“You prefer to wear your hair in ponytails and buns. You’re not big on makeup, only applying it when necessary or when you’re in a good mood. You hate sleeping on your back because it reminds you of dead people in coffins. You hate mess, and you also hate the color yellow.”
I held up my hand to stop him because I was completely speechless. Every single thing he said was fucking true. I couldn’t understand how he knew all of this since we were never close. The Sterlings wouldn’t have told him because they barely knew me themselves.
“How?” I stammered, unable to comprehend it all.
“I told you,” he said with a smile, “even when you thought I wasn’t, I was always paying attention.”
Despite the warm air, I couldn’t help but shiver. He took out his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
“I also know you love nature. According to you, it rejuvenates you. That’s why I brought you here,” he said softly, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Well, I guess I got dressed up for nothing. If I’d known you were bringing me here, I would have worn something more casual.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m glad you dressed up; it’s a feast for my eyes,” he winked at me, making my heart race.
We sat in silence, basking in each other’s presence until his voice broke through.
“Is there anything you want to know about me? Or do you already know everything?” he pulled me closer, securing me in his arms.
I rested my head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat. “There’s one thing I’ve been
curious about.”
He gave me a mock shocked look. “So there is something you don’t know, how shocking.”
“Stop it.” I pinched his hard abs, but it had no effect. He just chuckled.
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“Go ahead.”
“Your wolf… how does he feel now?” I carefully asked the question that had been
bothering me.
I felt Sebastian’s body stiffen suddenly. He fell silent, brow furrowed, a complex expression I couldn’t quite read flashing in his eyes. His hesitation made my heart sink.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to answer that,” I hurriedly said, trying to mask my
disappointment. “I understand, I know your wolf has never liked me. We can talk about something else…”
“No, wait,” Sebastian grabbed my hand, stopping me from changing the subject. He took a deep breath, “Thea, I need to tell you something, something I’ve never had the courage to
admit.”
His serious expression made my heart race, both anticipating and fearing what would
come next.
“My wolf never hated you,” he said slowly, his voice deep and husky. “Quite the opposite,
he’s always been drawn to you. From very early on, he wanted to be near you, to protect
you.”
I was too shocked to speak, just staring at him wide–eyed.
“Because I was so insistent that Aurora should be the one I chose. I convinced him that an
Alpha should be with a Luna, who had a wolf, that it was better for the Pack. But the truth is, my wolf was always protesting. Every time I denied his urge to be close to you, he would howl in my mind. He knew… he always knew you were the one we truly wanted.”
“So all these years, you’ve been fighting your wolf?” I could barely believe what I was
hearing.
“Yes, goddamn right I did,” he looked at me, remorse flashing in his eyes. “I blamed it all on you are a wolfless, but the real problem was me. I was too fucking stubborn, too blind
to see my own heart.”
I felt a strange warmth spreading in my chest. “Your wolf, he really doesn’t hate me?”
Sebastian shook his head, his gaze softening. “Would you like to meet him? Ask him
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yourself?”
“I… can I?” I stuttered, unsure what this meant.
“Of course, he’s been dying to meet you,” Sebastian said, his lips curling into a smile.
Then I witnessed an incredible transformation–Sebastian’s green eyes began to glow with a brilliant golden light, like stars burning within. His expression subtly changed, becoming more wild, more primal. Though he still looked like Sebastian on the outside, I knew it wasn’t him looking at me anymore.
“Hello, Thea, a deeper, more rugged voice emerged from Sebastian’s mouth. The voice sounded almost as if it came from deep within the earth, carrying a strange sense of
authority.
“H–hello,” I stared at him, unsure how to react.
“My name is Orion,” he said, golden eyes staring straight into my soul. “I’ve been waiting
for this moment.”
I felt a strange sensation flowing through me, like something inside was responding to his presence. I didn’t understand it, couldn’t articulate what it was, but it felt like there was some invisible connection between us, some resonance beyond words. Without thinking, I reached out and gently touched his cheek.
Orion immediately let out a satisfied growl, closing his eyes and leaning into my touch. The moment felt so intimate, so natural, as if we were always meant to be this way.
Suddenly, the golden light began to fade, and Sebastian’s green eyes returned. He placed his hand over mine as I caressed his cheek, giving me a tender smile.
“I had to take back control, or he might get too excited and lose control,” Sebastian chuckled softly. “We might shift or do something… more inappropriate. I didn’t bring spare clothes and don’t fancy returning naked through the wilderness.”
I felt my cheeks heat up as I withdrew my hand in embarrassment. But inside, I was still reeling from the revelation.
All these years, I’d believed Sebastian’s wolf had also chosen Aurora, but what had just happened completely upended my understanding. I felt surrounded by something called
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happiness. It couldn’t get better than this.
