Chapter 128 Awakening
Emilia’s POV
Heat flooded through my body like a slow burn, making my head spin. My brain felt foggy, but underneath that haze, something was stirring. Something new.
I opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the morning light coming through the curtains. Sebastian’s arm was wrapped around my waist, his chest pressed against my back. His face looked peaceful in sleep, almost boyish, so different from his usual sharpness.
But what hit me hardest was his scent. That minty cedar smell had always drawn me in, but now? Now it was almost too much. It wrapped around me like a blanket, making my heart race and my skin tingle.
I was thirsty. My throat felt dry, probably from all the... activity last night. The thought made heat rise to my cheeks.
Carefully, I tried to slip out of Sebastian’s hold without waking him. His arm tightened on instinct, and I froze, but then he mumbled something I couldn’t make out and relaxed his grip. I slid out of bed as quietly as I could.
The moment my feet touched the floor, I noticed something. I felt clean. Sebastian must have cleaned me up after I passed out. The thought sent a wave of warmth through my chest.
Such a thoughtful man.
I walked across the room toward the water pitcher on the dresser, and that’s when things got weird. Really weird.
I could hear everything. The birds outside weren’t just chirping. I could tell each song apart, could tell which tree they were in. I could hear the faint hum of electricity in the walls, the soft sound of air through the vents. Even Sebastian’s breathing sounded so clear, like he was right next to my ear instead of across the room.
And my vision. Everything was sharper, brighter. I could see dust floating in the sunbeam, could make out the tiny threads in the curtains from across the room.
What the hell?
My hand went to my neck, touching the spot where Sebastian had bitten me. It was tender and warm, almost hot. I needed to see it.
I walked into the bathroom and turned on the light. The brightness didn’t make me squint like it normally would. Instead, my eyes adjusted right away.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. At first glance, I looked the same. Brown hair a mess, blue eyes the same blue as always. But there was something different about me. Something I couldn’t quite name.
Then I tilted my head to see the mark.
A faint silver line ran along the curve of my neck. When I touched it, it felt warm, and it hurt a little.
I was so focused on the mark that the voice in my head made me jump.
"Hello,Emilia"
I jerked back from the mirror, my heart pounding. "What the... who said that?"
The voice was feminine, warm, and somehow familiar even though I’d never heard it before.
"I’m your wolf," the voice said, sounding almost amused. "My name is Eve."
I stared at my reflection as if it might suddenly grow fangs. "My wolf? I don’t have a wolf. I’ve never had a wolf."
"You do now."
My mind was racing. This had to be some kind of hallucination. Maybe I’d hit my head during sex and didn’t remember. Maybe...
"You didn’t hit your head," Eve said flatly. "And I’m real. I’ve always been here, Emilia. I just couldn’t reach you before."
"Why not?" I asked, still talking to my reflection like a crazy person. "I came of age years ago. Where were you when I turned 14 and should’ve met you?"
"I was sealed," Eve said, and there was something sad in her voice. "Some kind of force kept me locked away. But last night, the seal broke. I’ve been slowly getting my strength back, and now I’m finally awake."
Sealed? What kind of supernatural nonsense was this?
"Last night," I said slowly, my hand going back to the mark on my neck. "You mean when Sebastian marked me?"
"The mating bond broke the seal," Eve said. "The connection with our mate was strong enough to break whatever was holding me back."
Our mate. Right. Because apparently I had a wolf now, and that wolf had opinions.
This was insane. This was...
"Emilia? Where are you?"
Sebastian’s voice cut through my thoughts. I turned to see him sitting up in bed, his dark hair cutely mussed, looking around the room with a slight frown.
"MATE! MATE! MATE!" Eve’s voice burst in my head with so much excitement I actually winced.
"Yes, thank you, I’m aware he’s our mate," I muttered.
"Not just mate," Eve said, and I could almost hear her rolling her eyes at me. "Fated mate. The Moon Goddess chose him for us."
I froze. Fated mate?
Sebastian’s eyes found me in the bathroom doorway, and his expression turned softer. Warmer. He held out a hand. "Come here."
I walked toward him on autopilot, my mind still spinning. Fated mate. The words kept repeating in my head.
Before I could sit down, Sebastian grabbed my waist and pulled me onto the bed, then pinned me beneath him. I let out a surprised laugh as he buried his face in my neck and started sniffing me like some kind of bloodhound.
"Uh, Sebastian? What are you doing?"
He pulled back slightly, his green eyes searching my face. "If it wasn’t for my mark on your neck, I’d think you were a totally different person."
I raised an eyebrow. "That’s either really romantic or really creepy. I haven’t decided yet."
"You have a scent now," he said, ignoring my sarcasm. "You never had one before. And Ryder won’t shut up about it."
Oh. I’d never had a scent because I used to be wolfless. But now...
"What do I smell like?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Sebastian’s expression softened, and he leaned into my neck again. "Honey and wildflowers. It’s sweet and fresh and it’s driving me crazy in the best way."
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "Well, I’ve always loved your scent. Minty cedar. Like a forest after rain."
"Emilia." His voice was serious now. "What happened to you?"