Chapter 40

Pictures on social media show Julian still at the garden party later in the day. He’s smiling and looking like everything is fine.

After we got home, I had gone straight to my room where I allowed myself to finally break down and sob. The feelings of hurt and betrayal don’t cease all day. I barely hear as Susan comes in and sets a steaming cup of tea on my nightstand.

I’m not sure how to go forward from here. I don’t think I can ever trust Julian again. He defended her. He believed her over me. It doesn’t matter how many times he declares that I am his mate and that he cares for me. Actions speak volumes louder than words and these actions cut. Deep.

I finished the tea, which calmed me down a little, but I was left feeling empty and broken. Like I was grieving. And maybe I was. I was finally grieving the relationship I used to have because I didn’t think it would ever come back. Julian had failed me time and time again, but this was one too many.

Suddenly, an abrupt knock on my door sounded and before I could answer, Julian barged through like he owned the place.

“What were you thinking?” He accuses me angrily. “Your behavior today was completely unacceptable. How dare you attack a member of my pack.”

Anger flares hot and stormy as I leap to my feet and shout back. “How dare you! She attacked me! You’re apparently just too stupid to see that she was baiting you!”

“I’m too stupid?” He shouts back. “If she provoked you to attack her, I think you’re the stupid one. Admit it. You’re jealous and spiteful, and you’ve been looking for a reason to fight with her from the moment you met her. I should never have brought you into this world. You clearly don’t know how to behave with people of class!”

“That’s not true! She picks fights with me!” I protest.

“Vanessa wouldn’t do that. You’re exaggerating or lying!” He yells coming closer and I can smell the alcohol on his breath. “Ever since you came here, you’ve changed. I hate the person you’ve become. You’re just a judgmental sycophant out for an advantage.”

Every word hurts. Fresh tears burn my eyes and a sob escapes my throat.

“They why are we together? If you hate me so much, why don’t we just end things now?” I cry out.

“You won’t end things.” He says, sneering down his nose at me. “Someone like you doesn’t get men like me. You’re lucky you have me and no one else as half as good as me will ever have you.”

The pain is too much, and I can’t listen to another word. I whirl and run into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door.

He knocks on the door, “Lily, come out of there. You’re acting like a child.”

I splash water on my face and take several calming breaths.

“Lily, open the door or I’m breaking it down.” He announces, pounding at the door and I worry he might actually do it.

I come out of the bathroom, ready to face him, but he says nothing. He just reaches for his belt and starts to undress.

“What the hell are you doing?” I accuse him.

“Going to bed.” He says.

“Not here you’re not!” I say firmly. There is no way in hell I’m sharing a bed with him right now.

“You are my mate.” Julian says his voice calmer. As though a switch was flipped and he wasn’t just yelling at me a moment ago. “Let’s go to bed. We’ll work it out between the sheets. We’ve done it before.”

“After stupid fights over the dishes!” I argue, backing up again toward the bathroom. “Not after something like this.”

He reaches for me, his face softening. I take another step back. I know that look. He’s about to downplay things again and convince me to give him another shot. Just like he always does. He’ll apologize and give me a hundred excuses for the behavior.

Except I can’t do it anymore. I’m done.

I don’t know what this will mean for my future, or my job, or for Adrian, but I can’t be with Julian. There is no future here.

“It’s over, Julian.” I say and the relief of the words are like a weight off my shoulders. Like they’ve been waiting to be said.

Julian looks at me like he doesn’t understand my words. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t be with you anymore. This relationship is over. I don’t deserve this.” I say and watch as his face contorts again with sheer rage.

In a blink he is across the room and my back is against the wall. His eyes are glowing that terrifying yellow and there’s an unmistakable growl in this throat.

“No!” He yells, “You are not rejecting me! Do you hear me? Never talk like that again!”

Suddenly, he is yanked off of me and flying across the room to land on the ground with a thud. Adrian stands between us and grabs his son by the collar, hoisting him to his feet.

“Get out.” Is all he says, and Julian must have seen something I didn’t, because he doesn’t argue and he doesn’t defy Adrian. He simply gives me one more look of frustrated anger and storms out the door.

It’s only after I know he’s gone and Adrian is looking at me with a mixture of concern and sympathy that I let the sob out and sink to the floor.

Adrian POV

I sit on the ground next to Lily and wrap my arms around her, pulling her into my chest. She continues to cry. The sound of her sobs makes my heart want to break. I hate seeing her like this.

I hold her a little tighter as a fresh wave of tears take hold and pull her tighter until she’s practically in my lap.

The wolf is finally quiet, satisfied with the turn of events. I had heard her break things off with my son and though I felt guilty for even thinking it, I was relieved to hear her say the words. Then I had heard my son’s temper and seen him pinning Lily against the wall, her face filled with hurt and terror.

The wolf erupted and I’m a little surprised I didn’t throw Julian right through the window.

Finally, her sobs start to subside. The poor girl has to be exhausted. It’s been a long day and she’s been crying off and on since we got back. I’ve wanted to come in here and do this for ages, but I didn’t think I had the right and decided maybe she needed her space.

Now, the last thing I wanted to give her was space.

“Hush, now.” I soothe her, stroking her hair, “It’s alright. You’re safe and everything is going to be alright.”

She quiets as I talk to her. Finally, she slumps against me, cried out and ready to collapse. I pick her up and carry her to her bed. The only thing I want to do is climb in next to her and hold her until she falls asleep, but I know that’s the last thing I should do right now.

“Why not?” The wolf asks. “She’s not Julian’s mate. Not anymore. She’s rejected him. She could be yours now.”

I shove the wolf down. Now isn’t the time to think about that. I need to think about Lily and what she needs. I tuck the sheets around her and press a soft kiss to her temple.

“Just sleep now. Everything will be alright in the morning.” I assure her. Another heartbreaking tear slides down her cheek and I brush it away with my thumb before rising and leaving the room.

“I’m sorry.” I hear her soft words just before I close the door.

I don’t understand why she says them. This isn’t her fault. “You have nothing to apologize for.” I answer her before clicking the door shut.

Returning to my room, I check my phone, half expecting a dozen angry messages and voicemails from Julian. I see nothing.

A new wave of concern washes over me. I knew my son had a temper, but I never thought it would snap like this. I never thought he would lay his hands on his mate.

“Not his mate anymore.” The wolf reminds me, and I shush it.

Julian is obviously in pain and that’s the last thing I want. Our relationship had been slowly improving over the last few weeks. It was back to square one now.

I can’t help myself. I dial his number and wait. It goes straight to voicemail, and I know. There’s no telling when I will ever hear from my son again.