Chapter 62

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood's penthouse suite. Lillian stretched lazily beneath the silk sheets, her body still humming from last night's passionate encounter with the Lycan chairman. A contented sigh escaped her lips as she recalled how his strong hands had traced every curve of her body, igniting flames she never knew existed.

Her phone buzzed violently on the nightstand, shattering the peaceful moment. Beatrice's name flashed across the screen with an urgency that made Lillian's stomach clench. She swiped to answer just as Sebastian emerged from the ensuite bathroom, a towel slung low around his hips, water droplets glistening on his sculpted torso.

"Lil! You need to get back to campus right now!" Beatrice's voice was shrill with panic. "Cassandra just posted screenshots of your medical records in the university group chat! Everyone knows about your... condition."

Lillian's blood ran cold. Her fingers tightened around the phone as Sebastian's predatory gaze locked onto her. "What condition?" His voice was deceptively calm, the kind of calm that preceded a storm.

The air thickened with tension as Lillian struggled to form words. This wasn't how she'd planned to tell him. Not like this. Not when she hadn't fully processed the news herself.

Sebastian crossed the room in three strides, plucking the phone from her trembling hands. "Beatrice," he growled into the receiver, "explain. Now."

Lillian watched helplessly as realization dawned on Sebastian's face. His golden eyes darkened to molten amber, the towel around his hips straining against the sudden tension in his body. When he finally spoke, his voice was rough with barely contained fury. "You're carrying my child."

It wasn't a question.

Downstairs in the hotel lobby, Donovan Winslow adjusted his tie in the reflective surface of an elevator door. The notification from the university chat group had been... enlightening. His lips curled into a cruel smile as he watched Evelyn approach, her designer heels clicking against the marble floor.

"Did you see the news?" Evelyn purred, sliding her manicured fingers up his arm. "Our little stray mutt is pregnant. How... unfortunate."

Donovan's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Unfortunate?" He chuckled darkly. "This changes everything." His phone vibrated with an incoming call from Victoria Blackwood - Sebastian's daughter and his supposed fiancée. He silenced it without a second thought.

Evelyn's eyes gleamed with malicious understanding. "You're going to use this against them."

"Not just them," Donovan corrected, pulling her closer. His breath was hot against her ear as he whispered his plan, each word dripping with venomous intent. "Against everyone."

Back in the penthouse, Lillian stood frozen as Sebastian barked orders into his phone. "Marcus, I want Cassandra in my office within the hour. And get Theodore to pull every security feed from that hospital." He ended the call and turned his burning gaze back to Lillian.

"You should have told me," he said, his voice dangerously quiet.

Lillian lifted her chin, defiance sparking in her eyes despite the fear coiling in her stomach. "I just found out yesterday! I was going to tell you when—"

"When what?" Sebastian closed the distance between them, his large hands framing her face. "When you'd figured out how I'd react? When you'd decided whether to keep it?" The raw pain in his voice surprised them both.

Before Lillian could respond, the suite's door burst open. Oliver stood in the doorway, his small face pale, tablet clutched in shaking hands. "Dad... the news... they're saying awful things about Lillian!"

Sebastian snatched the tablet, his expression growing darker with each word scrolling across the screen. "Lycan Chairman Impregnates College Student" screamed the headline, accompanied by doctored photos of Lillian at parties and unflattering angles of her mid-shift at the campus coffee shop.

The tablet shattered against the wall as Sebastian's control snapped. His transformation was instantaneous - muscles rippling, claws extending. The alpha's roar shook the foundations of the building as he turned to Lillian, his beast barely restrained.

"Get dressed," he commanded, his voice guttural. "We're ending this. Today."

As Lillian hurried to comply, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirrored closet doors. The girl staring back at her wasn't the scared college student from months ago. This version had fire in her eyes and a protective hand resting instinctively over her still-flat stomach.

War was coming. And for the first time, Lillian was ready to fight.

"Oh, hey Lillian," Victoria said as she recovered from Donovan's hold. Her cheeks were flushed pink, that infuriating smile never leaving her lips. She ran her fingers through her hair, giving a sheepish look before stepping into the parlor.

Oliver lifted his gaze from his homework to glance at his sister.

"How's everything going in here?" she asked, settling onto the loveseat across the room. Donovan sat beside her, their fingers entwined. They were disgustingly close, whispering sweet nothings like they were the only two people in the world. I gritted my teeth, wondering if she had any idea he'd been at my place last night while she was frantically calling him.

"Great, just finishing up algebra," I answered, forcing my attention back to Oliver. I tried to ignore the way Donovan's lips brushed Victoria's ear, making her giggle like a lovesick fool.

Annoyance prickled down my spine. I could feel Donovan's gaze flickering toward me, but I straightened my posture and focused on the equations in front of me.

"I brought some pastries," one of the maids announced, entering the parlor. She set a tray of scones and sugar cookies on the coffee table.

"Thank you, Sophia," Victoria said sweetly.

The maid nodded and slipped out. Donovan stood, sauntering over to inspect the treats. The scent of warm sugar and butter filled the air, but my appetite had long since vanished. He picked up a few cookies and returned to Victoria, draping an arm around her possessively.

I watched, stomach churning, as he brought a cookie to her lips. She took a delicate bite, her eyes fluttering shut like this was some grand romantic gesture.

"Gag," Oliver muttered, rolling his eyes. "Do you have to do that here?"

Victoria shot him a glare as Donovan wiped a crumb from her lip—then licked it off his finger, his gaze locking onto mine. A challenge.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. He was doing this on purpose, trying to get a reaction. Well, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

"You don’t have to watch," Victoria snapped.

She snuggled deeper into Donovan’s side, and he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

Not for the first time, I wondered if Donovan had been the one to expose my dyslexia to my father. At this point, I wouldn’t put it past him. He’d do anything to push me out of college, out of his way. The thought twisted my stomach into knots.

I turned away, burying myself in Oliver’s work. For the next hour, we worked in silence while Victoria and Donovan continued their sickening display. Did they really have nothing better to do?

By the time we finished, exhaustion weighed on me—both from the mental strain and the sheer irritation of enduring their performance.

"Do you want to stay for dinner again?" Oliver asked as he neatly stacked his completed assignments.

"I should head home," I replied, rising from the couch. "But I'll see you tomorrow." Oliver's lips formed a small pout, but for once, he didn't protest.

Victoria stood as well, tugging Donovan along with her. "I'm going to check what's for dinner and lend a hand in the kitchen," she announced, fluttering her long lashes at him. "Care to join me?"

For a heartbeat, I thought he might actually agree—might follow her into the kitchen like an obedient puppy. Instead, Donovan merely offered her a tender smile before pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I'll meet you there. I need to make a quick call first."

Her frown was fleeting, replaced by a playful nip at his lower lip before she turned to me with a breathy laugh. "My man is always working," she sighed, as if it were some grand virtue. "It was lovely seeing you, Lillian." With that, she sauntered toward the kitchen, Oliver trailing behind her like a loyal shadow.

"I'll come with you," he offered.

Victoria nodded, and the two disappeared down the hall. I snatched my bag off the coffee table, hyperaware of Donovan's gaze burning into my every movement. I refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging it—refused to let him see how his presence still unsettled me.

Shouldering my bag, I turned toward the door—only for his hand to shoot out and seize my wrist, jerking me to a halt.

I spun around, fury igniting in my veins as our eyes locked.