Chapter 173
Cecilia’s pov
“I I glanced around nervously, checking in every direction before lowering my voice to a whisper. “We’ve been reckless, Sebastian. Twice. And last nigh… the water doesn’t exactly help p>
Sebastian remained silent for what felt like an eternity.
I continued scanning our surroundings, terrified of running into someone I knew or being caught by some random person’s camera.
Sebastian’s striking appearance made him impossible to ignore.
These days, people photographed everything from wildflowers to squirrels – an Alpha like him would definitely attract attention.
Suddenly, I felt my body lift into the air as strong arms cradled me against a firm chest.
My heart raced as he carried me effortlessly.
“Put me down!” I hissed.
Last night had been dark with few people around, but this was a hospital in broad daylight! Being carried princess-style was ridiculously conspicuous!
Sebastian completely ignored my protests, maintaining his composed expression as he carried me through the busiest corridor of the hospital.
When I spotted someone pulling out their phone, I quickly covered my face since I couldn’t hide his.
He carried me straight out of the hospital to where his car was parked right at the entrance.
Sebastian placed me gently in the passenger seat before sliding into the driver’s side and pulling away.
“I’m taking you somewhere,” he said firmly.
“But I haven’t picked up my medication yet,” I protested weakly.
“You won’t need it. I’m taking you somewhere else to handle this issue.” He paused, his voice softening with remorse. “I’m sorry. I should have been more careful and considered this p>
“It’s not just your responsibility,” I replied awkwardly. “We both got… caught up in the moment p>
He truly hadn’t considered protection, but neither had I. We’d both been consumed by passion in those moments, too far gone to stop… I didn’t blame him.
Sebastian glanced at me, his eyes darkening slightly. “Next time, I’ll have strawberry-flavored ones ready p>
“Just drive, Alpha,” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks burn.
Besides, I didn’t even like strawberry flavor!
Sebastian drove for over an hour, taking winding roads out of the city until we reached what looked like a luxury spa retreat tucked into the hills.
Of course, it wasn’t a spa.
It was a women’s clinic – exclusive, discreet, and stupidly expensive.
Apparently, this was where Denver’s elite came to deal with delicate matters.
He said he’d been here once before with his mother. I didn’t pry. Some family histories were best left unopened p>
When he tried to follow me inside, I stopped him with a hand on his chest.
“No p>
His brows furrowed, but I didn’t flinch. “I’m not about to discuss last night with a doctor while you sit there like a brooding bodyguard. Stay p>
To my surprise, he did.
Dr. Ross was…not what I expected.
No white coat, no clipboard. She wore a silk blouse and smelled like chamomile and old books.
She had this calm, grounded energy, like she knew exactly what was happening inside my body before I said a word.
The consultation went about as well as could be expected. Same as the last doctor: the odds were low, but not zero.
Five percent.
I hated those kinds of numbers. Too small to be reassuring, too big to ignore.
Fortunately, Dr. Ross had her own special formula, much less harmful than taking emergency contraception twice.
She came from a family of traditional healers but had incorporated modern medicine into her practice, specializing in women’s health.
It wasn’t cheap, obviously. But that didn’t matter. Not to Sebastian.
He went to pick up the treatment while I waited in the greenhouse-like lobby, surrounded by women sipping herbal tea and pretending not to notice each other.
I sat there, stomach twisted, trying not to think about what had gotten me here in the first place.
And mostly failing.
I must’ve dozed off on the drive back – exhaustion and stress finally catching up with me.
When I blinked awake, the SUV was no longer moving.
We were parked at some remote mountain overlook, the kind of place that looked like it belonged on a postcard.
The windows were cracked open, letting in just enough crisp air to clear my head.
I realized there was a jacket draped over me – Sebastian’s.
It smelled like cedar and winter and something distinctly him.
It was warm. Comforting. Too comforting.
I shifted groggily, turning my head – and nearly jumped.
He was watching me.
From the driver’s seat, Sebastian sat in silence, his eyes locked on me with a kind of quiet intensity that pulled me straight out of sleep and into something sharper. Something electric.
Why was he looking at me like that?
Before I could ask, he leaned across the console, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him. His voice was low and steady – too steady.
“Cecilia,”he said, “if we can prevent a pregnancy, we will. But if it happens… if you’re carrying my pup, then you’ll keep it. I like children p>
My brain short-circuited.
Keep it?
He likes children?
And I like winning the lottery, but that doesn’t mean I play the numbers.
Was he serious?
I forced a smile, the kind you wear to keep things from cracking beneath the surface. “It won’t happen. Don’t worry p>
His eyes narrowed slightly, like he could smell the lie in my tone. “But if it did? What would you do p>
I hesitated, then shot back with a smirk I didn’t quite feel, “I’d handle it,” I said, my voice cool. “Let’s not borrow trouble from a future that isn’t coming p>
Silence.
And then he moved.
His hand cupped the side of my face as he leaned down and crushed his mouth to mine.
It wasn’t gentle or soft. It was a claiming, a warning… a promise.
When he finally pulled back, his breath brushed against my lips, warm and heavy.
“If you’re carrying my pup,”he murmured, voice rough as gravel, “you’ll become my Luna. Do you dare p>
My breath caught.
The word hit me like a slap.
Luna.
Once, that title had belonged to me.
Once, it meant power and love and a place in the world. Until Xavier destroyed all of it – ripped away my rank, my trust, my future.
I didn’t trust wolves or promises anymore.
But then… Sebastian’s gaze held mine – not demanding, not entitled, just steady, strong and real.
And for one terrifying second, I wondered if I was making another mistake.
Not by falling.But by running.
By pushing away the one person who might actually be worthy of trust.
I let out a nervous laugh, trying to shake it off. “I already said yes to dating you. Don’t get greedy p>