19. Lily
Lily
Sunlight dapples the garden path, glinting off dew-kissed roses climbing the wrought-iron trellises.
I take a deep breath, letting the crisp mountain air refresh me, clearing away the lingering haze of a short night’s sleep after last night’s poker game. I’m still grinning about taking Leo for all his chocolate stash. Turns out I have quite a talent at bluffing.
This morning walk through the Haven’s sprawling gardens has become my ritual, a moment to ground myself and marvel at how much life has changed.
The Haven itself has transformed under Raph’s management. Since his father started his year-long sabbatical for stress-related health issues, Raph has poured himself into making this place even more special.
Leo’s cooking has become the heart of the community, his expanded kitchen now bustling with activity as orders flood in. His new pastry menu has locals making the trip just for a taste, and the demand for his takeout has grown so much he barely keeps up.
And Alaric… his counseling schedule is packed, even without his favorite Omega. But he’s different now. More open. We spend time tending to the Haven’s gardens, and every now and then, I catch a rare, soft smile when he’s focused on the plants, completely at ease.
My heart swells with love for them.
And my own world has expanded too. Months ago, I was drifting through the motions of living. Now, I’m actually living.
Afternoons with Mari fly by in a blur of laughter and coffee.
The spa has become my sanctuary, a place where skilled hands knead away years of tension.
My new counselor has been just as life-changing, helping me to uncover and reclaim parts of myself I never even realized were missing.
I pause for a moment, letting the serenity of the gardens wash over me.
The air is sweet with the fragrance of blooming roses. Bees hum lazily from flower to flower, their gentle droning blending with the distant chirping of birds.
I trail my fingers along the cool stone of the fountain, relishing the silky feel of the water as it bubbles and spills over the edge. The sound is musical.
I tilt my face up, letting my skin bathe in the sunlight, a contented sigh escaping my lips.
This. This is what peace feels like.
Turning back toward the main building, I smile, already planning a lazy morning in the jacuzzi with my latest book.
But as I round the rose garden, where the flowering bushes thin to offer a view of the driveway, I get a bad feeling.
In the distance, a figure emerges from a sleek black car.
Judging from his commanding posture alone, it must be an Alpha.
Even from here, I can sense the power in his stance.
The morning sun glints off what must be an expensive tailored suit as he pauses, his head turning slowly as he surveys the grounds.
When I see him heading toward the entrance, dread pools in my stomach like ice water. I hurry through the gardens, my shoes scraping against the stone path as worry propels me forward. I reach the lobby slightly breathless, catching the tail end of his conversation with Savannah.
“…non-negotiable. Either they agree to the settlement terms and hand over the Haven, or my client will take him for everything he’s worth.” His voice is smooth as silk but carries poison beneath. Every instinct screams danger.
Savannah’s usual warmth has drained from her face. “I… I’ll have to discuss this with the owner. If you could just wait—”
“Savannah? What’s going on?”
Raph strides in. His eyes narrow as he takes in the scene—Savannah’s distress, the stranger’s predatory smile.
“Ah, Mr. Larsen. Just the man I wanted to see.” The stranger extends a hand, but Raph ignores it.
“Who are you, and what business do you have here?” Raph’s voice is low, dangerous.
“Ethan Roth, attorney at law. I represent Damian McCoy.” The name freezes my blood. “It seems you and your associates have been poking around matters that don’t concern you. The McCoy Trust doesn’t take kindly to such intrusions.”
“Is that a threat?” Raph’s jaw ticks, a tell I’ve learned means he’s barely containing his rage.
“Merely a statement of fact,” Roth replies, spreading his hands in a gesture that’s pure theater. “My client is prepared to levy a multi-million dollar lawsuit against you for trying to illegally access private records.”
My heart lodges in my throat. Lawsuit? The word echoes in my head as confusion wars with rising panic. All these weeks of peace, of building a life here with my Alphas, suddenly feel fragile as spun glass.
“However,” Roth continues, “in a show of good faith, my client is prepared to offer a settlement. You sign over ownership of the Haven and agree to cease all investigation into the McCoy Trust, and he’ll drop the charges. A generous offer, considering the circumstances.”
Raph looks like he’s been slapped. “That fucking bastard.”
Roth sighs like he’s dealing with a particularly slow child.
“I’d be careful with that attitude, Mr. Larsen.
My client isn’t in the habit of making offers twice.
Turn this down, and he’ll bury you in lawsuits.
He has the money and patience to drag this through courts for years. Do you really want to test that?”
Heavy silence fills the lobby. I watch Raph’s throat work as he swallows, see the desperate calculations behind his eyes. This place is his father’s legacy, his home. And Damian’s trying to take it all away.
“Get the hell out,” he finally growls, his cedar scent spiking with an edge of untamed musk. “And don’t you dare come back.”
Roth shrugs, a smug smile playing at his lips. “Your funeral. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He pauses at the door. “You have 24 hours to reconsider. After that, all deals are off the table. I trust you’ll make the right decision.”
The door clicks shut behind him, leaving a suffocating silence.
Raph turns to me, his expression grim. “Lily…”
Just like that, the perfect bubble of peace I’ve been floating in bursts.