Chapter 11 - Sebastian
Balancing a tray of food with one hand, I carefully pushed the bedroom door open and made my way inside, catching just how beautiful the scene ahead of me was.
Lydia was still hidden beneath the covers as they draped across her naked form, all while sunlight streamed in and basked the room in its ethereal glow. Her chest's careful rise and fall with every breath made that tenderness pulse within my chest, and I couldn’t help but smile.
As I entered the room, navigating with ease to avoid spilling anything, Lydia stirred, stretching as she opened her eyes. When she spotted me, recognition filled her gaze, and a faint smile graced her face.
Even then, I was surprised yet grateful for how everything had unraveled.
Upon finding her passed out behind the bar, I never could’ve anticipated the change of events or how we seemed to connect differently. It was new to both of us, yet it wasn’t unwelcome.
Given our past and how she was once my younger sister’s best friend, I never thought I’d have sex with Lydia. I used to see her in a completely different way, but with time and maturity, I couldn’t deny how right it felt.
After reaching those new heights with her, a notable sensation in my chest seemed to respond at the sight of her—like a connection we had established. It made me feel attuned to her and keenly aware of her thoughts and feelings, even without her saying them outright.
There was no mistaking it by then. We mated, and that was no small thing. It seemed we really did click a bond into place, and after initiating it, I didn’t want to let it go again. I didn’t want to let her go.
Lydia rubbed at her eyes as she sat up, pulling the sheets with her. “What’s this?”
I smiled. “Breakfast in bed. You looked like you could use the rest after…last night.”
At the reference, her cheeks were dusted pink once again, and she gave me a sheepish smile as I climbed into bed next to her and placed the tray between us.
“This looks great, thank you,” she settled on instead, graciously taking in the fresh food as the warm smell of waffles and fruit wrapped around us.
“You’re very welcome. Dig in.”
We both got to it, picking away at the waffles and fresh fruit on top, careful not to make a mess in the bed.
While our conversation was lighthearted and pleasant, I couldn’t ignore the slight hesitation that emanated from her. After some silent consideration, I had no doubt it had to do with us sleeping together. At my realization, I felt the slightest tension between us.
Not for any negative reason but due to the sheer magnitude of what we had done. How did we initiate a mate bond without even enduring the typical process? At the same time, we seemed to be processing exactly that.
With most of the food gone and our glasses of orange juice dwindling, I breathed out a contemplative breath and glanced at her.
“Not that there’s any rush, but we should discuss our next move,” I began, aware of the responsibility now on my shoulders. Not just in keeping her safe but also in acknowledging our fresh bond. “Things are different between us now, but the choice is yours to make despite that.”
Given how Lydia looked back at me, I knew she understood what I was insinuating. “But won’t my decision affect both of us?”
I nodded. “It does, but regardless of that, I don’t want to take that choice away from you,” I said, hoping to show her that a bond between us didn’t have to mean a life sentence. “You can either go back and face your parents and Jack or come with me to my pack. We can start fresh there, and I have the feeling you’d like it a lot.”
“Wouldn’t me going back to my pack mean severing…the bond?” She asked with hesitation in her blue eyes. “Wouldn’t that hurt you?”
I let go of a breath and tried to maintain my stoic expression, trying to avoid showing how much I didn’t want to endure that pain and loss. Yet, I wanted Lydia to know that her options were completely open. If that was what it took not to steal her autonomy, and if it was her choice, then so be it. “Yes, it would. But I want you to think about yourself. About what you want. I can endure the rest.”
Lydia’s eyes softened as she looked at me, seemingly dreading the idea of causing me any pain. With an uncertain exhale, she averted her gaze. “Honestly, I’m dreading the idea of going back home at all. After everything, it doesn’t feel like home to me. Plus, this with you…it feels better. Safer.”
Understanding her completely, I nodded. “If you don’t want to go back, then don’t. You’re always welcome on my pack grounds. You’re technically already there.”
She seemed to relax at that, and while I could still sense that her guard was up to some degree, there was a glimmer of temptation in her eyes. Like she, too, wanted to see where our connection might take us.
“This bond,” she began, searching for the right words as she spoke. “It’s so new. And while it feels good, it’s also a bit intimidating.”
“I know it is,” I murmured gently, reaching out to carefully take her hand in mine. I gave it a light squeeze. “We may have jumped the gun a bit, but we can move at whatever pace suits you. We can take things slow. I don’t mind a bit.”
It was true. I didn’t want Lydia to think there was any rush or race to reach a certain point. We had time to feel things out and to better understand each other, regardless of the tether between us.
Plus, I liked the idea of getting to know everything about her. Enough time had passed for us to change, and so long as she let me, I wanted to learn everything about her again.
“That would help me a lot,” Lydia agreed, letting go of some of that hesitance. “With my parents suddenly springing their expectations on me, I didn’t really have the chance to think or breathe. But this is nice.”
“Those expectations don’t have to exist anymore. You can let them go completely.”
Her smile pulled at that, looking like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “I didn’t like the odds of what Jack might do if I were to go back…Speaking of, what are we supposed to do about that situation?”
Mustering as much resolve and reassurance as I could, I slightly tightened my grip on her hand again as a silent testament to my dedication to protect her. “We follow this path ahead of us and decide what we want or don’t want, and we don’t worry about him at all.”
“But what if he tries to track me down?”
My heart squeezed at her concern, aware that it was up to me to temper her fears. With a gentle touch, I lifted her chin slightly with a finger and offered her a smug smile. “If he tries, then he’ll have to deal with me.”
Various thoughts moved through her eyes at once, yet Lydia’s worries seemed to ebb away the longer she looked at me, relaxing into the faint touch.
“It doesn’t matter what he does or doesn’t do. I’ll always be around to protect you, Lydia. Your safety is at the forefront of my mind, and I don’t intend to give that up. Whatever you want—say the word, and it’s yours.”
After a brief moment of silence while she contemplated my proposition, that relaxed smile grew, and she nodded for me. “All right, then. Take me to this pack of yours.”
I mirrored her expression, finding warmth and comfort in her acceptance.
I did my best to hold in how much it appeased me, regardless of how it put my heart at ease. The decision made me feel elated on the inside, much to my inner wolf’s satisfaction, but I didn’t want to seem far too eager about the fact that Lydia seemed accepting of our bond.
Remaining cool and collected on the outside, my chest was full of light and excitement for what was ahead of us.
After wishing for someone I could call my own and sulking over missing out on that kind of connection, it seemed my hopes had finally been answered.
Of course, I didn’t want to get ahead of myself, but it all felt like a step in the right direction, and I didn’t have anything to complain about.
Looking forward to showing her around, I grinned and reached for the tray as I stood from the bed. “As you wish.”