Chapter 184

[ 1,028 words ]

Emilia’s POV

In that pitch-black room where Dorothy and Linda had locked me, I’d come close to dying more times than I could count. Every time I felt myself slipping, I’d hear my mother’s voice in my ear.

“Little Emmy, don’t sleep. The people who hurt us are still out there, and they haven’t paid for it. Hold on. One day, you’ll make them pay what they owe.”

“Stay strong, Emilia,” Eve had urged me in the dark, her voice a lifeline. “We’re not done. We have a score to settle.”

“Emilia… Emilia…”

Through the fog of pain, I’d heard Sebastian calling my name. That voice became my anchor. I dragged my broken body across the cold floor, inch by inch, toward the thin line of light under the door. I couldn’t die there. Even if it took everything I had left, I needed him to find me.

And he did.

I’d lain weak in his arms, trying to speak and unable to make a sound. Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes onto his palm.

“Emilia, tell me,” he’d whispered, his ear against my lips. “I’m listening.”

“It hurts…”

Everything after that was a blur. The ride to the hospital. The beeping machines. And then, surfacing from the dark, Uncle Chuck’s voice, telling Sebastian about my mother.

Every word reopened wounds I thought had scarred over. I could see her face so clearly. Young, beautiful, with that gentle smile she’d saved just for me. The mother who’d worked herself to death so I could have clean clothes and a full stomach. The mother who’d been murdered in a hospital bed while I was locked away, helpless.

Then Sebastian’s voice, rough with feeling.

“From now on, my home is your home. My family is your family. Your problems are my problems.” A pause. “And your revenge is mine too.”

I opened my eyes. He was looking down at me with something I’d never seen on his face before. Raw. Unguarded. Not pity.

My tears spilled over. “You don’t hate me anymore?”

It came out broken, barely a whisper. After the lies, the manipulation, using him for my own revenge, how could he look at me like that?

“No.” His hand came up to cup my bruised cheek, so careful. “You’ve been through enough, my little Emilia.”

“Not even a little? I used you, Sebastian. From the very start.”

“I know what you did.” A ghost of a smile. “Use me all you want. I’m happy to let you.”

Despite everything, my lips curved into a watery smile. “That’s either really sweet or really concerning.”

“Probably both. Too late now, though.” His thumb traced my cheekbone. “You’re stuck with me.”

My throat tightened. “Thank you. For not looking at me like I’m something broken that needs fixing.”

“I should be thanking you.” His voice dropped. “You never gave up on me. Even when I was cold. Even when I pushed you away. If you weren’t so damn stubborn, I’d never have figured out my own heart.”

“So this is my fault.” A weak laugh. “Classic Sebastian logic.”

“Exactly. All your fault, for not knowing when to quit.”

And there it was. Who said love only hurt? We’d both been so damaged, carrying wounds that had made us who we were. But somehow, in our own messy way, we’d started to heal each other. I’d pulled him out from under Abigail’s betrayal. And he was teaching me I deserved more than revenge, that I deserved to be someone’s choice.

Still, the old instinct rose before I could stop it.

“Sebastian, I need you to understand something.” I held his gaze. “I don’t want your pity. Yes, terrible things happened to me. But I’m not telling you so you’ll feel sorry for me.”

“Emilia…”

“Listen. If I’d wanted your sympathy, I’d have told you everything the day you exposed my lies. I didn’t, because I couldn’t stand for you to think I was making excuses. I didn’t want to be the poor little victim in your eyes.” I swallowed hard. “I wanted you to choose me for who I am. Not for what happened to me.”

He was quiet a long moment, studying my face. Then he smiled. A real one, not the cold, controlled smiles I was used to.

“Silly girl.” There was so much in those two words that my throat closed. “I know exactly how I feel. It isn’t sympathy. It isn’t pity. It’s me finally admitting what Ryder’s been screaming at me for months. You’re my mate. And I’m hopelessly in love with you.”

My breath caught. Every wall I’d built said don’t believe him. But his eyes held nothing back.

“Say it again,” I whispered.

“I’m in love with you, Emilia. For who you are.” He leaned in until his forehead touched mine. “The stubborn, sharp-tongued, impossible woman who wouldn’t let me drown.”

I laughed, wet and shaky. “That’s the most romantic insult I’ve ever heard.”

“Get used to it.” He tilted his head slightly, the way he did when Ryder was talking to him, then huffed a soft laugh. “Ryder says to tell you you’re stuck with both of us now.”

“Did your wolf just gang up on me?”

“He’s very pleased with himself.” Then his expression turned serious. “Now rest. I have some things to take care of. I’ll be back before dark.”

Suspicion crept in. “What things? Sebastian, what are you planning?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.” He pulled the blanket up around me, surprisingly gentle. “Just trust me.”

“That’s a terrible non-answer.”

“I know.” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “Better get used to that too. I’m your Alpha now, remember? I’m allowed to be cryptic and overprotective.”

“That’s not how any of this works,” I protested weakly.

“Close your eyes.”

“I’m not a child…”

“Close them.”

I glared at him, but my eyelids were already heavy, exhaustion pulling me under. “Fine. But when I wake up, you’re telling me everything.”

“We’ll see.” His voice was the last thing I heard before sleep took me. “Rest now, my fierce little mate. Let me handle the monsters for a while.”

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