Chapter 4: The Betrayal

Lily’s POV

His hands rested on her waist while she pouted down at him, fingers playing lazily with the collar of his shirt.

“I still hate this,” she mutters. “Why does the engagement announcement even have to happen tonight?”

Lionel sighs tiredly. “Scarlett.”

“I’m serious.” She leans closer. “I’m tired of hiding.”

Lionel brushes his hand along her thigh.

“It’s temporary,” he says calmly. “You know that.”

“And Lily?”

Lionel barely hesitates.

“She’s the Alpha’s daughter,” he says simply. “The engagement guarantees my position as the official heir. After I become Alpha, everything changes.”

I stop hearing the rest.

My chest tightens so painfully that I can barely breathe.

The two people I trusted most.

I should walk in there and demand an explanation.

Instead, I stumble backward silently before either of them notices me.

I turn and run.

I don’t even realize I’m crying until I taste salt on my lips.

I don’t know how long I run.

At some point, my vision becomes too blurred to see properly and I nearly trip over the uneven stones lining the path back toward the pack house. By the time I finally reach the mansion again, my tears had slowed enough that I could breathe properly.

The guards at the side entrance don’t even glance at me as I slip back inside quietly. The halls were even busier than before, servants rushing around carrying trays and decorations while laughter echoed faintly from downstairs where guests had already begun arriving.

I somehow make it back to my room unnoticed before locking the door behind me.

The second I look in the mirror, I flinch.

My makeup was ruined.

Mascara smudged beneath my eyes. Lips trembling. Cheeks blotchy from crying.

I looked pathetic. I inhale shakily before grabbing a cloth from the vanity.

By the time I finish fixing my makeup, my hands had finally stopped shaking.

I stare at my reflection for a long moment afterward.

You will not cry over them tonight. I tell myself

I would get through the gala.

And then I would end the engagement myself.

A knock sounds against my door barely ten minutes later.

“Lily?” Lionel’s voice comes from the other side. “It’s time.”

I walk toward the door slowly before opening it.

Lionel stood there dressed entirely in black, looking painfully handsome as usual.

Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t shattered me less than an hour ago.

His gaze moves over me slowly before softening slightly. “You look beautiful.”

The words almost make me laugh.

Instead, I force a small smile.

“Thank you.”

If he notices anything wrong, he doesn’t say it.

He simply offers me his arm like always.

I stare at it for half a second before placing my hand there anyway.

The entire walk downstairs feels unreal.

People smile at us the second we enter the ballroom.

The future Alpha and Luna.

The ballroom itself looked stunning tonight, glowing gold beneath massive chandeliers while music drifted softly through the air. Wolves from all over the territory filled the room dressed in expensive gowns and suits, laughter and conversation blending together around us.

And somewhere across the room, Scarlett stood beside a group of women wearing deep emerald green.

Our eyes meet briefly.

She smiles at me.

Something sharp twists inside my chest, but I look away before she could notice.

Lionel guides me further into the room, resting a hand lightly against my back.

“You nervous?” he asks quietly.

I nearly choke on the irony.

“A little.”

His thumb brushes absentmindedly against my waist. “You’ll be fine.”

Liar.

The music shifts a few minutes later into something slower, softer.

Lionel looks down at me. “Dance with me?”

I nod quietly as he leads me toward the center of the ballroom.

His hand settles at my waist while mine rests against his shoulder automatically, years of familiarity making the movements effortless.

We begin to dance slowly among the other couples.

“You’ve barely spoken tonight,” Lionel murmurs after a moment.

I force myself to meet his eyes.

“I’m tired.”

His expression softens slightly. “You’ve been overworking yourself again.”

I suddenly wonder how many times he had spoken to Scarlett like this.

The thought makes my stomach turn.

“I’ll rest after tonight,” I say quietly.

Lionel nods distractedly before glancing toward the crowd briefly and his hand tightens at my waist.

Confused, I look around.

The man from the river stood near the entrance surrounded by several unfamiliar wolves dressed in dark formal clothing - the Alpha Tribunal envoy.

He looked completely different tonight.

He still looked dangerous and intimidating.

But now cleaned up and dressed properly, the full force of his appearance was impossible to ignore. Even my father looked tense from where he stood speaking to the envoy members nearby.

“How is he even standing already?” I whisper before I can stop myself.

Yesterday, he had barely been alive.

Now he looked like the most dangerous man in the room.

And somehow... angrier too.

Something in my chest tightens strangely as his gaze drags slowly over Lionel’s hand resting against my waist.

Without realizing it, I step away from Lionel slightly.

The stranger’s eyes immediately return to mine.

And before I can think better of it, I start walking toward him.

“Lily,” Lionel says sharply behind me.

I ignore him.

The crowd parts almost instinctively as I approach the stranger carefully.

Up close, he looked even more overwhelming than before.

God.

This man was huge.

“You’re awake,” I say softly, unable to hide my surprise. “You healed so quickly…”

“You probably shouldn’t even be standing yet,” I continue nervously. “Your injuries yesterday were severe and the blood loss alone should have kept you unconscious for at least another day or two and honestly, I still don’t understand how your body healed this fast because that’s not norm…”

I cut myself off when his hand suddenly wraps around my waist.

A gasp leaves me instantly as he yanks me hard against his chest.

He lowers his head slightly, eyes still locked on mine as his deep, gravelly voice cuts through the silence.

“MINE.”