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Chapter Thirty-Eight

Miles

I 'd finished with practice, had my shower and was putting my cleats in my locker when I my phone notified me of an incoming text. Sitting on the bench I looked at the link Christopher, who was still at his practice, sent me.

“Wonder what he sent this time.” I muttered and clicked the link, and a smile came over my face as I saw what it was.

The screen showed Lilianna's first Instagram post under WildflowerWords—my forget-me-not carefully arranged beside her journal, steam rising from a delicate teacup.

The image was beautiful, but what struck me most was the caption: "First pages of a new chapter. "

My chest tightened with something between pride and possession.

She'd used my flower for her first step into the digital world, and somehow that felt significant.

Like she was carrying a piece of me into this new space she was creating for herself.

I scrolled through some of the comments, pleased to see they were overwhelmingly positive.

The public was already falling for her gentle authenticity, just as we had.

My phone buzzed with a text from Christopher: Look at our girl being brave and beautiful. Already 500 followers and counting.

Our girl. The phrase settled in my chest like a perfect chord, harmonious and right. I typed back: She used my flowers.

Of course she did. Was his quick response.

I smiled, tucking my phone into my gym bag as I gathered my things.

The walk to my car felt lighter somehow, knowing that Lilianna was at home taking these brave steps forward.

When I'd cut that forget-me-not this morning, I'd chosen it specifically for its meaning—true love and remembrance.

The fact that she'd selected it for her first post felt like more than coincidence.

As I got to my car I frowned seeing two people I wasn’t happy to see. Lilianna’s parents. I tried to keep my temper in as I approached.

“Lexton” Lilianna's mother said, her voice crisp with the kind of authority that expected immediate compliance. She stood beside a sleek black sedan, her posture rigid and her expression cold. "We need to speak with you about our daughter."

"Lilianna is no longer your concern," I replied evenly, keeping my voice calm despite the protective fury building in my chest. “The moment you signed that agreement for courtship and you got money and connections…. you lost all right to her.”

Lilianna's father, Richard Waycliffe, stepped forward, his face flushed with indignation. "She's still our daughter, Lexton. And we've been hearing disturbing reports about her behavior. Social media accounts…this isn't what we agreed to when we allowed this courtship."

"Allowed?" I repeated, my voice dropping to a dangerous register. "You sold her. Let's not pretend this was some magnanimous gesture on your part."

Caroline Waycliffe lips thinned to a bloodless line. "We facilitated a beneficial arrangement for all parties involved. But Lilianna was raised with certain expectations, certain standards of behavior. This... flaunting herself online is completely inappropriate for an omega of her breeding."

I felt my hands clench into fists at my sides. "Her breeding? She's not livestock. Also, she isn’t giving her name or even showing her face online right now."

"And yet she's drawing attention to herself in ways that reflect poorly on our family name," Richard interjected, his voice sharp with disapproval. "We invested considerable time and resources into shaping her into a proper omega. This... wildness she's displaying now is unacceptable."

"Wildness?" I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a growl that made both of them take an involuntary step back. "You mean happiness? Independence? The ability to make her own choices?"

Caroline's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't be naive, Lexton. We know what you and your packmates are doing to her. Taking her off suppressants, encouraging this rebellious behavior. She was perfectly content before you interfered."

"Content?" The word came out as a snarl. "She was dying inside. Slowly, quietly, but dying nonetheless. And you were so concerned with your precious reputation that you never even noticed," I finished, my voice deadly quiet.

Richard's face darkened. "We gave her everything. The finest education, the best tutors, a place in society—"

"You gave her a cage," I cut him off, my patience finally snapping. "You drugged her into compliance and called it propriety. You silenced her voice and called it obedience. The only thing you gave her was trauma."

Caroline stepped forward, her expression venomous. "How dare you speak to us that way. We are her parents. We know what's best for—"

"You were her parents," I corrected, emphasizing the past tense. "Now you're strangers who happen to share DNA. And if you think for one second that I'm going to let you anywhere near her after what you've done..."

"The agreement can be dissolved," Caroline snapped, which only caused me to laugh.

“You can’t actually.” A slow but sharp smile came to my lips as I saw their faces fall.

"The agreement is ironclad," I said, my voice low and dangerous.

"Your lawyers made sure of that when they were so eager to secure Julian's political connections and Christopher's family fortune.

The only way to dissolve it would be if Lilianna herself chose to leave—and we both know that's not happening. "

Richard's face went pale. "There must be provisions—"

"There are," I interrupted. "All in our favor. You signed away parental rights in exchange for social status and financial gain. The only provision that could void the agreement would be if we mistreated her, and I think we both know that's the opposite of what's happening."

Caroline's composure cracked slightly. "She belongs with her own kind. With proper omega society, not running wild—"

"Careful," I warned, my voice dropping to a register that made them both freeze.

"Be very careful about what you're implying about your daughter.

" I took a step closer, letting my alpha presence fill the space between us.

"Lilianna belongs exactly where she is with people who value her mind, her heart, and her choices.

Not with those who would drug and diminish her. "

Richard's jaw worked, his eyes darting from side to side as if looking for backup. "This isn't over, Lexton. We have friends in influential places—"

"So do we," I cut him off coldly. "And unlike yours, our friends actually care about our wellbeing, not just what we can do for them."

Caroline's perfectly manicured hand clutched at her designer purse, knuckles white with tension. "We only want to speak with her. To ensure she's truly... happy with this arrangement."

The false concern in her voice made my stomach turn.

"If Lilianna wants to talk to you we will reach out.” I glared at them before getting into my car, slamming the door shut.

I drove away from the parking lot, knuckles white on the steering wheel as I fought to control my temper.

The encounter with Lilianna's parents had left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Their audacity, showing up like that—acting as if they had any right to dictate her life after what they'd done.

My phone rang through the car speakers. Julian.

"You're late," he said without preamble. "Christopher just got home and you usually make it home from your practice before him.”

I took a deep breath, trying to not let my anger show through into my voice, "I had visitors at the training facility."

"Visitors?" Julian's voice sharpened immediately. "What kind of visitors?"

"The Waycliffes." The silence that followed was deadly. I could almost see Julian's expression hardening, his jaw setting into that rigid line that meant someone had crossed a boundary they shouldn't have.

“How long until you are home. Lilianna already went to bed.” I could hear the low growl in his voice and knew he was angry. I was too and knew the other two would be as well.

"Ten minutes," I replied, turning onto the main road that would take me back to our home. “We can all have a sit down talk when I get there.”

The house was quiet when I let myself in, but not in the peaceful way it usually was after dinner. The lights were low in the main room, the kind of dim that felt deliberate. Controlled. Like everyone was waiting for something.

I stepped out of my shoes, shrugged out of my coat, and walked into the kitchen where the other three were gathered.

Julian sat at the head of the table, one hand resting against his mouth, his brow drawn low.

Nicolaus was nursing a glass of red wine, expression unreadable but posture stiff.

Christopher stood, arms crossed, pacing in a slow line near the windows.

The tension was a live thing in the room—coiled and heavy.

“She’s asleep?” I asked softly, needing to confirm it again.

Julian nodded. “She was tired I think from the anxiety of making a social account today, so she went to bed early.”

“Good.” I exhaled, scrubbing a hand through my hair. I felt the grit of practice still clinging to me despite the shower. The tension with the Waycliffes hadn’t exactly cleansed me. If anything, it made me feel dirtier.

Christopher’s pacing stopped. “You said they showed up. Both of them?”

I nodded, jaw tight. “Right outside the stadium. Waiting by my car like some horror-movie power couple.”

Julian’s eyes flicked to mine. “What did they say?”