Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Friends

For just a second, Lilith’s mask slipped, revealing something vulnerable underneath—loneliness, perhaps, or regret. But then Vanessa touched her arm, and the moment passed.

"Don’t delude yourself into thinking your current position means anything," Lilith recovered, her voice hard again. "Enzo may have hit a rough patch, but he has plans. Big plans. And when they come to fruition, you’ll wish you’d stayed in your place."

"My place is beside my Alpha," I stated firmly. "Where’s yours, Lilith? Still cleaning up Enzo’s messes while he gambles away what little remains of my father’s legacy?"

Her hand flew up as if to slap me, but I caught her wrist mid-air, surprising both of us with my newfound reflexes.

*Thank you, Ava,* I thought silently.

"Don’t," I warned quietly. "Not here. Not ever again."

I released her and stepped around the trio, walking away with my head held high despite the trembling in my limbs. Behind me, I heard Cassandra’s hushed voice: "She’s stronger than she looks."

"For now," Lilith replied ominously. "For now."

By the time I pushed through the mansion’s heavy front doors, my composure was hanging by a thread. The confrontation with Lilith had dredged up painful memories—the shock of my father’s death, Enzo’s swift transformation from occasionally caring stepbrother to cruel master, and Lilith’s betrayal of our friendship.

As promised, Tiny was waiting with the car at the bottom of the steps. But there, leaning against the sleek black vehicle with predatory grace, stood Leo. His powerful frame was outlined by the golden late afternoon light, dark hair ruffled by the sea breeze. Even from this distance, his presence made my heart race and Ava stir restlessly within me.

*Mate,* she purred appreciatively. *He came for us.*

The moment Leo’s eyes locked with mine, I felt the bond between us pulse with recognition and longing. He straightened immediately, his keen senses no doubt picking up on my emotional distress.

I tried to compose myself as I descended the steps, but my mask of calm was apparently less convincing than I’d hoped. Leo met me halfway, his expression darkening as he drew closer.

"What happened?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous as his hands came to rest possessively on my shoulders. His nostrils flared slightly as he scented the air. "Someone upset you."

Rather than answering immediately, I leaned into his solid warmth, drawing strength from his presence. "Just Luna politics," I murmured against his chest, breathing in his comforting scent of cedar and spice. "Nothing I can’t handle."

Leo’s arms encircled me, one hand coming up to cradle the back of my head protectively. Over my shoulder, I noticed his eyes scanning the mansion’s entrance, where several of my classmates had paused to observe our reunion.

"Was it Lilith?" he asked, his voice rumbling through his chest against my ear.

I pulled back slightly, surprised. "How did you know?"

A dangerous smile curved his lips. "Enzo’s mate has a reputation for viciousness that exceeds even his. Plus," he added, his thumb gently tracing the slight indentations on my wrist where her nails had dug in, "she left her mark."

His eyes darkened with barely controlled rage as he examined the small crescent marks. "She dared to put her hands on you?"

"Leo," I said softly, placing my palm against his cheek to recapture his attention. "I handled it."

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