Chapter 7

The morning sun cast golden streaks across the lavish bedroom as Lillian stirred beneath the silk sheets. Her body ached from the previous night’s events—Donovan’s betrayal, the humiliating rejection, and the way Evelyn had smirked at her like she’d already won.

Lillian clenched her fists.

She wouldn’t let them break her.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Miss Lillian?" Harper’s gentle voice called from the other side. "Mr. Blackwood has requested your presence in the study."

Lillian exhaled sharply. Sebastian Blackwood—the enigmatic Lycan chairman who had swooped in like some dark knight when she’d been at her lowest. She still didn’t understand why he’d intervened, why he’d brought her to his estate instead of letting her drown in her misery.

"Tell him I’ll be there in ten minutes," she replied, forcing her voice steady.

She dragged herself out of bed, wincing as her muscles protested. The full-length mirror in the corner reflected her disheveled state—tangled hair, shadows beneath her eyes, the faint bruises on her wrists from Donovan’s grip.

Pathetic.

She turned away, refusing to let the sight weaken her further.

After a quick shower, she dressed in the clothes Harper had left for her—a simple but elegant blouse and tailored slacks. No frills, no fuss. Just like Sebastian himself.

The Blackwood estate was a maze of opulence, all dark wood and gilded accents. Lillian followed the scent of coffee and the low murmur of voices to the study.

Sebastian stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the morning light. He turned as she entered, his piercing gaze sweeping over her in one swift assessment.

"You look better," he remarked.

Lillian arched a brow. "High praise."

A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips before he gestured to the chair across from his desk. "Sit."

She did, though every instinct screamed at her to remain standing, to keep her guard up.

Sebastian leaned against his desk, arms crossed. "I have a proposition for you."

Lillian’s pulse spiked. "What kind of proposition?"

"One that benefits us both." His voice was smooth, calculated. "You need protection. I need leverage against Donovan."

Her stomach twisted. "You want to use me."

"I want to help you," he corrected. "But yes, your connection to Donovan makes you valuable."

Lillian swallowed hard. She hated the idea of being anyone’s pawn—but what choice did she have? Alone, she was vulnerable. With Sebastian, she at least had a fighting chance.

"What exactly are you proposing?" she asked.

Sebastian’s eyes gleamed. "A temporary alliance. You stay under my protection, and in return, you help me expose Donovan’s dealings with the Winslow family."

Lillian’s breath caught. The Winslows—Donovan’s powerful, ruthless relatives. If they were involved, this went deeper than she’d realized.

She met Sebastian’s gaze. "And if I refuse?"

His expression darkened. "Then you walk out that door and face whatever comes next alone."

The unspoken threat hung between them.

Lillian clenched her jaw. She wasn’t naive enough to think Sebastian was doing this out of kindness. But right now, he was her best option.

"Fine," she said. "I’m in."

Sebastian’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Good." He pushed off the desk and strode toward the door. "We leave for the city in an hour. Be ready."

As he disappeared into the hallway, Lillian exhaled shakily.

She’d just made a deal with the devil.

And she had no idea what it would cost her.

Just as my fingers hovered over Beatrice's contact, my screen lit up with an incoming message. My stomach twisted when Donovan's name flashed at the top. A heavy sigh escaped me as I read his venomous words.

Donovan: How dare you leave with another man? You truly are a disgrace!

My breath hitched as I opened the full message.

Donovan: You’d open your legs for anyone with money. Was I just another paycheck to you all along?

Donovan: Maybe if I paid you enough, you’d finally remember who your real mate is. Two years wasted on a whore like you.

I recoiled as if struck. Two years wasted? My wolf whimpered inside me, the pain of our mate’s cruelty slicing deep. Tears blurred my vision, spilling over as I sank onto the edge of my bed.

Then, another notification.

Donovan: He’ll never care about you! Sebastian Blackwood hasn’t had a real relationship in decades. You’re nothing but a desperate distraction. When you crawl back, I’ll be waiting. Your father could walk free tomorrow if you stop playing games.

I bit my lip hard, tasting copper as tears streaked down my face. My grip on the phone tightened—I was seconds from hurling it across the room—when a new message chimed. Relief flooded me when I saw it wasn’t from Donovan.

Beatrice: Are you okay? You left so suddenly.

I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand before typing.

Me: Sorry, I can’t do this job anymore. It’s too much. I feel disgusting. Please don’t hate me.

Beatrice: I could never hate you. Honestly, I knew today would be your last shift. You’re too good for that place. Did Donovan take you home?

Me: No. Someone else gave me a ride.

I hesitated, unsure if I should admit it was Sebastian. Before I could decide, Beatrice replied.

Beatrice: Who? Wait—tell me later. We just got slammed.

I exhaled shakily and typed back.

Me: Okay. Talk soon.

Tossing my phone onto the bed, I collapsed against the pillows. Sleep wouldn’t come tonight—not with my mind racing like this.

Third Person POV

Donovan stood frozen, staring at the spot where the sleek black car had disappeared. Sebastian Blackwood. The Lycan chairman. The man Donovan had spent years trying to impress. And his mate had just climbed into that car without a second glance.

"Did that really just happen?" His friend gaped beside him, equally stunned.

None of them had believed Lillian would actually go through with it—running off with the man whose daughter Donovan was supposed to marry. But the proof was undeniable. She’d chosen Sebastian.

And Donovan’s pride wouldn’t let that stand.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Lillian was supposed to accept Donovan’s offer—that had been the entire point of his carefully crafted scheme. When he married Victoria, he knew he’d lose Lillian forever. The only way to keep her close was to exploit the one thing she couldn’t ignore—her family.

Bankrupting her father’s company had been laughably easy. The Winslow name carried weight, and now that Donovan was the leading candidate for Alpha of the Redmoon pack, his influence stretched even further. He’d expected Lillian to crumble, to beg for his help. But she was stubborn.

When Donovan discovered Lillian worked at the restaurant, he’d brought his packmates along to intimidate her into quitting. Yet again, his plan had failed.

Frustration simmered beneath his skin as he pulled out his phone and dialed.

"Shut down every job opportunity Lillian Montague has applied for," he commanded, his voice sharp. "I don’t care how impressive her applications are—she doesn’t get hired. Anywhere."

The man on the other end hesitated. "Sir, Miss Montague has several high-profile applications pending. Her qualifications are impeccable—"

"Are you questioning me?" Donovan’s voice dropped dangerously. "If you don’t comply, I’ll withdraw my family’s investments from your firm and ensure you never work in this city again."

A tense silence stretched before the man finally relented. "Understood, Alpha."

The call ended, and Donovan’s lips curled into a slow, predatory smile. Soon enough, desperation would drive Lillian straight into his arms. She’d have no choice but to crawl back to him, pleading to be his mistress.

Meanwhile, Marcus Grayson glanced into the rearview mirror as he drove away from Lillian’s house. Sebastian Blackwood sat in the backseat, his jaw clenched, his stormy gaze fixed on the passing scenery. He hadn’t spoken a word since dropping Lillian off.

But Marcus had seen the way Sebastian’s entire body had tensed when they spotted Lillian arguing with Donovan outside the restaurant. The Lycan Alpha had ordered him to stop the car immediately—an unusual reaction for someone who claimed indifference.

Marcus smirked. "Why don’t you just pursue her?"

Sebastian’s head snapped toward him, his brows furrowing. "What?"

"I’ve seen the way you look at her," Marcus pressed, keeping his eyes on the road. "You’re more interested in her than you’ve ever been with anyone else. So why hold back?"

Sebastian’s silence was answer enough.