Chapter 28

Sebastian's POV

Miranda’s defensive demeanor changes in just a few seconds. One moment, she’s closing me off with her arms over her chest, and the next, she is shrugging her jacket off.

Her cheeks look like she’s perpetually blushing. She staggers towards me and I catch her in my arms. She looks up at me with her big green eyes then she pushes me away.

“Why are you here?” She asks, her voice low. It’s laced with bewilderment and anger, an intriguing mix that leaves me confused.

I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out. How can I explain to her that my wolf urged me to come here? That my inner instincts screamed at me to come find her? The only place she could possibly be at this time of day is her lab.

How do I explain to her that I know she stays late at her lab because of her dedication to helping people?

“Fine. Say nothing. Whatever,” Miranda groans. She turns on her heel and I grab her arm, pulling her back to me.

In one fluid motion, Miranda stands up on her toes and crashes her lips against mine. Her fingers tangle into my hair and draw me closer. My hands attach themselves to her waist. She presses into me and tilts her head to the side, deepening the kiss.

I step forward and she stumbles backward. I pick her up in my arms and carry her towards the car. She tugs on my hair and I groan into her mouth, placing her down on the hood of her car. I run my hands down her legs, running over the top of her thighs. She hisses and breaks away from the kiss.

I look down at her thigh and nothing is there. Did I hurt her? Was I too harsh with her? What happened?

Her cheeks are even more pink than before. Her hands move from my hair to my shoulders, tightly squeezing them. She pushes me away but I remain where I stand, leaning with her push.

“An ice bath…it will help counter the effects of the…of the drug,” she struggles to get the words out, her words breathy.

The drug? When was she drugged? I clear my throat and release her thighs. My hands feel cold now that they aren’t against her body.

I take a step backward. Her body relaxes the more I move away. I clear my throat and fix my hair, my hands then moving to fix my shirt.

“Right…an ice bath,” I reiterate her point and gesture in the direction of my car. “Come on, let’s get you to an ice bath.”

Miranda lies across the backseat of my car while I drive us to my home. Periodically, I glance at her through the rearview mirror.

She’s in heat…take her…she’s our mate…we need her! The wolf inside of me snarls, howling at me to take Miranda here and now.

Be quiet. We can’t take advantage of an unconscious woman. I bark back to my wolf.

He goes quiet but his growls are now muffled and they still itch the back of my mind. I park the car and pull Miranda into my arms. She weakly smacks my chest and shoulders but quickly gives up.

Her fingertips trail up and down my shoulder, leaving goosebumps in their wake. I kick the door of my home open and walk her to a nearby bathroom, one that has a bathtub full of ice-cold water after I gave my Beta the order to fill it.

Her head rolls back and her eyes are closed. My gaze fixates on her bare neck. I gulp. My fingers dig into her body.

Do it…

I shake my head. I take a couple of steps towards the bathtub and toss her in. Water splashes out of the tub and onto the white marble floor. Without another word, I turn around and close the door behind me.

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Miranda's POV

My eyes flutter open and I’m welcomed by a semi-lit bedroom. The blinds are somewhat open and the morning sunlight graces only a sliver of the room. I groan and sit up in bed.

My fingers feel numb from being cold and I stick them under my legs to warm them. A quick glance around the room tells me that I am not at home nor am I in my own bed. I look down and notice that I’m not wearing pajamas that I own.

I slip out of bed and trip over slippers that sit next to the bed. My hands catch me before I slam face-first into the ground. My head throbs. I slowly lower myself to the ground, fully lying on my back. My eyes close and I take deep breaths to try and ease the pain.

It doesn’t work.

I need water and some ibuprofen to ease the pain. I have no idea where I am, though. My memory is a little fuzzy from last night.

I remember that Sebastian was there. He saved me from the gang of rogues who attacked me.

Wait. Does that mean…

I gasp and cover my mouth. Scrambling to my feet, I search for my clothes around the room. I find them and throw my clothes on, feeling somewhat comforted that I’m in something that Sebastian has no control over.

I throw my bag over my shoulder and exit the bedroom, trying my best to be as quiet as possible and lurk down the hallway. Just as I’m about to reach the front door and make my escape, someone from behind me clears their throat.

I slowly turn around and awkwardly smile at Sebastian, who stands down the hall and in the kitchen. He gestures for me to come in and I obey, walking in his direction.

“Good morning,” he says, sitting down in a chair. He pulls out a newspaper and begins to read, barely looking in my direction.

“Morning,” I mumble.

Moments pass and I rock back and forth on my feet. His kitchen is neat and tidy. It’s spotless with no stains or leftover crumbs from the breakfast that is laid out.

“Thank you for helping me last night,” I break the silence. He finally looks away from the newspaper and looks at me. He sets the pages down and shifts in his seat, arms crossed over his chest.

I scratch my arm and inwardly chuckle. He tilts his head to the side, his eyes traveling up and down my body.

“Did you attend an event five years ago?” He asks. I lean forward.

“An event? I think you’re going to have to be more specific, Sebastian,” I nervously look around.

“An event that Lily’s father from the Silvertail Pack had. Some gala or whatever,” he stands from his chair and moves towards me. Without missing a beat, I mime his actions and move backward.

How does he know about that? I don’t remember seeing him there while I worked. The hair on the back of my neck shoots up and my back is pressed against the clean countertop.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I cooly reply with a shrug, playing it as nonchalantly as I can.