Chapter 39

Miranda

Damn you, Sebastian! Why must you come and ruin everything?!

The doors of the medical tent swing back and forth as I leave, storming to my car. I don’t even bother to look behind me to see if he, or anyone else, follows. I need to get back to the lab, a place I know where I can get away from everything, and everyone, except for Jessica, of course.

I fumble with my keys outside of the lab door, grumbling to myself. The key to the lab escapes me and I groan. My fist slams against the door and I have to resist the urge to throw a tantrum like Noah and Ella would.

The door slowly opens and inside is a terrified Jessica. I take a deep breath and fix my hair, straightening my posture, and lower my hands down to my hips, the keys clanging together.

“Hello, Jessica,” I breathe out, forcing a smile onto my face. “How is your progress on the medicine coming along?” I pass her in the doorframe, and she quietly closes the door behind me.

I set my belongings inside my locker and shrug off my jacket, stuffing it inside. I slide my lab coat over my shoulders and hesitate to turn around.

All of my pent-up anger and frustration tingles my nose, my eyes becoming glossy. My palm rests against the cold metal locker door, slightly cooling my body. I close my eyes and fight the urge to cry, swallowing my emotions, opting to pass through the rest of the day as an emotionless zombie.

I can pretend to be okay. I can put on that mask and act like everything is fine like I didn’t just tell the Alpha King to leave me alone for the rest of our lives. He holds so much power, influence, and control…was it a wise move to tell him to leave me alone? Maybe I should have taken him up on the offer to take care of Ella…but what about Noah?

A groan escapes my lips. I push off from the locker, finally turning to face the lab and get on with my day when fiery knocks fill the room. Jessica and I glance at each other, both of us sharing the same confused expression.

I shake my head and take a few steps back. Jessica’s jaw drops. I hold my hands in the air and turn around, sliding into the lab.

“You don’t pay me enough for this,” Jessica sarcastically calls after me. I wave my hand at her. I don’t go too far, though, and stay behind to watch through the door’s window to see what the commotion is.

Jessica slightly opens the door, tilting her head. All of a sudden, the door springs open. I gasp and burst through the lab door, lunging towards Jessica to try and protect her from—

Sebastian?!

I pause and stare at him. My gaze narrows on his, sharply inhaling. Jessica stands between us, looking back and forth, her head on an active swivel.

Tension fills the small lab lobby. Sebastian’s chest rises and falls at a quick pace and my breathing matches his.

“Jessica?” I say.

“Yes?” Her voice barely gets out.

“Take the day off. I have things to take care of.”

“Thank you so much,” the words leave Jessica’s mouth in one breath.

Sebastian and I remain still. Jessica’s image is blurred as she moves at a lightspeed pace, gathering her belongings in one fell swoop, and rushing outside of the lab without another word.

Run free, Jessica! Send backup if you don’t hear from me in an hour!

“What do you want now?” I groan and turn on my heel, leaving Sebastian behind, entering the lab once again.

“We need to talk.” His voice follows me into the large lab room, all the way to my designated spot. I sit in my chair and keep my face out of his line of sight.

“All we’ve done is argue. If you want to talk and actually have a conversation with me, you’re going to have to set your emotions aside.” I admit, what I said was a dig, but I think after all he’s put me through, it deserves to be said.

Sebastian lets out a long sigh. I break my gaze free from the drugs in front of me and stare at him, my lips forming into a thin line. He stares at me shaking his head. He turns away and places his hands on his hips. He takes a few steps away from me. He turns and stares at me, rubbing his jaw, before walking back over to me.

“Fine. Deal,” he pulls a nearby lab chair next to me. I watch him, shocked that he would even allow me to speak down to him like that.

“Really? Just like that?” I ask.

“Yes,” he nods, “just like that.”

I nod back, pursing my lips, and turn back to my workstation.

It’s silent between us. I grab a pipette and squeeze a few drops of liquid into the half-filled glass test tube in front of me. Sebastian inches closer to me and I lean away, shooting him a dirty look.

“You wanted to talk, Sebastian, so talk,” I snap at him. A small smile flashes across his lips before his lips flatten into a line.

“I’m here to make amends,” Sebastian begins. I go back to my work in front of me, continuing to add more and more liquid inside the long test tube. The Alpha King awkwardly clears his throat, fidgeting in his seat. “I’m…I’m sorry for how I treated you in the past. It was wrong of me to do.”

I scoff in response.

Yeah, right. Are you sure you’re sorry? Or are you just trying to cover your ass now that you know Evan’s my son?

I bite back the words, keeping them inside my mind instead of letting him hear them. It’d only lead to yet another argument between us and I honestly don’t think I can handle another one.

“You’re Evan’s mother, there is no denying that,” his voice is uncharacteristically vulnerable. My hands freeze, hovering over the countertop. I glance at Sebastian. “I think I’m owed—”

“No, no!” I drop my equipment onto the countertop. I stand and grab his wrist, pulling him towards the lab door. “You are not owed anything! Today is not the day to be saying that Sebastian. You need to leave—”

“No! I’m not leaving!” Sebastian pulls against my grip. His strength easily overpowers mine and he brings me to his chest. I push away but he grabs my wrist keeping me at an arm’s distance “I’m not leaving here until you talk to me!”

“Why are you so desperate?!” I counter. “Just go! You’re not wanted here!”

“I’ll leave with one condition,” Sebastian slowly pulls me towards him. I push back but it’s of no use. “Let’s have dinner. You, me, Evan, and Ella…a family dinner.”

I take a deep breath and open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out. All I can do is laugh and scoff at his idea.

“Family dinner?” I cough the words out.

“Yes. I think Evan and Ella will want to have the time together more than us,” he pulls me to his chest, lowering his voice, “think of it as something for your children, not us.”

My voice gets caught in my throat when my chest presses against his. I gulp, my gaze trailing up his neck and to his eyes.

“If I say yes, you’ll leave?” I whisper. He nods in confirmation. “Fine. We’ll have dinner.”

“Great,” he lets go of my arm and I can breathe again. “You have my number. Text me when it’s a good time for you and Ella.” Without speaking another word, Sebastian exits the lab, leaving me behind.