Chapter 36
Noelle
Sebastian doesn’t question me. Without another word or even a complaint, he continues down the stairs, his tall frame soon swallowed by darkness. I have to follow him quickly in order not to lose him in the dark. It’s also becoming chillier with each and every step.
Suddenly, Sebastian stops and holds up his arm as if wanting to keep me behind him. “Vampire ahead,” he growls. “Nothing we can do about it, but I thought you should know.”
“Then you should let me walk first,” I respond. “I’m the Alpha and should be the first person they see”
Even if we are standing still in the dark, I can see his thick eyebrows rising closer to his hairline. “I don’t agree with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“That you’re the Alpha and that I don’t want to risk your life over mine.”
“Sebastian, we aren’t mates anymore.”
“I don’t that,” his eyes narrow. “But I’m still the pack’s Beta, and right now, I consider myself your Beta, even if it’s only for today.”
My heart flutters a little at his words, but I quickly suppress the emotion. I’m in love with Lucian, not Sebastian. It’s just that I’m confused as heck when I’m around him, probably because we had a life together before he cheated on me. We lived together and everything.
“Sebastian, this is the last time I say this: I will lead us,” I say, surprising even myself with how calm and composed I sound in the face of danger. “And besides, this is my fight. I’m going to become the new Alpha and need these vampires to respect
me.”
He is silent for a moment, processing my words. Then he sighs heavily and steps aside, allowing me to take the lead.
“Alright, Noelle,” he concedes reluctantly. “But if anything happens…”
“Then I will handle it.” I cut him off before he can finish his sentence. I don’t need any more reminders of what’s at stake
here.
“Fine…”
With that, I walk ahead until we get to the bottom of the stairs. There’s a room there, and my jaw slacks to the floor when a bunch of floating lanterns light up the area.
I gasp. “Is this…magic?”
Sebastian doesn’t get the chance to answer me before laughter rings out from the darkness, echoing off the stone walls and causing goosebumps to scatter across my skin. Slowly, figures seen to materialize in the room, pale skin glinting in the spectral light of the lanterns.
“Yes, dear wolf,” a sultry voice purrs from my left, “This is magic
A beautiful man steps into view. He is stunningly beautiful, with dark hair and eyes of different colors–one yellow and one red. His lips curl into a knowing smile as he crosses his muscular arms over a chest clad in a suit. He looks me up and down before focusing his attention on Sebastian.
“Sebastian… it’s been a while,” he says, his voice dripping with honeyed contempt.
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I freeze into place. Shit:Was all of this a setup from Sebastian’s side? Is he working with the vampires? Damn it! why the hell
did I trust him?!
Slowly, I turn around, expecting to see Sebastian smirking down at me, but he is glaring at the vampire.
“Are you happy now?” he asks. “You compelled me to bring Noelle to your lair.”
“And you tried your hardest to fight against the compulsion and make her stay at the mansion,” the vampire smiles at me. “I was watching you two in my crystal ball, and I’m very impressed that your ex–mate doesn’t want you dead. He even tried to make you suspicious enough to stay in your mansion. You see, it was all he could do since the compulsion kept him from telling you the truth. Your poor little ex–mate has been torn between doing what he has been forced to do and what he knows is right for you, Noelle.”
To my surprise, I’m not angry with Sebastian. Instead, I glare at the vampire, who doesn’t even attempt to hide the sadistic pleasure gleaming in his eyes.
I bet he enjoyed watching Sebastian struggle against the compulsion. Also, if this vampire is strong enough to compel a Beta werewolf, then he must be their leader.
“Noelle…”
I turn back to Sebastian, my gaze softening as I study him. He is biting on his lower lip, looking ridiculous, considering that he is one of the most feared Beta wolves around.
“I’m sorry…” He continues now that he has my attention, but I cut him off by raising a hand.
“It’s fine, Sebastian. We will get through this.”
We both turn to face the black–haired vampire again, who is now laughing hysterically, his hands on his sides as if the sight of us is amusing.
“Oh, this is gold!” He exclaims, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye. “Your ex–mate cheated on you but is still in love with you while you’ve moved on–I love it! Also, are you really the future Alpha of the Midnight pack? You look way too cute to lead a werewolf pack, hun.”
His laughter continues, echoing eerily throughout the cavernous room. I clench my fists at my sides, my wolf growling softly inside me. If there’s anything I hate more than my plans getting thwarted, it is being laughed at.
“I can assure you there’s nothing cute about me,” I spit, drawing myself up to my full height.
“Oh… Is that so?” he drawls in that same honeyed voice before pulling up his sleeves. “Well, let’s put that to the test, shall we?!”
Faster than I can react, the vampire lunges forward, ready to rip my throat.
But Sebastian is faster. In the blink of an eye, he thrusts himself before me, sending me sprawling onto the cold, hard stone floor behind him. His shoulders stiffen, muscles bulging as he prepares to face our enemy head–on. I watch in horror and admiration as Sebastian locks eyes with the vampire, his gaze steely and fierce.
“This time, you won’t be able to compel me. You see, I’ve figured out it’s only human forms you can control.”
The vampire hisses while Sebastian shape–shifts, his human form replaced by a massive, snarling wolf standing protectively
in front of me. His fur bristles ominously in the dim light coming from the lanterns.
‘I know we aren’t friends or lovers,’ Sebastian’s voice comes in through the mind–link. ‘But I take my duty as Beta very seriously. I won’t let him harm you!
“Bravo, Sebastian,” the vampire scoffs, probably able to read Sebastian’s mind. “A loyal dog till the end.”
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Sebastian snarls at the vampire’s taunt, but it’s all a distraction since the vampire flies forward a second later with the speed of lightning
And then he attacks.
It’s all a blur of movement as Sebastian and the vampire clash, reeth haring and claws flashing in the eerie glow of the lanterns. The room fills with noise–growls, snarls, hisses–all underlined by the ominous chanting of the other vampires. I scramble to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest.
I can’t just stand here, I have to fight too.
I quickly transform into my lycan form, ready to aid Sebastian. However, I freeze when the vampire throws him onto the ground with a loud thud. A whimper escapes from Sebastian’s routh, and I watch in horror as the vampire ruthlessly decapitates him.
Sebastian!‘ I scream through the mind–link, but it’s already too late. Sebastian’s eyes are glazed over, and his blood is pooling on the floor.
He is dead.
“Finally that guy is gone,” the vampire straightens up, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he wipes Sebastian’s blood off his claw onto his suit.
1 growl at him, but that only makes him laugh.
“Angry, are we? Well, you won’t have to feel lonely for very long because you’re next,” he purrs.
B
