From Betrayed Luna to Wolf Queen (Lillian) novel Chapter 3

Lillian's POV:

Chloe wanted to take me back to her family's pack lands.

I insisted on going to 58 Galaxy Road—the private apartment I had quietly purchased four months ago.

It seemed that over the last six months, while Julian was busy with his own priorities, I had been silently laying the groundwork for my escape.

"You won't even come to my place where I can look after you properly," Chloe grumbled as she tucked a thick fleece blanket around my shoulders before heading to the kitchen to start a pot of chicken noodle soup. "When did you get this place, anyway?"

Pulling the blanket tighter, I answered calmly, "The second month after Ethan died."

Chloe paused, the wooden spoon hovering over the pot. "That early? You were already planning to leave Julian back then?"

I merely hummed in affirmation, sinking back wearily into the plush sofa cushions.

In the month following Ethan's death, Julian spent nearly every waking hour at Graves Estate, rarely returning to the home we shared.

On the few occasions he did come back, he would leave again the moment Iris called.

What kind of mate could endure such a twisted mate bond?

My phone buzzed on the coffee table.

It was the landline from the villa. I declined the call without a second thought and promptly blocked the number.

Almost instantly, Chloe's phone rang—Julian's name flashing on the screen.

She answered, her voice dripping with icy sarcasm. "What do I owe the pleasure? Isn't your sister-in-law in need of your constant support?"

"Put Lillian on the phone." Julian's voice was low, strained with impatience.

Chloe let out a harsh, humorless laugh. "Iris just pushed out two pups and must be feeling delicate—shouldn't you be fetching her ice chips or something? Why are you bothering Lillian? What exactly is Lillian to you these days?"

"Chloe!" Julian's anger vibrated down the line.

Chloe glanced back at me. I was staring at my own phone screen, my expression utterly closed off.

She carried her phone into the kitchen and shut the door. "Julian, have you completely lost your grip on reality? Can't you see Iris is either using you as a stand-in for Ethan or hoping a face identical to his will play daddy to her pups?

"And instead of setting boundaries, you're wrapped around her finger. Don't pretend you haven't heard the gossip rippling through every social circle in Gilneas City—unless you're just willfully deaf?"

Chloe's voice shook with fury. Even through the closed door, my wolf-sharpened hearing caught every syllable of their exchange.

"Iris has no shame, and your entire pack is enabling her. And you—you're not just reading the lines, you're buying into the role," Chloe seethed, venting the anger I couldn't.

Julian's words were gritted out. "I said, Put. Lillian. On. The. Phone."

He'd clearly run out of patience for arguing with a third party.

Chloe fired back, "She just had a miscarriage. She lost your pup and is dealing with the physical and psychic fallout—she can't handle your drama right now. With that tone, it's better you don't speak to her at all.

"If you can't even be a proper mate, then stop making everything worse for her. Your sister-in-law seems to need you so desperately—why don't you just make her your permanent side project?"

Without allowing Julian another word, Chloe ended the call.

When she returned to the living room, my knuckles were white from gripping my phone.

"What are you looking at? Don't torture yourself," Chloe said softly, reaching for my phone.

I turned slightly, keeping it out of her reach.

"Do you remember Moonvale?" I asked, my voice distant.

Chloe nodded, sitting beside me. "Of course. You entered the architectural design competition for that resort community project three years ago. Your proposal didn't make the final cut."

Moonvale. It was my sanctuary.

Every October, when the forest there would explode into a tapestry of crimson and gold, it always brought me a profound sense of peace.

Chloe and I had gone there together once. Later, when the luxury eco-development was announced, I threw myself into the competition, preparing for three months. I had made over five separate site visits, drafted countless sketches, and pulled all-nighters to complete a comprehensive design portfolio.

Julian's POV:

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