Chapter Twenty-Seven
For two days, Sebastian stayed in the cell. Sure, it was a nice cell, but it was boring. Alynna Westbrooke was kind enough to bring him books and a set of playing cards. Dr. Faulkner also came by to examine him. The old doctor was quite shocked when, after peeling of the bandage from his gunshot wound, saw that it was almost completely healed. He’d never healed so fast before he met Jade. Whatever The Beast was, it had also given him the healing and metabolism of a shifter. He asked Dr. Faulkner how he could heal so fast when he didn’t before, and the older man was as surprised as he was. Perhaps, the doctor explained, being around other shifters had brought some latent capabilities. Dr. Faulkner asked him for a sample of his blood, which he was happy to give if it would help them find out more about what The Beast was.
Grant insisted that he stay in the cell until he could get clearance from this High Council. Grant (who, as he learned, was head honcho of the New York Lycans) also got him up to speed with their enemies, including the mages and their leader, Stefan. The woman who tried to kidnap Jade was Stefan’s most trusted confidant, Victoria, who was, again, another redheaded woman who reminded him of Lara, like Cady. Alynna had explained they were all related, and it made his head hurt trying to remember who was who. Also, there was something Victoria said that he was trying to remember, but couldn’t. It was something important and it kept niggling at the back of his mind.
“You’re free to go,” Grant announced as he strode into the cell, Alynna right behind him.
“Thank fuck!” Sebastian got to his feet. “I need to get some of my own clothes. These are just not me.”
“Wait, we have to go over a couple of things.” Grant motioned for him to sit.
“Fine, but make it quick.” He’d been waiting for this day, aching to get out and see Jade. Touch her, smell her, make love to her.
“First, you keep our secret and we keep yours. The Lycan High Council has been informed of your existence, though this knowledge will not be released to anyone else. And they agreed not to give you the confusion potion or send you to Siberia to our detention center.”
“Lucky me,” he said sarcastically.
“Next, they want to keep you closely monitored. You’ll be registered with High Council, just like us, and we have to keep them informed of anything that happens to you. Now, if Alynna’s theory is correct, you might never shift into whatever animal is inside you. But we’re not taking any chances. If they determine that you pose a risk to us or the humans, then you’ll have to face the consequences.”
“Fuck, no!” Sebastian protested. “I’m not gonna be under the thumb of people I haven’t even met!” He wasn’t in the Marines anymore, and he didn’t take orders from anyone.
“Sebastian,” Alynna said. “This must be confusing for you. Believe me, I know. But this is for the best. The Lycan High Council won’t meddle in your personal affairs, but they need to know what’s going on with you to keep us all safe.”
“Besides,” Grant interjected. “As a Lycan, Jade has to follow all the rules the High Council has set. We all do. If you were human and you wanted to be with Jade, you would have had to pledge to follow all the same laws we do.”
“Fine,” Sebastian grumbled. “Now can I go?”
“Yes,” Grant said. “Go home and get some rest.”
Sebastian followed them out of the cell. Physically leaving the room made him feel much lighter. Frankly, he wasn’t sure how long he could have held it together. The Beast was growing restless, roaring to get out. First thing he was going to do once he got his hands on his phone was call Jade. Or, knowing her, she was probably already waiting for him as soon as he got out. He couldn’t wait to touch her again.
“You dickhole!”
Sebastian turned his head. A blinding fast blur came at him, hands going to his neck and pinning him on the wall. He was so surprised at the speed of his attacker; he didn’t have time to defend himself.
“Meredith! Stand down!” Grant ordered. When the young woman didn’t budge, the Alpha pulled her off Sebastian himself.
“What’s the matter with you?” Alynna admonished.
“That bastard!” Meredith hissed.
“What the fuck did I do?” Sebastian asked, rubbing his neck. The wildcat was quick and strong. Or should he say she-wolf?
“You drove her away!” the blonde cried, her face twisted in hate. “My only friend! She cared for you, and you only saw her as a monster! Well, let me tell you this—Jade is the most incredible and sweet woman you’ll ever meet and she’s too good for you! You’re the monster, you asshole!”
“Hold on!” Sebastian growled. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Jade told me everything! She finally found her she-wolf and saved your sorry ass, and then you rejected her!”
“Rejected her?”
“Stop acting like you don’t know!” Meredith huffed. “You were fucking there that night!”
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about! And where is Jade? I want to see her now!” His eyes shifted into their gold color, the anger rising in him. The power burst from him again, this time, much stronger than before.
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Meredith reeled back. She grabbed at her chest, as if she were having a hard time breathing. “What the flying fuck are you?”
“Shit!” Grant cursed. “No one else is supposed to know! Creed, simmer down!”
Sebastian felt the anger subside, and his eyes returned to normal. “Someone tell me where she is. Now.”
Grant and Alynna looked at each other. “She left,” Alynna said.
Meredith’s brows knitted in confusion. “She told me you hated her, what she was!”
“What the fuck gave her that idea?”
The blonde Lycan shrugged. “Jade said when she came to check on you, you tried to get away from her! She said you looked at her like she was some disgusting animal!”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, I was shot in the shoulder! I was falling on my ass from the blood loss, not to get away from her. And I had just seen her transform into a giant gray wolf!” He rubbed his hands down his face. “Shit. Where is she? I need to explain everything to her.”
“She went to San Francisco with Lara and Liam,” Meredith said.
“Fuck!” Sebastian had to get to her. Now. He couldn’t stand it, having her think that he was disgusted by her, when it was the opposite. Jade’s she-wolf was fucking impressive and he could never think she was a monster. If anything, it was him who was the monster. He marched out, heading towards the elevators.
“Where are you going?” Grant called out as Sebastian stalked away from them.
“Where do you think?”