Chapter 185

The crisp autumn air carried the scent of fallen leaves as Lillian stepped onto the balcony of Sebastian Blackwood’s mansion. The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver light over the sprawling estate. She exhaled slowly, her breath forming a small cloud in the cool night.

Inside, the grand hall buzzed with activity. The annual Lycan Council gathering was in full swing, and though Lillian had grown accustomed to these events, tonight felt different. Her fingers tightened around the railing as she caught sight of Donovan across the room, his arm draped possessively around Evelyn’s waist. The sight still stung, even after all this time.

A warm presence settled beside her. "You shouldn’t let him get to you," Beatrice murmured, handing her a glass of sparkling cider.

Lillian forced a smile. "I’m not. It’s just… hard to forget, you know?"

Beatrice squeezed her shoulder. "You have Sebastian now. And he’s ten times the man Donovan ever was."

Before Lillian could respond, the sound of raised voices cut through the hum of conversation. She turned to see Oliver, Sebastian’s seven-year-old son, standing defiantly in front of Alpha Harrison, his small fists clenched.

"You can’t talk to my dad like that!" Oliver snapped, his voice trembling with childish fury.

Alpha Harrison smirked, clearly amused. "And who’s going to stop me? You?"

Sebastian appeared instantly, his towering frame radiating quiet authority. "That’s enough," he said, his voice low but commanding. The room fell silent.

Lillian’s heart pounded as she watched the exchange. She knew Sebastian could handle himself, but the tension in the air was palpable.

Then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed Victoria—Sebastian’s daughter—whispering urgently to Theodore Whitmore, the family butler. Whatever she said made Theodore’s expression darken.

Something was wrong.

Lillian excused herself from Beatrice and moved closer, catching fragments of their conversation.

"—found the documents in his study," Victoria hissed. "He’s planning something."

Theodore nodded grimly. "We need to warn your father."

Before Lillian could intervene, a sharp gasp echoed through the hall. Heads turned as Evelyn stumbled forward, clutching her stomach. Her face twisted in pain.

Donovan’s eyes widened in alarm. "Evelyn? What’s wrong?"

Evelyn collapsed to her knees, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I—I don’t know—"

The crowd erupted into chaos.

Lillian’s instincts kicked in. She rushed forward, but Sebastian was already there, barking orders to Marcus Grayson, his beta. "Get Dr. Langford. Now."

As the guests scrambled to make way, Lillian caught a glimpse of Donovan’s face—his expression wasn’t just concern. It was fear.

And in that moment, she knew.

This wasn’t an accident.

Someone had poisoned Evelyn.

And the real question was—who stood to gain from it?

The answer sent a chill down her spine.

Because if Evelyn died… Donovan would be free to reclaim his fated mate.

Her.

The first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. For the first time since I arrived at the Blackwood estate, Sebastian had actually stayed the night with me. Usually, after our passionate encounters, he would slip away once I drifted off to sleep. But this morning, I woke to find him still here—shirtless, his sculpted torso on full display, though he had at least pulled his pants back on.

My breath hitched at the sight of him. It wasn’t displeasure that curled in my chest, but a quiet, fluttering confusion. Tentatively, I traced my fingers down the hard planes of his back, savoring the warmth that radiated from his skin. The urge to curl back into his arms was overwhelming, but I knew better. With the film crew shooting in his territory, his schedule would be packed.

He stirred, his lashes fluttering before his piercing gaze met mine. My pulse stuttered, half-expecting him to bolt from the bed like a man caught in a compromising situation. Maybe he hadn’t meant to fall asleep here. Maybe he’d regret it.

But then—his lips curved into that slow, devastating smile, and my heart hammered wildly against my ribs.

"Good morning," he murmured, rolling onto his back and stretching, his abs flexing in a way that made my mouth go dry. I swallowed hard.

"Morning," I managed, voice slightly breathless. "I didn’t expect you to still be here."

He raked a hand through his tousled dark hair, looking unfairly good for someone who had just woken up. "I was exhausted," he admitted, voice rough with sleep. "Yesterday was... a lot."

"Did you meet Celeste?" I asked before I could stop myself, worrying my lower lip between my teeth. I hated the way my stomach twisted at the thought of him spending the day with a world-famous supermodel, but I had no right to voice that insecurity. So I kept my gaze fixed on my hands, fingers twisting in the sheets.

"Yeah," he said, his tone unreadable. "She’s... interesting. I have to oversee filming again today."

I nodded, forcing a neutral expression. "I’ll be tutoring Oliver later. If you wanted to meet up..." The words tumbled out before I could stop them, my cheeks burning.

Sebastian turned to face me fully, his eyes darkening with something that made my breath catch. "I’ll keep that in mind," he replied, voice low and velvety. "But today’s going to be hectic. I might not have time."

I nodded again, already expecting as much.

With effortless grace, he slid out of bed and scooped his discarded pants from the floor. "I’m going to shower," he announced, already striding toward the bathroom.

I watched him disappear behind the door, only then realizing I’d been holding my breath. The sound of running water filled the room, and I quickly scrambled out of bed, throwing on the first clothes I could find before heading downstairs.

The kitchen was already bustling when I arrived. Giselle stood at the center, deep in conversation with a couple of kitchen staff, their voices hushed. The moment they noticed me, the chatter stopped.

"Good morning, Miss Lillian," Giselle greeted with a polite smile. "Hungry? Lucien is about to start breakfast."

I opened my mouth to respond when—