in outrage.

"I said ENOUGH!" His roar was thunderous, the command laced with such authority that even the air seemed to still.

Lillian, barely conscious, didn’t see what happened next. The world blurred at the edges before darkness swallowed her whole.

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood’s penthouse, illuminating the scattered papers on his desk. His fingers drummed impatiently against the polished mahogany surface, his mind elsewhere.

Lillian had been avoiding him.

Ever since their last heated argument—one that had left the air between them thick with unresolved tension—she had made herself scarce. No lingering glances, no accidental brushes of their hands, not even the usual banter that had once flowed so effortlessly between them.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," he called, his voice clipped.

The door swung open, revealing Marcus Grayson, his Beta, looking unusually tense. "Alpha, we have a situation."

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. "What now?"

"It’s about Donovan," Marcus said, stepping further into the room. "He’s been spotted near the university again. And this time, he wasn’t alone."

Sebastian’s fingers stilled. "Who was with him?"

Marcus hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Evelyn."

A muscle in Sebastian’s cheek twitched. Donovan’s new mate. The woman he had chosen over Lillian. The woman who had, in a single night, shattered Lillian’s heart and left her vulnerable to the cruelty of their world.

Sebastian pushed back from his desk, his chair scraping against the hardwood floor. "Where’s Lillian now?"

"At the library, according to Beatrice. She’s been spending most of her time there lately."

Of course she had. The library was her sanctuary, the one place she could lose herself in books and forget, if only for a little while, the pain that had been inflicted upon her.

Sebastian grabbed his coat from the back of his chair. "Tell Theodore to prepare the car. I’m going to the university."

Marcus frowned. "Alpha, with all due respect, is that wise? Donovan’s presence alone is enough to provoke you. If he sees you—"

"I don’t care," Sebastian cut in, his voice low and dangerous. "If he thinks he can waltz back into her life after everything he’s done, he’s sorely mistaken."

Marcus opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. Instead, he gave a curt nod. "I’ll inform Theodore."

As Marcus left, Sebastian strode to the window, his gaze fixed on the distant silhouette of the university’s clock tower.

Lillian might have been avoiding him, but he wasn’t about to let her face Donovan alone. Not again.

Not ever.

The library was quiet, the only sounds the occasional rustle of pages and the soft hum of whispered conversations. Lillian sat curled in her favorite corner, a thick textbook open in her lap, though her eyes hadn’t moved from the same paragraph in the last ten minutes.

Her mind was elsewhere.

Donovan’s face haunted her—his cold dismissal, the way he had looked at her as if she were nothing. And Evelyn’s smug smile, the triumphant glint in her eyes as she clung to his arm.

A shadow fell over her book.

She looked up, expecting Beatrice or perhaps one of her classmates. Instead, her breath caught in her throat.

Sebastian stood before her, his expression unreadable.

"Lillian," he said, his voice rough. "We need to talk."

Her pulse quickened. "About what?"

His gaze darkened. "About Donovan."

Her stomach twisted. "There’s nothing to talk about."

Sebastian leaned down, bracing one hand on the armrest of her chair, caging her in. "He’s here, Lillian. At the university. With her."

She flinched, her fingers tightening around the edges of her book. "I know."

His eyes flashed. "And you’re just going to sit here?"

"What else am I supposed to do?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Confront him? Beg him to take me back?"

Sebastian’s jaw clenched. "No. But you’re not going to hide either."

She swallowed hard. "Why do you care?"

For a long moment, he didn’t answer. Then, slowly, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "Because I do."

The simple words sent a shiver down her spine.

Before she could respond, the library doors burst open.

Lillian turned, her heart stopping.

Donovan stood in the doorway, Evelyn at his side, his eyes locked on her—and on Sebastian’s hand, still lingering near her face.

A slow, dangerous smile curved Donovan’s lips. "Well, well. Isn’t this interesting?"

Sebastian straightened, his body tensing like a predator ready to strike.

Lillian’s breath hitched.

This wasn’t just a confrontation.

This was war.

"You're a miracle worker," Beta Marcus murmured in awe. His fingers brushed lightly over my skin. "Not even a trace left."

A soft, feminine laugh filled the room. "Don't give me all the credit. Her wolf did most of the healing—she's incredibly strong. I just helped with the surface wounds."

"Alpha Sebastian will be relieved when he sees her," Marcus said, his voice warm with admiration. "How long until she wakes?"

"She was severely exhausted, dehydrated, and slightly malnourished," the woman replied gently. "After what she endured this week, she needs more rest."

A low groan escaped me as my fingers twitched back to life. The voices around me faded momentarily as I struggled to open my eyes. The blinding light of the room forced them shut again. The steady beep of a heart monitor confirmed I was in a hospital bed.

Fragments of memory surfaced—Beta Marcus carrying me out of the Winslow estate, then darkness swallowing me whole. He must have brought me to Silver Crescent Hospital, renowned for its elite physicians.

"Ah, she's stirring," the woman noted, her tone pleased.

"Once again, you've worked wonders," Marcus praised, his voice thick with pride.

She chuckled, and this time, there was an unmistakable intimacy in the sound. My brows furrowed as I shifted slightly, testing my body. No pain. My hand, previously sprained, moved freely.

"Behave, Marcus," she chided playfully.

The sound of a kiss followed, then her breathy laughter. This time, when I opened my eyes, the light didn’t sting as much. I turned my head just enough to see Marcus pressing a kiss to her temple, and she pushed him away with a teasing smirk.

"Not while I'm on duty," she scolded, though her lips curled in amusement.

"But I missed you," he murmured, pulling her closer. "You were gone too long."

"It's my job," she reminded him. "There was an emergency in another pack—I had to go. But I'm back now, and I’m not leaving anytime soon. We’ll have plenty of time to catch up."

He sighed dramatically, wrapping his arms around her waist. "It’s not fair. No one else gets separated from their mate this long."

Mate?!

This woman was Beta Marcus’s mate? I knew he had one, but I’d never given it much thought. I certainly hadn’t expected her to be a doctor at Silver Crescent—let alone one who traveled between packs.