Chapter 252

[ 862 words ]

Sebastian’s POV

I stared at my mother’s tear-streaked face and my father’s shock and regret. The pain in my chest was too heavy to put into words.

They’d caused all of this. Every single thing Abigail had said was true. All of it.

And now, who could even say what was right or wrong anymore?

I looked around the living room, this house I’d grown up in, and it felt like a stranger’s. Foreign. Cold.

When I’d said those last words and turned to go, I’d seen Emilia’s face. The hurt in her eyes. The way her lips trembled. Every instinct in me screamed to go to her, to pull her into my arms and tell her it would be okay.

But I couldn’t. Not then. Not with my whole world caving in around me.

So I walked out.

“You need to calm down,” Ryder said in my head, steady but worried. “This rage will eat you alive if you let it.”

I didn’t answer. I was past rage now. I’d burned through the fury and come out somewhere colder. Emptier.

This hurt worse than the day Abigail ran. Worse than anything I’d ever felt.

Because back then, I’d only lost the woman I thought I loved.

Now I’d lost my faith in the people who raised me.

I slumped into the passenger seat, too drained to drive. My driver took the wheel without a word, and the car began rolling down the long drive toward the gates.

I closed my eyes and let my head fall back against the seat.

“Where do you want to go, Alpha?” the driver asked quietly.

“Anywhere,” I muttered. “Just drive.”

The car slowed as we neared the territory gates. I heard the guards calling orders to each other, the heavy groan of metal as they hauled the gates open.

I glanced into the rearview mirror, not even sure why.

And that’s when I saw her.

Emilia. Running.

Her hair streamed behind her, her arms pumping hard as she sprinted down the drive. Even from here, I could see the tears on her face.

My chest pulled tight.

“Stop the car,” I said.

The driver hit the brakes. I shoved the door open and stepped out into the cold night air, into the glow of the headlights.

She slowed about fifty meters away, her chest heaving, her eyes locked on mine.

Neither of us moved.

We just stood there across the distance, and for a moment everything went quiet.

“Go to her,” Ryder urged.

But I couldn’t. My legs wouldn’t move, and my heart was still too raw.

Finally, Emilia took a step forward. Then another. Slowly, she closed the gap between us, her face streaked with tears.

When she was close enough that I could see the pain in her blue eyes, she stopped.

“If you’re never coming back to that house,” she said, her voice shaking, “then what am I supposed to do there without you?”

Her tears reached straight into the cold, aching thing my heart had become. I reached out and ran my hand slowly through her hair.

“I just need some time to cool down. To think things through.” My hand came up to her cheek, my palm cradling her face, my thumb wiping her tears away. “I could never abandon you, Emilia. Once I’m ready, I’ll come back for you. I promise.”

Her lips trembled, and fresh tears spilled over.

“As low as I feel right now, giving up on you has never once crossed my mind,” I said quietly, stroking her cheek. “So wait for me.”

I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, then made myself turn away. I walked back toward the car, each step pulling at something in my chest.

I reached for the door handle.

And then her arms came around my waist, her hands fisting in my shirt, her face pressed to my back.

“Don’t go,” she sobbed. “Don’t leave me. Not even for a minute.”

Her voice broke, and I felt her tears soak through my shirt.

“My home is wherever you are,” she whispered. “Without you, I don’t even know what that place is anymore. So please don’t leave me alone. I’ve already been lonely for so many years.”

Something in me that had been set like stone went soft.

I turned around and cupped her face in both hands.

“Okay,” I said, my voice rough. “I’ll take you with me.”

Her eyes widened.

“I told you once,” I said, “that wherever I am, that’s your home. I meant it.”

The relief broke across her face, and she let out a shaky breath.

The pain wasn’t going anywhere. Not tonight, maybe not for a long time.

But Emilia had run after me. She’d begged me to stay. Whatever else had fallen apart tonight, this was real. My mate loved me, truly, and needed me. And right now she was the only thing dulling the ache.

I pulled her into my arms and held her tight, pressing my lips to the top of her head.

“Let’s go,” I murmured.

She nodded against my chest, and together we got into the car.

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