"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it," Christopher assured me, his voice steady and confident. "Together."
I nodded, drawing strength from his certainty. "Lydia also mentioned something about legal action. That her Alpha—Lucian—threatened her parents with it when they wouldn't leave her alone."
Nicolaus nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That's always an option. Restraining orders exist for a reason, and harassment is a serious offense."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Miles said gently, turning back to the stove to stir the rich-smelling sauce. "But it's good to know we have options."
The sound of a door opening interrupted our conversation, followed by quick footsteps in the hallway. A moment later, Julian appeared in the kitchen doorway, his tie loosened and his expression harried but brightening immediately when he saw me.
"There you are," he said, crossing the room to press a kiss to the top of my head. "I'm sorry I missed your return. How was your day with Nicolaus?"
"It was perfect," I said, leaning into his touch as he settled his hand on my shoulder.
Julian smiled, his thumb brushing the nape of my neck in a gesture that sent pleasant shivers down my spine. "I'm glad to hear it.”
"Everything alright with the client?" Nicolaus asked, his voice carrying the professional concern that always surfaced when work intruded on our personal time.
Julian's expression tightened slightly. "Nothing that can't be handled. A merger fell through at the last minute, but we'll find another solution." He shook his head, as if physically pushing the work thoughts away. "But enough about that. I want to hear about your violin lesson."
I launched into an animated description of my time with Elena, watching Julian's expression soften with each detail. I was just happy to just talk about my day with the…just exist without any expectations.
I was just home.
Chapter Sixty
Lilianna
I sat in my room the next day in the early afternoon, having done some social media posts. My following has doubled since I last looked at it.
I scrolled through the comments on my latest post - a photo of my violin case sitting on the music room windowsill with afternoon light streaming through. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, with followers expressing excitement about my musical journey and asking when I'd share a video of myself playing.
"Soon," I murmured to myself, smiling at the thought. Elena had said I was progressing faster than expected, and I'd been practicing diligently every day since our first lesson.
A soft knock on my door interrupted my scrolling. "Come in," I called, setting my phone aside.
Julian appeared in the doorway, his expression carrying a mixture of concern and careful control that I'd learned to recognize. Something was wrong.
"What is it?" I asked, sitting up straighter as he closed the door behind him with deliberate quiet.
"We need to talk," he said, crossing the room to sit on the edge of my bed. His hands were steady, but I could see the tension in the set of his shoulders. "I received a call about an hour ago."
My stomach dropped. "My mother?"
Julian shook his head, “No. Yesterday on your outing. Someone took a picture of you and Nicolaus when you were leaving the music store. Caught you two kissing and got a clear picture of your face.”
My blood turned to ice. "What kind of picture?"
Julian's jaw tightened. "A very clear one. You're both easily identifiable." He pulled out his phone, showing me a photo that made my heart stop. There we were on the sidewalk outside Harmony, Nicolaus's hands cupping my face as I stood on my toes to kiss him. The image was sharp, well-lit, and left no doubt about who we were or what we were doing.
"Where did this come from?" I whispered, my hands trembling as I stared at the screen.
"A local photographer was apparently documenting small businesses in Heaven's Rest. He posted it on his social media with a caption about 'young love blooming in our charming downtown.'" Julian's voice was carefully controlled, but I could hear the anger simmering beneath. "It's been shared dozens of times already."
I felt dread seeping into my bones at his words.
"And because of that they know you’re connected to this pack, and that we’re courting you." Julian's voice remained measured, but his eyes betrayed his concern. "The photographer taggedboth the music store and Heaven's Rest in the post. Anyone searching those locations would find it easily."
“What will happen then…” I asked, trying to figure out how people will react to the pack courting me being public knowledge now. That my mother could now go and try to spin things to the press.
