Chapter 13 - Sebastian
Having Lydia on my pack grounds was certainly an adjustment, almost like two worlds colliding, but it felt right. It brought me a new kind of comfort to have her in my home and to know that she now had the chance to see something outside of the world her parents curated for her. Something beyond that stifling normalcy she was used to.
Knowing that she was safe with me, surrounded by the people I trusted the most, made the biggest difference, granting me the chance to breathe easier. Even if I was injecting myself into the complications surrounding her life, it didn’t seem as burdensome the moment I noticed just how relaxed she was.
While I wasn’t impressed with how Zoe completely blew her off, I also knew it would take much more than an initial sighting to mend things between them. Given how important Zoe and Lydia both were to me, I hoped to help them get back on the same page at least. But that required patience and willingness from both sides. It wasn’t something I could force.
Even if there was some strain between them, I thought getting Lydia acquainted with some pack members would be a good idea since they made up most of the locals.
“So, no humans live here?” She asked as we walked down the main street and headed for the local park.
I shook my head. “This place is like a paranormal hub that naturally deters humans from sticking around for too long. They stop in, peruse our local businesses, and then head out. It helps keep us under the radar.”
Lydia seemed relieved by that fact, appreciating her surroundings with a new lens. “It’s nice to know your pack can be safe here without having to worry much.”
“That was what I had in mind while I put all the plans together. I wanted to offer my people a stable, secure place where they didn’t need to hide much,” I said, leading us to the path that connected with the park. “The pack we grew up with wasn’t terrible in that aspect, but there were things that could’ve been done differently. My goal was to ensure all those needs were met.”
She offered me a kind smile as we walked that path together and found ourselves beneath a tree canopy. “From what I’ve seen so far, you’ve done a great job, Sebastian.”
I couldn’t help but mirror her expression as my heart warmed. Even more than before, her praise meant a lot to me.
Before I could say anything in response, I sensed that everyone gathered in the park turned to look at us, catching their attention at once. Immediately, Lydia shrank down to some degree immediately, but I put a gentle hand against her arm, letting her know she wasn’t alone. That I was more than willing to help guide her through the transition.
“I know it’s a lot, but you should recognize a few faces here,” I said, hoping to encourage her.
As she looked around, Lydia relaxed a bit, and recognition filled her eyes as my beta stepped forward. “Wait, isn’t that…?”
“Roman, yes. He’s been loyal to me ever since we were young,” I replied gently, wearing a fond smile. “Aside from Zoe, he was the first to follow me when I decided to leave the old pack. He keeps the ship running when I’m not here.”
“Willingly and gladly,” Roman said with a cool smile as he approached, wearing a cut-off black shirt that gave the world a view of his many tattoos. He put a hand forward, arm flexing somewhat as he met Lydia’s gaze. “It’s been a while, Lydia. I hope you’re doing well.”
Somewhat startled by the sight of him, she blinked back at him and shook his hand gently. “It really has been.”
“The last time you saw him, he was half the size,” I commented, snickering. “I like to say that his role inflated his ego so much that he’s practically two guys in one.”
Roman held his arms out unapologetically and shrugged. “What can I say? Being second-in-command suits me.”
He had indeed bulked up a lot since we moved on from the old pack. He was big and intimidating, and it worked well in my favor. If any other shifters gave us trouble, I’d bring Roman along with me, and suddenly those issues would vanish.
Having that kind of strength and steadfast loyalty on my side further validated my position. If the others could still feel safe having him in their presence, then that meant I was doing my job right. In a sense, he was a peacekeeper, and that was a very important role in my eyes.
Lydia and I both laughed at Roman’s confidence before I clapped his shoulder. “That it does. And thanks for holding down the fort for me while we figured things out.”
Roman gave me a dutiful nod and gestured to the others as they gathered and talked within the park. “It was nothing. Luckily, nobody here ever needs to be put back in line. But anyway, it’s nice to have you here, Lydia. It’s about time he found you,” he continued, flashing me a knowing smirk between looking at her.
I forced back that slight embarrassment and held my chin up, hoping Lydia didn’t grasp his deeper meaning.
It was no secret that I had been searching for a mate, and luckily, I believed that the goddess had brought her back to me again, even if I was seeing her in a different light for the first time.
As Roman excused himself, Lydia seemed to be taking everything in with a more laidback approach, and as I assumed it would, seeing those familiar faces did wonders for her.
Before long, we made our rounds through the park, approaching small groups of pack members or letting them come to us as they introduced themselves and welcomed Lydia to our grounds. I watched closely, carefully staying by her side so that she didn’t feel alone or apprehensive. To my relief, everyone was as welcoming as I imagined, and their acceptance of her made everything easier for me to stomach.
The moment she was feeling better, the same applied to me, and before long, we settled into a gentle rhythm.
She took the opportunity to catch up with the shifters she knew before, asking about their lives and what she had missed. By the end of the conversation, she was smiling and seemed almost refreshed.
I didn’t anticipate that the day would leave her with a sense of accomplishment, as she had forgotten how different my pack was from the one she came from.
She had been stuck with a stuffy, egotistical alpha who used strange, almost cult-like methods to keep his members in line. And apparently, he was more than willing to prey on women who were young enough to be his own daughters.
As easy as it would be to get myself worked up by the idea all over again, I chose to focus on how happy she looked. Knowing she was comfortable among my people brought me immense gratitude and relief.
Rather, if she chose to continue nurturing that bond with me—our people.
“That was really nice,” Lydia said, smiling faintly as we made our way back to the house, where she had yet to look around and make herself familiar with the space. “I never thought I’d see some of those people again. But I’m glad they decided to follow you. Everyone seemed so carefree and at ease.”
Grinning back at her as we walked up the front steps and reached the door, I opened it and silently gestured for her to head inside. “They were just as glad to see you again as am I.”
Lydia maintained that mutual gaze with me as genuine contentment flooded her eyes. I caught sight of something deeper moving through her expression right after, and I could feel that tether between us as it seemed to tighten. Wearing that pleasant look, she nodded and stepped inside.
After closing the door behind us, I gave her the official tour of the house, catching her awestruck look as she took it all in room by room. Everything went smoothly, and as we made our way upstairs, I couldn’t help as my mind drifted.
We were in a strange place, and that was easy enough to see.
We mated, and while I felt connected to her that way, I was well aware of the trust I still needed to gain. Even if she was receptive to me and what I had to say, going along with everything as well as she could, I could still sense that slight resistance from her.
Despite already being intimate with one another, that unspoken tension was palpable as we settled into bed and I carefully draped an arm over her waist, holding her close to me. I breathed in her scent, savoring it regardless.
I was certain we could get there eventually, but I had to treat our bond carefully. Lydia came from a less-than-ideal situation with plenty of emotions and revelations to sort through, and while it wouldn’t be easy, I was more than ready to stand by her while she endured it all.
Even if our relationship was still uncertain, I was prepared to protect her in any way I could and keep a watchful eye on the situation.
Since most alphas didn’t respond well to having their desired mate taken from them, I knew Jack wouldn’t just lay down and take it. At some point, he would eventually find Lydia, and he would be able to sense that bond. If he was serious about having her for himself, then I had no doubt he’d put up a fight.
I had the sinking feeling he’d be willing to do whatever it took to get her back.
While I didn’t want to bring any conflict to my pack, I was willing to make an exception for her.
Even if it was all so new still, she was my Luna, and I had no qualms about protecting what was mine.