Chapter 79

Hannah’s POV

He loves me

Did he just say that he loves me?

I stared at him with my mouth hanging open, silently. I wasn’t sure what to say in return. Nora was still too weak that I couldn’t fully feel her emotions from within me. He didn’t request for me to say it back to him; he allowed me the time I needed to process what he had just said.

My body trembled uncontrollably, and I could feel my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I could almost hear his heart beating, mimicking my speed.

I was thankful when Dr. Davis came into the room, interrupting us.

“How are you feeling?” He asked as he made his way over to me.

“Like I almost died,” I tried to make light of the situation.

Neither of them found it very funny though.

“You’re lucky to be alive,” Dr. Davis said, his tone hardening as he checked my heartbeat. “I’m going to run some more tests before I discharge you.”

“Discharge?” I asked, my eyes wide. “You mean I’ll be able to go home?”

Dr. Davis nodded.

“Hopefully by the end of today; once we get the test results back.”

I sighed out of relief; I didn’t think I would be relieved to actually be able to return to the palace. When I left to go to Bluemoon, I wasn’t ever planning on returning.

Dr. Davis drew some blood from my arm and sent them to the labs, leaving Sebastian and me alone. Before I could say anything, Sebastian was grabbing my face into the palms of his hands and pressing his lips into mine. He was gentler than he had been in the past; he wasn’t kissing me with a hungry desire, but more with delicacy.

His kiss tasted sweet and sent my stomach into a whirl. I could feel Nora awakening from inside of me; her strength returning to her, and she was fully aware of what was going on around her. I felt the heat rising into my cheeks and my features turning a tinted red.

He pulled apart from me, leaving me breathless and wanting more of him. I feared him. I feared everything he was about. I feared the power he held not only for the kingdom but for myself as well. He was the strongest wolf I had ever come to know and even if he wasn’t a murderous beast like the rumors had said, that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.

The mark on the back of my neck began to burn and I didn’t know what that meant. I wasn’t sure why it would hurt some days, but I would hardly notice it the other days. He seemed to have noticed something was wrong from the look on my face and he pulled away from me.

He probably wasn’t used to women reacting this way to him; if he had told Emily that he loved her, she would be all over him. But I was distant and quiet; I found it difficult to look him in the eyes because I knew once I did it would be all over for me. I knew Nora would never be able to resist him and we would be all his.

I wasn’t sure I was ready to give myself to him so quickly after returning. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to stay. The divorce was still heavily in my mind.

How could I stay with someone whom I feared? How could I stay with someone I hardly trusted?

“I hope you know I’m not going to let Jack get away with this,” Sebastian said, his eyes darkening. “I’m going to find him, even if I must search this entire kingdom. I will find him and punish him for what he has done to you.”

“I know,” I told him; I was only a little worried that Jack was still out there somewhere. “What happened with Naomi and Amy?”

“They are in the king’s jail until we can figure out what to do with them,” he said.

“And you got your scepter back?” I asked, my tone quivering slightly as I thought about the moonstone scepter being in the palace.

“Yes,” he answered. “I don’t want you to worry about it, Hannah,” he said, lowering his tone. “I’ve had the scepter for a long time. I can handle it. I’m the only one who can handle it.”

I know he said that, but I wasn’t so sure. I had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach and Nora was a bit nervous as well. She stirred uncomfortably as he said he can handle it. I didn’t say anything more though; I told him I wanted to rest some before I was discharged.

He kissed the top of my head before leaving the room, allowing me some peace. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to sleep. I closed my eyes and all I could see were his scarlet eyes and his blood-soaked mouth as he bit into me. I struggled against him, my body shaking violently, but he only grabbed me harder and pulled me toward him.

The more I fought him, the stronger he became. Soon, his masked face distorted, and he turned into Jack. He stood over me, his face ringing with violence and his eyes showing nothing but hatred. I was lying in a puddle of my own blood as his fist came down and attacked my face.

Just as his fist neared me, my eyes opened, and I shot up from the bed. I was breathing heavily, and beads of sweat were pouring down the nape of my neck. Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged my body tightly, shivering at the memories combined.

Was I ever going to be able to sleep again?

I brushed my fingers through my sweat-soaked hair, allowing it to fall around my shoulders. I took in a sharp breath, trying to calm down my trembling body and Nora.

I wasn’t sure how long I was asleep, but Dr. Davis came into the room shortly after I woke up with Sebastian trailing closely behind him.

“You’re good to go. Test results came back clear,” Dr. Davis said with a broad smile.

…

We returned to the palace and as soon as I stepped inside. I could already tell something was wrong. Nora sensed negative energy right away and I could see that the aura just felt off. We weren’t greeted by a ton of servants like we usually were.

I followed Sebastian up to our room; I wanted to ask him what was going on, but I’d had enough bad news for one day.

Sebastian turned to me, meeting my eyes with a worried look in his eyes.

“Are you okay?” He asked, keeping his tone low.

That was a loaded question, one I didn’t really have an answer to.

“I’ve been better,” I admitted.

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close to him. His warm body was like a heater against my features. I breathed him in; his scent filled with a loving warmth that soothed my entire body and relaxed Nora’s anxieties. I buried my face into his broad chest, imagining him without his shirt. I thought back to the night of the full moon when he chased me around the palace grounds, and we ended up in the pool. We were both completely naked and I wanted him badly.

His mask fell off his face, and I saw the beauty of the man that has been hidden for years. As the memory invaded my mind, my face began heating up. My heartbeat rapidly in my chest and I could feel my breathing growing harsh.

Nora wiggled inside of me, eager to have more of Sebastian. He wrapped my arms firmly around him, pressing my body against his. I could feel the heat radiating around my body and I no longer believed that it was coming from him alone.

I gazed up at him, meeting his scarlet eyes.

He could feel it too.

His breathing was also heavy as he draped his fingers through my wavy hair. I tugged at the bottom of his shirt; my eyes pleading for him to remove it. I didn’t have to speak for him to know what I wanted. I wondered if he was going to lose control and have his way with me at that moment; I wondered if I even cared to stop him.

I wanted him as well and I wasn’t about to take an ice bath to calm myself down.

He removed his shirt, revealing his broad chest and amazing abs that made my mouth nearly water. He wrapped his arms around me again, allowing me to feel his skin against mine. He brought his lips to me and kissed me with a hungry passion.