Chapter 61 Chapter 61

Chapter 61 Chapter 61
RUBY

I got dressed for school, leaving my hair down as I made my way downstairs to the dining table Noelle had set. I half-expected Sebastian to already be there, but to my relief, he wasn’t.

I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.

I wished I could avoid him entirely, but that was impossible. We had to go to school together—pretending to be mates, pretending nothing was wrong. Pretending he hadn’t humiliated me last night...

“Good morning, Luna,” Noelle’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Morning,” I replied, pushing my sour emotion aside and plastered smile on my face.

As I settled into my seat, I dropped my bag onto the chair beside me, eyeing the food she had laid out.

“You did great again,” I told her.

I had always appreciated her work, knowing it meant something to her.

“Thank you, Luna. I hope you enjoy” she said with a bright smile.

“I always do,” I replied softly, smiling up at her.

She gave a small smile before walking into the kitchen, leaving me alone at the table. My eyes drifted to the plate she had set across from me. Sebastian’s plate. Even in his absence, his presence loomed over me, refusing to let me breathe.

“This isn’t part of our arrangement.”

His words echoed in my head, and my stomach twisted with shame.

Nothing compared to the humiliation of asking him for sex, only to be turned down.

I had never begged anyone for sex before, not even during my two years with Graham. Despite how much I’d loved him, I’d never let things go beyond a kiss.

But with Sebastian… it was different. I wanted more. More than a kiss. More than the teasing, the touches, the orgasms he gave me with his fingers and mouth.

I wanted him. All of him.

I wanted to feel him inside me.

The memory burned, and I hated how much it still affected me.

I used to think he always pulled back because he was afraid of losing control.

Or maybe he was worried he was too big, and I was too tight for him.

I scoffed at my own thoughts. Stupid. Of course, that wasn’t it.

The truth was simple; wanting Sebastian had never been part of our deal. I had been foolish to think he might feel something for me just because he was treating me like I was his true mate.

I stabbed at my food angrily and shoved it into my mouth.

Suddenly, the familiar, intoxicating scent of teakwood and fresh rain filled my lungs. My heart fluttered, betraying the anger still simmering inside me.

I hated how much control he had over my body. How much he made me feel when all I wanted was to feel nothing for him. Helplessly, I breathed him in, wanting more. Wanting him closer. I found myself lifting my head instinctively but caught myself and looked down again, my heartbeat quickening. I hoped he hadn’t noticed.

The chair across from me creaked as Sebastian pulled it out and sat down. I refused to look up—not at him, not at his eyes. Not after last night.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he said calmly.

I didn’t respond.

“Did you sleep well?” he tried again, softer this time.

I kept my eyes on my plate, shoving another bite of food into my mouth, pretending he wasn’t even there.

He sighed but didn’t push it. A tense silence stretched between us. The only sounds were the quiet clinks of cutlery against ceramic plates.

“For the Sweaty party tonight,” he began after a moment, “I was thinking we should get—”

“I don’t want to hear your voice right now,” I muttered, still not looking at him.

He went quiet again. Not that I cared.

“Luna,” Noelle called politely.

I looked up to see her approaching with a nylon-covered jacket folded neatly in her arms.

“The jacket you gave me last night to wash,” she said, holding it out.

“Oh, yes.” I could hear Sebastian grunt as I reached for it. But I didn't care.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Luna,” she said with a small smile before walking away.

I could feel the burning weight of Sebastian’s glare on me as I quietly dropped the jacket onto my bag beside me.

“You don’t have to return that to him,” he said, almost growling. “I can give it back on your behalf.”

“No”

“Ruby…”

I finally met his eyes. “What, Seb? Is there a problem?”

“Yeah. I think there is.”

“Why? Because someone was kind to me?”

He blinked, caught off guard.

“Ruby, Warren is—” He glanced toward the kitchen, checking to see if Noelle was still nearby. Then he switched to the mindlink to continue, 'He’s only trying—'

'I don’t want to talk about him. Or anything with you,' I cut in sharply through the link.

“Can we just eat in peace?” I said out loud, glaring at him for a second before focusing back on my plate, stabbing at my food.

'Ruby. I’m just trying to look out for you—'

'No, you’re trying to control who I talk to. Last night, you wouldn’t even let Graham talk to me before pulling me away like I was some child.' I blurted out through the link before I realized what I said.

Sebastian’s jaw clenched. 'You don’t know their true intentions.'

'And you do?' I asked, irritation bubbling through me.

'Can’t I make my own decisions? Am I not allowed to choose who I want around me?'

He stared at me for a long moment. 'You’re my mate, Ruby.'

Fake.

The word echoed in my head, even if he didn’t say it aloud.

'Am I?' I asked quietly, a bitter laugh slipping out. 'Because your ‘mate’ is tired of being told what she can and can’t do just because you want to protect her.'

Sebastian’s eyes darkened. 'I didn’t mean—'

'You act like you care who’s around me, but when I wanted you last night…' My voice faltered, and I swallowed hard, pressing my lips together. 'Forget it.'

'It because I didn’t want to hurt you,' he said softly, some of the tension draining from his face.

'I’ve heard that more times than I can count,' I whispered, standing abruptly as I blocked him off from reaching to me through the mindlink.

Grabbing the jacket and my bag, I turned to leave before he could see the tears threatening to fall.

I didn’t stop until I got outside, already hating the fact that I had to be in that car with him.

I threw open the back seat door and slid in, slamming it shut behind me.

I didn’t want to be in this car. I wanted to go to school alone. But I couldn’t risk people talking. Couldn’t risk letting anyone see the cracks in our lie.

The back seat was better than sitting next to him.

I was just buckling my seatbelt when Sebastian got in.

He sighed, clearly noticing I was in the back. I didn’t even turn to look. I kept my gaze fixed on the passing trees as he started the car.

We drove in silence. Thick, suffocating silence.

“About last night…” he finally said, voice low like he wasn’t sure if he should even bring it up.

“You didn’t want to hurt me. I know that already,” I replied, voice flat, gaze never leaving the blur of trees outside.

“That’s not what I—”

“Let’s just forget it ever happened,” I cut him off sharply. “Nothing like that will ever happen between us again.”

He didn’t say anything, but I felt his gaze flick to the rearview mirror.

I didn’t dare look up. Because if I did… I would crumble.

I knew that if he touched me again—even by accident—I’d fall apart.

But I needed to say it. I needed it to be true. For my own sanity.

“I’m sorry, Ruby,” he said finally, voice low and rough. “I’m sorry if what I said hurt you.”

His words hit harder than I expected. My heart tightened painfully. I blinked hard, refusing to let the tears fall. I hated how those three words—I’m sorry, Ruby—meant too much to me.

I sucked in a shaky breath and glanced up, not expecting to meet his gaze in the rearview mirror.

My heart skipped a beat and I quickly looked away but I didn't miss the hint of regret in his eyes.

“You’re in love with him, Ruby,” my wolf whispered gently.

“You know it, right?” I replied, without hesitation. It was the only truth I couldn’t deny for now.

I hadn’t realized it until last night… that I was in love with Sebastian Kings.

And I hated that I was.

I hated it because I couldn’t have him. Not the way I wanted to. He wasn’t mine. He never truly had been.