Chapter 76

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Sebastian Blackwood's penthouse, painting the marble floors in warm hues. Lillian stretched beneath the silk sheets, her body still humming from last night's passionate encounter with the Lycan chairman.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. "Miss Lillian? Breakfast is ready," called Sophia Delacroix, the head maid.

"Thank you, Sophia. I'll be right down," Lillian replied, her voice still thick with sleep. She reached for her phone, only to find fifteen missed calls from Beatrice.

Her heart skipped a beat. Beatrice never called this early unless it was urgent.

Lillian dialed back immediately. "Bea? What's wrong?"

"Lil! Thank the Moon Goddess you picked up!" Beatrice's voice was frantic. "It's Donovan—he's been spotted near campus with Evelyn. They're causing a scene at the coffee shop, telling everyone you're a gold-digging whore who seduced Sebastian for his money!"

Lillian's blood ran cold. The audacity of that man! After everything he'd done—cheating on her, rejecting their bond, publicly humiliating her—now he dared to slander her reputation?

She threw off the covers, her werewolf instincts roaring to life. "I'm on my way."

Downstairs, Sebastian was already dressed in his usual tailored suit, sipping espresso while reading the financial news. He looked up as Lillian stormed into the dining room, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Donovan's at my college," she growled. "Spreading lies about us."

Sebastian's grip tightened around his cup, the delicate porcelain cracking under the pressure. "Marcus!" he barked.

His beta, Marcus Grayson, appeared instantly. "Alpha?"

"Get the car ready. We're going to campus."

Lillian shook her head. "No, Sebastian. This is my fight. I need to handle Donovan myself."

Sebastian's golden eyes darkened. "Like hell you will. That bastard's been a thorn in our side for too long." He stood, towering over her. "You're my mate now. No one insults you and walks away unscathed."

The possessive edge in his voice sent shivers down her spine. Still, she lifted her chin. "Then let me confront him first. If things escalate, you can step in."

After a tense silence, Sebastian nodded. "Fine. But I'm coming with you—discreetly."

Twenty minutes later, Lillian pushed through the crowd gathered outside Moonbean Café. Donovan stood on a table, his arm draped around Evelyn's shoulders as he spewed venomous lies.

"—abandoned her true mate for a richer Alpha! That's the kind of woman Lillian Whitaker is!"

The crowd gasped as Lillian stepped forward. "Funny," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I seem to recall you breaking our bond first when you fucked Evelyn behind my back."

Donovan's smirk faltered. "L-Lillian! I was just—"

"Just what? Trying to salvage your nonexistent reputation?" She climbed onto an adjacent table, meeting him at eye level. "Let me set the record straight for everyone."

She turned to the gathered students. "Donovan Winslow rejected me after two years together because his family wanted a 'better match.'" She gestured to Evelyn. "Enter Evelyn Fontaine, daughter of some minor European Alpha. But when Donovan realized Sebastian Blackwood—yes, the Sebastian Blackwood—wanted me as his mate, suddenly he developed regrets."

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Evelyn's face turned crimson. "That's not true!"

"Isn't it?" Lillian arched a brow. "Tell me, Evelyn, does Donovan still wake up screaming my name at night? Because the mate bond doesn't just disappear—no matter how many times he claims it does."

Donovan lunged at her—only to be intercepted by a wall of muscle as Sebastian materialized from the crowd, his canines elongated. "Touch her," he growled, "and I'll rip your throat out."

The crowd erupted into chaos. Someone screamed. Phones were raised to record the confrontation.

Then—a new voice cut through the noise.

"Enough!"

Everyone turned to see Headmaster Wellington striding forward, his expression thunderous. "Mr. Winslow, Miss Fontaine—my office. Now." He glared at Sebastian. "Alpha Blackwood, while I respect your position, this is a school matter."

Sebastian's jaw clenched, but he nodded. As Donovan and Evelyn were led away, Lillian exhaled shakily.

Sebastian pulled her close, whispering in her ear, "This isn't over."

And she knew—with bone-deep certainty—that Donovan had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

I wasn’t blind. The man lounging in the parlor with Victoria and Donovan was undeniably striking. There was something oddly familiar about him too. The way his gaze locked onto me—as if I were the only person in the world—sent heat rushing to my cheeks.

I blinked rapidly, offering him a hesitant smile before slipping out of the room and rejoining Evelyn outside. She was hurling daggers at the training dummies, her form noticeably sharper than before. When I approached, she paused, accepting the water bottle I handed her.

"Do you know if Victoria was expecting visitors today?" I asked, settling onto the grass beside her.

She glanced toward the villa, her brow furrowing in thought before recognition lit her eyes.

"My cousin Nathaniel is visiting for the month," Oliver answered. "I’ve only met him once, but I think he was supposed to arrive today."

I frowned, turning the name over in my mind—then it clicked.

"Nathaniel Whitlock? The French journalist?" My eyebrows shot up.

Of course, I knew of Nathaniel Whitlock. But I’d assumed his last name being the same as Sebastian’s was just a coincidence. I never imagined he was actually related to Sebastian Blackwood and his family. Yet Oliver nodded, peering at me curiously.

"Yes," she said. "You’ve heard of him?"

"Obviously. His work is incredible," I admitted, shaking my head in disbelief. "I can’t believe you’re related to him."

"His last name is Whitlock," Oliver pointed out with a smirk.

"Yeah, but I thought it was just a coincidence," I confessed. "What’s he doing here?"

Oliver opened her mouth to respond, but a smooth, accented voice cut in from behind me, freezing me in place.

"I’m hunting for my next big story. Got any leads for me, Miss Dumont?"

I spun around to face Nathaniel as he strolled toward us, sunlight haloing his frame like some celestial being. He was undeniably handsome—though not quite as devastating as Sebastian. Still, the family resemblance was unmistakable.

I blinked hard, scrambling to regain my composure.

"Mr. Whitlock, it’s an honor," I said, extending my hand.

He studied my outstretched palm for a heartbeat before quirking a smirk. Instead of shaking it, he lifted my fingers to his lips, pressing a featherlight kiss to my knuckles.

"No formalities, please. Call me Nathaniel."

"Then you can call me Lillian," I countered.

"Lillian..." Nathaniel murmured, my name rolling off his tongue like a sweet melody. "What a beautiful name."

"How long are you staying in town, Nathaniel?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual despite the way his gaze lingered on me.

"Only a month," he replied with a lazy smile. "Unless I find a compelling reason to extend my visit."

The unspoken suggestion in his words sent a shiver down my spine, and I swallowed hard. His eyes never left mine, dark and knowing.

"Oh, Lillian! I see you've met my cousin," Victoria chimed in, striding toward us with Donovan trailing behind her. Donovan's expression was thunderous as he glared at Nathaniel, and I couldn't help but wonder what his problem was.

"Yes," I said, straightening my shoulders. "He's quite charming."

Victoria laughed, looping her arm through Nathaniel's. "That's my cousin for you. We were inseparable growing up. I'm thrilled he's here—it's his first time in our country, and I was just about to show him around the pack. Want to join us?"

"I can't," I said, gesturing toward Oliver, who was back to hurling daggers at training dummies with impressive precision. "I still have work to do with Oliver."

Victoria pouted, disappointment clear on her face.

"Then we should probably get going," Donovan cut in, gripping Victoria's arm possessively. "We have places to be. Don't we, Nathaniel?"

Nathaniel's gaze remained locked on mine, a slow smirk curling his lips.

"Actually," he said smoothly, "I think I'll stay a little longer. Maybe I can be of some assistance to Lillian here."

I arched a brow. "You think you can help me?" I scoffed. "I don’t recall needing a journalist on the training field. But thanks." I turned to leave, but Victoria's voice stopped me.

"Actually, Nate has extensive warrior training," she explained. "He's set to become the next Alpha of the Black Moon pack in France once his father steps down. When he's not running his media empire, he's training with warriors, learning everything he needs to know about leadership."

Nathaniel's smirk deepened at her words, and I studied him with newfound interest.

"Is that so?" I challenged.

His eyes gleamed with mischief. "Would you like a demonstration?"

The air between us crackled with tension, and for the first time, I wondered if this charming, dangerous man might be more than he seemed.