Chapter 202

[ 1,196 words ]

Sebastian’s POV

The meeting dragged on for hours. By the time I escaped and drove back to the pack house, the sun was setting.

I pushed open the bedroom door, expecting to find Emilia sprawled on the bed with a book, or maybe going through the shopping bags she’d hauled home earlier.

The room was empty.

I frowned and checked my phone. No messages. Past seven already. Where was she?

I went downstairs and found my mother on the couch, glued to some drama on TV.

“Mom, where’s Emilia?”

She didn’t look up. Just kept staring at the screen like I hadn’t spoken.

I turned to Tiffany, curled up in the armchair with her phone. “Then where’s your sister-in-law?”

She snorted without looking up. “The world gets harder to understand every day. Two people who used to hate each other now can’t stand being apart for one minute? Unbelievable.”

“Cut it out. Where is she?”

“No idea.”

My patience was going. “You think I can’t find her without you? Keep scheming, you little troublemaker. No one’s ever going to marry you.”

Tiffany chucked a pillow at my back as I headed for the door. “If someone like you could get married, why can’t I—”

“God, so loud.” My mother finally spoke, rubbing her ear. “I can’t even watch my show in peace.”

I didn’t stay for the rest of it. I stepped outside by the fountain and called Emilia.

It rang. And rang. Just when I thought she’d let it go, she picked up.

“Hello, honey. What’s the matter?” Bright, cheerful.

“Where are you?”

“Dinner with Lily.”

“Why is it always Lily? You should be having dinner with me. We should be celebrating. Your father’s in prison. Dorothy and Linda are gone. This was our win.”

“Lily insisted I treat her. If I’d said no, I’d look stingy, wouldn’t I?”

I sighed. “When are you coming back?”

“After we eat.”

“Hurry up.”

“Got it.”

She hung up before I could get another word in.

An hour later, I was in my study going through contracts when footsteps came down the hall. The door swung open and Emilia walked in with a dozen shopping bags.

“Pretty impressive, right?” she announced, dropping them on the floor. “I spent a lot of your money today.”

I leaned back in my chair and smiled. “Good. Spend away. A woman spending money proves her man can make it. If he couldn’t, what would she spend?”

“Yes, yes, you’re wonderful. You’re a genius, okay?” She crouched to open one of the bags. “Look what I got for you.”

I glanced inside. “Moisturizer, lotion, shaving foam, a face mask, and… another face mask?” My brows rose. “Why are you buying me face masks?”

“To put on your face.”

“You’re joking. Why would a man need a face mask?”

“Who says a man in a face mask isn’t manly?” She straightened, hands on her hips. “It protects your skin. Keeps you from looking way older than me.”

“Am I that much older than you?” I was three years older. Three.

“You’re not. I just want to be able to show you off when I take you out.”

“So you can’t show me off now?” My temper ticked up.

“Of course I can. It’s an honor to take you out now. It’ll just be an even bigger honor with your skin properly looked after.”

I stood and crossed my arms. “Huh. Didn’t know I married someone so shallow.”

She rolled her eyes. “Shallow? I want my husband to stay young forever. Is that a crime?”

“Who wants to be young forever?”

“Oh, I get it.” She grinned, that mischievous glint surfacing. “You want to grow old with me.”

I snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself. Now go try on the clothes I bought you.”

“Why?”

“Luna Xelia of the Frostpine Pack is hosting a banquet in two days. She’s invited the Lunas of several prominent packs. You’ll need something elegant.”

“You want me to go?”

“Yes.”

“Why? I don’t even know her.”

“You don’t know her. She knows you. How could she not know Sebastian Simons’s wife?”

Emilia tilted her head. “Hmm… can I not go?”

“No.” I kept my voice firm. “This matters. If you don’t show, it reflects badly on both of us. On the pack.”

“Then are you going?” she asked sweetly.

“That’s a party for you women. I’m not going.”

“I’d be nervous going alone.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Nervous? You? The woman who watched a horror movie alone at two in the morning without so much as blinking?”

“I was bored that night.”

“No. You’re going. You’re my wife. You’re the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. Events like this come with the title.”

“Then maybe I don’t want to be Sebastian Simons’s wife anymore.”

“You little—”

She was already running.

I caught her at the bedroom door before she could slam it.

“Sebastian!” She backed up, laughing, hands raised in mock surrender. “I was joking! Joking!”

“Were you.” I stepped toward her.

“Yes!” Grinning now, eyes sparkling. “Of course I’ll go. I know it’s part of being Luna. I just wanted to see how desperate you’d get.”

I stopped in front of her, close enough that she had to tip her head back to meet my eyes. “You were messing with me.”

“Maybe a little.” She bit her lip against a smile.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re adorable when you’re annoyed.”

She took one more step back, and the backs of her knees hit the bed. She lost her balance with a yelp. I reached to catch her and went down with her instead, pinning her to the mattress.

For a moment we just stared at each other, both breathing hard.

Then she laughed. “Smooth, Alpha. “

“You’re the one who tripped.”

“You’re the one who chased me in here.”

I couldn’t help it. I started laughing too. Her laugh was contagious, bright and it made something in my chest go light.

“Okay, okay,” she said, still giggling. “I’ll go to the banquet. I’ll wear the dress. I’ll smile and make small talk with all the fancy Lunas. Happy?”

“And you’ll behave?”

“I’ll be the perfect Luna.” She grinned up at me, blue eyes still dancing. “I’ll dress to impress.”

“That’s more like it.”

“But you owe me.”

“Owe you?” I raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“For making me walk into a room full of judgmental she-wolves who’ll spend the whole night sizing me up.”

“They wouldn’t dare,” I said, leaning down until our noses nearly touched. “You’ll walk in as my Luna, and they’ll know exactly who you belong to.”

Her breath caught. “Sebastian…”

“And if anyone gives you trouble,” I went on, “you tell me. I’ll handle it.”

“My hero,” she teased, her hands sliding up to rest on my chest.

“Damn right.”

I kissed her then, slow and deep, and felt her melt under me. When I pulled back, she was flushed, her lips parted, her eyes half-closed.

“So,” I murmured against her ear, “are we done arguing?”

“For now,” she whispered.

“Then how about a little something more fun for tonight?” I slid my hand up her thigh.

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