Page 9 of My Possessive Alpha

While I was glad nothing had happened to me, thanks to Sebastian finding me outside the bar, I still didn’t know what to think about him. He was an enigma to me ever since my parentswarned me to stay away from him, and as innocent and relaxed as he looked while cooking, I couldn’t shake those troubling thoughts out of my head.

Before I could say anything, Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, meeting my gaze with several loose strands of hair falling into his eyes. He brightened, likely having sensed me since the moment I reached the hallway.

“Hey, you’re up,” he said, pulling a charming smile that gave me immediate flashbacks to when he was a teen—always flashing that smile and reducing everyone around him to mush. “Come, sit. Have some breakfast with me.”

Despite my growling stomach, I retained some hesitancy in giving in. It was a kind offer, and the way he ran his fingers through his hair piqued my interest, but I could hear my parents in the back of my mind.

Don’t trust him or his family.

But before I could decline and insist that I should get going, he was already busy pulling two pristine plates from the cupboard and dishing food onto them.

Turning back to me and offering a plate on the island counter, his brows lifted expectantly. “Don’t be shy. Dig in. You’ll need the extra energy after last night.”

Even if I was older than I had been when I used to swoon over him, it seemed that reflex didn’t completely leave me. Being under those brown eyes made me feel squeamish, like I was nervous all over again despite how I tried to repress it.

With a subtle exhale, I nodded and accepted the plate. Sitting on the closest stool, I took in the comforting aroma of the home-cooked meal—bacon, scrambled eggs, and pancakes with sliced berries on top—he went the extra mile.

Sebastian chuckled as he leaned back against the counter behind him, holding his plate while he lightly impaled some egg with his fork. “All of that running must’ve made you starving. I can see it in your eyes.”

I flushed immediately at the veiled tease, ignoring him while I started. Just to prove him wrong, I ate slower than I would’ve preferred, savoring the taste and comfort it brought me.

While we were able to catch up, we ate in silence. The air around us was tinged with awkwardness, but I pretended not to notice.

On one hand, it had been a while since we last saw each other, and I was curious about him. But on the other, I didn’t know what he had done or what he was planning to do, and I didn’t trust him. He could be as sinister as my parents said.

Or he could be perfectly normal.

But I didn’t have the time to sit and work that out for myself.

By the time most of my food was done and Sebastian was already rinsing his plate off in the sink, I let go of a contemplative breath. “Thanks…for the food and for helping me last night.”

Sebastian seemed somewhat surprised as he turned to face me, his interest piqued as if he didn’t expect me to say anything. Then, he softened somewhat as he leaned against the counter again. “It was no trouble at all. I’m just glad I found you there before it was too late.”

A bitter feeling moved through me at the distant thought of what might’ve happened to me if he hadn’t shown up, and I could barely stomach it. I nodded absently and finished the last of my bacon before slowly standing.

“I appreciate it, but I should get going,” I muttered, barely able to make eye contact with him as that uncertainty cloaked me, gripping my heart through every beat.

I caught as Sebastian’s brows furrowed, however, and I tensed.

“Why?”

The word was so simple yet held far too much meaning, which caused me to feel guilt and dread. I didn’t even want to answer him.

But I sighed and turned away, heading for the door. “I just have to—”

The sound of his palm colliding with the threshold of the door forced my gaze up to find him right in front of me, blocking the exit as many thoughts seemed to move through his eyes.

I inhaled sharply at the sudden proximity, pulling back somewhat as a new wave of fear gripped me. I was too shocked by how quickly he cut that space between us and closed off the doorway so I couldn’t leave; I could barely manage the words.

“You can’t,” Sebastian yelled, standing his ground despite the veiled apology in his gaze. “Not yet, anyway.”

The thought of being trapped trumped my surprise, and I narrowed my eyes slightly at him, bristling at being restricted from doing what I wanted. “And why not?”

Sebastian swallowed hard but seemed to muster up some resolve. “It’s dangerous for you out there still. Those shifters have your scent now, and if they feel inclined, they might track you down. You’re fresh blood to them, and there’s a good chance they’d manage to find you again.”

I didn’t want to agree with him, but he did make a good point. Still, the thought of being forced to stay with him rubbed me the wrong way.

“Plus, your alpha will be pissed now that you ran off, and it won’t end well if you go back. You have to stay here while everything blows over for your own sake,” he insisted, unmoving from the doorway.

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