The Alpha and His Contract Luna
39. Making progress

He gently leads me into the house. His arms wrapped protectively around my waist. Without anywords he guides me up the stairs and into our bedroom.

The moment we get there I get on the bed. The events that happened and staying up with Krystalalready draining me. I look up at Sebastian expecting him to leave now that I was in bed but hedoesn't. Instead he comes and sits next to me.

“Does it hurt?” he asks, his fingers gently caressing my neck.

I knew without looking that I have bruises. The good thing about being a werewolf is that it wouldheal within a few hours. You are probably wondering, if that's the case then why hasn't Krystal'swound healed already. That's because she’s still a kid and she has yet to shift. We usually shift whenwe are around thirteen. That's also when all the perks of being a wolf kick in.

"A bit" I reply, staring at his eyes.

I don't know how his eyes always have this ability to draw me in. I could honestly drown in thosegreen orbs.

His growl brings me back to the present. At first I thought he was angry because I was eyeing himup. But I soon realize it's because of what I had just said.

“It's okay. It will heal like it never happened” I reassure him, grasping his hand in mine.

He looks at where I have touched him for a while, before gently shaking my hand off. If I am beinghonest. I'll have to admit that his actions stung a little.

I fold my hands on my lap and look anywhere but at him.

“I'll just get some rest. Could you get Monica to watch Krystal for a bit? She went to sleep a fewminutes ago and I would appreciate it if someone was with her when she woke up” I say softly.

In a way I was dismissing him but it was for the best. I needed sleep and I needed to put my wallsback up.

I couldn't allow myself to fall for him because he would never love me back. No matter what, I didn'tdeserve loving another man who didn’t love me back.

He nods his head and gets off the bed. “I'm really sorry that you got attacked in my own compound.First Krystal and now you. I promise it won't fucking happen again.”

With that he leaves. Closing the door behind him. I slump against the bed before laying down.

The constant ringing of my phone wakes me up. I try to ignore it but it keeps on ringing. Frustrated,I open my eyes and pick it up from the bedside table.

Seeing Claire's name flashing, I answer it.

"Oh goddess. Brent just told me what happened. I am really sorry. We honestly didn’t think that hewould come and attack you”

From here rumbling I deduce that she was talking about Darren. I push the hair out of my face andsit up. Leaning against the headboard

“It's okay Claire...” I try to say but she cuts me off.

“No it's not okay. We told him since you mentioned that he hasn't been picking your calls. But wenever imagined that he would come and attack you”

My hands automatically goes to my neck. It felt better now. It wasn't burning like before. Thank thegoddess for the quick healing. Otherwise it would be hard explaining how I got bruises on my neck.I sigh when she continues to rumble. Pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration. If only shewould allow me to talk then she would know that I don’t blame her at all. She shouldn't feelresponsible for Darren's actions.

“Claire!” I shout finally having enough. “I want you to listen to me and listen well. It isn’t your fault.And you shouldn't blame yourself because of that selfish prick. It all on him”

I hear her release a whoosh of breath before she speaks.

"Okay then if you say so...so how is Krystal doing?”

We fall into our normal conversation. I fill her in on Krystal's progress and she tells me what hasbeen going on her side. Including the fact that Darren's parents are pissed at him for attacking me.I make a mental note to go visit them soon. Darren and I have bad blood, but his parents alwaystreated me like their daughter.

After talking for close to an hour. We say our goodbyes and hang up. Now that I was up it wasimpossible for me to go back to sleep. I get out of bed before going to check up on Krystal. She wasstill asleep.

I also check on Jax, since it was after school. When I don't replace him in his room, Monica informs methat he was at soccer practice.

I was just about to bake some cookies when Sebastian pops up in the kitchen.

“Do you mind setting the baking aside for a while? We need to talk” he tells me.

Since I had not even begun I agreed and followed him to his office. Once we get inside he closesthe door behind him. I take a seat and he does the same.

"How's your neck?” he begins. Concern swimming in the depth of his eyes.

"Good. Doesn't hurt anymore”

He studies me for a while. An awkward silence descends on the room. I keep shifting in my chair.Unable to replace a comfortable spot.

He clears his throat “That's good” he pauses before continuing. “I need a clear picture of whathappened today” he says his brows a little bit furrowed.

I study him and see the tiredness in his eyes. I don't know if he has even slept these past few weeks.He needed rest and he needed it bad.

“I don't know what you want me to say. He came shouting my name and accusing me of notinforming him about Krystal's attack. I did try calling him but he never answered. He accused me ofbeing a bad mother and said some other nasty stuff. I got angry and said some nasty stuff back” Isay with a shrug.

I didn't want to go through it all over again. I'm still scared of how easily I lost control today. I felt itthe moment I did but it was like I was stuck inside my own body while someone else controlled it."What nasty stuff did he say?” he asks but I keep quiet instead.

If only Darren knew how wrong he was about me riding Sebastian. How shocked he would be if hefound out that my current mate has never even kissed me.

“Red?” he enquires in a taut voice.

“Can we just let it go? I don't feel like rehashing it...by the way where were your warriors?”

“Don't think I don't see what you're trying to do” he glares at me but I just smirk.

Yes I was trying to change the subject, but I was also curious. They should have been there and whothe hell let him in the first place?

He sighs. “Apparently they had gone to follow a lead about the attack on Krystal. They heard theshouting and by the time they got back the dick had already attacked you. Don't worry I have dealtwith them for leaving their posts”

It makes sense why Darren had easily entered Sebastian's compound. And why he felt confidentenough to attack me.

Of course it was stupid for all of them to leave but if Hunter took all of them with him then it meansthat it was likely a big lead. One that would probably require back up.

"Did they replace anything?” I ask in hope. Maybe we could finally get answers and put a stop to whathas been happening.

He blows out a breath and sags in his chair. “No, it was a dead end”

He looks so dead tired that I feel sorry for him.

“Maybe you should give him a shoulder massage” Blue tells me, giving me one of her outrageoussuggestions.

“As if he would ever let me touch him” I snort.

I tried holding his hands just a few hours ago. The man shook it off, so what makes Blue think thathe'll want me massaging him?

"Just try it. I have a good feeling about this. Besides he is too tired to resist” she replies and I canimagine her shrugging her shoulders.

It wouldn't hurt to try right? The worst that can happen is him rejecting me and ending me up witha bruised ego.

“Fine but if it blows up in my face the blame is on you" I tell her getting up from my seat. Shedoesn't reply, just grins at me.

I quickly round his desk before I chicken out and go stand behind his chair. Before he can sayanything, I spread my hands on his shoulders and start massaging him.

"Red?" he questions, trying to stand up.

I push him back on the chair. “Relax, it's just a massage. You're so tense I can feel it under myfingers”

He doesn't say anything. Just sits there in a stiff position. I begin working my magic and soon herelaxes and melts into the seat. His musky scent surrounds me and I can't help but take a discreetsniff.

“Told you" Blue chimes in.

I groan internally. Which just makes her laugh. I don't say anything. Afraid that if I opened mymouth it would interrupt the atmosphere. I continue massaging him. Slowly by slowly the tensionstarts leaving him.

We continue in silence but that's until I catch the reports and pictures on his desk.

“That is disturbing” I murmur, cringing at the sight of the dead bodies. “Nothing yet?”

He sighs before answering. “Nothing. The latest victim was murdered a few days ago, and just likewith the rest there was no clue left behind”

I study the pictures. Just like with the others, the body was torn apart. It honestly surprises me thathumans think this was done by a man. By how torn and shredded the bodies are it doesn't take agenius to figure out that it was done by something else.

It would have been better if they said it was an animal attack instead of a human. But then againhumans are afraid of what they don't know, and most of them prefer living in denial instead offacing reality.

“Maybe you should talk to Krystal once she’s better” I tell him remembering that day in the livingroom. “She went into some sort of trance when she accidentally saw the news about the murders.She started speaking in what Monica told me was the forgotten language of the deities. Maybe shewas shown something”

I shouldn't be using Krystal like this. Or exposing her to these deaths but I believe she was shownsomething concerning these deaths. Something that could help.

Sebastian nods his head just as I hear Krystal calling my name. I stop massaging him. “I shouldleave. Let you get back to work” I say before turning to leave.

“Red” he calls me. “We have a charity gala we have to attend next week. Wear something eyecatching”

“Definitely” I smile at him. Already excited about it.

"And thanks. For the massage” he adds, not looking at me. It was okay though. The warmth in histone was enough for me.

“Anytime alpha mate” I reply, feeling happy with the progress.