Chapter 276

The crisp morning air carried the scent of pine as Lillian stepped onto the balcony of Sebastian Blackwood’s sprawling estate. The sun had barely risen, casting a golden hue over the dense forest that bordered the property. She tightened the silk robe around her, her fingers brushing against the delicate fabric—another extravagant gift from Sebastian.

Inside, the mansion buzzed with activity. Servants moved with practiced efficiency, preparing for the day ahead. Giselle Beaumont, the head maid, directed them with quiet authority, her sharp eyes missing nothing.

Lillian’s thoughts drifted to the previous night—the way Sebastian’s fingers had traced the curve of her spine, the heat of his breath against her neck. A shiver ran through her, despite the warmth of the morning sun.

Then, the sound of footsteps pulled her from her reverie.

"Good morning, Lillian," a smooth voice greeted.

She turned to find Donovan leaning against the doorframe, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. He looked unfairly handsome in his tailored suit, his tie slightly loosened, as if he couldn’t be bothered with formalities.

Lillian stiffened. "What are you doing here?"

Donovan smirked. "Is that any way to greet your ex-fated mate?"

Her jaw clenched. "We were never fated. You made sure of that."

His smirk faltered, just for a second, before he recovered. "Still holding onto that grudge, I see."

Before she could retort, another voice cut in.

"Donovan."

Sebastian stood at the top of the staircase, his presence commanding the room. His silver eyes were cold, his broad shoulders tense.

Donovan straightened, his smirk fading. "Sebastian. I was just leaving."

Sebastian didn’t move, didn’t blink. "See that you do."

The tension between them was palpable, thick enough to choke on. Lillian held her breath, her heart pounding.

Then, with a final glance at Lillian, Donovan turned and strode toward the exit.

Sebastian’s gaze shifted to her, softening slightly. "Are you alright?"

Lillian exhaled. "I’m fine."

But she wasn’t.

Because Donovan’s sudden appearance could only mean one thing—trouble was coming. And this time, she wasn’t sure she could outrun it.

"No..." I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper, hating the admission as soon as it left my lips. "It was... incredible. But it shouldn't have happened. I'm mortified."

Beatrice pouted, her dark eyes shimmering with mischief and regret.

"I'm sorry, Lillian. You're right. I should've resisted harder. That was totally irresponsible of me," she murmured, her usual playful tone laced with genuine remorse.

I exhaled sharply and closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around her in a tight embrace.

"I'm not angry with you," I assured her, my voice softening. "You're not my keeper. I shouldn't have put you in that position. That's on me."

We held each other for a long moment before she finally pulled away, her expression shifting back to its usual teasing glint.

"Alright, go shower. You reek," she joked, wrinkling her nose dramatically.

I smirked and yanked open one of the dresser drawers, fishing out my training gear.

"Just gonna freshen up at the sink. No point showering now—I've got combat drills in an hour," I called over my shoulder as I disappeared into the bathroom.

I slipped into a sleek yoga bra and high-waisted leggings that clung to every curve, the fabric designed for maximum flexibility. Perfect for the grueling session ahead. Tying my hair into a high ponytail, I made sure every strand was secured before turning on the faucet. Grabbing a washcloth, I scrubbed my face, neck, and underarms with brisk efficiency.

A few minutes later, I patted myself dry with a towel and rummaged through my toiletry bag. Deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste—all accounted for. After a quick swipe of minty freshness across my teeth, I was ready.

Beatrice announced she was meeting her new friends for breakfast and suggested we reconvene for lunch. With a nod, I slung my gym bag over my shoulder and headed out, determined to find the resort’s infamous training facility.

The map they'd provided might as well have been written in hieroglyphics. After several wrong turns and backtracking through the labyrinthine halls, I finally stumbled upon the gym.

And wow.

The place was a monstrosity—three sprawling floors of cutting-edge equipment, floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic ocean views, and even an Olympic-sized lap pool reserved exclusively for aquatic training. Through one of the glass walls, I could just make out the glittering lights of the resort’s casino in the distance.

Despite the sheer size, the gym was packed. Every machine, every bench, every free weight was occupied by competitors prepping for the tournament. Their focused expressions and high-performance gear made it clear—this wasn’t some casual workout spot.

I scanned the space, debating where to begin, before deciding to stash my bag first. My backpack held my essentials—phone, wallet, spare wraps—and I wasn’t about to lug it around all morning.

Navigating through the crowd, I offered polite nods to unfamiliar faces as I made my way to the locker room. Inside, a trio of girls clustered around a mirror, snapping selfies with pouted lips and angled chins. I suppressed an eye roll. Gym rats? More like Instagram posers.

The locker room was massive, rows upon rows of sleek metal compartments lining the walls. But as I walked down the aisles, every single one glowed red—occupied.

"Oops, my bad. I took the last one," one of the girls said with a smirk, her tone dripping with false sympathy. "Maybe you should've been quicker."

I pressed my lips into a tight line, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Adjusting the strap of my bag, I moved to walk past her.

"Wait—you're here for the Gamma trials too?" she called out, halting me mid-step.

"Too?" I turned, arching a brow. "You're competing?"

A smug grin curled her lips as she examined her manicured nails. "Obviously. My father is the main sponsor. Didn't you know?"

My eyes widened slightly.

"You're Alpha Maximilian's daughter?" I blurted, stunned. I knew next to nothing about the rival Lycan Alpha, except that he was Sebastian's sworn enemy.

"Don't we look alike?" She fluttered her lashes dramatically.

Now that she mentioned it, there was an unsettling resemblance—the same sharp cheekbones, the same cold, calculating glint in her eyes.

"But don't worry," she continued, flashing a saccharine smile. "When I win, it'll be completely fair. I've been trained by the best, after all. Victory is inevitable."

With a flick of her golden hair, she tossed me a condescending wink that sent heat rushing to my cheeks. The other girls in the bathroom tittered behind their hands, clearly enjoying the exchange. Their laughter only stoked the fire inside me, sharpening my resolve.

If she wanted a fight, I’d give her one.

I spun on my heel and stormed out—only to collide with someone hard enough to send my bag tumbling to the floor. Strong hands caught me before I could fall, their warmth searing through my clothes.

I looked up—and my breath caught.

Sebastian.