Alistair’s eyes remained on Lily, as though searching for something even he couldn’t define.

She refused to meet his gaze, fixing her eyes instead on the carpet.

he finally exhaled deeply,

the sound of his voice heavy with unspoken judgment.

“You may leave,”

he commanded, his voice clipped, no warmth in it.

She rose from her seat with a slowness, her legs trembling beneath her.

She risked one last glance at Alistair’s face, the disappointment on it was like a mask.

She shifted her eyes away as quickly as possible, as though the eyes were literally burning her face , after then she forced her feet to move.

The grand doors groaned open and then shut behind her,

the sound echoing through the silent halls like the final toll of a bell.

Moments later while in the seperate chambers that was meant for her alone, Lily sat coiled up on the armchair, her knees drawn to her chest.

This wasn’t the room she was meant to share with Alistair it was smaller, more intimate, yet no less luxurious.

She had barely given it a glimpse since arriving the day before, and now it's beauty seemed distant and irrelevant considering the situation on ground.

Starting from the mahogany dresser, to the ornate bed she hadn’t even touched, they all appeared secondary at this point.

Her fingers absentmindedly traced the embroidery on her robe as her mind tried replaying everything that had happened in the last few hours.

The rogue wolf’s snarling maw, Callum’s strong hands pulling her to safety, his lips catching unto her own moments later in the forest, his delicious bites and sucks,

the consequent sting of Alistair’s fury and then, finally Callum’s unexpected defense.

How had it come to this? Wasn’t it a bad omen that so much had happened in such a short time?

There was a tightness in her abdomen as she thought of Callum.

She had been drawn to him from the moment she first laid eyes on him, as though some invisible force had tethered them.

It was terrifying, this connection, this pull.

And yet, wasn’t it a wonder that he kept saving her, defending her, despite his earlier warning to stay away?

Lily shook her head,

Her heart ached with confusion, her emotions a mess of guilt, fear, and something dangerously close to sexual yearning.

She was still in this state when, two soft knocks shattered the silence.

Her body jolted, as she sprang to her feet.

Before she could take another step, Alistair’s voice came through the door, low and mechanical.

“Don’t bother opening,” he said with a distant tone.

“I’m leaving for a meeting. I’ll return tonight.”

The announcement hung in the air, stark and impersonal.

Lily stood frozen, unsure how to respond.

There was a pause, an expectant silence that made hair on her skin stand

“Well?” Alistair’s tone sharpened, his next words sounded like rebuke.

“Will you just stay muted or say something to acknowledge me?”

Lily blinked rapidly, her thoughts scrambling to catch up.

“Oh Yes… sorry I .. I understand,”

she stammered.

There was no reply, only the sound of his retreating footsteps fading into the corridor.

As silence returned to the room, Lily let out an unsteady breath, pressing a trembling hand to her forehead.

Her knees gave out, and she sank back into the chair,

What was happening to her life?

Later as the night progressed, Lily lay wide awake in her bed, tossing and turning restlessly

No matter how tightly she shut her eyes, she couldn’t escape the disturbance of her dilemma.

Callum’s unexpected defense, and her own conflicted feelings.

She needed a distraction. Anything to quiet her racing thoughts.

She wrapped herself in her robe, and left the room,

She passed by a maid in the corridor who gave her a surprised look.

"Lady Lily, are you alright? Do you need anything?"

Lily managed a small smile, shaking her head.

“I’m fine, really. Just… couldn’t sleep.”

The maid hesitated before nodding.

“Let me know if you need anything,” she said softly, before continuing on her way.

Lily wandered aimlessly for a while before her feet carried her to the study a quiet, grand room she rarely visited.

The heavy scent of leather and old books greeted her as she pushed the oak door open, expecting an empty space.

Instead, her breath caught in her throat.

Seated near the fireplace was a man.

A book rested in his hands, eyes vacant.

Lily froze,

What was he doing here at this hour? She felt a strange pull toward him, coupled with guilt that she couldn’t fully explain. How could she face him, she couldn't allow herself to be alone with him again after all that has happened.

She bit her lip, deciding to leave before he noticed her.

But just as she began to step back, his voice broke the silence, smooth and laced with quiet amusement.

“You’re terrible at sneaking around,” he said without looking up, turning a page as though he had all the time in the world.

Her heart thudded in her chest. She turned back toward him, stiff and flustered.

“I…I wasn’t sneaking,”

she said quickly, her voice unsteady.

Callum finally looked up, his dark eyes locking onto hers,

his gaze was sharp,as though he saw far more than she wanted to reveal.

“Then what were you doing? Wandering the halls like a ghost?”

Lily’s cheeks burned under his scrutiny.

“I… I couldn’t sleep,” she said softly, glancing away. “I thought I might find something to read.”

Callum leaned back in his chair, closing the book with a deliberate snap.

“Well, you’ve found me instead,” he said, his tone unreadable.

Lily hesitated, her gaze flickering to the door.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’ll just…”

“Stay,” he interrupted, gesturing to the seat across from him. “You’re already here. And wandering around in the dark isn’t going to help you sleep.”

The air between them seemed to hum with tension. Lily’s fingers tightened around the edge of her robe as she debated her next move. Callum’s steady gaze held hers, unyielding,

“What?” When gasped.