Chosen as the Cursed Alpha's Seventh Bride

Sebastian’s POV

The Rolls-Royce tore down the highway, engine roaring as I pushed the accelerator harder.

"You can’t just leave our mate stranded on the side of the road, "Ryder’s voice slammed into my consciousness.

"Our mate?" I snarled. "She’s the one who got out of the damn car. You heard what she said."

"After you called her damaged goods, "Ryder shot back. "You started this, Sebastian."

"I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true! She hid information from me. Important information. She should have disclosed—"

"Disclosed what? You’re not angry about what she hid, Sebastian. You’re angry about Brandon."

My hands jerked on the wheel, the car swerving slightly before I corrected course. "I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about."

"You’re jealous. "Ryder’s tone was flat, matter-of-fact." You heard Dorothy mention Emilia might love that asshole and it made you insane. That’s why you lashed out."

"That’s ridiculous. I don’t give a damn about some random wolf from her past—"

"Then why did you want to rip apart anyone who ever looked at her with affection?"

Heat crawled up the back of my neck. "Shut up."

"She’s our mate, Sebastian. Our fated mate. And you’re treating her like—"

I closed the mind-link between us, cutting off Ryder’s voice. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the hum of the engine and my own ragged breathing.

Moon Goddess, I couldn’t think straight.

If she really had someone she loved, she should have told me from the beginning. Right?

I pressed harder on the accelerator, the Silver Moon Pack territory looming ahead.

I got home and walked into the living room looking upset. Mila, who was comfortably drinking tea on the sofa, was startled when she saw me. She stood up and asked, "Sebastian, how come you’re back alone? Where’s your wife?"

"I don’t know," I said with impatience. I dropped onto the opposite sofa, gesturing sharply at a nearby maid. "Water."

"You have no idea?" My mother’s voice rose. "You went out with her this morning, and you lost her? How does an Alpha lose his own Luna?"

I drained the glass of water, slamming it down on the coffee table, not bothering to respond.

Mila’s hands trembled as she pulled out her phone, her fingers flying across the screen. She held it to her ear.

"Luna Dorothy? Yes, this is Mila Simons... Is Emilia still at the Frostridge Pack?... She left with Sebastian?... I see... Thank you."

After hanging up the phone, her face fell.

"Dorothy said you both left together hours ago. So where exactly is Emilia, Sebastian?"

I leaned back against the sofa. "She’s gone. What else do you want me to say?"

"Gone?" Mila’s voice cracked. "What do you mean, gone? How can you talk about your wife like she’s... like she’s disposable?"

"That woman got out of the car on the highway. I couldn’t control what she did."

"So you just... left her?" My mother’s eyes widened. "You left her alone on the side of the road? Sebastian, she’s your wife! Your Luna! How could you—"

"What else was I supposed to do?" I snapped. "Chase after her? Beg her to come back like some pathetic—"

"Yes!" Mila’s shout echoed through the room. "That’s exactly what you should have done! Women need to feel loved, Sebastian. They need to feel valued. Would it kill you to show her a shred of kindness?"

"I’m not that kind of person," I said coldly, rising to my feet. "I don’t beg. I don’t chase. And I sure as hell don’t grovel for anyone’s approval. Have you ever seen me do that?"

I started toward the stairs, ready to go to my room and shut out the world.

"Sebastian Simons, don’t you dare walk away from me!"

I paused, turning back to see my mother’s face flushed with anger.

"Since you refuse to look for her," Mila said, her voice shaking as she tried to rein in her temper, "can you at least call her? Tell me where she is so I can send someone to pick her up?"

"I don’t have her number."

"You..." She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack? You’ve been married for a week, and you don’t even have your own wife’s phone number?"

"It’s always been like this with the others," I said with a dismissive shrug. "Why is this such a surprise?"

"Because Emilia isn’t like the others! I don’t care how you treated those previous marriages, those disasters you created. But Emilia is different. She’s the only daughter-in-law I’ve ever actually cared about. The only one who—"

"It doesn’t matter anymore," I cut her off. "I’m going to divorce her soon. Maybe even tonight."

The words came out harsher than I’d intended, fueled by the frustration and confusion churning in my gut.

"What?" My mother swayed on her feet, one hand clutching at her chest. "Di... divorce?"

For a terrifying moment, I thought she might actually faint.

"Mom!" Tiffany burst through the front door. She rushed to Mila’s side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What’s wrong? What happened?"

"Your brother," Mila gasped, leaning heavily against Tiffany, "is going to get another divorce."

"Again?" Tiffany’s head whipped toward me. "It’s been one week! Brother, have you completely lost your mind?"

She turned back to our mother. "Mom, if you die from stress, I’m dying with you. We’ll haunt him together..."

"If Sebastian dares to divorce that girl," a booming voice announced from the foyer, "I’ll be the first to die in front of him."

My father strode into the living room, his Alpha presence filling the space. Titus Simons wasn’t a man who made idle threats.

I looked around at my family... my mother clutching her chest, my sister glaring daggers at me, my father standing like an immovable wall between me and the stairs.

"Are you all insane?" I muttered in disbelief. "She’s been in this house for seven days. Seven. And you’re ready to disown me over her?"

No one answered. They just stared at me.

I turned and went upstairs.

As darkness fell, Emilia still hadn’t come home. Mother had sent three drivers to look for her, but none of them found her. The whole family was anxious and restless.

Finally, I came downstairs with my car keys.

"Where are you going?"

My mother’s voice stopped me. I didn’t turn around.

"To find that stupid woman, before all of you stage a mass suicide in my living room."