Chapter 22
Sitting in one of the chairs in front of Sebastian’s desk, I watch him as he prepares for the call. This specific phone call is with a high member of my old pack, possibly the beta, or even the alpha. We are both unsure of who will answer the phone, and if it is indeed the alpha, I may just fall out of my seat. The thought of hearing the monster’s voice makes me sick to my stomach.
Sebastian glances up at me, telling me that he is about to call.
“Remember, Evangeline. You are not here.” I nod.
Sebastian places the call on speaker so I can hear the conversation.
My heart jerks when the ringing begins.
Finally, an answer.
“Yes?” An anonymous voice comes through, and my eyes shoot up to my mate
“Hello, this is Alpha Tate. May I ask who I am speaking with?”
“This is Alpha Kenn. I have to say I was not expecting your call. May I ask the cause of it?”
The voice makes me suck in a sharp breath. Alpha Kenn—that has to be the man!
“My luna was part of your pack as a child, and she is interested in learning more about the current state of the pack. Would you mind if I ask a few questions?” Sebastian says smoothly as I view the entire ordeal on the edge of my seat.
“Shouldn’t I be speaking with your luna?” The voice taunts me.
Unexpectedly, Sebastian motions for me, and I panic. He cannot be serious. I cannot talk with that monster. When he motions for me again, I hesitate before standing up and walking over. He grabs my hand and places me in front of the phone. His lips close to my ear.
“Hello, this is Evangeline. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.” I repeat the words as Sebastian whispers them in my ear.
I want to run away, straight out of this room. If it were not for
Sebastian’s touch and him telling me what to say, I am sure that I would end the call and hide under a bed.
“Oh, don’t you sound sweet,” the alpha coos. “Go ahead. Ask away.”
I swallow and listen to Sebastian closely.
“How long have you held the alpha position?”
“Almost nine years.”
It is not him. The alpha that torments my family held position when I was a part of the pack ten years ago. Relief takes over me, and I catch myself leaning against Sebastian.
“And you took over after your father?” I ask.
Sebastian reminding me that the conversation is not over.
“No,” Alpha Kenn corrects. “I replaced my uncle.”
“May I ask why you replaced him?”
“You know, these questions are becoming quite specific when I believed you wanted to know about the entire pack.”
Suddenly, I pull away from Sebastian and place both my hands on the desk.
“Oh well. I’m sorry. I’m just a bit too curious. That’s all. Excuse my digging.”
My voice is light and kind. Something I must have picked up from Fiona.
“No, no. It’s alright. My uncle became a tad too unstable for the position, and it was time someone fresh took over,” he explains.
“And you treat your members well?”
“Only the best.”
“And your uncle, where is he?” I ask.
The line goes silent for a moment, and I begin to feel nervous. Have I ruined our chances?
“Do you know my uncle, Evangeline?” the alpha questions me, and I tumble into Sebastian’s seat, sitting where he usually is, at the head of the room.
“Well, he was the alpha when I was a part of the pack. I just want to know what he is doing now and if he still contributes?”
“I have not seen him in years.”
After a few more questions to cover our real reason for calling, I set the phone down and look at Sebastian. He is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, deep in thought.
“Well, at least we know he is nowhere near my old pack. At least he’s no longer in power,” I say softly, not wanting to disrupt the calm vibe of the room. “Did I say the right things?”
“Yes,” he speaks up. “You did well.”
I stand up from his chair and steadily approach him.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yes, I am just thinking.”
“About?”
His eyes find mine. “How I can nip this in the bud.”
Sebastian never clarified if he believes me or not, or if he deems my ability to be the truth. He is taking my situation seriously, and that is enough for me. I do not care if he believes me anymore because he cares enough to help me with my problem and to help put an end to this alpha who is so desperate to end my family line.
This is not about my ability because to him it is about my safety. All this time he has strived to protect me and to make sure I am comfortable and happy. I do not need to know if he thinks this is all crazy and insane because he cares enough to see past it.
The bond between us grows stronger every day, pulling us closer together. The anxiety and intimidation I felt when we first met are withering away.
After sharing my ability and the story from my grandmother with him, I am beginning to realize that he knows a significant amount about me and my past, yet he shares so little about himself.
***
Later in the night, just before bed, I find myself sitting under the covers, watching him.
“Sebastian.” I grab his attention. “Where are your parents?”
“Why do you ask?” he questions me while shutting off the light as if he does not want to carry on with the conversation.
“I am just curious to know more about you, about your family.”
“My parents left. They are probably in California,” he tells me briefly.
I do not know where California is, but it sounds magical. His parents must be fulfilled there.
“They are rogues?”
“Technically, yes, but they have alpha blood, so other werewolves will know that they are not just normal rogues.”
I nod. “Do you miss them?”
“No.”
Sebastian gets into the bed, but I refuse to lie down.
“Why’s that?”
“Because I don’t.”
I cross my arms. “And you call me frustrating.”
I can hardly see the rolling of his eyes in the moonlight. The tones of blue and green send a romantic cast over the room, but Sebastian’s eyes keep me from fully admiring it.
“I’m sorry, Evangeline,” he says halfheartedly. “Now please lie down and get some sleep.”
“But I wanted to talk about your—”
Suddenly, he pulls me down, keeping only an inch between our faces and our lips. My breath catches in my throat, and Sebastian presses his lips to mine.