Chapter 62

Miranda

The news around Moonlit Labs has been nonstop. Multiple news organizations and stations have been pummeling the company ever since its CEO announced that they will be increasing prices due to “inflation” within the country’s economy. The Alpha King has come out and publicly refuted these claims, stating that the economy is thriving and prices are at an all time low.

Every reporter asks the same question: how can there be a price increase when prices remain low across the country?

Conspiracies begin to float around the internet. Previous moments of Lily’s life as the heiress to the Silvertail Pack have gone viral, claiming that she is not fit to run the nation’s main pharmaceutical production company, stating that the role was handed to her instead of it going to someone who has a proven track record to help.

It pains me not to comment on those posts, stating that their claims are correct and not just theories.

Against my biased feeling towards Lily, a part of me wishes that I can be with her at her side to help guide her through what she needs to do. Then, the memory of her sending an ice cold letter pops back into my brain and I have to hold back on picking up the phone.

I always knew that karma is a bitch. Watching Lily’s life crumble and burn on television and phone screens has felt poetic. This is the downfall she once wished for me is happening to her firsthand.

Maybe life isn’t as cruel as I thought it to be.

I slide my phone into my pocket and squint at the doors of the school, watching as colorful figures blur behind the darkened glass. I smile, loving how much the kids enjoy their life at school.

Time flies when they grow up. It feels like it was just yesterday when I dropped them off for their first day of kindergarten. Now, I’ve gained an extra kid and they’ve all grown an inch or two and have doubled their energy. While they’ve grown up, I’ve grown older and have even spotted a few stray gray hairs, but I think that’s because of the unnecessary stress of Lily and Moonlit Labs has put me through.

The doors to the school open and a plethora of children burst out. Their screams and giggles fill the warm afternoon air. They run to their respective parents and I wait by my car for my three hellions. I sit on the low hood of the car, arms crossed over my chest.

The car hood dips as a figure sits beside me. I glance to the body next to me, greeted by Sebastian’s face. I smile and turn my gaze forward.

“What are you doing here?” I bite the inside of my cheek, “It’s my turn for pick up.”

“I wanted to surprise you,” his voice itches my brain in all the right ways.

“What do you have in store?” I press, nudging into his side.

“That would ruin the surprise, wouldn’t it?” He chuckles and pushes off the car. He stands in front of me and blocks the sun behind his head, shadowing my face. “Come on, my Beta will take the kids to my place.” He takes a step back, holding out his hand to me.

“What?” I chuckle, tilting my head to the side. “It’s a surprise for just me? I thought the kids—”

“Miranda, just come with me, okay? Don’t play hard to get,” Sebastian leans down, his eyes now at my level. I roll my eyes and look to the side, contemplating.

“Fine,” I take his hand and he laces out fingers together, tugging me to his side. He reaches into my bag, fishing out my car keys. He tosses them over his shoulder. I gasp, eyes following the keys, and watch as his Beta catches it with ease.

“Come on,” Sebastian pulls me in the direction of his car. I glance over my shoulder and see the triplets greet the Beta, tackling each other into the backseat of my car. I contently sigh and keep up with Sebastian’s brisk pace. He opens the passenger side door for me and I smile at him, getting inside. He follows suit and pulls out of the school parking lot, driving into the heart of the city.

I watch as the blurred world passes by us. Sebastian rests his hand on my thigh, giving it occasional squeeze whenever he turns. The car dips below the ground and into a parking garage, all natural light fading away. Only the orange lights of the garage illuminate the path. Once Sebastian parks, he helps me out of the car, guiding me to an elevator.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask, looking at him as the elevator doors close. He doesn’t look at me, an amused smile spreading across his face.

“So impatient...” He murmurs, shaking his head with a chuckle. I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest.

The elevator doors open and we step into a warm atmosphere. Inside stands two employees, one male and the other female. They smile at us, guiding us to comfortable couches in the middle of the room. Mirrors line the back wall, reflecting our faces.

“You got my message, yes?” Sebastian asks. He nods, gesturing to the left side of the room.

“Yes, sir. We have both outfits ready for you to try on. If you’ll follow me, Evangeline will take the lady,” the man steps to the side where black curtains are drawn back, leading into a large dressing room. I look to Sebastian, who nods his head in the direction of Evangeline, and I sigh, nodding in return.

Her smile is bright as she guides me to the other dressing room. I set my bag down on a plush couch, looking at the wall of luxurious dresses that hang on the back wall. I gulp, unsure of how I’ll be able to afford this.

“The Alpha King has selected out a dress for you, ma’am, if you’ll wait here for a moment,” Evangeline’s voice is delicate and airy. I nod, watching as she approaches the wall. She plucks a black bag from the wall, bringing it towards me. The zipper is pulled down and I’m met with an elegant dress.

The fabric is black with golden accents across it with specks of red littered underneath the black layers. I hold back a gasp and stare at her with widened eyes.

Minutes later, I stand in front of the dressing room’s mirror. I run the palms of my hands over the fabric, taking in my appearance. My light hair compliments the gold accents, my bright green eyes striking against the dark colors. I have to admit, I look like the most expensive version of myself. There are no hints of struggle nor any hints of me trying to be something I’m not.

“Shall we show the gentleman?” Evangeline smiles at me through the mirror. I take one last look at myself, mesmerized by how the dress captures every curve of my body. I nod. She guides me out of the room and into the main parlor.

Sebastian stands in the middle, talking with the tailor about adjustments to the dark suit he wears. I quietly approach him, stepping beside him on the raised platform in front of the mirror. His dark eyes flicker to my body in the mirror. I watch as he waves away the tailor, his lips parting as his eyes travel up and down my body. He turns to me, finally peeling his gaze off of the mirror and placing itself onto my body.

“You look…amazing,” his words are breathy. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Evangeline and the tailor exit the parlor, leaving us alone. My body relaxes and I look up at him.

“You look handsome yourself,” I admit. His suit fits his body just right. The jacket isn’t too long and the cuffs hug his wrists the perfect amount. The black tie hangs around his neck and I shake my head, chuckling.

My fingers pick up the fabric and I weave the tie around itself, fastening it around his neck. His breath gets caught in his throat. I can feel the heat radiate from his body. I clear my throat and look up at him.

“I’m nervous,” I try to relieve the tension in the room. “What if your plan doesn’t work?”

“It’ll work,” Sebastian’s hands find themselves on my waist, pulling my body against his. I gasp and wrap my arms around his neck, eyes wide. “Have some faith.”

“I trust you, Sebastian,” I admit, “it’s them I don’t trust.”

“Let me protect you,” he mumbles. His finger finds the bottom of my chin. I nod. His face lowers to meet mine. My eyes droop and I push up on my toes, our lips capturing each other’s in a slow yet fiery kiss.

I melt into him and all of my worries wash away. The world fades and all I can focus on is Sebastian. He’s become my protector, the one person I can rely on to save and protect me. The kiss deepens and my mind goes blank, fully giving into the man before me.