Chapter 260

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood’s penthouse suite, illuminating the scattered paperwork on his desk. Lillian stood by the window, her fingers tracing the condensation on her glass of iced tea. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Sebastian’s deep voice broke the silence. "We need to talk about what happened last night."

Lillian turned, meeting his piercing gaze. "I know." Her voice was steady, but her fingers tightened around the glass.

The memory of the gala replayed in her mind—the way Donovan had cornered her near the balcony, his words dripping with venom. "You think you belong here? With him? You’re nothing but a stray."

Sebastian’s jaw clenched. "He had no right to speak to you like that."

Lillian exhaled sharply. "It doesn’t matter. He’s just trying to get under my skin."

Sebastian crossed the room in three long strides, stopping inches from her. "It does matter. You’re my mate, Lillian. No one disrespects you and walks away unscathed."

Her breath hitched at the possessive edge in his tone. The air between them crackled with unspoken promises—of protection, of retribution.

A knock at the door interrupted them.

"Come in," Sebastian called, not breaking eye contact with Lillian.

The door swung open, and Marcus Grayson stepped inside, his expression grim. "We have a problem."

Sebastian’s eyes darkened. "What is it?"

Marcus hesitated, glancing at Lillian before continuing. "Donovan’s been spotted near the eastern border. He’s not alone—he’s with Evelyn."

Lillian’s stomach twisted. Evelyn. The woman who had stolen Donovan’s mark, who had taken everything from her.

Sebastian’s voice was dangerously calm. "Gather the warriors. We move at dusk."

Lillian reached for his arm. "Sebastian, wait—"

He turned to her, his gaze softening just slightly. "This ends tonight."

The determination in his eyes left no room for argument.

As Marcus left to relay the orders, Lillian’s mind raced. Donovan had always been reckless, but this—this was a direct challenge. And if Sebastian retaliated, the consequences could ignite a war between packs.

She swallowed hard.

Tonight, everything would change.

My vision blurred with fury.

Who dared harm my nephew?

My first instinct pointed to Levi—had that bastard somehow breached my villa?

I sprinted toward Oliver, dropping to my knees beside him. Instinct took over. The wound was superficial—a quick assessment of the arrow confirmed it could be removed safely if I acted fast. Without hesitation, I yanked off my shirt, pressing the fabric against the wound to staunch the bleeding. The distant wail of sirens grew louder, signaling help was on its way.

As I worked, I demanded answers from Victoria. Her voice trembled as she revealed the truth—Lillian had fired the arrow.

Only then did I notice her.

Lillian sat slumped against a tree, dazed, her hands stained crimson, her expression hollow. When our eyes met, tears shimmered in hers.

Rage. Disappointment.

That was all I felt as I glared at her.

How could she let this happen?

How dare she endanger Oliver like this?

I knew it wasn’t intentional, but that didn’t excuse her recklessness. Oliver was hurt because of her.

Yes, he would recover—it was just a flesh wound, and the arrow wasn’t laced with silver. With proper care, he’d heal swiftly. But Lillian was supposed to protect him. If that arrow had struck anywhere vital…

She had betrayed my trust.

The words tore from me before I could stop them, my anger boiling over. All I saw was red.

The EMTs arrived, replacing my makeshift bandage with proper medical supplies. They confirmed Oliver wouldn’t need hospitalization—his Alpha lineage accelerated his healing. After administering pain relief, they advised rest.

I carried him to his room, his small body limp from the medication. He looked so fragile, his face pale against the pillows. My chest ached. He didn’t deserve this.

But I knew Lillian hadn’t meant it.

The way she flinched when I ordered her to leave—like she feared I’d strike her—told me everything.

I needed the full story.

Victoria’s scent led me to the parlor. She sat curled on the couch, arms wrapped around herself. Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked up.

"How’s Oliver?" she asked, nearly leaping to her feet.

"Asleep. He’ll be fine—just needs rest," I assured her.

She sank back into the cushions, exhaling in relief.

But my fury hadn’t subsided.

Someone would answer for this.

"Thank the Moon Goddess," Lillian breathed out, letting her head fall back against the plush couch cushions. I settled beside her, the silence between us comfortable yet weighted with unspoken thoughts.

The evening light filtered through the tall windows, casting golden streaks across the room. After a moment, I broke the quiet.

"I'll be gone for a few weeks. Leaving tomorrow night."

She nodded, her fingers absently tracing the embroidery on a throw pillow.

"The Gamma Trials, right?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

I confirmed with a tilt of my head. "Sebastian has arranged everything. Marcus will stay behind—he’ll handle pack affairs and keep an eye on you and Oliver."

Lillian rolled her eyes, a familiar stubbornness flashing in her gaze. "Dad, I don’t need a babysitter. I can take care of myself."

I smirked, though my tone remained firm. "Humor me. With Oliver still recovering, an extra pair of hands won’t hurt."

Her lips pursed, but she didn’t argue further. Instead, she leaned into my side, a quiet acceptance in her posture.

Outside, the distant howl of a patrol wolf echoed through the trees, a reminder of the world beyond these walls—one I’d soon be stepping back into.