Chapter 21

Miranda's POV

I stare at Sebastian’s name on the wall. It is etched on a gold plaque, his name dark, matching the dark wood of the doorframe. I sigh and hold my folder to my chest.

I don’t know why I’m so hesitant to go inside. I’ve met him plenty of times before. Many of those times have been…intense, to say the least, but I’m here on business, not for personal reasons.

I fix my hair and take a deep breath, pushing through the door.

Our eyes meet when he looks up from his desk. He sets down a paper and pen, folding his hands on the desktop. I approach his desk, forcing a smile onto my face. His expression remains unchanged.

“Sebastian,” I breathe out.

“Miranda.” His tone is the same as always: lacking any warmth or openness.

Still, his voice makes me pause. I sit in the chair in front of him, our eyes never leaving each other, and I set the folder in front of him. He glances at it and I can breathe again.

“What’s this?” He asks. He picks it up and I straighten my back, slightly leaning forward.

“This is my plan for mass production of the formula. I was sure to include Moonlit Labs as the main producer and distributor,” I explain. My tone is confident yet cool because I don’t want to somehow upset him and end another meeting in a screaming match.

Sebastian’s head bobs up and down as he shuffles through the papers. He doesn’t say anything nor do I try to fill in the silence. I train my gaze onto him, fixed in my seat, refusing to move or look anywhere else.

“I want weekly updates on the drug and the effect it has on the wolves when they receive the first batch,” his voice is raspy and low. His dark eyes meet mine.

“Well…” My words trail off. I chuckle, feeling awkward at his request, and I scratch the back of my neck. “That’s not really my job. That’s the doctor’s job. You know, the ones who are on-site? I won’t be there to—”

“Stop.” He holds his hand up to me. I quickly go quiet and stare at him. His voice shakes me to my core, urging me into submission. “You will give me weekly updates, Miranda. That is not up for negotiation.”

I narrow my eyes at him. My cheeks flush from heat and I can start to feel myself grow more and more annoyed by the second.

“No, Sebastian,” I state.

“No?” He scoffs in disbelief.

“No,” I confirm with a nod.

Sebastian throws his head back and laughs. He stands from his desk and circles around it, finding his way next to me.

With every step he takes, my heart pounds in my chest. I tilt my head to look up at him, barely able to breathe when he leans down to close the distance between us.

“Who do you think you are, Miranda? Hm?” Sebastian hums in a low tone. His eyes study my face. My skin ignites under his gaze.

I push the chair back and escape the close vicinity he’s in. I sharply inhale and walk to another spot in his office.

“Look at me, Miranda.” His voice booms from over my shoulder. I do not move. I open my eyes when I hear footsteps come from behind me. “Why are you so difficult?”

“Am I difficult?” I ask, turning on my heel to face him.

Sebastian stands right behind me, only a few inches keeping up apart. I suck in a breath, my eyes wide as he looks down at me with a smirk.

“You are the most difficult woman I have ever met.”

“I don’t think I am,” I challenge him with my words. His eyebrow perks up and, surprisingly, he remains quiet. “I will not bow you to, Sebastian. I will not be submissive to you like Lily. I am not a toy to be played with, nor am I someone to be pushed around.”

A low growl emits from his throat. I rest my hand on his chest, my touch lingering, before I slowly push him back, trying to create more distance between us.

Sebastian pushes back into my touch. My hand flattens against his chest. I gasp and his eyes darken, his head lowering close to mine. He deeply inhales and takes a step closer to me, pushing me back.

I match his step but I move backwards. We keep moving until my back hits the wall behind me. I wince when my back presses into frames on the wall.

His fingers trail up my cheek and his eyes are closed. He presses his forehead into mine, grumbling curse words under his breath. He cups my cheek and his lips crash down onto mine, capturing my lips in a fiery kiss.

I freeze in surprise. Sebastian pushes his hips into mine, pinning me against the wall.

From deep inside me, my wolf stirs. She growls and barks. She howls for more and I want to give in…

Wait! No! I can’t!

I push Sebastian away. He pins his hand next to my head and against the wall. He looks down at me, breathing deeply. His gaze looks crazed like he’s hungry for more. He dips his head back down but I stop him.

My hand connects with his cheek. The sound of the slap echoes throughout the room. I go silent, eyes wide as I realize what I have just done. Sebastian’s cheek quickly turns pink and the outline from my fingers appears.

I stammer. He reaches to his cheek, fingers grazing over the pink spot. I shake my head and dip under his arm, rushing out of the office before either of us can say anything.

I slam my car door behind me. I hold onto the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white. My chest rapidly rises and falls, the car tires screeching as I speed away from the building and toward the house.

I slam on the brakes when I get home and storm inside. The door slams behind me and my eyes well with tears. Anna and the kids poke their heads out from the hallway and I wave to them. I blink my tears away and drop my bag at the door.

“You look like a mess! Is everything okay?” Anna asks, reaching out to rub my back when I walk into the room they’re in. I sink into a chair at the dining room table and I roll my head back.

“I…I would rather not talk about it,” I admit to them. I close my eyes and sigh. My lips tingle and my cheeks heat up.

Sebastian’s dark eyes flash across my mind. His touch haunts my skin and I swear I can still feel his warm hand on my cheek.

“Did someone give you a hard time at work again? If only there’s a formula you can take to help you cheer up!” Noah chimes in.

“Honey, those are called anti-depressants,” Anna chuckles and rubs his back, “your mother probably already has them.” I groan and cover my face with my hands.

Why? Why me and why now?

My eyes shoot open when I feel something grab my hair. I glance behind me and see Ella, who smiles brightly at me.

“Don’t let them bother you, Mommy,” Ella sweetly says. She messily braids my hair and I’m sure I’ll have to brush the knots out later, but I don’t care. This moment here with my kids, and Anna, is all I need to keep me comforted.