Chapter 239

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood’s penthouse, painting the marble floors in warm hues. Lillian stretched beneath the silk sheets, her body still humming from last night’s passion. The scent of Sebastian—dark, intoxicating, and undeniably alpha—lingered on her skin, a possessive claim she no longer resisted.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, pulling the duvet higher.

The door creaked open, revealing Giselle Beaumont, the head maid, balancing a silver tray laden with breakfast. "Good morning, Miss Lillian. Mr. Blackwood instructed me to bring you this before your meeting."

Lillian smiled. "Thank you, Giselle."

The maid hesitated, her gaze flickering to the empty space beside Lillian. "He left early for the office. Said something about an urgent call from Alpha Maximilian."

Lillian’s fingers tightened around the fork. Maximilian Voss. The name alone sent a ripple of unease through her. The rival Lycan chairman had been a thorn in Sebastian’s side for years, and his sudden interest was never a good sign.

She forced a smile. "I’ll be down shortly."

Giselle nodded and retreated, leaving Lillian alone with her thoughts.

The Blackwood Enterprises lobby buzzed with activity when Lillian arrived. Executives in tailored suits hurried past, their voices hushed but urgent. She barely had time to process the tension before Marcus Grayson, Sebastian’s beta, intercepted her.

"Lillian," he greeted, his usual composed demeanor frayed at the edges. "Sebastian’s in a meeting. He asked me to brief you."

Her stomach knotted. "What’s going on?"

Marcus exhaled sharply. "Voss made a move. He’s challenging Sebastian’s claim over the northern territories—and he’s brought evidence."

Lillian’s pulse spiked. "What kind of evidence?"

Before Marcus could answer, the elevator doors slid open, revealing Sebastian. His storm-gray eyes darkened when they landed on her.

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

The way his jaw clenched told her everything.

This wasn’t just business.

This was war.

In the privacy of his office, Sebastian finally spoke. "Voss has documents suggesting my father’s dealings with the Winslows were... less than legal."

Lillian’s breath hitched. The Winslows—Ethan’s family. If this got out, the scandal could topple Sebastian’s empire.

She stepped closer. "What do we do?"

Sebastian’s fingers brushed her cheek, his touch both tender and fierce. "We fight." His lips curled into a dangerous smile. "And we make sure Voss regrets ever crossing us."

Outside, thunder rumbled, as if the sky itself warned of the storm to come.

But Lillian wasn’t afraid.

With Sebastian by her side, she’d face anything—even the devil himself.

Three grueling classes later, I finally had a brief respite before my last class of the day—Combat Training.

This was the course that would shape my entire future. My pulse hammered in my throat as I sat in the student lounge, flipping through notes and finishing assignments from earlier lectures.

I’d tried calling Beatrice a few more times since settling in, but each attempt went straight to voicemail. Frustration coiled in my chest as I shoved my phone back into my pocket. Was she avoiding me? The thought prickled at me, but I shook it off. I hadn’t done anything wrong—there was no reason for her to be upset.

...Right?

A glance at the clock sent a jolt through me. Oh no. I had mere minutes to get to combat class before I’d be marked late. Where had the time gone?

I scrambled to shove my books into my bag and bolted from the lounge. Thankfully, the gym wasn’t far, but when I skidded into the combat center, my jaw nearly hit the floor.

The place was packed.

Students who weren’t even in the class had crowded in, buzzing with anticipation. The Elite Gamma Force Trials only happened once every decade, and today’s session would determine who got recruited. This wasn’t just a class—it was a spectacle.

“You’re late,” Professor Montclair said coolly as I stumbled through the doors.

I swallowed hard.

“Lost track of time,” I admitted.

His sharp gaze swept over me before he jerked his chin toward the locker room. “Get changed. Now.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.