Chapter 40 None for Her
Emilia’s POV
"Which friend?"
My heart jumped into my throat. I hadn’t expected him to actually demand details.
"Lily Adams," I lied. "You’ve met her before."
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, studying me.
I couldn’t tell him the truth. That I was having dinner with Scott. That would open a whole can of worms I wasn’t ready to deal with.
"Cancel it," he said coldly.
My spine stiffened. "No."
His eyebrow arched.
"It’s her birthday party," I said, doubling down on the lie. "I’ve known her since college. I celebrate with her every year. It’s tradition."
"Really?"
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. He obviously didn’t believe me.
But I needed to sell this.
"If you don’t believe me," I said, reaching for my phone casually, "I can call her right now. You can ask her yourself."
I prayed Lily would forgive me. I’d have to call her first thing in the morning and get our stories straight.
Sebastian waved a hand. "There’s no need for that."
"You’re really busy, aren’t you?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.
Relief and guilt tangled in my chest.
"So I don’t have to go with you tomorrow night?" I asked carefully. "Right?"
Sebastian’s face went blank. Somehow that was more frightening than his anger.
"I’ll give you three seconds to disappear from my sight."
I didn’t need to be told twice.
I flew off the bed and bolted for my room, not stopping until the door was shut behind me.
What the hell just happened?
Sebastian had just... let me refuse him. He’d almost seemed to understand when I turned down his dinner.
I checked my phone. 2:47 AM.
I crawled into bed, but sleep was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, his mouth was back on mine. His hands on my skin. The weight of him pinning me to the mattress.
And once I finally slept, the dream turned wet. Sebastian was the man in it, calling me his mate, and I strained to answer him.
I woke up hollow. How could a wolfless woman have a mate at all? I shook my head to clear the dream out of it and got up to go downstairs.
When I came downstairs, the whole family was gathered in the living room. Sebastian stood near the stairs, a designer gift bag in his hand.
"Sebastian, did you bring us gifts again?"
Tiffany bounced toward him, her face bright.
"Yes," Sebastian said.
He reached into the bag and pulled out an exquisite hairpin that sparkled in the morning light.
"The Star of Eternity. Limited edition. It’s yours."
"Thank you!" Tiffany squealed, examining it like it was made of actual stars.
Then he turned to Mila and handed her a silk scarf. Titus got imported cigars. One by one, Sebastian handed out gifts to his family.
My stomach twisted as I watched. There were still things in that bag. Surely one of them was...
Sebastian reached in and pulled out the last gift. A delicate bracelet.
He turned to Eve, the housekeeper. "For you. Thank you for taking such good care of the household."
Eve’s eyes widened. "Alpha Sebastian, this is too much..."
"Nonsense. You deserve it."
Every eye in the room turned to me. Standing there empty-handed. The only person Sebastian hadn’t thought to bring a gift for.
His wife.
Humiliation crawled up my neck and burned my cheeks.
"Brother," Tiffany said carefully. "What about Emilia?"
Sebastian glanced at me.
"None for her."
Tiffany’s mouth fell open. "Why? She’s your Luna! Brother, you’ve gone too far!"
She thrust the hairpin back at him. "If Emilia doesn’t get anything, I don’t want mine either."
God, I loved this girl.
"What about the rest of you?" Sebastian asked calmly, looking at his parents. "Are you returning your gifts as well?"
He didn’t even sound angry. Just resigned, like he was used to his whole family taking my side against him.
Mila rolled her eyes and turned to me. "Emilia, take my gift. I’m not interested in these fashionable things anyway, at my age."
"No, Mother, really..." I forced my voice level. "There’s no need. I’m not interested either..."
I smiled.
Did I care about the stupid gift? No. I cared that he’d gone out of his way to leave me out.
After breakfast, Sebastian disappeared upstairs without a word. I lingered with Tiffany and Mila, chatting about nothing, putting off the inevitable.
Finally I couldn’t delay any longer. I needed my bag for work.
I climbed the stairs slowly, dreading another run-in. If I could just grab my things and leave without seeing him...
I pushed open the bedroom door. Sebastian was still there, adjusting his tie in the mirror.
I kept my eyes ahead and walked past him like he was invisible.
"Didn’t you see me?" His voice stopped me. "Are you really walking past me like that?"
I turned slowly. "What’s the matter?"
"What could it be?" He stepped toward me, his jaw tight. "I just don’t like your attitude."
"Even if you don’t like it, you’ll have to accept it," I said coldly. "I’m only giving you a taste of your own medicine. Why should I respect someone who doesn’t respect me?"
Sebastian’s eyes flashed. "You’re angry because you didn’t get a gift?"
"Who cares about your stupid gift," I muttered.
I spun and stalked into my room, slamming the door.
I waited, listening. After a few minutes, I heard the bedroom door close. Then footsteps down the stairs. Then, finally, his car engine starting.
He was gone.
I let out a breath. My bag was on the chair where I’d left it.
But as I reached for it, something made me pause.
The bed. Sebastian’s bed.
The sheets were still rumpled from our bodies.
Sebastian, who had a thing about cleanliness. Who changed his sheets if someone so much as sat on his bed. Who sanitized surfaces like I was a walking biohazard.
He hadn’t asked anyone to change them.
Curiosity burned through me.
I headed downstairs and tried to look casual as I came up on Eve in the hallway.
"Eve," I said lightly, "did Sebastian ask you to change his bed?"
The housekeeper looked at me. "Change the bed? No, Luna Emilia." She tilted her head. "Did Alpha Sebastian tell you to have it changed?"
"Oh, no," I said quickly, smiling. "I was just asking. It’s nothing. I should get to work."
"One more thing." I kept my voice easy. "I’ll be back late tonight, so there’s no need to make dinner for me."
"Of course. You’ll be dining out with Alpha Sebastian, then."
I didn’t say a word. I just gave a small nod at nothing in particular, my face hot, and turned for the door before she could catch anything more on it.