Chapter 176

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood’s penthouse suite. Lillian stretched lazily beneath the silk sheets, her body still humming from the intensity of last night’s full moon run with her mate.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

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

Giselle, the head maid, entered with a silver tray bearing a steaming cup of coffee and a plate of freshly baked croissants. "Good morning, Miss Lillian. Mr. Blackwood asked me to inform you that he’s in a meeting but will join you for breakfast shortly."

Lillian smiled, wrapping her fingers around the warm cup. "Thank you, Giselle."

The maid hesitated before adding, "Also, Miss Evelyn called earlier. She insisted on speaking with you."

Lillian’s grip tightened around the cup. Evelyn—Donovan’s new mate—had been relentless in her attempts to provoke her.

"Ignore her," Lillian said coolly. "If she calls again, tell her I’m unavailable."

Giselle nodded and quietly exited the room.

Lillian exhaled sharply, her mind racing. The upcoming Alpha Summit loomed over her like a storm cloud. Rival packs would be present, including Alpha Maximilian Voss, who had made no secret of his disdain for Sebastian.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Beatrice:

"You’ll never guess who just checked into the Grand Lycan Hotel."

Lillian’s pulse quickened. "Who?"

"Celeste Devereaux."

Lillian nearly dropped her phone. The famous actress-model was rumored to have once been involved with Sebastian. And now she was here, just days before the summit.

The bedroom door swung open, and Sebastian strode in, his tailored suit accentuating his powerful frame. His dark eyes locked onto hers, immediately sensing her tension.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, his voice low.

Lillian swallowed. "Celeste is in town."

A flicker of surprise crossed his face before his expression hardened. "She’s irrelevant."

But Lillian wasn’t convinced. Because if there was one thing she knew about Sebastian’s past, it was that nothing—and no one—was ever truly irrelevant.

And as the clock ticked toward the summit, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Celeste’s arrival was no coincidence.

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood’s penthouse, painting the room in warm hues. Lillian stretched beneath the silk sheets, her body still humming from the intensity of last night’s mating bond. Beside her, Sebastian slept soundly, his sculpted chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

She traced the scars along his torso—each one a testament to battles fought, a history she was only beginning to unravel. A soft sigh escaped her lips. This man…

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden vibration of her phone. Beatrice’s name flashed on the screen, followed by a string of frantic texts:

"Lil, you won’t believe what just happened. Evelyn showed up at the café looking like she’d been crying. She said Donovan’s been acting weird—like, really weird. And get this—he’s been meeting with Alpha Harrison in secret."

Lillian’s blood ran cold. Alpha Harrison? The same Alpha who had tried to take advantage of her when she was drunk?

She shot out of bed, her bare feet hitting the plush carpet. Sebastian stirred, his deep voice laced with sleep. "What’s wrong?"

"Donovan’s up to something," she said, pulling on a robe. "And if he’s working with Harrison, it can’t be good."

Sebastian was instantly alert, his golden eyes sharpening. "We’ll handle it."

The campus coffee shop was unusually quiet when Lillian arrived. Gabrielle, the barista, gave her a knowing look as she slid a steaming latte across the counter. "Beatrice is in the back. She looks… stressed."

Lillian found her best friend hunched over a table, her usually vibrant curls dull under the dim lighting. "Okay, spill," Lillian demanded, dropping into the seat opposite her.

Beatrice exhaled shakily. "Evelyn came to me because she’s scared. Donovan’s been disappearing at odd hours, and when she confronted him, he snapped. Like, full-on fangs-out, eyes-glowing snapped."

Lillian’s grip tightened around her cup. "And Harrison?"

"He’s been seen with Donovan twice this week. And not just casual meetings—they were arguing."

A shadow fell over their table. Oliver, Sebastian’s seven-year-old son, stood there clutching a sketchbook, his wide eyes filled with worry. "Aunt Lillian… I heard Daddy talking to Uncle Marcus. They said something about a trap."

Lillian’s heart skipped a beat.

Sebastian’s voice crackled through her phone seconds later. "Lillian, get to the pack house. Now."

The Blackwood Pack House was in chaos when she arrived. Warriors moved with urgency, their expressions grim. Marcus Grayson, Sebastian’s Beta, met her at the door. "We just intercepted a message. Donovan and Harrison are planning to ambush Sebastian tonight—during the full moon run."

Lillian’s wolf bristled beneath her skin. "Where’s Sebastian?"

"Gone to meet with Alpha Voss. He doesn’t know yet."

Her stomach twisted. A setup.

Marcus’s phone buzzed. His face paled as he read the message. "It’s worse than we thought. They’ve got Victoria."

Lillian’s breath caught. Sebastian’s daughter.

The front door burst open. Sebastian strode in, his aura radiating fury. "We move now."

Lillian didn’t hesitate. She met his gaze, her voice steady. "I’m coming with you."

Sebastian’s jaw clenched, but he nodded. "Then we end this tonight."

The forest was eerily silent as they stalked through the trees, the full moon casting long shadows. Lillian’s senses were on high alert, every rustle of leaves setting her nerves on edge.

Then she smelled it—blood.

A figure stumbled into the clearing. Evelyn, her dress torn, her face streaked with tears. "Lillian—run!"

Donovan emerged from the darkness, his eyes glowing with malice. "Too late."

Behind him, Alpha Harrison stepped forward, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. "Welcome to the end, little mate."

Sebastian growled, his canines elongating. "You’ll regret this."

Harrison laughed. "Oh, we’re just getting started."

A chorus of snarls erupted from the trees as Harrison’s warriors closed in.

Lillian bared her fangs.

Game on.

I took a bite of the fluffy scrambled eggs and couldn't suppress a delighted hum. The rich, buttery flavor melted on my tongue.

"This is incredible," I told Lucien, savoring another forkful.

He smirked, leaning against the counter with effortless charm. "Scrambled eggs aren’t exactly rocket science, sweetheart. Though I’d appreciate it if you finally sent Giselle that list of your favorite dishes. Or just hand it to me—I’d love to know what to whip up for you next time."

I shrugged, swirling my fork in the golden eggs. "Honestly, I’ll eat anything. You could serve me cardboard, and I’d probably still thank you."

Lucien chuckled, shaking his head. "That’s not the point. I want to make things you love."

"Everything is my favorite when it’s made by you," I teased, grinning when he rolled his eyes.

"So, do you live here too?" I asked between bites.

"Yep," he confirmed, crossing his arms. "24/7. Which means if you ever get a midnight craving..." He trailed off with a playful wink, and I laughed, knowing full well he was joking. The entire mansion was probably aware of my relationship with Sebastian by now—it wasn’t exactly subtle.

"But seriously," he added, tone softening, "if you ever need something, day or night, just call for me."

"I’ll remember that," I promised, taking another bite.

"All the staff live in the quarters on the main floor," he explained, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

I hesitated before asking, "And… they’re nice?" The thought of them living in anything resembling the cramped, dismal servants' quarters at the Winslow estate made my stomach churn.

Lucien’s expression softened. "Better than my old apartment, that’s for sure. Spacious rooms, private bathrooms, killer views. Plus, I get paid well to do what I love." He took a sip of coffee before adding, "From what I’ve heard, our rooms aren’t too different from the ones upstairs—just smaller."

Relief washed over me. "And Sebastian treats you well?" I asked, biting my lip.

Lucien studied me for a moment, eyebrows lifting slightly before he shrugged. "When he’s here, yeah. He’s not around much, though. But cooking for his charity events keeps me busy. Now, though?" He grinned. "I’ve got you to spoil. So, seriously—send me that list."

I laughed. "Fine, fine. I’ll send it."

We fell into easy conversation as I finished my meal, and from just this brief exchange, I could already tell—

The way Lucien flirted with everyone—from the kitchen staff to Giselle—was undeniably charming. But it was harmless, the kind that made him perfect friend material.

After breakfast, I insisted on helping with the dishes, but Giselle wouldn’t hear of it.

"The Alpha would have my head if he found out I let you clean," she said firmly, shooing me away from the sink.

I sighed but eventually gave in.

Later that morning, once the hour was decent enough, I called Beatrice and told her we needed to talk. We agreed to meet at our favorite café near campus. The moment she spotted me, her face lit up, and she pulled me into a tight hug.

"Feels like I haven’t seen you in forever," she murmured as she stepped back.

"It’s only been a few days," I laughed.

"Days too long," she countered, pouting. "You’ve been so busy, I couldn’t even get through to your phone."

She wasn’t entirely wrong. The room I’d been staying in didn’t have a charger, so my phone had died days ago. It only came back to life when I arrived at the mansion, and I was grateful Marcus had the foresight to charge it for me.

"Sorry I didn’t call," I said, biting my lip. "There’s a reason for that."

"You look better," she noted, studying me with a soft smile.

I nodded. "I feel better, Bea."

We ordered our drinks—her usual double espresso, my caramel latte—and settled into a cozy corner booth.

"So," she said, stirring her coffee, "what’s going on with you?"

I hesitated, then exhaled. "Okay… don’t freak out."

Her brows shot up. "Now I am freaking out."

I took a deep breath. This was like tearing off a bandage—quick and painful.

"I moved in with Sebastian Blackwood."