Chapter 256

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood’s penthouse, illuminating the scattered papers on his desk. Lillian stretched lazily in the oversized armchair, her fingers tracing the rim of her half-empty coffee cup. The scent of freshly brewed espresso lingered in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of Sebastian’s cologne.

“You’re staring,” she murmured, catching his gaze.

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, his lips curving into a smirk. “Can’t help it. You’re distracting.”

Lillian rolled her eyes, but a flush crept up her neck. The tension between them had been simmering for weeks—ever since Donovan’s betrayal and Evelyn’s sudden appearance in their lives.

A knock at the door interrupted the moment.

“Come in,” Sebastian called, his voice sharp with authority.

The door swung open, revealing Marcus Grayson, his Beta, his expression grim. “We have a problem.”

Lillian straightened, her playful mood evaporating. “What happened?”

Marcus hesitated, glancing between them. “It’s about Donovan. He’s made a move.”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “Explain.”

“He’s been seen meeting with Alpha Harrison. They’re planning something—something big.”

Lillian’s stomach twisted. Alpha Harrison was the same man who had tried to take advantage of her when she was vulnerable. If Donovan was aligning with him, it could only mean one thing: revenge.

Sebastian stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the hardwood floor. “Gather the warriors. We’re not waiting for them to strike first.”

Lillian reached for his arm. “Sebastian, we need to think this through. If we act rashly—”

“There’s no time for caution,” he cut in, his eyes darkening. “They’re coming for us. For you.”

The weight of his words settled over her. She knew he was right. Donovan had never been one to forgive or forget.

Marcus cleared his throat. “There’s more. Evelyn was spotted leaving the city last night. She took a private jet—destination unknown.”

Lillian’s breath hitched. Evelyn’s sudden disappearance couldn’t be a coincidence.

Sebastian’s phone buzzed on the desk. He snatched it up, his expression growing colder with each passing second.

“What is it?” Lillian asked, dread coiling in her chest.

He looked up, his voice eerily calm. “Oliver’s school just called. He never arrived this morning.”

The room spun. Lillian’s hands trembled as she shot to her feet. “We have to find him. Now.”

Sebastian was already moving, his phone pressed to his ear as he barked orders. “Lock down the city. No one gets in or out without clearance.”

Lillian’s mind raced. If Donovan had Oliver…

She couldn’t finish the thought.

The game had changed.

And this time, the stakes were higher than ever.

Lillian's POV

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Slowly, I turned to face Victoria, but she refused to meet my eyes. Her fingers twisted the hem of her blouse nervously, and her breathing was uneven—shallow, almost panicked.

"What?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"I think he's cheating on me," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. The way she said it made me think she was on the verge of hyperventilating. "I went to his place because I hadn’t seen him in days, and there was a woman standing outside. She looked like she was about to knock, but when she saw me, she just... left."

A woman? My chest tightened. "Do you know who she was?"

Victoria shook her head.

"No, never seen her before."

"What did she look like?" I pressed.

For a moment, Victoria hesitated, her expression darkening as realization dawned on her. Then, her gaze sharpened—icy, accusatory—as if she suddenly remembered who she was talking to. The warmth in her eyes vanished, replaced by something venomous.

The shift was so sudden, so hostile, that I instinctively took a step back.

"She looked like you," she spat. "I need to leave."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed up the stairs.

I frowned, watching her go.

That was... strange.

Shaking off the uneasy feeling, I spent the rest of the day with Oliver—tutoring him, then running through combat drills. I half-expected Sebastian to show up at some point, but he never did. By the time I left the villa, the sun had long since set, and exhaustion weighed heavily on my limbs.

Frederick drove me home. When I asked if he’d heard from Sebastian, he gave a vague, dismissive answer.

"The Alpha’s been busy," he said. "Don’t worry about him."

"Busy with what?" I demanded.

He didn’t answer.

That only made me more suspicious. Was there someone else? Was he spending all his time with another woman? My mind immediately jumped to Celeste—maybe he’d finally given in and taken her up on her advances.

The thought made me nauseous.

Part of me wanted to march straight to his office and demand answers. But the other part—the part that feared rejection—held me back.

So I let it go.

I told myself he’d come to me when he was ready.

He didn’t.

A week passed, and still—nothing.

I was leaving tomorrow morning, and Sebastian had no idea. At least, I didn’t think he did. Theodore had said—

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across my bedroom as I folded the last of my clothes into the suitcase. My phone buzzed against the duvet—another text from Beatrice. We'd been coordinating our packing all day, though neither of us mentioned the elephant in the room: Lucien.

Not since that painfully silent car ride had Beatrice spoken to him, and judging by Giselle's reports, the usually flirtatious chef had become a ghost in the mansion kitchens. No more impromptu dessert tastings. No lingering smiles by the staff entrance. Just... silence.

Victoria hadn't returned my calls either. Seven days of radio silence. Was she mortified about her confession? Or had she told Sebastian everything? My fingers trembled as I zipped the suitcase shut.

Downstairs, Oliver's disappointed pout when I canceled our training sessions nearly broke me. "But you'll be on TV!" he'd exclaimed, tiny fists clutching my sleeves. The Gamma competition broadcast was his new obsession—right after werewolf chess and strawberry milkshakes. His excitement almost made up for the guilt gnawing at my ribs.

Almost.

The grandfather clock chimed five. Somewhere in this too-quiet mansion, Sebastian was working. Always working. Just like me. Just like Beatrice. Just like everyone drowning in the things we wouldn't say.

My reflection in the vanity mirror looked exhausted. Shadows pooled beneath my eyes. Tomorrow, the competition would begin. Tonight? Tonight I'd stare at my ceiling and wonder if silence could suffocate a person.