Chapter 82

The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air as Lillian trudged through the dense forest, her boots sinking slightly into the soft ground. The full moon cast an eerie glow over the trees, illuminating the path ahead. She could feel the weight of Donovan’s betrayal pressing against her chest, a constant reminder of the life she had left behind.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, startling her. Pulling it out, she saw Beatrice’s name flashing on the screen.

"Where are you? You were supposed to meet us an hour ago!"

Lillian sighed, rubbing her temple. She had completely forgotten about their plans.

"Sorry, got caught up in something. I’ll be there soon."

She shoved the phone back into her pocket and quickened her pace. The last thing she needed was Beatrice worrying about her.

As she neared the edge of the forest, the distant hum of chatter and laughter reached her ears. The pack’s annual bonfire was already in full swing, the flickering flames casting long shadows across the clearing.

Sebastian stood near the fire, his broad frame silhouetted against the orange glow. His piercing gaze locked onto hers the moment she stepped into the clearing, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"You’re late," he murmured as she approached, his voice low and rough.

Lillian crossed her arms. "I had things to do."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Running away again?"

She glared at him. "I don’t run."

Before he could respond, Oliver barreled into her legs, nearly knocking her off balance. "Lillian! You’re here!"

She ruffled his hair, forcing a smile. "Of course I am. Wouldn’t miss it."

Sebastian’s expression softened slightly as he watched them, but the moment was shattered when Victoria stepped forward, her arm looped possessively through Donovan’s.

"Lillian," she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "So glad you could join us."

Lillian’s jaw tightened, but she refused to let them see her falter. "Wouldn’t dream of missing it."

Donovan’s gaze flickered with something unreadable, but he remained silent.

Beatrice appeared at her side, looping an arm through hers. "Come on, let’s get some food before it’s all gone."

As Beatrice dragged her away, Lillian couldn’t shake the feeling of Sebastian’s eyes burning into her back.

Something had shifted between them, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for what came next.

"Lillian?" Victoria's voice sliced through my thoughts just as we passed their table.

I forced a polite smile in her direction, deliberately avoiding Donovan's piercing gaze. "Hello, Victoria," I replied, keeping my tone light.

"It is you," she said, her voice laced with something between surprise and tension. "I didn’t expect to see you here. This doesn’t seem like your usual scene."

Nathaniel’s arm slid around my shoulders, and as if noticing him for the first time, Victoria’s demeanor instantly brightened. "Nate! Are you two on a date?" she asked, her eyes flickering between us.

He flashed her a roguish grin. "We are," he confirmed without hesitation.

My cheeks burned at his boldness. What if Victoria told Sebastian about this? The thought sent a nervous flutter through my stomach. Victoria turned to me, her smile now genuine but edged with something unreadable.

"You’re a lucky girl," she said, tilting her head. "My cousin is notoriously selective when it comes to women. You must be very special—especially to defy Uncle’s wishes."

I let out an awkward laugh. "I wouldn’t go that far—"

Nathaniel cut in smoothly. "I would." His voice was low, teasing, and it only made me blush harder. "Now, if you’ll excuse us, Vicky, our table’s waiting."

"Of course," Victoria said, waving us off with a playful roll of her eyes.

Just before turning away, I risked a glance at Donovan. His eyes were dark, simmering with something dangerous—anger, jealousy, maybe both. A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickly looked away, following Nathaniel and the hostess to our table.

We were seated far enough from Victoria and Donovan to have privacy, but close enough that I could still see them clearly. The waitress handed us menus, her gaze lingering on Nathaniel a beat too long.

"Your server will be right with you," she murmured, her voice sugary sweet. When Nathaniel glanced up and gave her a polite nod, she actually winked at him before sauntering away, hips swaying.

I pressed my lips together. I wasn’t jealous—not really. But the blatant disrespect grated on me.

"Order anything you want," Nathaniel said, pulling my attention back. "Don’t worry about the cost."

I nodded absently as I scanned the menu, realizing why he’d mentioned money—everything was exorbitantly priced. Moments later, our waitress appeared, and just like the hostess, she only had eyes for Nathaniel.

The way she leaned in just a little too close, the way her fingers brushed his shoulder as she took his order—it was all too obvious.

Nathaniel, to his credit, remained perfectly polite but distant. Still, the whole exchange left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I wasn’t sure what unsettled me more—Donovan’s glare, Victoria’s knowing smile, or the way every woman in this restaurant seemed drawn to Nathaniel like moths to a flame.

But one thing was certain—this dinner was going to be far more complicated than I’d anticipated.

"Hello, Mr. Blackwood," she purred, fluttering her thick lashes at him. "It's such a privilege to serve you tonight." Her fingers trailed along his shoulder, lingering far longer than necessary. "You're even more striking in person. I've followed your work for years."

Sebastian arched a brow but didn’t shake her off—which irked me more than it should have. The blatant disrespect, the way she dismissed my presence entirely, and his passive acceptance of it all made my jaw tighten.

"I appreciate the compliment," he said smoothly, flashing her a charming grin. "Bring us your finest bottle of wine. And what’s tonight’s special?"

"Our signature dish is Ora King salmon served over green tea soba noodles—absolutely divine. The soup of the day is Mushroom Agnolotti with sweet potatoes and Kohlrabi."

"Perfect. We’ll take both," he replied before glancing at me. "And for my date..."

The waitress finally acknowledged me, her lips curling into a barely concealed sneer. As if she hadn’t noticed me until now. I swallowed hard, forcing my attention back to the menu before making my choice.

"I’ll have the soft-shell crab tempura ravioli," I told her coolly.

She scribbled down my order before letting her fingers drift up the back of Nathaniel’s neck. "I’ll be right back with your drinks, handsome," she cooed, winking before sauntering away.

I glared at her retreating figure before turning to Nathaniel. "Does that happen often?"

He frowned. "What?"

"Women draping themselves over you like you’re their personal armrest."

His expression darkened. "I’ve learned to tune it out. Was she that obvious?"

"Her hands were practically glued to you," I muttered under my breath.

He sighed. "Honestly, I don’t even notice anymore. Did it upset you?"

"A little," I admitted, staring at the empty plate in front of me. "It felt disrespectful."

Before I could say more, his hand closed over mine, warm and steady. When I met his gaze, the sincerity in his eyes was undeniable.

"I’m sorry, Lillian. I never meant to make you feel that way. Especially not tonight." His thumb brushed over my knuckles. "When she comes back, tell her to keep her hands to herself. I don’t want you uncomfortable because of me."

The raw honesty in his voice softened the tension in my shoulders. He genuinely hadn’t noticed—either the waitress’s advances or the hostess’s earlier disdain.

"You’re a handsome man, Nathaniel. Women will flirt. I can’t blame them for that." I exhaled. "But the way they looked at me... like I didn’t belong here..."

He nodded, squeezing my hand. "You belong wherever you want to be. And tonight, you’re with me."

"I get where you're coming from, and I’ll make sure they know you’re with me—that means treating you with respect," Sebastian assured me, his voice firm yet gentle.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I shook my head quickly. "You don’t have to make a big deal out of it," I murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Just… thank you for hearing me out."

His thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles, sending a warm shiver up my arm. "I’ll always listen to you, Lillian," he said, his golden eyes softening. "And if something bothers you, I’ll do everything I can to fix it. That’s a promise."

The sincerity in his voice made my pulse skip. He wasn’t just saying it—he meant it.

"That’s the kind of man I am," he added with a small, confident smile, as if daring me to argue.

I didn’t. Because for the first time in a long while, I actually believed him.