Chapter 44

I’m sitting on a park bench watching Grace swing back and forth, a grin plastered on her face as she giggles with the friend she just made.

I had to get out of the house. Julian was released from the hospital this morning. Once he was due to arrive at the house, I left with Grace to go to a nearby park. Adrian assured me that my ex-boyfriend would be in bed for a day or two and that he wouldn’t be staying long. Still, I wished he would find somewhere else to stay.

I couldn’t stand to listen to any more of his angry words and excuses for his behavior.

A graceful figure sits down on the bench next to me. I turn my head to see the shiny blonde hair and perfect face of Vanessa. A smug arrogant smirk gracing her lips.

A children’s park was the last place I expected to see her.

“Perfect Lily.” She coos without looking at me. She keeps her eyes glued to Grace on the swings, oblivious to the fight about to break out behind her. “You seem so innocent. Like you could do no wrong. But that’s not true, is it?”

“I’m not perfect, no.” I respond. “But I have a feeling you’re talking about something in particular.”

Her smirk deepens and there’s a wicked gleam in her eyes. “You remember I told you my chauffer is friends with the Whitemore’s butler, Thomas.” She reminds me, and I wonder where she’s going with this. “Well, he told my chauffer something rather interesting.”

“I don’t have time to share petty gossip today.” I roll my eyes at her.

She carries on as though I hadn’t spoken. “He was bringing his boss a few pieces of mail in his study, when he happened upon quite the scene.”

My heart stops and my blood runs cold.

“He saw you, my dear Lily. Perched on the desk with your legs wrapped around Adrian like a whore.” She delivers the punchline like she’s discussing the weather.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I scoff at her. “And like I said, I don’t have time for the gossip of bored staff.”

I call for Grace and tell her it’s time to go. Vanessa doesn’t try to stop me. She just smiles at me like a cat before a cornered canary and watches us leave.

As soon as I get back to the house, I deliver Grace to have lunch and run upstairs to Adrian’s study.

He’s there, paperwork in front of him, a pen in hand. He looks up with surprise when I close the door a little hard.

“What’s wrong?” He asks concerned.

“I just had an interesting chat with Vanessa.” I inform him, panic lacing my voice. “Apparently, Thomas told her chauffer that he saw us in here last night.”

His face goes hard. The anger in his eyes make me almost sorry for the nosy butler. He reaches for his phone and types a message hurriedly. “This is completely unacceptable.” He mutters.

A few moments later, Thomas appears at the door. He pointedly doesn’t look at me and only addresses Adrian. “Yes, sir.”

“You’re fired.” Adrian tells him. No ceremony, no explanation. Just a simple statement. Thomas’ face goes white.

“I’m sorry, sir?”

“I said, you’re fired.” Adrian repeats himself, his voice hard and unmoving.

“May I ask sir, what I did wrong?” Thomas asks, his voice shaking a little with shock.

Adrian leans forward on his desk, his eyes pitiless. “When I hired you, I was very clear about the discretion that would be required of you regarding the members of this house. Discussing me and the other members of this household with outsiders is absolutely unacceptable.”

Thomas finally turns and looks at me, realization dawning in his eyes.

“Please forgive me sir.” He stammers.

Adrian looks unmoved. “You have until tomorrow morning to vacate this house.”

Thomas’ cheeks are red and he’s shaking a little. He bows his head, realizing that he will not be able to change his former boss’s mind and turns on his heel to leave.

I look at Adrian with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. He could have just warned the sorry butler.

“I promised you would be safe here.” Adrian answers my unasked question. “I won’t allow him to bring you harm again with his disloyalty.”

“Thank you.” Is all I can think of to say. My heart warms with the declaration and I feel the sudden urge to kiss him.

“I will deal with Vanessa.” He continues, conviction in his voice that gives me no choice but to believe him.

I give in to my body’s demands. I walk around the desk and wrap my arm around his neck, pulling him in for a deep kiss.

I don’t care about the affair or what Vanessa knows, or even about what Thomas might have seen. I just feel the security and solidness of him and how he makes me feel when it seems like the world might be falling apart.

“Thank you.” I say again before turning to go and get back to Grace.

Adrian POV

I watch Lily go, still feeling the ghost of her lips against mine. It was just a kiss, and yet so much was said in it. It was more than just gratitude.

The need to protect her was overwhelming. A part of me wants to get rid of Vanessa once and for all. That woman and her entire family were nothing but trouble.

They were a disloyal lot and had been plotting to take my position for years. Except Vanessa’s father wasn’t strong enough, he would never be able to challenge me and win.

I would have to be careful about how I dealt with them. They were influential and if I made the wrong move, the pack would get rid of me themselves for being a tyrant. I needed a good reason to make a move against them. More reason that spreading rumors about my affair with Lily.

“It’s not an affair.” The wolf argues. “She’s your mate. Let them talk. It won’t matter once the mating is accepted.”

Except Lily will care. She cares about what people think of her, and she’s been humiliated enough. This family has hurt her enough.

Regardless, Vanessa and Glen have done enough damage. They have declared themselves a threat against me. And a threat against me is a threat against the entire pack. If they want to choose disloyalty, they will have to pay the price.

I pick up my phone and call my Beta.

“I want everything you can find on Glen and his family. Nothing is too small.” I tell him. I can practically feel the smile I know he is giving on the other end. He’s been waiting for this order for years.

“You got it boss.” He says.

I hang up the phone and look outside to where I can see Lily and Grace heading toward the garden for a walk.

“I will protect her.” The wolf says. “I will keep her safe. She won’t be threatened by these treasonous snakes again.”

I don’t bother silencing him this time.