Chapter 75 Because Of You
Briar's POV
"Alpha Julian wants a word with you," James said, his tone as flat as always.
I turned toward the car, and through the tinted window, I could see Julian's cold gray-blue eyes locked on me. The air between us felt heavy, suffocating, even with the glass separating us. We stared at each other in silence, neither of us moving, and I could feel my pulse quickening in my chest.
His gaze was unreadable, but there was something in the way he watched me that made my skin prickle with unease. The sky above us darkened, and a light drizzle began to fall, the droplets tapping softly against the car's roof and windshield.
I brushed the damp strands of hair away from my face, the cool rain soaking into my coat, and watched as the rear door opened. Julian stepped out into the night, his silhouette cutting through the dim light of the parking lot. He closed the door behind him without a word, his eyes never leaving mine, and I felt my breath catch as he moved closer.
I hesitated, my mind racing through every possible reason he could have for showing up here at this hour. I took a breath and forced myself to speak. "It's pretty late... is there something—"
"Do I need to pick a time to see you?" Julian interrupted, his voice low and sharp.
He stepped closer, and I instinctively took a small step back, but he reached out and caught my chin with his fingers, tilting my face up toward his. His touch was firm, not quite rough, but commanding enough to make me freeze. He studied me for a moment, his eyes scanning my face with an expression I couldn't quite read, and then he said, almost offhandedly, "You've put on a little weight. Guess you've been eating well lately."
I blinked, caught off guard by the observation. My heart was still racing from the sudden confrontation, and I struggled to keep my voice steady. "When you're busy, you get hungry easier," I said quickly. "I've been eating a bit more."
His hand slid down from my chin to my neck, his fingers trailing along the side of my throat. The pressure increased slightly, and I felt my breath catch as his thumb pressed against the pulse point beneath my jaw. "Busy?" he repeated, his tone darkening. "Or maybe you're just too happy these days?"
The rain was falling harder now, soaking through my clothes and chilling my skin, but Julian didn't seem to notice. His eyes were fixed on mine, and there was something in them, something cold and wet and searching, that made me wonder if he knew. If he had somehow found out about Lucian, about the time I had been spending away from his control. My heart pounded so hard I was certain he could feel it beneath his fingers, but I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my expression neutral.
"I am pretty happy," I said carefully, forcing the words out even though they tasted bitter on my tongue. "But that's because of you."
Julian's fingers paused, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Because of me?"
I nodded, swallowing hard against the pressure of his hand on my throat. "Yeah. Last time James mentioned you tried to smooth things over with your father for me."
For a moment, Julian didn't respond. The rain was coming down in sheets now, and I could see the water running down his forehead, dripping from his dark hair onto his face. It washed away some of the cold hardness in his expression, and for just a second, I thought I saw something softer underneath, something almost vulnerable. He pulled my head closer, his voice dropping so low I could barely hear him over the rain. "You like it this way?"
I stared at him, shocked. Julian never asked questions like that. He never asked for my opinion, never cared what I wanted. The shift in his tone threw me completely off balance, and I found myself nodding quickly, desperate to get out of the rain and away from him before he could sense the lie. "It's pouring. I'm getting cold. Can I go back inside?"
Julian's hand fell away, and he stepped back. For a moment, I thought he would stop me, would pull me back the way he always did, but instead he just said, "Alright."
I didn't wait for him to change his mind. I turned and hurried toward the building, my heart still racing as I stepped into the elevator. The doors closed, and I leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. My hands were shaking, and I pressed them against my sides to stop the trembling.
When the elevator reached my floor, I stepped out and walked down the hallway, but something made me stop at the window near the stairwell. I looked down at the parking lot, and to my surprise, Julian was still standing there, right where I had left him, the rain pouring down on him.
He wasn't moving. He just stood there, his hands in his pockets, staring at the ground. The rain soaked through his clothes, plastering his hair to his forehead, and he looked completely lost in thought. It was so unlike him.
I pressed my hand against the cold glass, watching him through the rain-streaked window, and I felt a strange twist in my chest. I was about to turn and head to my apartment when I saw a figure approaching him from the edge of the lot. A woman, holding a black umbrella, walking straight toward Julian.
I leaned closer to the window, squinting through the rain. It was Willow.
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Willow's POV
I approached Julian slowly, holding the umbrella over my head as the rain hammered down around me. He didn't move, didn't even look up, and when I reached him, I lifted the umbrella to cover both of us. He shoved it away immediately, his expression cold and dismissive, and I felt the rain soak through my coat within seconds.
"We'll announcing your split with Chloe in three days," I said, keeping my voice calm and measured. "And I'll be your new fiancée."
Julian let out a short, harsh laugh, and I saw the flash of contempt in his eyes. "Silverwind Pack really knows how to play the game, huh?"
I tightened my grip on the umbrella handle, refusing to let his mockery get under my skin. "Think whatever you want. But it's the best move for both sides."
He turned toward the car, his jaw tight with irritation. "I don't give a damn who the fiancée is. I can kick you all out anyway."
"One year ago," I said sharply, and he froze mid-step. "That bet between Vance Botanicals and Montgomery Medical Group—you rigged it."
Julian went completely still, and I saw the shift in his eyes, the faint flash of gold cutting through the gray-blue. His wolf was close to the surface, and I could feel the tension radiating off him like heat. He turned slowly, his gaze locking onto mine, and for a moment, I thought he might lunge at me.
"You think she'll still want you after she finds out the truth?" I asked, taking a step closer.
His pupils narrowed into slits, and a cold smile spread across his face. "I don't give a shit what she thinks. As long as I've got her under my thumb, that's all that matters."
I moved closer, close enough to feel the heat rolling off him despite the freezing rain. "You went to all that trouble to set the trap, force the Vances to hand her over as collateral."
Julian's Alpha pheromones exploded outward, a wave of cold fir and blood that made my chest tighten. I ignored it and reached out, pressing my hand flat against his chest. His heart was pounding beneath my palm, fast and hard, betraying every word he had just said.
"Your heart's racing like crazy," I said softly, looking up at him with a small smile. "Still gonna pretend you don't care?"
Julian grabbed my wrist and shoved me back hard. I stumbled, my feet slipping on the wet pavement, and the umbrella flew out of my hand, clattering to the ground. The rain drenched me instantly, and I watched as Julian turned and climbed into the car. The door slammed shut with a force that echoed across the empty parking lot, and the engine roared to life. The car sped off, its taillights disappearing into the rain-soaked night.
I stood there for a moment, letting the rain pour down on me, and then I bent down and picked up the umbrella. I walked back to my car slowly, water dripping from my hair and clothes, and as I opened the door and slid inside, I allowed myself a small smile.
The game's just getting started. When you figure out who the real player is...