Chapter 97: You've lost me

Chapter 97: You've lost me
Gwendolyn stood frozen in shock, staring at Julian like she didn't recognize him. He looked like he had been through hell. 

"Julian, what happened to you?" She cried out. 

Julian wiped the blood that spilled out of his mouth and struggled to sit up. He looked at the guards around him, then finally looked at Kieran. 

"I know you don't trust me." He said with great difficulty. "And I know I haven't given you any reason to do so. But you have to believe me. Ragnar has informed the Immortals about Gwen."

Kieran didn't believe a word of what he just said. He placed himself in front of Gwendolyn in case Julian tried anything funny. 

"You have a lot of nerve showing your face here again after escaping! I will have you killed. Where is Lilithia?"

"You have no choice but to believe me." Julian yelled. "Ragnar killed Lilithia. She was my mate and he killed her. I couldn't save her because of the Khaldron. I barely managed to escape with my own life."

"How do you know what Gwen is?" Kieran shot back. 

"I don't know what she is, but I heard Ragnar. After Lilith helped me escape, we hid away in Silvercrest pack. One night, while taking a walk, I heard Ragnar talking with someone. They planned to travel to the hills and cave to let the Immortals know. I told Lilithia about it, but Ragnar found us. He killed her and ordered his men to attack me. By the time I managed to escape, Ragnar was gone. It's been two days since he left."

He struggled to his feet and faced Kieran. "I only came back because of Gwendolyn. She's all I care about, and I would gladly give my life for her."

Gwendolyn felt her heart melt. Her feelings were divided. A part of her wanted to believe Julian, but the other part, the reasonable part, suspected that this was all a ploy. 

She turned to Kieran. "Kieran, let me tend to his wounds."

"You'll do no such thing." Kieran snapped. 

"I'm not asking you to release him, or take off the Khaldron." Gwendolyn said quickly. "But he's been through so much. And he could be telling the truth."

"He's lying."

She drew back in surprise. "How do you know that?"

"Because Lilithia is Ragnar's informant." Kieran broke the news. He took a step forward and glared down at Julian, then turned back to Gwendolyn. "Dom found out who the informant was. Someone who kept providing the pack's information to Ragnar. It was Lilithia."

He turned back to Julian. "Ragnar wouldn't kill her, not when she was important to him." 

He grabbed Julian around the collar and yanked him forward. "It's either you're lying, or you have a much better explanation for what happened to you."

Julian gulped nervously. "I swear, I don't know what you're talking about. Ragnar killed Lilithia right before my eyes. Please, if you really care about Gwendolyn, you'll start doing something to keep her safe. Because as we speak, the Immortals are already on their way." 

Kieran didn't believe him, but at the same time, if there was a sliver of truth in what he was saying, he would have to find a way to protect Gwendolyn. 

He shoved Julian away and turned back to Gwendolyn. She looked terrified, and it tore at his heart. 

"Kieran what do we do?" She whispered. 

He pulled her into his arms. "I'll keep you safe. I promise. Just trust me."

"But if the Immortals are on their way..."

"Gwen, do you trust me?"

She shut her eyes and nodded. "Yes. Yes, I trust you."

"Then don't worry about the Immortals. They won't lay their hands on you."

He turned to Ryder who stood close to Julian, keeping his eyes on him. 

"Ryder, remember the plan?"

Ryder nodded once. "Sure do."

"Initiate it."

Ryder's eyes fogged as he sent a message through the mind link. 

Kieran pulled Gwendolyn away while he ordered the guards to restrain Julian. 

"I guess we have to push your coronation." He murmured. "But I already see you as my Luna. And so do the people."

Gwendolyn leaned against him and smiled. "That's the least of my worries now. What plan is Ryder initiating?"

"I suspected this day would come, so Ryder trained the warriors in a drill. It's to protect you. Don't worry about it. Just stay by my side all night. If the Immortals eventually come, we'll be ready."

Gwendolyn nodded as pressed a kiss on her forehead, but she was still worried. This was the feeling of foreboding that had remained with her all morning. 

She looked down at her gown. If a fight broke out, she wouldn't be able to defend herself in it. 

She turned to Kieran. "I'm going to change out of this dress, into something lighter."

"I'll come with you." Kieran took her hand, but she stopped him. 

"No, stay here with Julian. As much as I feel bad for him, I don't trust him. He might try something and I know you'll be able to stop him."

That made sense. "Alright." Kieran nodded. "But Dom will go with you. He'll wait outside and bring you back. I'm not taking any chances tonight."

She smiled and nodded, then walked away. Dom followed behind her. When she disappeared into the mansion, he stayed outside and waited. 

At that moment, Kieran noticed a smear of blood on his knuckles. It was Julian's blood. When he grabbed him by the collar, his knuckles grazed the wound on his neck. 

But there was something peculiar about it. He lifted his hand to his nose and sniffed. It smelled different. 

It actually had faint traces of lycan blood, but there was an underlying deeper scent. Almost like pig's blood. 

He jerked his head upwards suddenly. In a few strides, he was beside Julian. 

"What are you doing?" Julian started to struggle, but Kieran overpowered him. 

He lifted him and dragged his palm over one of the wounds. There was no scar underneath. Just a generous amount of pig's blood mixed with a little lycan blood. 

Julian wasn't battered. He didn't have a single scar on his body. 

The moment he came to this realization, he looked up at Julian. And the latter glared back at him with a dark smirk. 

"Too late, Kieran." He muttered just as a loud roar rippled through the air. 

... 

Gwendolyn had just changed into a pair of pants and a shirt when Julian burst into the room. 

She shrieked, her claws shooting out to defend herself.

"Julian! What's happening?"

"We have to go, Gwen. Now!" Julian yelled in a voice filled with panic. "The Immortals are here."

He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the back door of the mansion. Gwendolyn followed, her heart beating loudly, totally believing him. 

They burst through the back door and raced into the forest, running over tangled tree roots and branches. 

But when Gwendolyn noticed they weren't being followed, she yanked her arm out of his grip and stopped. 

"Gwen what are you doing? We have to go!"

"No! I can't leave Kieran!" She started to run back, but he grabbed her arm again. 

"Kieran is fighting to protect you. I have to get you to safety."

Suddenly, something clicked in her mind the moment Julian said those words. 

She looked back at him with a frown. Kieran wouldn't send him to get her to safety. He would send Dom or Ryder. 

And now that she had time to think, they weren't being followed. 

"Julian, where are the Immortals?"

When he didn't answer, her panic increased. She noticed then that he hadn't been running like someone who was in pain. He wasn't hurt. 

The pieces were slowly clicking together. She took a step back, her eyes wide with shock. 

"You lied. There are no Immortals, are there? This was all part of your plan."

"Gwen, I'm trying to save you. You don't belong with that hybrid. You belong with me. Let's just run away and start our own life. We'll find Luna Naomi and rebuild our pack."

Gwendolyn stared at him like he had lost his mind. She couldn't believe how far he could go just to take her away from Kieran. 

"You're insane." She spat. "I would never be with someone like you. This is the last straw, Julian. You've lost me. Completely."

She turned and started to walk back to the mansion. 

Julian watched her go, and a surge of anger came over him. 

He picked up a thick tree branch and went after her. 

"If I can't have you, then he won't either." He snarled. 

Gwendolyn started to turn around when he lifted the stick and smashed it on her face, knocking her unconscious.