Chapter 38

Sebastian’s POV

It was a long day at the hospital and Sebastian was exhausted when he returned home to the palace. Emily’s fever had returned, and she spent the day miserable in cold shivers and hot flashes of sweats. He was annoyed at the fact that no matter what Nancy seemed to do, it never was enough, and it didn’t make Emily feel any better.

She lay helpless in the hospital bed, crying that she was in so much pain. She kept grabbing at him to hold her, and he kept refusing her. She was almost desperate for his physical touch. He might have thought of her as a little sister, but that’s all she was, and she needed to remember that.

He thought of taking a shower upon returning to the palace; the last thing he wanted was for Hannah to smell the scent of Emily lingering on his clothes. Even though he knew nothing happened between them. But he was too tired to even find his way to the bathroom.

He yawned and ignored the bowing servants as he walked through the foyer. He made his way up the stairs where his wolf picked up the scent of Hannah. It made him smile having her scent so close to him; before he entered his room, he knew that she is sleeping soundly in their bed.

He couldn’t wait to wrap his arms around her and nuzzle his nose in her hair, taking in all her scents. It was the only way he could fall asleep; he might even steal a few kisses from her while she slept. He grew accustomed to kissing her while she slept because for a long while, he didn’t think she would willingly kiss him while awake.

Hannah was tucked away, as predicted, in their bed, sleeping peacefully. But something was a little different about her. He frowned as he stared at her covered body and realized she was wearing a different pair of pajamas. He wanted to laugh at how covered she was; he was used to her wearing a skinny nightgown to bed, but this was an actual pajama top with matching bottoms; fleece.

He shook his head with dismay before peering beside her on his side of the bed. Another set of pajamas that matched Hannah’s; only they were bigger. His eyes widened for a moment as he realized she got him the same pajamas.

“Matching pajamas?” He muttered, staring at the fleece fabric that occupied his side of the bed.

He brushed his fingers through his hair and shook his head.

What was she thinking? Does she expect me to wear these?

He put the pajamas on his bedside table before taking his shirt off and slipping beside her into bed. She subconsciously felt him beside her and sleepily snuggled against him as he wrapped his arms around her. The pajamas against his body were soft and the scent of her hair made its way through his nose.

He took in her scent and felt his body relaxing after a long day. As he held her close, he looked around the room. There was something else different around here.

He soon realized there were new items around his room; a couple of pictures that were hung, a new curtain that he didn’t, particularly hate, a couple of new items and books on his shelves, and a new lamp on her bedside.

She decorated?

He wondered what else she had gotten for the palace. He suddenly felt a warm wave rushing through him as he realized she was finding some comfort in calling the palace home. She was making it her home.

A smile tugged at his lips as he held her close.

“The pajamas feel nice,” he whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear him while she slept.

He turned and stared at the PJs he put aside; he sighed as he got out of bed. He reluctantly put the pajamas on before slipping back into bed and falling asleep beside his chosen mate.

…

Hannah’s POV

I woke up feeling well rested; I couldn’t remember the last time I slept so well. I yawned and rubbed my eyes, wondering how long I had slept. It was weird that I wasn’t being woken early as I usually would be by either Sebastian or Caroline. The sun was peering through the new curtains I had gotten for the window, giving the room a slight red tint.

Sebastian slept soundly beside me, and I was relieved that he was there. That meant he didn’t get up early to see Emily. My eyes widened as I noticed he was wearing the pajamas I got him. I felt my wolf leaping in my chest, and I wanted to burst out into giggles.

I don’t know why that made me so happy.

But as soon as I was happy, the soon that my heart fell into my stomach. His scent was off; I could tell he didn’t shower from last night. It didn’t usually matter; Nora found his scent intoxicating usually, regardless of how musky it can be. I typically found his scent calming and it sends a warmth through his body. But this time it smelled wrong.

It smelled like someone else.

I got closer to him, and he stirred in his sleep, reaching for me as I pulled away from him. Nora was growing upset by the new scent. As new as it was for him, it also smelled a little familiar.

Sebastian opened his eyes and yawned, gazing up at me with a sleepy expression through his mask. I couldn’t believe he slept with his mask on, but I was used to it by now. His dark blue eyes scanned my face and he sat up, looking over at the clock with confusion in his gaze.

“Did we oversleep?” He asked. “You aren’t usually awake before me.”

“Who do you smell like?” I heard myself asking.

He looked back at me, a frown on his lips.

“I was with Emily last night…” he told me, keeping his tone even. “I didn’t shower when I got home.”

My heart tugged again, but this time it was more painful. I clenched my fists

“She broke out into a fever,” Sebastian explained, still frowning, and gazing around my face. “She got a lot of sweat on me. I can shower if you want…”

“Don’t bother,” I muttered, sliding out of bed.

I knew it wasn’t his fault that he smelled like her, but it was upsetting my wolf and I couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated. He was supposed to be choosing me as a mate and he hasn’t even marked me yet. Now his ex was around, and he was spending all this time with her. I understood that he thought of her as a little sister, and he owed her a lot. But still. It irked me. She was still his ex, and she was still all over him.

Now he was coming home and smelling disgustingly like her. I couldn’t help but feel upset over the ordeal.

“Hannah?” he asked, confused as I stood from the bed.

“Don’t you have to go back to the hospital?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest. “I must go to work anyways. So, I should be leaving too.”

He looked uncertain for a long while, but he nodded and slid out of bed as well.

“Are you upset?” He asked.

“Upset?” I repeated, trying not to raise my tone. “Why would I be upset? Because your ex is all over you all the time.”

“She’s not all over me. She’s sick. I’m just taking care of her. I’ve already explained this to you,” he shot back; I could tell he was starting to get aggravated. The nice wolf routine he was showing me these last few days was starting to break.

“Did she see you with your mask off?” I asked, trying, and failing, to keep the hurt from my tone.

“What?” He snarled; I could tell I struck a chord. His eyes were growing scarlet and for a moment, it didn’t look like he was there anymore. His wolf was taking over. I wasn’t going to be afraid of him this time though; I stood my ground and kept my eyes locked on his. I wanted to know the truth. “What the fuck, Hannah?” He hissed.

“Answer the question, Sebastian,” I said. I wasn’t sure where this wave of confidence was coming from.

“No,” he growled his response. “You’re being stupid.”

“Am I though?” I asked, pressing my lips in a firm line.

“I’m leaving,” he muttered as he threw on some new clothes from his drawers. “This conversation needs to end here before I show you the exact reason everyone fears me.”

He slammed the door behind him as he left, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my wide eyes.