Chapter 86

The crisp morning air carried the scent of pine as Lillian stepped onto the balcony of Sebastian Blackwood’s estate. The sun had barely risen, casting golden streaks across the sprawling gardens below. She tightened the silk robe around her, the fabric cool against her skin.

Last night’s argument with Donovan still weighed heavily on her mind. His betrayal had cut deeper than she cared to admit. The way he had looked at Evelyn—his new mate—with such devotion made Lillian’s stomach twist.

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, turning to see Beatrice poking her head in.

"Morning, sunshine," Beatrice chirped, balancing a tray of coffee and pastries. "You look like you didn’t sleep a wink."

Lillian sighed, accepting the steaming cup. "Couldn’t."

Beatrice flopped onto the plush armchair, nibbling on a croissant. "Still thinking about him?"

Lillian’s grip tightened around the cup. "I just don’t understand how he could move on so quickly. It’s like I meant nothing."

Beatrice rolled her eyes. "Please. Donovan was never worthy of you. And now he’s stuck with Evelyn, who, let’s be honest, is about as exciting as watching paint dry."

Despite herself, Lillian chuckled. "You’re terrible."

"Terribly right," Beatrice corrected with a smirk.

A knock at the door interrupted them again. This time, Sebastian stood in the doorway, his broad frame filling the space. His dark eyes flicked to Lillian, and for a moment, something unreadable passed between them.

"Good morning," he said, his voice smooth as velvet. "I hope I’m not interrupting."

Beatrice waggled her eyebrows suggestively before standing. "Nope! Just leaving. You two have fun." She winked at Lillian before slipping past Sebastian.

Lillian groaned inwardly. Great.

Sebastian stepped inside, his presence commanding as always. "I wanted to check on you," he said. "After last night…"

She looked away. "I’m fine."

He moved closer, his scent—rich and woodsy—wrapping around her. "You don’t have to lie to me, Lillian."

Her heart stuttered. There was something about the way he said her name—like it was precious.

Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening.

"We have a problem," he murmured.

Lillian frowned. "What is it?"

Sebastian met her gaze, his jaw tight. "Donovan just challenged me to a duel."

Her breath caught. No.

"For what?" she demanded.

His lips thinned. "For you."

The words hung between them, heavy and dangerous.

Lillian’s pulse roared in her ears. This wasn’t just about pride—this was war.

And she was the prize.

"Alpha, there's something you should know," Marcus murmured from the front seat as the car sped toward the estate. The day had been grueling, and the last thing I needed was another problem. My temper still simmered from yesterday—catching Nathaniel with Lillian in broad daylight had left me seething. I hadn’t spoken to either of them since.

I knew my reaction had been excessive. Nathaniel was a good kid—sharp, ambitious, and carrying himself well, just like his father. But the thought of him with Lillian made my gut twist violently. I forced the image away and turned to Marcus, whose gaze remained fixed on the road.

"Out with it," I snapped, my patience already frayed.

"It's about Lillian and Nathaniel," he admitted, hesitating.

Ice flooded my veins.

"What about them?" My voice was dangerously low.

"They were seen together last night. On a date." He swallowed. "At Le Ciel. Witnesses say they were holding hands."

Red clouded my vision. I had explicitly ordered Nathaniel to stay away from her. And Lillian—she knew damn well I could dismiss her in an instant. Was she really this reckless? Or was she banking on Nathaniel’s wealth to settle her father’s debts?

Either way, I wouldn’t tolerate her games.

"Drive faster," I snarled. "Now."

Marcus didn’t argue. He knew better than to test me when I was like this. The engine roared as we tore through the streets, reaching the estate in record time. I didn’t spare him a glance as I stormed inside.

Theodore bowed as I passed, still silent under my command. I barely registered him, striding straight into the parlor—expecting to find Lillian tutoring Oliver.

Instead, I found Nathaniel pinning Donovan against the wall by his collar, fury rolling off him in waves.

"Let go of me," Donovan hissed through clenched teeth.

"Why the hell would you abandon your fated mate for my cousin?" Nathaniel growled, his voice lethally quiet.

"Because I fell in love," Donovan said, struggling against Nathaniel's grip. "I love Victoria."

"Bullshit," Nathaniel spat, his voice laced with venom.

"Believe what you want, but I'm telling the truth," Donovan shot back, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"She was your fated mate!" Nathaniel snarled. "Your wolf would never abandon her so easily."

"You don’t understand," Donovan snapped. "You’ve never had a fated mate. I refused to let the Moon Goddess decide my future. I chose Victoria. I love her, and I’d do anything for her—even walk away from Lillian. She doesn’t know we were mates, and I’d prefer it stayed that way."

"And it will," I cut in, my voice slicing through the tension like a blade.

Both men froze. Nathaniel’s grip slackened, his golden curls falling into his eyes as he swallowed hard. He released Donovan and took a step back, raking a hand through his hair.

"Uncle," he murmured, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I lost control. I just—I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of him."

"I agree," I said, watching as surprise flickered across both their faces. "I don’t want anyone hurt either." My attention locked onto Donovan, my expression hardening.

"If you aren’t completely devoted to my daughter," I said, my voice low and deliberate, "then walk away now. Before it’s too late. I won’t let her marry someone who isn’t all in."

As much as it would devastate Victoria if Donovan left now, it would destroy her far worse if they married and he betrayed her later. She wouldn’t survive that kind of pain.

My daughter’s happiness was everything. I’d move heaven and earth to see her smile.

But if Donovan ever hurt her?

I wouldn’t hesitate to end him.

The scent of pine and damp earth filled Lillian's senses as she stepped onto the forest trail behind Blackwood Manor. Moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting eerie patterns on the moss-covered ground. Her wolf stirred restlessly beneath her skin, sensing something her human mind couldn't yet comprehend.

"Sebastian?" she called softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The Alpha had asked her to meet him here after dinner, but the clearing stood empty except for the rustling leaves.

A twig snapped behind her. Lillian spun around, her claws extending instinctively. The familiar musk of sandalwood and leather washed over her just as Sebastian emerged from the shadows, his golden eyes glowing in the dim light.

"You're getting better at sensing my approach," he murmured, stepping close enough for his warmth to chase away the evening chill. "But your defensive stance still needs work."

Lillian rolled her shoulders, forcing herself to relax. "Maybe if you didn't enjoy sneaking up on me so much, I wouldn't need one."

Sebastian's lips quirked in that infuriating half-smile she'd come to both dread and anticipate. "Come," he said, jerking his chin toward a narrow path. "There's something I want to show you."

They walked in silence for several minutes, the only sounds being their footsteps and the occasional hoot of an owl. Lillian's pulse quickened when Sebastian's hand brushed against hers, sending electric currents up her arm.

The trees suddenly gave way to a hidden glade illuminated by hundreds of tiny bioluminescent mushrooms growing in perfect concentric circles. At the center stood an ancient oak, its gnarled trunk wider than three men standing shoulder to shoulder.

"This is..." Lillian breathed, stepping forward in awe.

"The Heart Tree," Sebastian finished. "It's been in my family for generations. Legend says it grows where the first Blackwood Alpha found his mate."

Lillian reached out to touch the rough bark, but Sebastian caught her wrist. "Wait." His voice held an unfamiliar note of tension. "There's something you should know before we go any further."

The seriousness in his tone made her stomach clench. "What is it?"

Sebastian hesitated, his jaw working. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a chorus of howls erupted in the distance - too close for comfort. His head snapped up, eyes flashing dangerously.

"Stay here," he commanded, already shifting. "Don't move until I return."

Before Lillian could protest, Sebastian's massive black wolf form disappeared into the trees. The howls grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of snapping branches and snarls.

Lillian's wolf clawed at her consciousness, demanding to be set free. She knew she should obey Sebastian's order, but the thought of him facing danger alone made her blood run cold.

Another sound cut through the night - a high-pitched whimper that didn't belong to any adult werewolf. Lillian's heart stopped when she recognized it.

"Oliver!" She took off running toward the sound, her transformation already beginning.

As she burst into a smaller clearing, the scene before her made her blood freeze. Oliver stood trembling between two enormous wolves she didn't recognize, their lips curled back in vicious snarls. Behind them stood a tall figure silhouetted by moonlight - a man with eyes that glowed the same eerie gold as Sebastian's.

"Well, well," the stranger drawled, his voice dripping with malice. "If it isn't the little human pet my brother's become so fond of."

Lillian bared her teeth as her shift completed. She positioned herself between Oliver and the threat, her growl reverberating through the clearing. The stranger merely laughed.

"How touching. The mutt thinks she can protect what belongs to us." He took a step forward, his scent hitting Lillian like a physical blow - similar to Sebastian's, but twisted with something dark and rotten. "Tell me, girl, did my brother mention he had an identical twin?"