Chosen as the Cursed Alpha's Seventh Bride

Emilia’s POV

I went home and rested for a while.

At four o’clock, Sebastian called. "Seafood for dinner?"

"Are you asking or telling?" I countered.

"Does it matter? Either way, you’re coming with me."

"You’re so romantic. How did I get so lucky?"

His dark chuckle sent shivers down my spine. "You can find out exactly how lucky you are tonight when we get home."

"I’m hanging up now."

"See you at five, wife."

At five o’clock sharp, Sebastian and I walked into the seafood restaurant hand in hand. The scent of salt and spices filled the air, and I was already imagining the feast we’d order when...

"Emilia?"

I froze. That voice.

Scott stood near the entrance, his expression shifting from surprise to something pained as his gaze dropped to where Sebastian’s hand gripped mine.

"You didn’t go to Paris?" Scott asked, taking a step toward us. "Wait. You have a wolf now?"

Guilt twisted in my stomach. "Sorry, Scott. Something happened, and I changed my mind."

"It’s fine. I’ll give the position to someone else," he said, but his voice was tight. "Maybe I’m just not the friend you’d share that kind of news with."

"Scott..."

But he was already walking past us, his shoulders stiff. I watched him leave, that guilt growing heavier.

"He’s gone," Sebastian said flatly. "You can stop staring now."

I turned to find him looking at me with an expression cold enough to make me freeze. "I wasn’t staring. I was just..."

"Feeling guilty?" He pulled out a chair for me. "About what, exactly? That you didn’t go to Paris? Last I checked, your study abroad plans have nothing to do with him."

"He was just trying to help me, Sebastian. He cares..."

"Do you hear yourself right now?" Sebastian leaned forward, his green eyes flashing. "You’re standing here, in front of your mate, telling me how much another man cares about you. Are you trying to start World War Three?"

"Oh, please." I rolled my eyes. "Raelene came to my company looking for trouble and I didn’t throw a tantrum."

"That’s because you know I can’t stand Raelene."

"And you don’t know that I don’t have feelings for Scott?" I shot back.

"I’ve never spent time staring after other women, but you?" His jaw clenched. "I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve looked at other men."

"Are you seriously keeping score?" I asked in disbelief. "What are you, a jealous teenager?"

"I’m not jealous," Sebastian said through gritted teeth. "I’m stating facts. That man’s feelings for you are obvious to everyone except apparently you."

"So what do you want to do about it? Have a dramatic argument in the middle of a seafood restaurant?"

Sebastian made a sound somewhere between a growl and a scoff. He raised his hand, snapping his fingers at the waiter. "Steamed crabs, braised crabs, roasted crabs, fried crabs, stir-fried crabs. I want a dozen of each."

I stared at him. "A dozen? Are you planning to hibernate for winter or just explode?"

"I’m going to eat until I’m too full to care about your terrible judgment."

"You’ll make yourself sick."

"Better than dying of frustration dealing with you," he muttered.

"Ryder, is he always this dramatic?" I asked through the mind-link, knowing Sebastian’s wolf could hear me.

"You should see him during pack meetings," Ryder said, sounding amused. "He once threatened to demote someone for bringing him the wrong coffee."

"I heard that," Sebastian growled.

I took a sip of water, fighting back a smile. "I still don’t understand what you’re so worked up about. I glanced at Scott for two seconds."

"Two seconds? Try twenty. What’s next, you want to exchange phone numbers? Maybe plan a coffee date?"

"Why are you being so ridiculous about this?" I demanded. "You’re an Alpha, not a drama queen."

"Fine. Let’s see how you react when I take a beautiful woman swimming someday."

I nearly choked on my water. "What is wrong with you?"

"Tiffany was right about you," I muttered.

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. "What did my sister say?"

"That you’re impossible to live with."

"Has anyone actually died from living with me?"

"Not yet, but there’s still time."

"Yes," he agreed, his tone suddenly softening. "Decades from now, when your hair turns white and you can’t walk without help anymore. When your eyes grow weak and you need me to read to you. That’s when."

The waiter arrived with mountains of crabs. I grabbed one and shoved it toward Sebastian’s mouth. "Here. Shut up and eat."

His hand caught my wrist, and his expression shifted into something dangerous. "I’m teaching you a very thorough lesson when we get home tonight."

"Is that a threat or a promise?" I asked sweetly.

"Both."

Then, still holding my gaze, he expertly cracked open a crab, picked out the tender meat, and placed it carefully in my bowl.

I looked down at the tender crab meat, and warmth bloomed in my chest. This bossy, overbearing Alpha wasn’t so bad after all. Even in the middle of a fight, he still took care of me.

"You’re such a pain," I said, but my heart felt warm.

"And yet here you are," he replied, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Stuck with me."

"Eve, I married a lunatic," I said to my wolf.

"Yes," Eve agreed. "But he’s your lunatic. And he’s currently glaring at every man in this restaurant who looks in your direction."

I glanced at Sebastian. Sure enough, his jaw was tight, his eyes scanning the room like he was marking territory.

"Sebastian," I said gently.

"What?"

"You know I only have eyes for you, right? Even when you’re acting like this?"

His expression softened marginally. "You say that now, but earlier you were..."

"Taking one last look at my boss because I felt guilty about changing my plans," I interrupted. "That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less."

"He wants more from you."

"Probably," I admitted. "But what he wants doesn’t matter. What matters is what I want. And I want this." I gestured between us. "You. Us. Even when you order enough crabs to feed a small army out of spite."