Reed's POV

It had been three hours since Lilith stormed out of my apartment, but I still couldn’t get her out of my head.

Her perfume, which still clung to the air, made it even harder to forget her.

The look in her eyes when I told her she was nothing but a one-night stand haunted me.

“I shouldn’t have said that to her,” I mumbled, reproaching myself bitterly. Those words had been a lie.

Kayden? I wouldn’t mind him ripping my head off for getting closer to his little sister, because the truth was, I wouldn’t even mind.

Of course Kayden was my best friend, and I wouldn’t want that bond to be severed. But for Lilith? I was ready to risk it.

It was just that the circumstances of my life wouldn’t permit it.

Hell, I didn’t even have the right to love or be loved. I didn’t deserve it.

Lilith was the girl whose smile could light up the darkness in my world, the girl whose presence alone could fill the void in my life.

Last night, when I’d seen her at the bar, drinking herself into a stupor, while those stupid wolves feasted their eyes on her, I’d grown furious.

It took every ounce of self-control not to pounce on them and beat them to a pulp. All I could do was take Lilith home, even though she’d demanded to go to my place.

Then she came to me, and damn it, I couldn’t resist. Not when her eyes stared deep into my soul.

My hands ruffled my hair roughly as my thoughts threatened to consume me. Now I was sure she didn’t want to see me or have anything to do with me, which was probably best for her.

Getting close to me was like getting closer to fire, she’d get burned. And I didn’t want her to get burned.

A loud bang suddenly drew my attention and I heaved a low sigh.

“He’s back,” I muttered, strolling to the door. From the keyhole I saw Kayden scrolling through his phone, probably searching for the password.

“Get in.” I yanked the door open, stepping aside for him to walk in.

The look on Kayden’s face wasn’t pleasant. I was already drawing conclusions when he punched the wall, sending dust in all directions.

“Are you okay?” I asked, rushing to his side. Instead of answering, he continued punching the wall.

“Stop it,” I yelled, pushing him away from the wall.

“Have you lost it?”

“I’m going to kill that bastard,” he growled, the color of his eyes darkening as he seethed with anger.

“Who’s that?” I asked, helping him sit on the couch before joining him.

“Gavin. He rejected Lilith yesterday,” he said through gritted teeth.

A loud bang echoed in my head. Why hadn’t I thought of that when I saw her in tears? She’d even gotten drunk.

“He cheated on her.” Anger rumbled through Kayden as he said those words, but it was nothing compared to the fury brewing inside me.

Fuck. I’m definitely going to kill that bastard.

“All she did was love and respect him,” the words came out as a growl as my eyes darkened at the thought of Lilith’s pain.

Damn, I’d even said cruel things to her. I’d added salt to her wounds, and now she probably hated me for that because I was supposed to be there for her.

But it wasn’t exactly my fault. As the Alpha heir, I was to be engaged to Glendale, a high-ranking female to strengthen the pack’s bloodline.

For her safety, I had to keep Lilith off-limits. The real reason I couldn't be with her is because of my curse. If I accept a mate bond, my wolf will eventually consume and kill her because of my server curse.

I knew that I had to avoid the mate bond because it could cause harm to Lilith. I had to protect her even if it meant that I couldn't be with her.

“That son of a gun had the guts to upload a video of her confronting him last night on the school website. They were all mocking her. They were fucking mocking my sister, Reed, and I swear it, when I get hold of that fucker, he’s gonna regret ever crossing my little sister!”

Kayden continued ranting. Suddenly he stood and began marching toward the door.

I quickly went to him and held him before he could grab the doorknob. “Calm down, Kayden. Don’t touch him,” I said evenly.

Because she is mine, I finished the thought in my head. By the time I was done with him, Gavin would surely regret ever messing with Lilith.

“What do you mean I should calm down? He ridiculed my sister!” he yelled, attempting to pull away, but I held him.

Thankfully he wasn’t a match for my strength, so getting him under control was possible.

“Lilith wouldn’t want that,” I said in a low voice.

He stared at me for a short while, ran his hands through his hair, and let out a frustrated growl. “My poor little sister. She must have felt so hurt. I had no idea, I didn’t even know.”

My mind zoned out of his words. Lilith. She must have felt hurt. Her mate had cheated on her, rejected her, and humiliated her in public.

And I had done what I did.

She must be so broken right now. I turned to Kayden, who was seated on the sofa, mumbling some incoherent words to himself.

“I’ll be right back,” I said and walked out without waiting for his next words.

I was heading to the park to clear my head, but I hadn’t gone far when I saw a figure that looked like Lilith in the distance.

I ignored it at first, thinking my mind was playing tricks, she was everywhere in my head. It wasn’t until I saw Gavin right behind her that I knew it was her.

Anger surged through me immediately, and without thinking, I marched toward them.

“Avoiding me won’t solve the issue on the ground, Lilith,” Gavin yelled as he chased after her. She was trying her best to get away.

“Leave me alone, you cheater! And stay away from me!” Lilith shouted. But instead of listening, he grabbed her shoulder and spun her around so she faced him.

“I’ve been trying to reach you, but you wouldn’t pick up your phone and my messages are always left unread,” he said before heaving a sigh.

“If you’re upset about what happened yesterday, you shouldn’t be. I did that to protect my ego around the boys, and if this is about the video on the school’s website, you shouldn’t worry about it. It’ll die down soon, everyone will forget it. Well I just followed you to remind you of your promise to me, you promised me your virgini….”

My fist collided with his cheek before he could finish. The hit was inhumanly strong. Bones crack, Gavin’s wolf almost surges out in defense and I had to restrain myself from shifting in public.

He let out a yelp and instantly released Lilith. He stepped back and held his cheek while glaring at me.

“Lay your hands on her again and risk getting crippled,” I warned, my eyes glowing dangerously.

“This is none of your business. The fact that you’re the Alpha heir doesn’t give you the right to meddle in other people’s affairs!” Gavin spat.

“Not my business?” I chuckled dryly. I moved toward him, but Lilith was quick to step between us.

“That’s enough.” She turned to Gavin, who was rubbing his cheek. He had no idea that was only a fraction of what I could do to him for daring to hurt Lilith.

“We are done. And take that video off the school website.” With that, she turned and walked away without even sparing me a glance.

She was mad at me. I needed no soothsayer to tell me that.

My head snapped to Gavin, who was about to walk off, and I dragged him back with one hand. “Not so fast, asshole.”

My fist connected with his cheek again and this time he howled, falling to the ground. I bent to his level, grabbed a fistful of his shirt, and landed blow after blow to his face.

The image of Lilith crying filled my head and I was overwhelmed with rage, my wolf threatening to surge out and consume Gavin.

By now his body had gone still, he stopped struggling though he still groaned. His face had gone pale.

My hands went around his neck and I squeezed. His eyes widened as he gasped for breath.

“Where’s your phone?” I growled. He tried to speak but couldn’t because I was strangling him.

He pointed at his pocket and I glanced down.

Without a word, I released him and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

He began coughing violently, gasping for air, but I wasn’t moved.

I didn’t have to do much, he was already like this.

“Delete the video. I won’t say it twice,” I warned, holding the phone to his face.

He nodded, fumbling for the device. He operated it and then stared at me, fear dancing in his eyes.

“Done!” He shoved the phone toward me.

When I confirmed the video had been deleted, I got to my feet and stared down at him.

“The next time I see you with Lilith, your dick will be next.”

With that, I turned and walked away.

Lilith hadn’t gone far, so it was easy to catch up with her. I grabbed her hand and turned her to face me.

Immediately she freed herself from my grip as though it burned her and glared at me, her eyes blazing with hatred.

“Stay away from me! You’re no different from him!” she spat.

Then she turned and walked away.