UNWANTED VISITOR

LILIAN'S POV

"He won't go."

My stomach twisted in agony as soon as the guard said those words. Panic slowly crept into my chest as I tightened my grip on the blanket.

Taryn would not leave, of course. He disliked being told no, especially when it came from me.

After a brief period of silence, Darian spoke once more.

"Take him downstairs," he commanded in a cold voice."I'll handle him."

"Yes, Alpha."

Outside the room, footsteps washed out, and then there was silence. I tried to calm my breathing while staring at Darian, but I was unable to do so. My chest closed up at the mere idea of seeing Taryn once more.

I said suddenly, "He can't know I'm here."

Darian's expression was unreadable as he looked at me. "He is already aware."

Instantly, my face turned colorless.

He did, of course.

Taryn was always able to learn everything.

I said quietly, "I don't want to see him."

Darian folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall. "So don't."

"It's not that simple."

His gray eyes were staring at me for a long time. "You're afraid of him."

The words struck me harder than I had expected, and I instantly turned away my gaze.

"I'm not afraid," I whispered.

Darian avoided arguing. That somehow made things worse.

As my thoughts replayed every terrible thing Taryn had said tonight, the room fell silent once more. the dangers. The humiliation. the expression on his face as he threw me out.

My chest ached once more.

At last, Darian said quietly, "I'll handle him."

He pushed himself off the wall and made his way to the door before I could respond.

I instantly felt a sense of panic.

My leg began to hurt as soon as I jumped off the bed too quickly. "Hold on.”

Darian turned back to face me after pausing at the doorway.

"I..." My voice sounded weaker than I had expected. "Avoid leaving me by myself with him."

His expression changed a little, but it disappeared too fast for me to notice.

Calmly, he said, "You think I'd let him near you tonight?"

To be honest?

I had no idea.

After all, Taryn was his brother.

In wolf packs, blood was very important. No matter what horrible thing a family member had done, most people would defend them.

Darian must have noticed the doubt on my face because his jaw tightened slightly.

He firmly stated, "He won't touch you."

I instantly believed him for some reason.

I was scared just by that.

Once more, Darian opened the door but held back. "After I leave, lock the door."

I gave him a quick nod and watched him walk out of the room.

I hurried over to lock the door as soon as it shut and leaned heavily against the wood.

It was physically painful how hard my heart was beating.

A part of me wanted to go back to sleep and act as though nothing had happened. Before things got any more hard, the other part of me wanted to flee this mansion.

Sadly, it's obvious that my life enjoyed making me look foolish.

Slowly, curiosity pulled me back toward the door.

I might be able to hear what they were saying downstairs if I paid close attention.

"No," Nayla cautioned right away. "For once, mind your own business."

I gently pressed my ear against the door, completely ignoring her.

I didn't hear anything at first.

Next—

"She's my spouse!"

I jumped as Taryn's irate voice echoed throughout the mansion.

In an instant, my stomach twisted.

Taryn yelled, "I don't care what nonsense she told you." "Send her downstairs."

Next came Darian's voice, which was colder and calmer. "Speak less loudly."

"You have no right to dictate to me!"

I nearly burst out laughing bitterly.

Taryn seemed to have lost what little sense the Moon Goddess had given him.

I silently entered the hallway after carefully unlocking the door. With the exception of the lights downstairs, the mansion remained largely dark.

Taryn's voice resounded once more.

"She should be with me."

Halfway down the stairs, I froze.

Does it belong?

Was I now some sort of object?

Taryn paced angrily across the room, while Darian stood calmly by the large fireplace downstairs. His suit appeared disorganized, as if he had come over as soon as he realized where I was.

I nearly turned around as soon as I laid eyes on him because memories from earlier came flooding back.

Taryn said angrily, "You embarrassed me tonight."

Darian didn't seem impressed. "You made a fool of yourself."

"You find this funny?"

"No. I believe you are drunk.

Taryn ran a hand through his hair and laughed bitterly. "She's already controlling you."

Immediately, I started to feel angry.

Tricking?

After publicly cheating on me, that bastard threw me out like trash.

Darian remarked coldly, "She was standing in the middle of the road." "Did I really need to leave her there?"

"You should have given me a call."

"You blocked her phone number."

Quiet.

Taryn's expression changed to one of doubt for the first time since coming downstairs.

But only for a moment.

He said quietly, "That has nothing to do with this."

Darian's eyes became smaller a little. "Really?"

Before continuing, Taryn tightened his jaw. "This is between my wife and me."

Before I could stop myself, I said, "Ex wife."

The two men instantly looked up.

The moment Taryn saw me standing on the stairs, his expression darkened. "Liliana."

All of my instincts told me to flee.

Despite the pain in my injured leg with each step, I forced myself to descend slowly. While Taryn stared as if he couldn't decide whether he was relieved or furious, Darian's eyes followed me closely.

Darian whispered, "You shouldn't be out of bed."

Taryn's face instantly changed. "Bed?"

Oh, Goddess.

"It's not what you think," I spoke out.

Taryn laughed sharply, sounding almost crazy. "Are you in his room?"

I tried to ignore how uncomfortable the whole thing felt by folding my arms tightly. "I got lost."

He yelled, "That's your excuse?"

Before I could respond, Darian moved a little ahead of me.

I was shocked by the slight but somehow protective movement.

Calmly, Darian said, "She doesn't owe you explanations."

Taryn looked at him incredulously. "You're picking her over your own brother?"

"No," Darian answered. "I'm putting common sense ahead of whatever this is."

Taryn chuckled once more, but the sound was unfunny.

He appeared old . furious. erratic.

His gaze slowly returned to me.

"Return home."

I was totally surprised by the words.

"What?"

"You heard me." He moved in closer. "Come home, and we'll make this right."

To be honest, I thought he was kidding.

"Fix this?" I asked again, disbelieving. "You betrayed me."

Taryn tightened his jaw. "It was meaningless."

I wondered if he had gone completely insane as I gazed at him.

"You made me look bad in front of the whole pack."

"I was forced into it by you!"

I laughed so hard at the accusation.

Not because it was humorous.

since it was silly.

I said quietly, "You threatened me."

Taryn appeared a little guilty for the first time that evening.

Just a little.

"I was upset," he whispered.

"And now?" Silently, I asked.

The room was silent.

Taryn turned his gaze for a moment before continuing. "Just return home."

The sad aspect?

There was a tiny part of me that wished things were that easy.

No matter how badly someone hurt you, years of love didn't end overnight.

But then I thought of Emily.

The smack.

the dangers.

The look of disgust on his face as he threw me out.

And whatever small portion of my heart remained devoted to him broke totally.

I whispered, "There's no home left for me there."

In an instant, Taryn's face hardened. "So this is actually taking place?"

"It was made possible by you."

His gaze gradually grew dark before turning back to Darian. "This was planned by you."

Now, Darian appeared truly irritated. "You can't be this dumb."

"You've always desired to steal from me."

It seemed to work.

The room felt suddenly colder as Darian took a slow step forward.

"I advise you to consider your options carefully before making any more accusations against me tonight."

The warning in his voice even seemed to affect Taryn.

No one said anything for a moment.

Then Taryn gave me one final look.

"This is something you'll regret."

I instantly felt shivers down my spine at the threat.

Darian saw it too, as his expression quickly became scary.

"Go," he commanded coldly.

After a painful moment of staring at me, Taryn turned to face the door.

My legs almost gave out under me as soon as it slammed shut behind him.