Chapter 129 OOLONG TEA
SEBASTIANS'S POV
I stare at the edge of his desk with my thoughts tangling tighter with every passing second.
Maybe I should say something.
I mean maybe I should explain–
But what would I even say?
That I didn’t have a choice?
Or that everything was spiraling out of control and I had to go on with the charade with Dax?
That I don’t even understand what’s happening to me anymore?
Would that even matter?
No, no it wouldn’t.
Because at the end of the day, I still stood there and let it happen.
And that’s what matters because that's all everyone saw.
That’s all he saw.
The sound of paper shifting pulls me from my thoughts as I look up in confusion.
Ragnar has stopped working and his heavy gaze is on me now.
“Sebastian.”
My name sounds different in his mouth now.
Quieter and so much more deliberate.
“We need to talk.”
There it is, the end of our matebond.
So I nod slowly, forcing myself to stay still.
“Okay.”
He stands, already moving away from his desk.
“We’ll go to your cabin,” he says. “It’s the only secluded place right now.”
Of course it is.
My throat feels tight as I push myself up from the chair.
“Alright.”
And just like that, we leave his office
The walk back to my house is… long.
Too long.
And it's not because of the distance or anything, it's because of everything in between.
To get to my cabin, we have to pass through nearly half the territory.
And that includes training grounds, the market square, the outside path and finally the woods.
Every step feels like it’s being watched because it is.
I know they are being subtle about it but I can still feel the stares
The whispers and the weight of attention pressing in from all sides trying to choke and suffocate me.
People tend to notice when the Alpha who is allegedly my lover is walking besides me, who now has a mate.
A very different mate.
Of course they would.
Out in the open after everything that happened, even the moon would notice and it's still early in the day.
I hear the low and judging murmurs from most wolves we pass.
“Why is he still with him?”
“Wasn’t he claimed?”
“Does this mean–”
I stop listening because I’m too tired and drained.
I'm… too done.
Ragnar doesn’t react to anything.
He doesn't react to the staring or the whispers all around us, he just walks like none of them matter enough.
I'm so jealous, I also would want to have the unapologetic care in the world most Alphas have.
And for once–
I want to understand that feeling because I don’t want to care either.
Not anymore.
I want to let them talk and let them think whatever they want.
It doesn’t change or fix anything anyway.
By the time we reach the edge of the woods, the noise fades as the air grows quieter.
Finally,
I've never been more grateful for the woods. The air feels a lot more calmer and cooler here, it's a whole lot easier to breathe in here.
And yet… the tension between us only grows heavier as we don't speak and continue in silence throughout the entire walk
It's just silence as we take one step after another until finally, my cabin comes into view.
The moment of truth has come I guess.
My cabin sits quiet and isolated in the woods as it has always been for years now.
My little sanctuary of solitude.
Or at least… it used to feel that way.
Ragnar stops just outside.
“Go in,” he says.
“I’ll follow.”
I nod, pushing the door open and stepping inside as the familiar scent of the cabin wraps around me instantly.
Wood, fire and the faint whiff of charcoal I usually used in my drawings.
Home.
I move automatically, my body falling into routine without needing to think as Ragnar steps in behind me with the door closing softly.
“Sit,” I tell him, gesturing toward the chair near the small table. “I’ll make some tea.”
He doesn’t argue or say anything, he just watches me for a second then sits.
I turn away quickly, moving toward the small kitchen space because I need something to do.
I need to put my mind into something I can't focus on anything but the conversation I know that is coming.
So I light the stove and set the kettle on it, I measure the leaves with steady hands that should be shaking as I realize all this while, Ragnar has not said anything.
I guess he's looking for the most humane way to reject me.
I can feel his burning gaze on my back but he doesn’t speak, and neither do I.
The water begins to heat as it wakes me out of the spiel I had lost myself in.
For a moment, it almost feels like we're in a relationship and I invited him over to my place.
For just a moment, it almost feels normal and that was just two regular wolves.
Like nothing has changed and everything isn’t about to fall apart.
The kettle whistles softly, signaling to me how such a thing could never be.
He's a very powerful Alpha and I'm just a weak Omega.
By right , he should have rejected me from day one.
I guess he finally wants to do it today
Better late than never.
I carry the cups to the table, setting one in front of him before taking the seat across.
I pour the water carefully, watching as the steam rises up and blurs my direct eye line sight of Ragnar.
Like a dream finally clearing up.
My fingers wrap around the warmth of the cup as I lift it and take in a very slow sip.
Finally, I look at him once more and wait for the rejection, this is where it begins.
Or ends for me.