Chapter 245

The evening air was thick with tension as Lillian stood in the grand hall of the Blackwood estate. The chandeliers cast a golden glow over the gathered guests, their whispers like a restless wind. She could feel Donovan’s gaze burning into her from across the room, his new mate, Evelyn, clinging possessively to his arm.

Sebastian Blackwood, the formidable Lycan chairman, stood beside Lillian, his presence an unspoken shield. His fingers brushed lightly against hers, sending a jolt of warmth through her. She glanced up at him, catching the flicker of something dangerous in his dark eyes—protectiveness, possessiveness, maybe even something more.

"Relax," he murmured, his voice low and velvety. "No one touches what’s mine."

Lillian swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. She wasn’t used to being claimed so openly, but she couldn’t deny the thrill it sent through her.

Across the room, Beatrice nudged her with an elbow, grinning. "Look at you, all official now. The whole pack’s watching."

Lillian exhaled sharply. "I know. It’s just… a lot."

Beatrice smirked. "You’ll get used to it. Especially when you realize how many people are jealous."

Lillian’s gaze flickered to Cassandra, her rival from school, who was glaring daggers at her from the edge of the crowd. Then there was Victoria, Sebastian’s daughter, who had once been engaged to Donovan. Her expression was unreadable, but the tension in her posture was unmistakable.

Before Lillian could dwell on it, the music swelled, signaling the start of the formal introductions. Sebastian’s grip on her hand tightened as he led her forward.

"Time to make our presence known," he said, his voice carrying the weight of command.

Lillian lifted her chin, steeling herself. Whatever came next, she was ready.

But as she stepped forward, she caught a glimpse of Donovan’s face—twisted with something dark and unspoken.

And she knew.

This night was far from over.

Lillian's POV

With Marcus's help, the ambulance arrived in record time. I accompanied Beatrice to the hospital, my hands shaking uncontrollably as I sank into a chair in the waiting room. Tears blurred my vision, guilt gnawing at me like a relentless beast. If only I had checked on her sooner.

Beatrice had no visible injuries, but her pallor was alarming—her skin ghostly white, dark circles bruising the delicate skin beneath her eyes. The apartment had been littered with empty liquor bottles, but no sign of pills or drugs. I had no idea what was wrong, and that terrified me.

Relief washed over me when Dr. Langford appeared the moment we arrived. She pressed a quick kiss to Marcus’s cheek before following the EMTs into the emergency room, promising to personally oversee Beatrice’s care.

Time stretched endlessly in the sterile waiting room. Eventually, Marcus returned, his presence steadying in the chaos.

"You don’t have to stay," I murmured, wiping my damp cheeks. "I’m sure you have more important things to do."

He shrugged, leaning back in the uncomfortable plastic chair. "Right now, my job is to look after you. So that’s exactly what I’m doing." His tone left no room for argument.

I frowned. "Why would Sebastian assign you to babysit me?"

Marcus exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sebastian’s swamped. With Alpha Maximilian in the pack, there’s a lot to handle. He wanted to be here himself, but he sent me instead—to stay with you and report back."

My stomach twisted. Did Sebastian tell him about us? Marcus avoided my gaze, his attention fixed on the scuffed linoleum floor.

"I didn’t expect Sebastian to come," I admitted quietly.

"He wanted to." Marcus’s voice was firm. "But he trusts me to keep you safe."

I bit my lip, unsure how to respond. Things between Sebastian and me had been strained lately—distant, cold. He barely acknowledged me when we crossed paths. So why did he care now?

The silence between us thickened, heavy with unspoken questions.