Chapter 221 The Uninvited Guest

Across town, at the Winthrop estate, Serena was hurried toward a waiting SUV.

Alpha Victor stopped her at the front steps.

"I made a few calls," he said. "If Eira isn’t at Southridge, check Sterling Tower and then the Thorne residence. Find her and settle this quietly."

"Grandfather, I can’t just show up at—"

"You can, and you will. Tell her we need time to gather the money. Apologize if you have to. Beg if you have to. Just keep this out of court."

Serena swallowed. "Do you really think she’ll listen?"

"I don’t care what you think. Do you understand me?"

She forced a nod. "Yes."

"Good. Go."

The driver dropped her at Southridge Estates a few minutes later.

Serena had visited the property with Isabella before, so security already had her name in the visitor database.

She gave the guard her name and told him she was there to visit the Hale residence at House Eleven.

After a quick check of the visitor list, he lifted the gate.

The moment she passed the gates, security notified Alpha Killian.

He called Mrs. Jones.

"Keep her away from Eira."

Mrs. Jones understood.

Lila had been up since sunrise and was halfway through breakfast when barking broke the quiet morning. She set down her coffee and stepped onto the porch.

Serena was stuck in the middle of the driveway, with a German shepherd latched onto each of her knee-high leather boots.

The dogs weren’t hurting her, but they had no intention of letting her go.

She tried to pull one foot free.

The dog leaned back, tightening its grip.

"Help!" Serena cried. "Get them off me!"

Her driver rushed out of the SUV and moved toward her.

"Stay back!" one of the guards shouted as Serena’s driver reached for the metal rod. "Don’t make any sudden moves."

The dogs held their ground.

Lila came down the porch steps in her slippers, a coffee mug in hand. She took a slow sip while Serena struggled to keep her balance.

"Well, look who finally showed up," Lila said. "A little late, though. The sun’s been up for hours."

"Miss Sterling," Serena said through clenched teeth, "call off your dogs. I need to speak with Eira. It’s important."

"You can talk from there. They haven’t even broken skin."

"I’m a guest."

"A guest gets invited." Lila raised an eyebrow. "You walked onto private property without permission. That makes you a trespasser."

Serena’s face flushed. She glanced at her driver, then lowered her voice.

"Keep this up, and if something happens to my baby, you’ll be held responsible."

Lila stared at her.

"Are you seriously using your pregnancy as a threat?"

"I’m warning you."

"No. You’re trying to scare me into helping you." Lila set her mug on the porch railing. "That’s not going to work."

Mrs. Jones stepped onto the porch beside her.

"A moment ago, she was a trespasser," she said calmly. "Now she’s threatening legal action over an unborn child. Her story keeps changing."

Lila nodded. "Good point."

Serena’s breathing grew uneven.

Lila glanced at the dogs. If Serena fell or suffered a medical emergency on Sterling property, it could turn into a legal mess.

"Duke. Scout. Let her go."

The dogs released Serena’s boots and stepped back.

Serena stumbled forward. Her expensive leather boots were covered in neat rows of puncture marks.

Lila tilted her head.

"Honestly, they almost look intentional. Very edgy."

"Enough," Serena snapped. "I came here to see Eira."

"To ask her to forget about the $118 million?" Lila asked.

"I came to ask for more time."

"Then ask her attorney. Eira doesn’t owe you a private meeting."

"Victor wants to speak with her."

"Then have Victor call Susan’s firm."

Serena looked past Lila toward the house. "I need to see Eira."

"No, you need Eira to see you. There’s a difference."

Serena tightened her grip on her purse. "You don’t understand what’s at stake."

"Oh, I understand perfectly." Lila’s voice lost its playful edge. "You accepted Sebastian’s money, cars, jewelry, and property. Now Eira wants it back, and everyone suddenly wants a quiet little conversation."

She picked up her coffee again.

"Here’s my advice. Start selling things. The cars, the house, whatever you can unload. You’re going to need the money."

"I never said we wouldn’t repay it," Serena snapped. "But I need to talk to Eira. There’s no reason to turn a private matter into a public scandal. She’s an internationally respected researcher now. Why drag this into court and humiliate herself?"

Lila gave her a slow round of applause.

"How thoughtful of you. I’m sure you showed Sebastian the same courtesy."

Serena’s expression tightened.

"But save the speech," Lila continued. "Eira isn’t Sebastian, and she’s not going to fall for a sob story."

Her smile disappeared.

"Now, are you leaving, or do I call the dogs back?"

Serena found no opening. She turned and walked back to the SUV with what little dignity she had left.

Once they were on the road, the driver muttered, "Eira probably isn’t even here. If she were, she wouldn’t be hiding behind all this security."

Serena stared out the window.

He might be right.

"Sterling Tower," she said.

The SUV had barely stopped near the entrance when a line of security guards blocked her path.

The lead guard stepped forward.

"Ms. Winthrop, you’re not permitted on the property."

There was no polite lie about her being a stranger or an unverified visitor. They knew exactly who she was.

This had Alpha Killian’s fingerprints all over it.

Serena had never understood his interest in Eira.

Killian Sterling had inherited one of the oldest and most powerful Packs on the continent before he was old enough to drink legally in some states. His territory stretched across three states, and every border patrol answered to him.

Yet he had chosen a divorced Omega with no wolf and no prestigious family name.

Serena had once wondered if it was some kind of twisted preference.

Now she understood something else. Alpha Killian had built a wall of protection around Eira, and Serena could not find a way through it.

But she had no other choice. If she wanted to get what she needed, she would have to go straight to Eira.

Then, a different idea came to her.

"Then I’ll see Professor Davies."

"Professor Davies doesn’t see uninvited visitors either."

Serena bit back a curse.

She returned to the SUV and waited in the back seat, keeping her eyes on the entrance to Sterling Tower.

She had no intention of leaving empty-handed, no matter how long she had to wait.