Chapter 27

I can’t take this anymore. My humiliation is overwhelming, and I’m terrified of being in this room for another second. I try to step away from Julian, but he just holds me tighter.

The whispers intensify and can feel my dignity being stripped away bit by bit. My face is burning, and I say quietly so only Julian can hear, “Let me go.”

He only adjusts his grip, and I feel a sense of horror as he leans in to kiss me. I try to lean away, but he pulls me into his chest and brings my mouth to his possessively.

The murmurs grow and my body practically burns with the stares. I hate this. I have never been more embarrassed or angry in my life. I push away from Julian, no longer caring how it looks.

“Julian, that’s enough.” Adrian appears and gently guides me behind him, shielding me from not only his son but the entire crowd. Through my anger and humiliation, I breathe a sigh of relief.

Adrian POV

At first, I thought my anger was because I didn’t want Julian kissing Lily. Then I realized she was pushing him away. The poor girl was humiliated. She kept glancing around like she wanted to run away.

She was giving every sign of not wanting him to kiss her and he did it anyway. My son was behaving like a jerk, and I now had the perfect excuse to get her away from him.

Julian glares at me and hisses, “What are you doing? You’re ruining everything! I’ve been planning this for her all week.”

“Everyone, the ceremony is concluded! Go back to the party.” I announce. Everyone scatters, not wanting to incur my anger by defying the order. I turn back to my son. “Did you discuss it with her? She doesn’t seem happy about it.”

“It was a surprise!” Julian insists, “I’m telling everyone about us. I won’t keep her a secret anymore.”

“You humiliated her, and she asked you to let her go. You refused.” I try reasoning with him. I don’t want to fight with him here, but he seems intent on it.

“How I treat my girlfriend is none of your business. Lily, let’s go.” Julian orders her.

I turn to look at her. She looks devastated and heartbroken. Like she could start sobbing at any moment. Bringing her here was a bad idea. Julian should have prepared her. Instead, he literally threw her to the wolves.

“So long as she lives under my roof, she is under my protection. Even if that protection is from you.” I tell him, my voice is low and threatening. I may be his father, but I am also his Alpha. I will have his respect.

Julian looks at me defiantly and reaches around me to grab Lily’s hand. She snatches it away and with a look of despair that threatens to break my heart, runs out the door.

Lily POV

There’s a crowd on the patio and I push my way through it, trying to get as much space between me and Julian as possible. No one pays me any attention as I shove my way through.

“Julian has always been spoiled. Now his father is rebuking him in public? Over her?” I hear one man ask.

“That girl was just a waitress at my birthday party not that long ago. She's just a seductive bitch.” Vanessa announces.

I don't stop to listen. I can't handle this any longer. I don't know where I'm going, or what I'm doing, but I can't stay here another second. My feet take me off the patio and down the path towards the gardens.

As I disappear through the wall and into the quiet of the garden, the sky opens up and pours out the rain it’s been threatening all evening. I don’t care if I’m getting soaked or that my makeup will run and my curls will flatten. I just want to get away.

The rain feels cool on my burning flesh and in the safety of the solitude with just me and storm, I let my tears fall down my face as my heart breaks entirely.

I feel so betrayed and hurt. Julian didn't protect me. He humiliated me. I don’t know how I’m going to get home, but I can’t go back there. I’m not even really sure where I am.

I walk further and further away from the party until I leave the gardens behind, and I’m headed toward a road.

Maybe Erica can pick me up. I pull my phone out of my clutch and search for her number.

A strange sound jolts me out of my sobbing self-pity. I don’t know what it was, but it sounded like a growl.

Fear sparks in my chest and I freeze. I’m out here alone in the dark and the rain with some kind of wild animal. And it sounds angry.

I peer through the dark, hoping to see something, but I don’t see anything.

Another growl, then a loud howl pierces through the air, and I scream just before a large snarling mass of fur collides into me and sends me sprawling on to the ground.

I scream again, curling into a ball and throwing my arms around my head.

I collect myself just enough to look up and see it. Its yellow eyes are studying me, its teeth are bared in a snarl, and its crouched low, ready to launch for me again.

A wolf.

I scream once more and wait for those teeth to rip me to shreds when I hear another howl and then shouting.

I don’t hear the words or even realize there are other people there, but suddenly I am being coaxed to uncurl and sit up. Warm solid hands hold onto me, helping me and I look up into familiar brown eyes, so filled with fear and concern.

Adrian takes off his tuxedo jacket and wraps it around my shoulders. I’m shaking and can’t speak. I feels like a dream that he is here, and I wonder, just for a moment, whether I died and perhaps none of this is real. Maybe the wolf killed me.

Then his hands are cupping my face and he’s asking me if I’m hurt. Physically, I don’t think I am. Mentally? Emotionally? I feel like I’m falling apart.

I don’t know how to answer him. He starts checking me over, looking for signs that I’m injured. I don’t know how to tell him the injuries I have can’t be seen.

Then he’s picking me up, holding me tightly to his warm chest, and carrying me through the rain.

Adrian POV

Lily is tucked into my chest, her body shaking so hard I know it must be painful. Tears are sliding down her cheeks in a silent cry and she’s staring straight ahead though I doubt she’s really seeing anything.

She’s in shock. The stress of the night was too much. Between the party, Julian’s behavior, and now a wolf attack, she has completely shut down.

I refuse to bring her back through the party. Not like this. Her dress is torn, and she’s soaked to the bone. I don’t want anyone to see her like this. It doesn’t stop some of the guests from seeing us out the window though.

It can’t be avoided. The car is out front.

I go around the side of the building, holding her tight and telling her we were almost there. I was getting her out of here.

Julian meets us at the front door by the car.

“What happened?” he demands loudly which only serves to bring attention to us from some of the guests loitering at the entrance.

“Quiet your voice.” I order him, letting a little of my Alpha bleed through in my tone. “She was attacked by a wolf.” I explain quietly.

“She knows?” Julian asks, worry creasing his brow.

“Hush!” I order him again. “She’s right here.” Though I’m not sure how much she is listening right now.

I put the trembling Lily in the car and close the door.

“I don’t know what she knows. I only heard her scream and saw the wolf. It ran off when I announced myself.” I explain.

“I can explain it to her.” My impulsive son says. “I’ll tell her what happened. Who we are.”

“Not tonight.” I command him. “She’s been through enough tonight. We will discuss this tomorrow.”

Julian looks like he might argue, but I don’t give him the chance. I open the door and step inside the limo.

Lily doesn’t look at Julian the entire ride home.