Chapter 195

The morning sun filtered through the heavy velvet curtains of the Blackwood estate, casting golden streaks across Lillian's face as she stirred awake. Her body ached from yesterday's intense training session with Marcus, but the warmth of Sebastian's arm draped protectively over her waist made the discomfort fade into the background.

"Morning, sweetheart," Sebastian murmured, his deep voice still rough with sleep. His fingers traced lazy circles on her bare shoulder, sending pleasant shivers down her spine.

Lillian turned in his embrace, meeting those piercing amber eyes that never failed to make her heart race. "You're awake early," she observed, noticing the alertness in his gaze despite the early hour.

Sebastian's lips curved into that devastating smirk she adored. "Couldn't sleep. Too busy thinking about how you nearly took down Marcus yesterday." His thumb brushed against her lower lip. "My fierce little wolf."

A knock at the door interrupted their moment. "Alpha Blackwood?" Theodore's crisp voice came through the wood. "Your nine o'clock meeting has been moved up. Alpha Voss arrived earlier than expected."

Sebastian's entire demeanor shifted instantly, the warmth in his eyes hardening into cold calculation. "Tell him I'll be down in fifteen minutes."

As Theodore's footsteps retreated, Lillian sat up, the sheets pooling around her waist. "Maximilian Voss? Here?" Her fingers tightened involuntarily on the bedding. The rival Lycan chairman's sudden appearance couldn't mean anything good.

Sebastian was already moving with that predatory grace of his, pulling on his tailored dress shirt with quick, efficient movements. "Stay here," he instructed, buttoning his cuffs. "I'll handle this."

But Lillian was already out of bed, reaching for her robe. "Like hell I will." She met his surprised look with a stubborn tilt of her chin. "If this involves pack business, it involves me too. I'm your mate, remember?"

For a moment, Sebastian looked like he might argue. Then that proud, approving gleam entered his eyes that always made Lillian's stomach flutter. "Five minutes," he conceded. "And wear the black dress from Genevieve's collection. We need to make an impression."

Downstairs in the grand study, the air was thick with tension. Maximilian Voss stood by the fireplace, his imposing frame clad in an impeccably cut navy suit that did nothing to soften his dangerous aura. His beta, Benedict Grayson, stood at attention behind him like a shadow.

"Sebastian," Maximilian greeted with false warmth, his sharp gaze immediately flicking to Lillian as she entered. "And this must be the famous Lillian. My daughter Arabella has told me so much about you."

Lillian forced a polite smile, her fingers tightening slightly around Sebastian's arm. "All good things, I hope."

Maximilian's chuckle held an edge. "Oh, quite. She was particularly impressed by your... unique fighting style during the last inter-pack competition."

Before the conversation could continue, the door burst open and Oliver came running in, his small face alight with excitement. "Papa! I finished my—" He skidded to a halt upon seeing the visitors, his eyes going wide.

Sebastian's expression softened imperceptibly as he placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Oliver, this is Alpha Voss. Say hello properly."

Oliver straightened immediately, his little shoulders squaring in perfect imitation of his father's posture. "Good morning, Alpha Voss," he said with surprising composure for a seven-year-old.

Maximilian studied the boy with an unreadable expression. "Your heir shows remarkable poise, Sebastian. He'll make a fine alpha one day."

The compliment sounded genuine, but Lillian didn't miss the calculating gleam in the older alpha's eyes as he looked between Oliver and herself. She instinctively stepped closer to the boy, her protective instincts flaring.

Sebastian smoothly redirected the conversation. "You didn't come all this way to discuss my son's manners, Maximilian. What do you want?"

The pleasant mask slipped, revealing the ruthless predator beneath. "The northern territories," Maximilian said bluntly. "I'm here to make you an offer you'd be foolish to refuse."

Lillian felt the shift in Sebastian's energy before she saw it—the subtle tension coiling through his muscles, the way his fingers flexed slightly at his sides. This was no social call. This was a challenge.

And as Maximilian's gaze locked onto hers with unsettling intensity, Lillian realized with sudden clarity—she wasn't just a bystander in this game of power. She'd become a key player.

And the real game was only just beginning.

"Don't push me, Lillian," Sebastian murmured against my skin, his lips tracing a slow, deliberate path along the nape of my neck, his tongue flicking out to taste me. A shudder ran through me as he pinned me between his hard body and the wall, his dominance undeniable. "I'm not in the mood for games."

I didn’t know what to say—words failed me. But my body? It had a will of its own. Without thinking, I hooked one leg around his waist, grinding against him shamelessly, like a she-wolf in heat. The moment I felt him harden beneath me, a thrill shot through my veins, spurring me to move faster, to see just how far I could push him.

A low, possessive growl rumbled from his chest before his mouth crashed down on mine, kissing me as if he’d been starved for the taste of me. And gods, I hadn’t realized how much I needed this—needed him—until that moment. Clothes were torn away in desperate haste, fabric pooling at our feet until nothing separated us.

Naked and trembling beneath him, I surrendered completely, my earlier anger forgotten in the haze of desire. My heart pounded wildly, each beat echoing the frantic rhythm of his thrusts as he lifted me effortlessly, my legs locking around his waist. The moment he filled me, a breathless moan tore from my lips, his name spilling from me like a prayer.

He nipped at my bottom lip, his thrusts deep and relentless, his mouth trailing down my throat in a series of teasing bites—just hard enough to send shivers through me but not enough to leave a mark.

Then he carried me to the bed, his hands and mouth claiming every inch of me, leaving no part untouched. I arched beneath him, fingers tangled in his dark hair as he drove me higher, pleasure building until rational thought was obliterated. Whatever argument we’d had earlier? Gone. All that existed was this—the heat, the hunger, the raw need between us.

Some might call me reckless. But in this moment, I didn’t care.

When he finally pushed me over the edge, my scream of his name was met with a feral growl—his control slipping, his wolf surging forward. His canines elongated, and my breath caught at the sight. Instinctively, my own wolf stirred, a primal urge to bare my neck to him rising within me. But I held her back, confused by the intensity of the reaction.

Sebastian barely restrained himself, his wolf receding with a frustrated snarl as he reached his own climax. The sound was almost pained, as if the beast inside him fought against submission.

Afterward, we lay there, chests heaving, the air thick with unspoken tension. He pulled away abruptly, putting distance between us as if burned. Neither of us spoke. Neither of us dared to look at the other.

"I should go," he muttered, already rising from the bed. "I have business to attend to. But I’ll see you at the villa later."

I nodded numbly, watching as he dressed with swift, almost agitated movements. He barely glanced at me before leaving, the door clicking shut behind him with finality.

Alone, my mind raced.

Had he almost marked me?

At school, I confided in Beatrice, who rolled her eyes and called me an idiot for letting lust override my anger. But she was relieved it hadn’t ruined my day. Truthfully, I hadn’t given Celeste or that kiss a second thought since this morning.

No—my thoughts were consumed by one thing:

Sebastian Blackwood, and how close he’d come to losing control.

The thought sent shivers down my spine, though I couldn't comprehend why. My wolf's reaction to Sebastian's primal instincts both confused and electrified me. Shaking my head, I pushed the unsettling thoughts aside. Right now, I needed to focus on my tutoring session with Oliver and act as if nothing unusual had occurred.

Arriving at Blackwood Manor that evening, I was startled by the unexpected commotion. A film crew had taken over the estate, their equipment and chatter filling the grand halls. Apparently, they were shooting scenes at Sebastian's residence, though the library remained undisturbed for our lessons.

After helping Oliver complete his assignments, we ventured outside for our usual sparring session. The training grounds, however, had been transformed into a movie set. My breath caught when I spotted Sebastian deep in conversation with Celeste Devereaux. The famous actress had her manicured hands all over him - smoothing his collar, adjusting his tie - while he stood motionless, permitting her intimate touches.

A savage growl erupted from my throat before I could stop it. Heat flooded my veins as my vision tinted red. The possessive fury shocked me with its intensity. Oliver's wide-eyed stare brought me back to reality, but the fire in my chest refused to die down. What was happening to me? And why did the sight of Celeste touching Sebastian make me want to rip her perfect face off?