Chapter 58

The morning sun filtered through the heavy drapes of Lillian's bedroom, casting golden streaks across the silk sheets. She stirred awake, her body still humming with the afterglow of last night's passionate encounter with Sebastian. The memory sent delicious shivers down her spine.

"Morning, little wolf," Sebastian's deep voice rumbled beside her, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her bare shoulder. "Sleep well?"

Lillian turned to face him, her cheeks flushing at the intensity in his dark eyes. "Better than ever," she murmured, leaning in to brush her lips against his.

Their moment was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. "Alpha Blackwood?" Theodore's voice carried through the wood. "You're needed downstairs immediately. There's been... an incident."

Sebastian's entire demeanor changed in an instant. The playful lover vanished, replaced by the formidable Lycan chairman. "What kind of incident?" he demanded, already reaching for his robe.

Lillian sat up straighter, clutching the sheets to her chest. She could hear the tension in Theodore's voice when he responded, "It's about Miss Victoria. She's returned... with company."

The blood drained from Sebastian's face. Without another word, he strode to the door, pausing only to glance back at Lillian. "Stay here," he ordered. "I'll send for you when it's safe."

But Lillian was already scrambling out of bed the moment the door closed behind him. Safe? What could possibly make her unsafe in Sebastian's own home? She dressed quickly in the first outfit she found - a simple blouse and jeans from the wardrobe Sebastian had filled for her.

As she crept down the grand staircase, the sound of raised voices grew louder. She recognized Sebastian's commanding tone immediately, but the other voice...

Her heart stopped.

Donovan.

He was here. In the mansion. With his new mate Evelyn.

Lillian's wolf bristled beneath her skin, the betrayal still fresh despite the months that had passed. She pressed herself against the wall, straining to hear the conversation in the foyer below.

"...how dare you bring him here after what he did?" Sebastian was snarling.

Victoria's response was icy. "He's my fiancé, Father. Where else would he be?"

"Not under my roof," Sebastian growled. "Not after he abandoned his true mate."

Lillian's breath caught. He was defending her. Even now, when it would be easier to pretend she didn't exist, Sebastian was standing up for her against his own daughter.

She took a deep breath and stepped into view. All eyes snapped to her as she descended the final steps.

The silence was deafening.

Donovan looked like he'd seen a ghost. "Lillian?" His voice cracked on her name.

Evelyn's grip on his arm tightened possessively. "Well, well," she purred. "If it isn't the little werewolf who couldn't keep her mate."

Sebastian moved like lightning, positioning himself between Lillian and the others. "One more word," he warned, his voice deadly quiet, "and I'll have you both thrown out on your asses."

Victoria gasped. "Father! You can't—"

"I can and I will," he cut her off. "This is my house, and I decide who's welcome here." His gaze locked onto Donovan. "You made your choice months ago. Now live with it."

Lillian placed a trembling hand on Sebastian's arm. "It's okay," she whispered. "I can handle this."

But as she met Donovan's shocked gaze, she realized with sudden clarity that she didn't have to handle anything. Not anymore. She had Sebastian now. She had a real mate who cherished her, protected her, fought for her.

And that knowledge gave her strength she never knew she possessed.

"That absolute bastard!" Beatrice gasped as we stood in line at the campus café, waiting to place our orders. "I can't believe he had the audacity to pull that stunt last night. And to drag your mother into it?"

It was the morning after Donovan had shown up unannounced, and I had just finished recounting the whole humiliating ordeal to Beatrice. I was still reeling from the fact that Donovan had the nerve to show up at my house and care for my mother—as if that would somehow make me agree to become his mistress. The thought made my skin crawl, but beneath the disgust, a pang of guilt gnawed at me. Victoria didn’t deserve this, even if she was blissfully unaware.

"I told him to get out," I finished with a shrug, trying to sound indifferent.

"What can I get for you two this morning?" Gabrielle, the barista, asked with a warm smile. Gabrielle was in a few of my classes and had a reputation for being a fierce sparring partner. We’d trained together a couple of times, and she always made my coffee just right.

"Just a vanilla cappuccino," I said.

"Make that two," Beatrice chimed in, pulling out her wallet.

I shook my head and reached for mine. "I’ve got it. You paid last time."

Gabrielle swiped my card and handed it back with a nod. "Coming right up."

As she turned to prepare our drinks, Beatrice leaned in, lowering her voice. "So, what are you going to do about Donovan?"

I frowned. "What can I do? He doesn’t take no for an answer. The only thing I can focus on is working hard enough to pay off my father’s debt."

"Are you going to tell Victoria what her fiancé is up to?" Beatrice arched a brow.

I hesitated, then shook my head. It wasn’t my place. Sebastian had made it crystal clear—he didn’t want anything jeopardizing this marriage. If I was the reason his daughter got hurt, I’d lose my job, and worse, his trust.

"It’s not my business, and I don’t want to get involved," I said firmly.

"Your cappuccinos are ready," Gabrielle announced, sliding two steaming cups toward us.

"Thanks," I said, handing one to Beatrice. "See you in class."

Gabrielle waved as we stepped out of the café and onto the sunlit campus path. Beatrice didn’t press further about last night or whether I should expose Donovan. As far as she knew, Victoria was just another high-profile name to me—someone from the notoriously private Blackwood family.

The Landrys—no, the Blackwoods—were always shrouded in secrecy. Victoria might have been in the public eye, but no one really knew her. And right now, that distance suited me just fine.

To have friends or navigate through the packs—Victoria Blackwood was an enigma to those outside her family, and that only made her more fascinating.

If Beatrice knew that I was actually acquainted with Victoria and growing closer to her, she would demand to know how I'd befriended the infamous Victoria Blackwood. I'd have to confess everything, which would violate my contract and cost me my job. I needed to cling to this position as if my life depended on it... because, in a way, it did. And my father's life depended on it too.

"I still have thirty minutes before class starts. Want to stop by the lounge for a bit?" I asked as we approached the university buildings.

"Sure," Beatrice agreed.

We stepped into the bustling lounge, where students usually gathered before morning lectures. But today, something felt off. Whispers slithered through the air like venomous snakes, hushed voices weaving a web of gossip.

The moment we entered, eyes flicked in my direction. My frown deepened as the murmurs swelled, sharpening into unmistakable accusations.

What had I done?

"That's the one who got Cassandra expelled," someone hissed.

"Can you believe she has the audacity to walk in here like nothing happened?"

"After what she pulled, she should be ashamed!"

Heat flared across my cheeks. I glanced at Beatrice, whose expression darkened as she surveyed the room.

"What's going on?" I asked under my breath.

"Cassandra was expelled," she answered, raising her voice deliberately. "And clearly, everyone's blaming you for it, even though it wasn't your fault!"

We pushed through the crowd toward our usual table by the window, but Cassandra's friends blocked our path, arms crossed, lips curled in disdain.

"How dare you show your face here after what you did?" one of them sneered. "Cassandra worked her ass off for that scholarship, and you stole it from her!"

I turned to face them, my gaze sharp.

"She cheated," I bit out. "She didn't earn anything. Someone else did the work for her."

"And you've been lying to everyone, pretending to be some poor, helpless girl," another spat.

The accusation stung, but I refused to back down.