Chapter 0192

A shiver runs down my spine as Sebastian nuzzles along my jawline, his lips brushing the corner of my mouth.

He rises, gripping my hand while adjusting his jeans with the other. Steering me downstairs, he positions himself protectively behind me as his pack members swarm near. With effortless authority, he informs them we have prior commitments but will return later for any urgent matters.

The massive black truck awaits outside. Sebastian swings open the passenger door, lifting me effortlessly onto the leather seat. His fingers brush my thigh as he buckles my seatbelt. That playful wink sends heat flooding my cheeks before he shuts the door with a soft click.

My last car ride involved vampire captors and a suffocating trunk. Before that? A lifetime ago in Colorado's mountains. The normalcy of this moment feels surreal.

As we drive, I study the unfamiliar landscape. Lush greenery replaces snowy pines, the humid air clinging to my skin. So different from my childhood pack's territory.

I turn to Sebastian. "Aren't I distracting you from pack duties?"

His calloused hand engulfs mine, bringing my knuckles to his lips. "Nightshade Pack spans seven states. 832 members. 27 expecting mothers." He places our joined hands on his muscular thigh. "The work never stops. You're not a distraction - you're the first thing that's made it bearable in years."

"How long have you been Alpha?" The question slips out before I can stop it.

Muscles tense along his jaw. I start to retract the question when his thumb strokes my palm. "I promised you honesty." His voice drops. "Just know some answers come with shadows."

The steering wheel creaks under his grip. "To understand, we go back to when I was six. Another pack attacked for our lands and numbers. My father killed their Alpha..." His throat works. "But not before they murdered my mother."

My hand flies to my mouth. That hollow ache - I know it too well.

Sebastian's knuckles graze my damp cheek. "Father... broke. Moved out of the packhouse. His Beta - Nathaniel's father - essentially ran Nightshade until I turned ten." His grip tightens. "That's when they started training me. By sixteen, I'd been making pack decisions for six years."

The truck's engine hums as he continues. "Father died the day after my birthday. No illness. No warning. Just... gone." A bitter chuckle. "My Alpha ceremony happened at his funeral. No celebration. Just obligation."

I twist our fingers together, thumb tracing the scars on his knuckles. Twenty-five years old with fifteen years of leadership weighing on those broad shoulders.

"Aren't you exhausted?" The words escape in a whisper.

His answering smile doesn't reach those stormy eyes. "Every damn day. Until you." The truck slows as we reach a stoplight. He turns, capturing my gaze. "You're the first light in that darkness, Seraphina."

The way he says my name - like a prayer and a promise - steals my breath.