Page 37 of The Awakened Wolf

“Alpha Kiana,” Sebastian’s voice trembled. “I wish to apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused your pack and the disrespect I showed you at our mating ceremony.” He glanced up at her through the mane my fingers had been tangled in just the other night. “I’d be honored to serve at the side of such a strong, fierce, and cunning female Alpha.”

My mouth dropped open. I slammed one hand over it before the contents of my stomach could rise up and splatter my sister’s heels. Was this his idea of revenge? For rejecting him before I felt our bond? For hiding the truth about Damian for one lousy night? For being lonely and kissing the man who stayed by my side?

Kiana’s back straightened, and though I couldn’t see her face, the tilt of her head screamed triumph. I reeled, blood rushing to every bit of exposed skin until I felt like living fire—encased in an asbestos sleeve. At least, I had to assume this torture chamber masquerading as a dress had asbestos in it or else I’d have spontaneously combusted by now. To think I’d been worried he thought I’d leave him.

My wolf unleashed a broken howl, pulling my lips into the shape of a silent, “Oh.”

Sebastian lifted his fine jaw and squared his broad shoulders. “I humbly offer you my services as the rightful Beta Heir of the Bronx pack.”

Chapter Fourteen

Chaos erupted at our backs, and if the concussion wave of noise had been any bigger, the rest of my updo would’ve been blown to ribbons. I swept aside the tendrils that had actually fallen free in my mad dash for the door and clutched the sides of my shaking head. This was barely any better than what I’d just been so afraid he was doing. If he chose Kiana over me, at least I’d have a reason to leave. Now, I would have to stay. And so would Evan and Cody and everyone else I’d sunk my teeth into.

Sebastian’s glittering golden-brown eyes slid over to mine and instantly clouded with shame behind his useless glasses. My fingers raked my cheeks as they curled into fists on their way to cover my rapidly wrinkling mouth. Sebastian believed he’d just broken the news about being a Beta to me too. He didn’t know I’d already realized this had to be his truth. He had been worried I would leave him, and now he was reading my reaction as proof.

Kiana’s head snapped around, following his wounded gaze. An array of emotions flickered across the face that mirrored my own—shock, alarm, ambitious exultation… and relief. My shoulders sagged with that last one also, dropping my hands to my sides. She really didn’t want him for herself. Not the way I wanted him, anyway.

Then take him. Nowwww. What are you wait —

“What is the meaning of this, Sebastian?” Father’s voice boomed louder than I ever believed possible in his new fully human condition, snapping my head around now. He strode our way with Evan fast on his heels. “First, you were my daughter’s fated mate, now you’re my pack’s Beta Heir?”

“My pack,” Kiana growled.

“My daughter,” Father growled right back, and after years of struggling to keep my head above water in this family, I was buoyed by his newfound ferocity on my behalf. He shouldered past Kiana and went nose-to-nose with my prodigal mate, backing him up against the door until they were both framed in profile. “Explain yourself, pup.”

Kiana fell back to my left side, biceps bulging as she folded her arms over her chest. Evan appeared on my right, lacing his clammy fingers through mine. I tore my eyes away from my speechless mate to the male who’d just pledged me all his, um, seed.

“Are you okay?” Evan’s blue eyes searched mine. “I know how much you wanted to promise me your womb.”

I fought to keep my laugh on the inside. “I’ll be okay. Thank you.”

We squeezed each other’s hands, and that, thank Leto, was the end of that.

“Well?” Father barked in Sebastian’s face, doing his best to push out his frail chest. “How are we supposed to believe a word out of your fickle mouth? You claimed Elyse and then abandoned her on a battlefield. Now you claim to be our Beta rather than Manhattan’s Alpha Heir? I’m beginning to think you don’t even know who you are.”

“I didn’t.” Sebastian dropped his head, and Father had no choice but to take a step back so it wasn’t resting on his shoulder. “All my life… I knew I wasn’t what everyone said I should be. Knew there’d been a terrible misunderstanding about my destiny. But I never knew why until—” He lifted his head and looked at me. “You saw me.”

Sudden tears scorched my eyes. “Sebastian…”

He stood taller, but his hands wrung his cap like a security blanket. “Elyse, when you told me you clocked me as a Beta Heir tops, I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself in it, but my wolf…” He gave a rueful laugh. “He was wagging his damn tail so hard it was like I had a second pounding heart. Because you saw him. No one had ever done that before, except maybe my mother, but she…” He swallowed heard. “Well, you know.”

“How is she?” I asked softly, embarrassed by how selfish and entitled my own wolf had become after Sebastian left us. Maybe I was Alpha material, after all. “Where is she?”

“She is with her home pack in San Juan. That’s where I’ve been. And with the help of the Old Medicines, she is finally recovering.” He twisted his cap like a hated neck. “From everything.”

Bile rose in my throat, and I swallowed hard. “Did he… again?”

“No. She says no. And that he claims she is the only female he ever touched.” Sebastian grimaced. “And only just the once.”

My whole body clenched, eyes scrunching shut. Just once. But it was enough. To make this beautiful boy who let me go when all of our rules said he didn’t have to. This man who waited for me to crawl into his bed of my own accord. This wolf my wolf did totally want to promise her womb to, if she hadn’t already. And in that moment, I didn’t really care if she had. We would re-make this awful world together.

“Claimed,” Kiana cut in. “Damian is dead.”

“Damian?” Father looked from her to Sebastian and back again. “What are you saying? Surely you don’t mean—”

“She does.” Sebastian laid a hand on my father’s shoulder. “Twenty-five years ago, Damian used his powers to… to cause my conception. My mother’s memories have been restored, perhaps at his death, and so I have come here to say I know exactly who I am now. A Beta, and by blood rights, yours.” He glanced at Kiana. “Hers.”

A hush fell over the room, and my shoulders pinched at the kiss of so many eyeballs, not all of them welcoming of my mate. Damian had pretty much tanked his approval ratings around here, and if Sebastian had inherited Damian’s unnatural power…

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