Chapter 72: Sebastian

I woke up in my room. I was feeling a little better but still anxious. I tried the deep breathing Nathan had suggested before I passed out. When I was feeling better I went downstairs.

*****Artemus’s perspective*****

There was a commotion at the packhouse. Apparently EJ passed out having a panic attack. That kid needs to get his emotions in check. Last week, he destroyed the wall between our rooms. It had been repaired pretty quickly but if he keeps this up, he’ll bring the whole packhouse down. I wanted to talk to Shawn about this. But I decided to stay quiet. He has enough on his plate already. The twins are still rambunctious but have learned to be quiet when I am home.

I heard a rumor yesterday, alright I was eavesdropping on one of Shawn’s conversations with EJ. Sebastian had called. He wanted to come visit and talk with EJ and the rest of the council. I was going to get to see him again. This time, I would like to introduce myself. Hopefully, I get the chance to. I heard him say Sebastian would be here in two days. I wondered what business he had with the council.

I told Shania about Sebastian coming to visit. She said it was about time. I could tell she was tired of me talking about him all the time. I asked her to spend the night at the packhouse so we could do our hair and makeup in the morning. She accepted. Shania and I planned a movie night in my room. Sebastian would arrive tomorrow and I wanted to make sure I spent some time with Shania before he got here. I had planned to try to spend some time with him when he did. Obviously, that would have to wait until after his meeting with the council.

*****EJ’s perspective*****

It was Saturday, I was trying to sleep in. But Artemus and Shania were driving everyone crazy with their morning beauty routine. They really didn’t need it and all the giggling was unnecessary. I decided to get up and help the kitchen staff with breakfast. I found that I rather enjoy cooking, the clean up after not so much.

We would have an additional guest at lunch so I informed the kitchen staff. Sebastian Cole from Moonrise was coming for a visit. I wondered how his pack was doing, it had been a while since I checked in on them. I hope he isn’t coming to tell us kids are going missing again. I didn’t know how much more of that I could take. Maybe he had some good news. Maybe he wanted to see if we needed help, not knowing we took care of the last problem. But he could have said that over the phone. What does he want that he had to meet face to face with the council?

The kitchen staff and I finished making breakfast. We then set it all on the buffet style counter for everyone to access easily. Breakfast wasn’t as formal as most of the dinners were. People came in throughout the morning to grab some food. Whereas dinner was at a set time and if you missed it you would be lucky if there were leftovers.

I ate my breakfast with the staff. I liked hanging out with them. They laughed at my jokes and didn’t seem to mind most of my pranks. I’ll admit I sometimes get carried away and take things a little too far, but I have learned from those experiences. What I liked most about them was that I felt completely comfortable around them. I didn’t have any anxiety or anything. If I had been angry before walking into the kitchen, my anger dissipated upon entry. There was something about the kitchen staff that was other-worldly but I couldn’t put my finger on it and it was comforting so I didn’t press the issue. Besides they have worked in the packhouse since my dad was a kid.

*****Artemus’s perspective*****

Shania and I finished getting ready and went downstairs for breakfast. We ate at my family’s table as usual. I saw EJ sitting with the staff in the kitchen. I thought it was weird he would sit with the help when we had much more comfortable chairs at our table. But then EJ was a weird kid.

After breakfast, Shania and I hung out in the main room by the front door. I had hoped we would see Sebastian when he walked in. We sat on the long couch playing games on our phones while talking about the upcoming Valentine’s Day Dance. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go this year. Shania was trying to convince me to go. I told her if Sebastian sticks around, I would ask him if he would go with me. If not, then I probably wasn’t going to go. She sounded disappointed. This was the first year I was here for it and she always went, usually with Scott Bradshaw. I didn’t know what she saw in him. They didn’t date or anything, but they went to school dances and pack events together.

Around lunch time, Sebastian came through the front door. He was wearing shorts and a tank top. His arms looked amazing. And I just wanted to bite that collar bone of his. It was not yet marked, so I knew he didn’t have a mate. I wanted to be his mate. He stopped at the corner of the hallway and looked around. He spotted Shania and I on the couch. The look on his face said he was surprised to see us. I thought that was weird. He walked into our packhouse. He had to know people would be about, right? Maybe people didn’t lounge around in his packhouse. He continued down the hall.

*****Sebastian’s perspective*****

I walked into the Hyacintho Lunar packhouse. As I got to the hallway to go to the alpha’s office, I smelled her, my mate. I stopped and looked around. There she was sitting on the couch with someone. Our eyes met briefly. “Mate,” my wolf, Ammon, said to me. I know I thought back. But she doesn’t have her wolf yet, so she doesn’t know we are her mate, I thought. I continued walking down the hall. I had a meeting with the alpha and his son.

I knocked on the door and was told to enter.

“Alpha Henderson, nice to see you again.” I said when I entered. “And King EJ,it is nice to see you again as well.

“Good to see you again, too,” they said in unison. We shook hands and sat down.

“What is it you wanted to discuss with us?” Alpha Henderson asked.

“I wanted to meet with the council later today to discuss joining the council’s warrior ranks.”

“I can arrange that,” King EJ said.

“Afterwards, I would like to stay here for a while, if that is okay with you, Alpha?”

“May I ask why you want to stay here?”

“I found my mate when I walked into the packhouse. She is not of age yet, so she doesn’t know. But I would like to get to meet her and know more about her.” I replied.

“Oh, who is the lucky girl?” EJ asked.

“Well I don’t know her name yet, but she was sitting on the couch in the main room when I walked in.” I said. They both laughed.

“The red head or the one with black hair?” Alpha asked.

“Black hair,” I replied.

“I feel a little sorry for you, man,” EJ said.

“Why?”

“That’s my sister, Artemus. She is high maintenance. Considers herself a princess.” Alpha said.

“Then I will treat her as such. Every woman should be treated as a princess.”

We continued talking for a while and then EJ wrapped it up with a phone call to the council to schedule a meeting. Afterward, we went to lunch.

I was surprised when Artemus sat next to me at the table.

“Hi, I’m Artemus,” she said.

“I’m Sebastian.”

We ate our lunch and talked for a bit. Afterwards, I went to the council meeting with King EJ.

The council agreed to let me join their ranks as a warrior. I was also given permission to stay at Hyacintho Lunar and train with them.

I spent some time with Artemus, getting to know her. She asked me to go with her to the Valentine's Day Dance. I thought that was a marvelous idea. She took me into town so we could shop for a dress and suit. Then she told me it would be EJ's birthday on the thirteenth and we should get him a gift as well. I was really looking forward to the dance. One of the only things I missed about school, the dances.