Chapter 84

The morning sun cast golden rays through the curtains, stirring Lillian from her restless sleep. She rubbed her eyes, the events of last night replaying in her mind like a haunting melody. Donovan’s betrayal still stung, but what unsettled her more was the way Sebastian Blackwood had looked at her—like she was something precious, something worth protecting.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Lillian?" Beatrice’s voice was muffled through the wood. "Are you awake? You have class in an hour."

Lillian groaned, dragging herself out of bed. "Yeah, I’m up."

She pulled on a sweater and jeans, her movements sluggish. The weight of her wolf’s emotions pressed against her chest, a constant reminder of the bond she had lost—and the one that might be forming.

When she opened the door, Beatrice stood there, arms crossed, her expression a mix of concern and exasperation. "You look like you got into a fight with a pillow and lost."

Lillian rolled her eyes. "Thanks, that’s exactly what I needed to hear."

Beatrice smirked, tossing her a granola bar. "Eat. You’ll need the energy."

As they walked to campus, the crisp autumn air carried the scent of fallen leaves and distant bonfires. Lillian’s wolf stirred, restless. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Then she saw him.

Sebastian stood near the entrance of the humanities building, his dark coat billowing slightly in the breeze. His gaze locked onto hers, intense and unreadable.

Beatrice nudged her. "Looks like someone’s waiting for you."

Lillian swallowed hard. "I don’t have time for this."

But before she could turn away, Sebastian closed the distance between them in a few long strides. "Lillian," he said, his voice low. "We need to talk."

Her pulse quickened. "About what?"

His jaw tightened. "About last night. About Donovan."

Lillian crossed her arms. "There’s nothing to talk about. He made his choice."

Sebastian’s eyes darkened. "He’s dangerous. And he won’t stop until he gets what he wants."

A shiver ran down her spine. "And what does he want?"

Sebastian leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "You."

The word sent a jolt through her. Before she could respond, Beatrice grabbed her arm. "Class. Now."

Lillian let herself be pulled away, but she could feel Sebastian’s gaze burning into her back.

Something was coming.

And she wasn’t sure she was ready.

"This was a perfect evening, Nathaniel," I murmured as we approached my front door. The golden glow from the porch light spilled onto the pathway, guiding our steps from the car to the entrance. Above us, thick clouds swallowed the moon, and the scent of impending rain hung heavy in the air.

When we reached the door, I hesitated before turning to face him. It felt strange having someone walk me home—Donovan never bothered. He'd kiss me in the car and drive off the moment my feet touched the pavement. And Sebastian? He'd wait until I was safely inside before leaving, though that didn't mean anything. He was just my employer. Nothing more.

A flush crept up my cheeks at the thought of Sebastian escorting me to the door. Would he kiss me if he did? Why was I even imagining this while standing here with another man? I shouldn't be entertaining such thoughts about Sebastian at all, especially not now.

Shaking my head, I forced the idea away and met Nathaniel's warm gaze.

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," he said, his fingers lightly brushing mine. "I had a wonderful time too. You've made my first night here unforgettable."

I smiled at the compliment, biting my lower lip.

"That's sweet of you to say," I replied.

"Can I see you again tomorrow?" he asked, hopeful.

I mentally ran through my schedule—morning lectures, then tutoring Oliver in the evening.

"I have tutoring tomorrow night," I admitted.

"We could go after," he suggested, his smile brightening. "There's an outdoor light gallery I've been wanting to visit. Would you come with me?"

I hesitated. "At night?"

He nodded. "It's an illuminated exhibit. I thought it might be something you'd enjoy."

Beatrice would kill me if I turned him down. So, I nodded.

"Alright," I agreed. "That sounds lovely."

His grin deepened, revealing charming dimples—just like his uncle's, though Sebastian's features were far more rugged.

I needed to stop this. Comparing Nathaniel to Sebastian was ridiculous. Nathaniel was his own person, and I was on a date with him.

Before Lillian could react, Nathaniel was leaning in, his lips hovering dangerously close to hers.

Holy hell! He was going to kiss her! Did she want this? The thought had never crossed her mind until this exact moment. Was she attracted enough to Nathaniel for this? Was she prepared to take this step? Her heart answered before her mind could - she wasn't ready to kiss anyone else yet. At the last possible second, she turned her face away. His lips grazed her cheek instead, soft as butterfly wings.

Nathaniel frowned when he realized his mistake, but to his credit, he didn't complain or make a scene. Instead, he offered her a small, understanding smile and gave a slight bow.

"Until tomorrow," he murmured.

Lillian nodded mutely, watching as he retreated to the waiting car. Only when she heard the engine start did she exhale sharply and turn toward the house. Just like Sebastian would have done, Nathaniel waited until she was safely inside before driving away. These Blackwood men would be the death of her yet.

Third Person POV

"I've uncovered the information you requested, sir," Dominic said from the driver's seat as they both watched Lillian disappear into the house.

"What did you find?" Nathaniel asked, though part of him dreaded the answer. Still, if he wanted to truly understand Lillian and protect her properly, he needed all the facts.

"Lillian and Donovan Winslow are fated mates," Dominic revealed, making Nathaniel's stomach drop. "They grew up together in the same pack but only discovered their bond when she turned eighteen. They were together for two years before..."

"Before what?" Nathaniel pressed, his knuckles whitening on the armrest. It was nearly unheard of for fated mates to separate - wolves didn't abandon their mates unless something catastrophic occurred... or death intervened.

Dominic hesitated before delivering the final blow. "Before Donovan betrayed her with another woman on their supposed mating anniversary."

Nathaniel's jaw clenched. Now he understood the shadows in Lillian's eyes - and why she'd turned away from his kiss. The wounds of betrayal ran deep indeed.