Chapter 13

Adrian

My wolf bellows in rage as it breaks free. Every bit of energy unleashes and though I don’t make a sound, Vanessa trembles and falls backward. Lily clutches my arm, and I tighten my grip around her.

Her fear just lets loose another wave of power and the wolf inside rattles the bars to be set free. I don’t want to hear Vanessa’s apologies. It wants to see her terror and humiliation after what she has done. The pain she feels from her fall from the horse isn’t nearly enough.

I struggle against the wolf, doing my best to keep it caged as it screams what it thinks it knows.

Mate. Lily could be my mate. It feels similar. Julian’s mother was so long ago, but this feeling is familiar. It’s a wave of relief and realization that comes with an instinctual knowing that’s hard to ignore.

It’s not true. I tell the wolf as it rattles the bars. It’s not quite right. When I found my first mate, it was like an explosion that went off the moment I met her.

This is quieter, more subtle, and it’s a far cry from the first time I’ve met Lily. I’ve been in close proximity with her before. Intimately. I would have known in that hotel room.

The wolf reminds me how hard it was to let her go from that room. How badly I wanted her that night. I shut it up. Clamping down on my power until it’s just a simmer, silencing the wolf’s howl.

She isn’t mine. She’s Julian’s. Before Julian had left my study a few days ago, he confessed to me that Lily was his mate. He informed me that my opinions of his relationship with her were irrelevant, and he had no intention of rejecting her. After that, I had come here for a few days to clear my head and get some space between me and the woman my son had claimed.

I had been surprised to hear the human in my arms could be a werewolf’s mate. Unions with humans were rare, mates even more so. For a human to have two, not to mention a son and father, was completely unheard of.

Lily lets go of my shirt and moves to separate herself from me. It takes every ounce of self-control I can muster to let her go.

“Touch her.” The wolf says. “Pull her close and taste her. Then you will see.”

I ignore it and let Lily get to her feet and step away. She’s looking at me with confusion and a little fear. This woman knows nothing about werewolves. She won’t understand why I need to touch her. What I need to know.

The wolf roars. “She is yours, claim her! She cannot be his!”

“No.” I tell it, pushing it back down and silencing it. I won’t interfere with my son’s relationship. I won’t get in the way of his happiness. I will have control against the wolf’s demands.

Instead, I turn to Vanessa. The girl is lucky that her family is nobility, and I don’t want to start a fight within the pack. She looks terrified. Good.

“I don’t know what compelled you to attempt to kill a member of my household, and I do not care to hear your excuses.” My voice is a growl and the girl trembles from where she lays on the ground. Crawling backward a few feet and lowering her head in submission. “Your apologies are not owed to me.”

She knows what I’m requiring of her, because she turns those frightened eyes to Lily and stammers, “I apologize. I’m sorry.”

It’s not nearly good enough, but it will do. “Get out of my sight.” I order her and she jumps to her feet and runs in the direction of the driveway where I’m sure her driver waits to take her home.

I’ll deal with her later today. Privately. And we’ll address her silence about Lily’s employment as well. I don’t need her running her mouth to the entire pack and word getting back to my son.

I look back at Lily. She’s looking at me with confusion and shock, but she seems alright. “I’ll be right back. Sit down.” I nod toward the bench. She complies and I make my way to the house for a first-aid kit and a bottle of water. There’s a smear of blood on my shirt from where her cut hands had clutched it, and I hear the wolf growl again.

I silence the beast and head back outside. Lily is on the phone, and she looks angry. I wait. Giving her privacy and taking the moment to regain my control.

Lily

Once I’m alone, I’m able to calm down a bit. I pick my book up off the ground and set it next to me on the bench. I focus on my breathing and calm my nerves.

Except once the fear, shock, and confusion of what I just experienced and witnessed subsides, anger takes its place.

Where is Julian? I check the time. He should be home. He isn’t working today, and the band doesn’t meet for hours. The phone only rang twice before going to voicemail, which meant he declined my call.

Maybe it’s the adrenaline that hasn’t worn off yet, or maybe I’m just tired of feeling this way, but I take out my phone and call him again.

Two rings and he declines my call again as I go straight to voicemail. This time it breaks me, and the tears won’t be held back any longer.

The tone sounds for me to leave a message and with a breaking voice I tell him what I need him to hear. “Where were you? I needed you and you weren’t there. I call for you and you just ignore me when I’ve always been there for you? Why do you always do this? Why do you always let me down when I need you the most?”

There’s nothing left to say, and I know if I keep going, I’ll regret it. So, I hang up the phone and sit in silence a moment.

The sound of steps behind me has me turning to see Adrian approaching with a first-aid kit and a bottle of water. He hands the water to me, and I smile my thanks before opening it and taking a sip to calm my nerves.

He sets the first-aid kit next to me on the bench and opens it. He hesitates and then asks, “Do you want help? You’re all scraped up.”

“I’ll be alright.” I answer and reach inside for a package of antiseptic wipes. I’m not sure I should let Adrian touch me right now, even if he is just cleaning the blood off my hands and arms. He’s silent as I pat at my scrapes.

“I’m sorry.” I finally say.

“For what?” He asks.

“I’ve caused a lot of trouble for you. I really didn’t mean to. I meant to find Julian, but…” I don’t finish the thought. I don’t want to tell him about Julian ignoring my calls for help.

Adrian doesn’t say anything for a long moment. Then he says, his voice a little angry, “Next time you need help like that, and you can’t protect yourself, call someone who can get involved.”

Because Julian couldn’t get involved. He separated himself from this world, from his father, from these people. It would hurt Julian to protect me because it would launch him right back to this place where he didn’t want to be. Then he would know the truth about my job and his weak relationship with his father would snap entirely. Adrian couldn’t have me risking that. I was on my own. I needed to protect myself here.

I nod and silently collect my garbage and close the first-aid kit. I stand up and head back toward the stables. Grace and her instructor should be back by now.

“Lily.” Adrian calls after me and I stop short. “If something like this happens again, come to me.”

I turn to look at him. I can’t read his expression as he adds softly, “You’re my daughter’s nanny. It’s my duty to protect you.”