Chapter 155 CHAPTER 155
Saturday morning settled gently over Silverpine, the kind of morning that usually invited peace. Sunlight filtered through tall pine branches, painting the dirt paths in warm gold. The air smelled clean, touched with dew and earth, and for a moment, the pack territory felt untouched by politics, bonds, and grudges.
Sebastian walked through it with Sarah’s fingers laced tightly with his.
He did not hide her.
He did not look over his shoulder.
For the first time in days, his steps felt steady. Sarah walked close to him, her shoulder brushing his arm, her presence grounding in a way he had missed. Every doubt he once carried had been carefully rearranged in his mind, placed neatly where it could no longer hurt him. Lisa had done this to him. Whatever fog had stolen his clarity, whatever weakness had crept into his thoughts, it all traced back to her – or so he thought.
Sarah had helped him see that.
“People will talk,” Sarah said softly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. “Let them.”
Sebastian nodded. “I’m done pretending.”
They rounded a bend in the path - and nearly collided with Cedric Hale.
The elder stopped short, his sharp eyes flicking from Sebastian’s face to Sarah’s hand in his. His expression barely changed, but the tightness in his jaw said enough.
“Morning,” Cedric said after a brief pause.
“Morning, Elder Hale,” Sebastian replied, respectful but firm.
Sarah inclined her head politely. “Sir.”
Cedric studied them for a moment longer than necessary. Not with anger, but with something colder - calculation. Disapproval. The kind that did not need words.
“I see,” Cedric said at last.
Sebastian felt Sarah’s grip tighten slightly. He squeezed back, a silent promise.
Cedric gave a short nod and stepped past them. “Enjoy your walk.”
He did not look back.
But his steps turned sharply toward the Moore household.
Richard Moore sat on the porch with Lydia, a mug of coffee warming his hands. It had been a quiet morning, rare and welcome. Lydia was mid-sentence, talking about the garden, when Cedric Hale appeared at the foot of the steps.
“Cedric,” Richard said, surprised but cordial. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” Cedric replied, nodding to both of them. His gaze lingered briefly on Lydia. “Lydia. You’re looking well.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile. “And your family?”
“They’re doing well,” Cedric answered. He hesitated, then added, “I hope the same is true for you.”
Lydia laughed softly. “Of course. Where are my manners? Let me get you a cup of coffee.”
Cedric lifted a hand gently. “No, thank you. I won’t stay long. I actually need to speak with the Alpha. In private, if you don’t mind.”
Richard straightened immediately. He did not miss the tension in Cedric’s shoulders.
“Of course,” he said, setting his mug down. “Lydia?”
Lydia hesitated, then nodded and stepped inside, though worry lingered in her eyes.
As soon as the door closed, Cedric spoke.
“I just saw your son,” he said bluntly. “With Sarah. Walking openly. Holding hands.”
Richard frowned. “That’s not possible. We told him to stay away from her. I specifically warned both of them to stay away from each other.”
“That’s why I came,” Cedric said. “They weren’t hiding. They weren’t cautious. The confidence they had suggested permission.”
Richard’s jaw tightened. “I don’t what you mean by that, but they don’t have my permission.”
Richard ran a hand through his hair. “Sarah hasn’t been near our home in months. Sebastian hasn’t said a word either.”
“And yet here we are,” Cedric said. “If this is how they behave in Silverpine, I can only imagine what they’re doing at Lunaris. In Cindy’s… I mean the princess’s face.”
The implication landed heavily.
“Our position is already fragile,” Cedric continued. “Your son’s bond to the princess was meant to be repaired, not antagonized. If he’s openly defying that expectation…”
“I understand,” Richard said, voice tight. “Thank you for telling me.”
Cedric nodded. “I thought you would want to know. I’m due elsewhere, but this could grow quickly if left unchecked.”
“I’ll handle it,” Richard said firmly.
Cedric stepped back from the porch. “I hope so. For all our sakes.”
He turned and left, his footsteps fading down the path.
Lydia reappeared moments later. One look at Richard’s face told her everything.
“What happened?” she asked quietly.
Richard exhaled. “It’s Sebastian. He’s with Sarah again.”
Lydia’s eyes widened. “What?”
“They’re not hiding it,” Richard said. “And that makes things worse.”
She sank into the chair beside him, pressing a hand to her chest. “After everything we said?”
“I warned him,” Richard replied grimly. “If he keeps this up, there will be consequences. Not just for him, but the whole of silver pine.”
Lydia swallowed hard. “You need to talk to him. Have him know It’s time he started thinking like a future alpha and not like a romantic.”
“I will,” Richard said. “Today.”
Sebastian had just reached the edge of the clearing when his phone buzzed.
Father.
He stared at the screen for a long moment.
Sarah noticed. “What is it?”
“My father,” Sebastian said quietly.
Sarah’s expression softened, then hardened just as quickly. “Answer it. Don’t let them control you.”
Sebastian took a breath and pressed accept.
“Yes?”
“Come home,” Richard said, his voice clipped. “Now.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “I’m busy.”
“I just spoke with Cedric Hale,” Richard replied. “This is no longer a private matter.”
Silence stretched between them.
“We’ll talk when I get there,” Sebastian said at last.
“You will listen,” Richard corrected. “Or this will spiral beyond your control.”
The line went dead.
Sebastian lowered the phone slowly.
Sarah stepped closer. “He’s trying to scare you.”
“I know, but I’m not letting him.” Sebastian said, though doubt flickered briefly in his chest.
Yet even as he said it, doubt flickered briefly in his chest, quick and unwelcome, like a shadow passing over the sun.
Sarah reached for his hand, her fingers warm against his skin. “Why don’t you come with me?” she asked. “Come to my place for a while.”
Sebastian hesitated. “Won’t your guardians be against it?” he asked. “Everyone in Silverpine seems to be against us.”
For a split second, her smile tightened. Then it softened again, almost too carefully.
“No,” she said with a small laugh. “They would never be against us. I know that for a fact.”