Chapter 51
SEBASTIAN’S POV
Last night, I wanted to go see Brianna and tell her that I didn’t mean to hurt her by keeping her in the cell. Or subject her to whatever ill treatment Hermes had made her and the other Omega slaves at that auction pass through. Tell her that on the bright side, I only wanted to protect her. I was sure she might find it hard to believe for now. But with time, she’ll understand that it was for the best.
But Catherine’s delicate state last night and the countless calls and messages we received from worried guests at the anniversary party tied me down. I devoted many hours to looking after her and responding to messages and calls. It wasn’t easy explaining to them that the issue that happened last night was just a mere husband and wife misunderstanding. But I did my best.
As I expected, the incident last night became a top story on the front page of the morning paper, with the headline: “Celebratory Night Takes Unexpected Turn: Alpha King Sebastian and Wife Clash During Their Anniversary Dinner Party.”
I brushed out a sharp breath as I looked at the headline. Just as I was about to turn to the page with the story, someone snatched it from behind.
“Honey,” Catherine said softly, taking a seat close to mine at the dining table. “Can we please just forget about everything that happened last night?”
I didn’t reply. I just sighed and lowered my gaze to my breakfast of coffee and croissants.
She took my fingers and rubbed them gently. Reaching for my face, she cradled my chin, making me face her.
“Please,” she pleaded, her blue eyes glistening with genuine emotions.
“It’s already forgotten. So you have nothing to worry about,” I took her bandaged hand and clutched it. I was about to plant a kiss when she winced slightly, reminding me she was still injured. “Oh, I'm sorry…” I apologized.
“No…it’s nothing,” she smiled warmly at me. “All that matters is that we didn’t let last night's incident define us and break us apart. We are back bigger, better and stronger in love. And that is all that matters, honey.”
I nodded and forced back a smile. Catherine stood, leaned over and kissed me passionately on the lips, catching me unawares. Sitting back down, she gladly tossed the paper aside at the further end of the dining table.
As I nibbled on my croissant, I felt a bit guilty and unsure. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Maybe it was the kiss with Brianna last night, or perhaps it was because I didn’t fully trust Catherine with her last words after everything that had happened. She had a knack for surprises, and I had this feeling she might do something unexpected and crazy again.
One of the maids brought her breakfast. And for the first time in years, she said thank you and politely smiled at the maid. I stared at her in shock and surprise, blinking more than usual to make sure this was real.
“What?” She stared at me with a puzzled expression. “Why are you giving me that look? Did something go wrong?... Is it my hair… or my face? Are my morning marks that terrible? Are my eyes still swollen?” She asked, running her fingers over her hair and face to check them.
“No, It’s nothing,” I broke my gaze from her and turned my attention back to my breakfast.
“I mean it, Sebastian,” she persisted, leaning closer with curiosity. “Did I do or say something that surprised you?”
“It’s just that I have never seen you say thank you or smile at the maids. What’s with the sudden behaviour change?” I finally said, raising my mug to my lips and taking a sip.
Her smile grew wider as she reached for my fingers, pressing them tighter than before.
“You are the reason for the change. You’re the reason for everything I do, Sebastian. I’m just so happy this morning. With you, I’m a changed person. With your presence and love, I’m happy,” raising my fingers to her lips, she worshipped and pampered them with kisses, leaving me blinking with bafflement. What has gotten into her this morning? What she okay at all? But despite all that, I felt a bit smug and proud of myself. And also hoped that this new Catherine would last longer.
I sipped my coffee and on setting the mug down, noticed approaching footsteps. I turned to see Amelia with a worried expression on her face.
“Good morning, Alpha Sebastian. Good morning, Luna Catherine,” she greeted with a polite bow.
“Morning,” I nodded slightly, furrowing my brows, and adding a sense of urgency to my tone. “You look troubled. Is something the problem?
“Yes,” she replied with a tense, small voice. “It’s Miss Brianna… She isn’t in her room. And I can’t find her anywhere in the castle. I knocked several times on her door earlier this morning to give her medication but there was no response. So I decided to enter. And when I did, I saw that it was empty. The wardrobe was empty too and I saw some luggage by the side of the bed. I think…I think she left.”
I took out a relieving breath and focused back on my breakfast. With the expression on her face and when she first called Brianna’s name, I thought something very bad had happened to her.
“You don’t need to worry, Amelia,” I said in a composed manner. “Brianna hasn’t left. She’s still in the castle. She’s just temporarily locked up in the cell.”
On hearing that, Catherine dropped the cutleries she was eating with and they clanged noisily on her ceramic plate.
“What do you mean she’s still in this castle?” She glared at me, startling me as her once calm demeanour transformed into a furious one in the blink of an eye.
“Alpha Sebastian,” Amelia pleaded, trying to kneel when I stopped her. “Please don’t punish Brianna. She’s good and innocent. I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation for whatever she did that caused you to lock her in the cell.”
“I’ll never punish or do anything to hurt her,” I looked at Amelia, stricken by what she said. “I had kept her there because…Because last night I caught her trying to escape. I tried to talk her out of it. But she was adamant. Keeping her there was the only way to stop her.”
“Ohh,” Amelia looked away slightly and calmed. But with confusion etched in her features.
“Yes. I’m not planning on keeping her there for long. Just long enough for her to realize she’s making a terrible mistake trying to leave.”
“Can you leave us?” Catherine directed at Amelia.
“Yes, my Luna,” she dipped to a dismissive bow before taking her leave.
Directing her fiery gaze at me, Catherine fired. “I just don’t understand you. The slave girl decided to leave this place for good. And you stopped her. Just why the fucking hell would you do that?!”
“Can we not do this right now, Catherine?” I shot her a disapproving glance. I wanted to return to my breakfast when she banged against the table with her palms.
“Can we not do what right now?” She snapped. “Something you’ve already initiated? Are you blind, Sebastian? Can’t you see that girl is trying to ruin our marriage? She wants to tear us apart!”
I could no longer cage my flaring temper. Just when I thought things were cooling and taking a brighter turn, she was beginning to ruin it by bringing this issue up and not wanting to let it go. I knew this would happen.
“You’re overthinking this, Catherine,” I countered, meeting her glare. “You’re imagining things. Remember, I purchased her at the auction, and she’s still my responsibility. If I let her go and she’s captured by any of the Alpha Kings, you do know I’ll lose my rank and position as the Alpha King of this kingdom.”
She scoffed and her gaze broke away. She ran her fingers through her hair as if in search of words.
“You didn’t think of that before you chose to run your mouth like you always do…You never think of anything before you act!”
The only time a slave bought at the Omega Slaves auction isn’t free from her master is if the Alpha King dies. Otherwise, she remains forever bound to him. If she manages to escape and the other Alpha Kings find out, he’ll face the Association Of Alpha Kings (AAK) and lose his title as the Alpha King of his kingdom. But that wasn’t the major reason I didn’t want to let Brianna go. I didn’t want to let her go because…because I was falling in love with her. No matter how hard I try to fight the feeling, I still find myself succumbing to it.
“You’re just so impossible!” Catherine groaned and rose, carrying her breakfast along. “You’d better not bring up forgotten issues. I try so fucking hard to make this marriage work. But you always end up throwing my efforts into the trash can. Until she leaves this castle, I’m not sure we can be the couple we used to be,” she concluded and flounced upstairs.
I couldn’t eat anymore. I had lost my appetite. Pushing my breakfast away, I leaned down and rubbed my forehead, trying to ease the growing discomfort. Things weren’t going well at all.