Chapter 24

The morning sun cast golden rays through the curtains, rousing Lillian from her restless sleep. She groaned, rubbing her temples as the remnants of last night’s argument with Donovan echoed in her mind. His accusations, his betrayal—it all felt like a jagged wound that refused to heal.

She rolled out of bed, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. The scent of freshly brewed coffee drifted up from downstairs, a small comfort in the storm of her emotions. Pulling on a loose sweater, she padded toward the door, only to freeze when she heard voices below.

Sebastian’s deep, commanding tone was unmistakable. But who was he speaking to?

Curiosity gnawed at her. She crept down the stairs, careful to stay silent. The moment she reached the landing, she caught sight of him—tall, imposing, his dark hair slightly tousled as if he’d been running his hands through it in frustration. Across from him stood Evelyn, Donovan’s new mate, her expression smug.

Lillian’s breath hitched. What was she doing here?

Evelyn smirked, flipping her hair over one shoulder. "You can’t keep protecting her forever, Sebastian. The pack is talking. They know she’s weak."

Sebastian’s jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with restrained fury. "Leave."

Evelyn scoffed. "Or what? You’ll throw me out? I’m not afraid of you."

Before Sebastian could respond, Lillian stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "You should be."

Both heads snapped toward her. Evelyn’s smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease.

Sebastian’s gaze softened slightly when he saw her, but his tone remained firm. "Lillian, go back upstairs."

She shook her head. "No. I won’t hide while she spews poison in your home."

Evelyn recovered quickly, crossing her arms. "Oh, look who finally grew a spine. Too bad it’s too late."

Lillian clenched her fists. "Get. Out."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Then, with a huff, Evelyn turned on her heel and stalked toward the door. Before she left, she shot Lillian one last venomous look. "This isn’t over."

The door slammed shut behind her.

Sebastian exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face. "You shouldn’t have done that."

Lillian lifted her chin. "I’m tired of running."

His dark eyes searched hers, something unreadable flickering in their depths. Then, without warning, he closed the distance between them, his fingers brushing her cheek. "Neither am I."

Her pulse stuttered.

A knock at the door shattered the moment.

Sebastian stepped back, his expression hardening. "Expecting someone?"

Lillian shook her head.

When he opened the door, Beatrice stood there, her face pale. "Lillian, you need to come quick. It’s Oliver—he’s missing."

Lillian’s blood ran cold.

Sebastian was already moving, grabbing his coat. "Where was he last seen?"

Beatrice swallowed hard. "The woods near the pack border."

Lillian didn’t hesitate. She bolted for the door, her heart pounding.

Because if anything happened to that little boy…

She’d burn the world down to get him back.

Theodore nodded and picked up the tablet, passing it to Donovan.

"I'll bring this back later. Thanks for your help, Theodore," Donovan said with a polite smile before exiting the kitchen.

"Appreciate the heads-up about Miss Lillian. I'll be watching her closely," Theodore countered. "Perhaps we should consider someone more qualified for the role."

Donovan smirked slightly before leaving.

Theodore nearly forgot about their exchange until hours later, when he scoured the entire estate for Oliver but couldn’t locate him. The boy wasn’t usually in his room at this time, but it was the only place left unchecked. With Sebastian and Victoria gone for the day, the mansion was eerily quiet, save for the occasional staff member hurrying past.

Knocking on Oliver’s door, Theodore heard frustrated grumbling from inside. Frowning, he pushed the door open and found the boy sprawled on his bed, gripping his tablet tightly.

"Master Oliver, how did you get that?" Theodore demanded, stepping inside.

"Get out! I'm busy!" Oliver snapped, not tearing his eyes from the screen.

"Master Oliver, hand it over immediately. You know you’re not permitted to have that right now. Your tutor will arrive shortly, and you need to be ready."

"I said LEAVE!" Oliver shrieked, snatching a framed photo with sharp edges and hurling it straight at Theodore’s face.

Theodore barely dodged in time as the frame shattered against the wall behind him. He turned back to Oliver, who remained fixated on his game, seething.

"Oliver—" he tried again, but the boy grabbed more objects—books, figurines—and launched them at him, screaming for him to get out.

Realizing he had no choice, Theodore retreated. When Oliver spiraled like this, he was volatile, and only Sebastian’s Alpha presence could rein him in. But Sebastian was in a meeting all afternoon.

Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to expose Lillian’s incompetence. If she failed today, it would prove she wasn’t cut out for the job.

Lillian arrived soon after for her first tutoring session, and Theodore attempted to dissuade her.

"He somehow got his tablet and is glued to his game," Theodore explained. "He’s barricaded himself in his room and refuses to cooperate. Honestly, it’s not worth the effort."

Lillian arched a brow. "Is that so?"

Before Theodore could reply, she did something unexpected. She strode past him and headed straight for the stairs, radiating unshakable confidence. Stunned, he hurried after her, protesting that the family’s private quarters were off-limits.

But Lillian didn’t falter. Her determination was electrifying—and Theodore couldn’t help but wonder if she might actually succeed where others had failed.

Lillian paid him no mind as she ascended to the second floor, her steps deliberate. Pausing at the landing, she scanned the hallway, her gaze lingering on each door until she spotted the one adorned with colorful stickers. Without hesitation, she strode toward it.

"Miss Lillian!" Theodore called after her, his voice laced with urgency.

Ignoring his protests, she rapped sharply on the bedroom door. When silence greeted her, she didn’t wait. Instead, she did something that left Theodore utterly stunned—she reared back and kicked the door open with a resounding crack!

The wood splintered under the force, swinging inward to reveal the dimly lit room beyond. Lillian stepped inside, her expression unreadable, while Theodore could only gape in disbelief.

No one had ever dared to defy Oliver’s sanctuary like this before.