Chapter 174

The crisp morning air carried the scent of pine as Lillian stretched beneath the golden rays filtering through the trees. Her wolf stirred restlessly, still unsettled from last night’s confrontation with Donovan. She exhaled sharply, shaking off the lingering tension.

Sebastian had left before dawn—something about urgent pack business—but not before leaving a note on her nightstand in his precise, elegant script: "Training at noon. Don’t be late."

As if she’d dare.

Beatrice barged into her room without knocking, her arms laden with shopping bags. "You won’t believe what I found at that new boutique near campus!" she announced, dumping the contents onto Lillian’s bed. Silk scarves, delicate jewelry, and a particularly daring crimson dress spilled out.

Lillian raised a brow. "Planning to seduce someone?"

Beatrice smirked. "Maybe. But this—" She held up the dress, "—is for you. Sebastian’s hosting that gala next week, remember? You can’t show up in your usual combat gear."

Lillian groaned. Formal events were torture. "I’d rather fight Blanca again."

"Too bad." Beatrice tossed the dress at her. "Try it on. If it doesn’t fit, Amélie said she can alter it."

Grumbling, Lillian slipped into the dress. The fabric clung to her curves, the deep V-neckline accentuating her collarbones. Beatrice wolf-whistled.

"Sebastian’s going to lose his mind."

Lillian rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the warmth creeping up her neck.

A knock interrupted them. Theodore stood at the door, his expression grave. "Miss Lillian, Alpha Sebastian requests your presence in his study. Immediately."

Her stomach dropped. That tone never meant good news.

Sebastian’s study smelled of leather and aged whiskey. He stood by the window, his broad shoulders tense. Without turning, he said, "Donovan’s filed a formal challenge."

Lillian froze. "What?"

"He’s invoking the Ancient Rite." Sebastian finally faced her, his golden eyes blazing. "A duel for mating rights. Three days from now."

The room spun. Ancient Rites were brutal, no-holds-barred fights—often to the death.

"He can’t do that," she whispered.

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. "He just did."

Outside, thunder rumbled. The first drops of rain hit the window like a warning.

Sebastian's lips trailed down my body, igniting a trail of fire that left goosebumps in its wake. I squirmed beneath him, anticipation coiling tight in my stomach. His fingers hooked into the waistband of my panties, sliding them down my legs before I kicked them aside, leaving me completely bare before him. Yet, embarrassment was the furthest thing from my mind—I was too lost in the haze of desire to care.

His mouth found the sensitive skin of my inner thighs, inhaling deeply as if memorizing my scent. The heat of his breath against my damp flesh made me shiver. His eyes had darkened to near-black, the wolf within him barely restrained. A low growl rumbled in his chest before he buried his face between my legs, devouring me with a hunger that bordered on primal.

The sensation was overwhelming. My fingers twisted into the sheets as I arched off the bed, his name spilling from my lips in a desperate moan. I didn’t care if the maids heard—let them know exactly who owned me.

The pressure built rapidly, coiling tighter until I shattered with a cry, my body trembling beneath his relentless attention. He lapped at me greedily, drawing out every last wave of pleasure before finally lifting his head.

Then his lips crashed back onto mine, letting me taste myself on his tongue. The possessive act sent another jolt of arousal through me. My hands roamed down his chest, pushing lightly until he obeyed my silent command, rolling onto his back. I straddled his hips, my breath hitching as I took in the sight of him—his dark eyes burning with need, his body taut with restraint.

I helped him shove his pants and boxers down, freeing his erection. Even now, the sheer size of him made my pulse race. My only experience had been with Donovan, and even then, we’d never gone this far. But Sebastian… he was something else entirely. If I hadn’t already taken him inside me before, I wouldn’t have believed it possible.

His hands gripped my hips as I rocked against him, his gaze locked onto mine. A smirk curled my lips before I leaned down, capturing his mouth in a searing kiss. I nipped at his bottom lip, drawing a growl from him before he retaliated, teeth grazing my own in a way that made me laugh breathlessly.

Then, without warning, he lifted me slightly, positioning me right over his length before slamming me down in one smooth thrust. The sudden fullness stole my breath, shock melting into pure, unadulterated pleasure. It was as if something inside me had clicked into place—like I was finally whole again. The last time I’d felt this complete was the first time we’d been together, but somehow, this was even more intense.

We stayed like that for a moment, connected, unmoving, just breathing each other in. Our heartbeats synced, our chests rising and falling in unison. Then I began to move, rolling my hips in slow, deliberate circles before picking up speed.

His grip tightened, fingers digging into my skin as his breathing grew ragged. "Lillian," he rasped, my name rough on his tongue. Hearing it like that—knowing I had this power over him—sent a thrill through me. My hands skimmed up my body, cupping my breasts, watching as his pupils dilated further.

I tangled my fingers in my hair, tossing my head back with another moan as he hit that perfect spot inside me, sending sparks shooting through my veins.

Then I felt him—harder, thicker, his cock twitching within me. He was close, but he was holding back, waiting for me. My entire body tensed as pleasure coiled tighter, my climax hovering just out of reach—until his thumb brushed over my clit, sending me hurtling over the edge.

I cried out his name as I came, my walls clenching around him, dragging him with me. His release followed instantly, filling me until I felt the evidence of it dripping down my thighs.

We collapsed together, breathless, still tangled in each other’s arms.

I collapsed onto Sebastian, our bodies still intimately connected. His strong arms encircled me, shifting us effortlessly until we lay tangled together on our sides, his length still buried deep inside me. Our legs intertwined, sealing the heat between us.

Time blurred—minutes or hours, I couldn’t tell. Exhaustion crept over me like a warm tide, my limbs heavy with satisfaction. His breathing steadied against my neck, slow and deep, matching the rhythm of my own. He was just as spent as I was.

At some point, sleep claimed me. The world faded into darkness, but not before one last thought flickered through my mind, curling my lips into a drowsy smile.

I could get used to this.

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Changes Made:

Character Name Replacement: "Gavin Landry" → "Sebastian Blackwood"

Enhanced Descriptions: Added more sensory details (e.g., "strong arms encircled me," "heat between us") to deepen intimacy.

Sentence Restructuring: Broke long sentences into shorter, punchier ones for better flow.

Tone Consistency: Maintained the sensual yet tender mood while making the prose more vivid.

Cultural Nuance: Adjusted phrasing to sound more natural in English romance writing (e.g., "sealing the heat between us" instead of "connection intact").