Chapter 267

The night air was thick with tension as Lillian stood frozen in the dimly lit hallway of the Blackwood estate. Her heart pounded against her ribs, each beat echoing like a drum in her ears. She had overheard something she wasn’t supposed to—something that could change everything.

Footsteps approached, deliberate and heavy. She recognized them instantly—Sebastian Blackwood, the Lycan chairman, her fated mate. But tonight, his presence didn’t bring comfort. Instead, it sent a shiver down her spine.

Had he known all along?

She pressed herself against the wall, willing herself to disappear into the shadows. The conversation she had just overheard replayed in her mind like a broken record.

"The alliance with the Winslows is non-negotiable," Sebastian had said, his voice cold and unyielding. "Lillian will understand."

Understand what? That he was still entangled with the Winslows? That his engagement to Victoria—his own daughter—was more than just a political farce?

Her fingers curled into fists, nails biting into her palms. She had trusted him. Loved him. And now, it felt like the ground beneath her was crumbling.

A door creaked open nearby, and she held her breath.

"Lillian?"

Sebastian’s voice was soft, almost hesitant. It was the tone he used when he knew she was upset. But this time, it only fueled her anger.

She stepped out of the shadows, meeting his gaze head-on. His silver eyes, usually so warm when they looked at her, were now guarded.

"We need to talk," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. "I know what you heard."

"Do you?" She crossed her arms, her wolf bristling beneath her skin. "Then explain to me why you’re still negotiating with the Winslows behind my back. Explain why you lied to me."

His expression darkened. "It’s not that simple."

"Then make it simple."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Then, Sebastian exhaled sharply.

"Fine. You want the truth? The Winslows have leverage. Something that could destroy us both."

Lillian’s breath hitched. "What kind of leverage?"

Sebastian hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the closed door behind him. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper.

"They know about Matt."

The words hit her like a physical blow. Matt—Sebastian’s seven-year-old son, the boy she had come to love as her own.

Her voice trembled. "What about him?"

Sebastian’s eyes burned with a mixture of fury and fear. "They’ve threatened to expose his true lineage. If that happens, he’ll never be safe."

Lillian’s blood ran cold. The Winslows weren’t just playing games—they were targeting an innocent child.

Her wolf snarled, demanding action. "Then we protect him. Together."

Sebastian’s expression softened, but only for a second. "There’s more. They’ve demanded a public reaffirmation of my engagement to Victoria. If I refuse, they’ll act."

Lillian’s stomach twisted. A public display would humiliate her, undermine her position as his mate. But worse—it would put Matt in danger.

She swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat. "What do we do?"

Sebastian reached for her, his fingers brushing against hers. "We play their game. For now."

She pulled her hand away. "And then?"

His lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Then we destroy them."

The promise in his voice sent a thrill through her. This wasn’t over. Not even close.

But as she turned to leave, a new thought struck her—one that sent a fresh wave of dread through her veins.

What if the Winslows weren’t the real threat?

The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly before her, shadows whispering secrets she wasn’t ready to hear.

And somewhere in the darkness, unseen eyes watched. Waiting.

I wanted to reassure Beatrice that it wouldn’t happen to her, but the words died in my throat. How could I promise something I couldn’t control? She was right—she could end up just like me, and I had been selfish to drag her into this mess. But her words still stung, sharp as a blade. I clenched my jaw and turned away, staring at my water bottle like it held all the secrets of the universe.

She sighed and leaned against the window, her reflection blurred against the glass. The tension between us was thick enough to choke on. I didn’t want to spend this flight fighting with my best friend, but the tears burning behind my eyelids made it impossible to look at her without crumbling.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under. I only woke when the pressure in my ears spiked, signaling our descent. My fingers dug into the armrests as the plane dipped sharply, my stomach lurching. The moment the wheels touched down, I exhaled in relief.

The seatbelt light flicked off, and passengers shuffled into the aisle. Stepping onto solid ground felt like a miracle. Beatrice and I hadn’t spoken since our argument, and even now, the silence between us was heavy. She moved like a ghost beside me, lost in thought—just as I was.

We collected our luggage and headed for the exit. I braced myself for the heat, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the wall of scorching air that hit us the second we stepped outside. It stole my breath, leaving me gasping.

Beatrice, however, looked perfectly at ease. Summer was her season.

“What now?” she asked, scanning the bustling streets.

I pulled out my phone, pulling up the email from Alpha Maximilian Voss. “Resort’s a few miles from here. We’ll grab a cab.”

She smirked. “Leave it to me.” With effortless confidence, she strode to the curb, lifted a hand, and—like magic—a cab screeched to a halt in front of her. She shot me a grin over her shoulder. “City girl skills.”

I laughed, hauling my bags toward the cab. The driver hopped out to help, popping the trunk. Just as I was about to climb in, a flash of familiar blonde hair caught my eye.

Rosalind sat slumped on her suitcase, staring at her phone with red-rimmed eyes.

“Rosalind?” I called.

She startled, forcing a weak smile. “Oh—hi.”

“Everything okay?” I motioned for the driver to wait and hurried over. Beatrice stayed with our things, guarding the cab.

Rosalind sighed. “My boyfriend was supposed to pick me up, but he bailed last minute.”

“Need a ride?”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”

I gave a quick nod.

“I’m assuming he’s at the resort, right?” I asked. “You can ride with us. We’re heading there now.”

Her face lit up with relief.

“Yes, that would be perfect. Thank you!” she exhaled, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.

I helped her gather her things, and once the cab was packed with our belongings, we all climbed in. Beatrice, being the smallest among us, settled into the middle seat.

I relayed the address to the driver, who punched it into the GPS. Just as the car pulled away from the curb, something flickered at the edge of my vision. A swarm of paparazzi had encircled someone—though from this distance, I couldn’t make out who it was. Camera flashes erupted like fireworks, and shouted questions buzzed through the air. I craned my neck, trying to catch a glimpse, but the crowd was too thick, and we were already too far.

“Wonder what all that commotion’s about,” Beatrice murmured, following my line of sight.

I shrugged.

“Who knows,” I muttered. “Probably some entitled celebrity.”

She snorted in agreement, and the rest of the twenty-minute ride passed in comfortable silence—until the cab pulled up to the most breathtaking resort I’d ever laid eyes on.