Come Closer

Athena


Till I reached his study, my gigantically pulsating heart was ready to jump out of my chest at any time.

Yes, it was no secret that I felt extremely nervous even at the sight of Sebastian but today my fear was at its peak once again and the reason was what he did yesterday. His words were still rushing in a loop at some corner of my head, no matter how hard I tried to push them back into oblivion they just wouldn't go.

After struggling for the entire time walking towards Sebastian's study, I finally accepted the fact that I had nothing to do but face it. So, I stopped in front of the door and knocked twice.

"Come in." His melodic voice came immediately.

Sucking in a breath, I opened the door and stepped into the room. My eyes took a quick look around everywhere— All the files and other documents were neatly arranged, there was black carpet covering the entire floor, the lightning was not dim; Two of the windows were left open giving a way for the fresh air to percolate the room. Not many items of furniture could be spotted but the ones that were there included, a few white wooden racks, maybe one or if more two chairs and finally the desk behind which Sebastian was seated, the desk was the only thing bearing a mess of papers and documents right now.

His stare fixated on mine causing my breathing to hitch in my throat.

It was true that he was ethereal. The way his blue eyes matched the colour of the sea, his skin shined without even needing any light to fall on it and how every feature of his stood on its own. He was just breathtakingly gorgeous, yet somehow terribly vicious and a walking danger.

"Y-You have called me?" I stuttered, after bearing a few minutes of awkward silence.

"Come here," He said, pushing his desk chair backwards and opening the first three buttons of his shirt causing a rush in my adrenaline.

I shoved my thoughts away and walked towards him, with slow and calculated steps I stopped when I stood right beside his chair knowing this was exactly where he wanted me, and watching my every move.

It took a few seconds for Sebastian to turn his chair around to face me; Then he grabbed my hand and pulled me onto his lap, settling me on his right thigh and guiding my way close to his body by my waist.

I gasped in surprise, my lips parting and a chill ran down my spine when his addicting scent wafted into my nostrils; I visibly shivered in his arms.

He did not say, instead, he leaned closer and buried his nose in the crook of my neck as he inhaled deeply.

"What are you doing?" I asked, perplexed.

"Shh.." It was his quiet response.

There was something unusual about him today. His muscles were tensed, and the standing blue beside his forehead along with his neck was far too apparent to fail to notice.

His hold on me was tight and secure, the hand around my waist remained there unmoving and strong as if to make sure I don't move and the hand that grabbed on my thigh warned me about the consequences that I'd bring upon myself if I did.

But why was he so tensed?

Unknowingly, I found myself lifting my hand and burying them into the silky locks of his hair. I let my fingertips brush over his scalp in soft motions and drew them down the back of his neck and he let out a sigh that encouraged me to continue.

I repeated my motions a few more times, feeling him relax and pull me even closer. Something about him seemed vulnerable today, yes he was enraged, I could tell there was a rising anger that he was trying to fight but within this rage, there was something that screamed vulnerability.

Moments later he pulled away, drawing out a long and sharp breath as he recline against the chair, nearly throwing his head backwards in restlessness.

Okay, I did not know what was up with me but whatever I did was not enough to aid him in the comfort that he needed right now.

While I drown in the mess of my own questions, he decided to clear this entire dilemma of me trying to figure out how could I help him by grabbing my hand and slipping it inside his shirt as he pressed it against the left side of his chest.

His heartbeats were rapid, which explained the reason behind his unease.

I saw him closing his eyes and trying to breathe naturally.

I had no reason to doubt that he needed help so I just moved closer, and let myself engulf him.  I rested my chin on his shoulder, pulling him closer with my hand before I let it rest at the back of his head and let my other hand stay still where he'd placed it on his chest.

"It's okay," I spoke. I did not know why I said that or if this mere assurance was even going to help or not, but I just....did.

Surprisingly he leaned into my touch, his arms went around me holding me as tight as he could. For a moment, it almost seemed that he feared I was going to vanish away if he let me go.

"If you ever dare to leave, Athena...I promise I'll fucking destroy you." He threatened but his voice was a bit shaky.

Why did he say that?

"You can't leave. I own every of your breath, you'll have to stay here, till the end." This time his arms around me tightened.

Not knowing what to say, I slowly pulled away only so that I could look at him. I moved my hands to cup his face, rubbing my thumbs over his stubble to coax him. His eyes opened soon and they met mine.

"What is bothering you?" I asked.

He didn't speak for a few moments, but when he did, it was in his same old demeanour, "It's none of your business."

I sighed, shaking my head and leaned closer to his face, and pressed my forehead against his. He involuntarily closed his eyes and I found myself doing so too.

"It wouldn't cause you any defeat to just tell me about it," I whispered, "I know you don't need my help. It's just a question."

Once again, he remained silent. I shifted away a bit, to look at him.

"Is it about Vincent?"

His eyes snapped open and from the way, his gaze hardened and jaw tightened, I could tell he did not like my question.

But unexpectedly the answer came, "That bastard managed to escape," It was a low growl, "And I'm sure you know you are his main target, he's my biggest enemy and he wouldn't just stop with one try."

His hand left my thigh and he grabbed my jaw, "And I can't really trust you, can I? Your past action of trying to escape from me explains it very well that you'd attempt it once again, since running away from me is all you want." He spoke through gritted teeth, the anger coursed through him.

I opened my mouth, trying to say something, "I-I..."

Sebastian cut me off, "But you might not know, there are hardly any chances that you'd survive even the first ten minutes. You don't know how many dangers are out there. So choosing to escape equals choosing death. Tell me, Would you rather die in your mate's hands or his enemy's hands?"

"You still think I want to leave you?"

"There's no reason for me to not think so after I kicked some senses in your head last night," He spoke, causing me to shiver in terror as the last night's flashbacks stirred awake in my mind, "However, I think that did not work in wiping the stupid thoughts away from your head. I still can't see the fear and disgust that were supposed to be in these eyes of yours."

"Because I don't want to keep hating you..." It left my mouth before I could stop it.

"But I do," He spat, I could feel how heavy his breathing was that gave away the signs of his awaking anger, "I want to keep hating you and I'd make sure that each day my hatred for you increase to the point of no return. And I want you to know, that you should be praying that I keep hating you because my hatred is what is keeping you alive. My hatred is what is safe for you, my devotion isn't."

"I won't give up."

Yes— I won't give up.

No matter what, giving up was not going to be my choice.

"You can keep doing whatever you want," He chuckled lowly, venom dripping from his tone, " Just remember this, Athena—The day, you become my weakness is the day I kill you."

It shocked me how effortlessly he said those words without a drop of emotion. It seemed like I didn't even matter to him.

Maybe I didn't, did I?

Before another word could leave my mouth, a sudden knock on the door interrupted.

Sebastian's gaze snapped at the doorway, followed by mine.

"Who is it?" He asked.

"Alpha, a couple from Shadow Pack is here to meet you." A guard came into the room, his head bowed down and eyes facing the floor.

My body froze upon hearing the name.

Shadow Pack...

That was my pack. Where I used to live with my parents before they sold me to the auctioneers and they brought me to this city that is ruled by the man whose lap I was sitting on right now.

"What do they want?" Sebastian asked.

"They haven't said a word. We found them trying to sneak into our territory but upon catching them and the interrogation they said that they are here to meet you."

"They tried to sneak in?" Sebastian hummed, I could already see he had no interest in their reason, what bothered him was that they tried to sneak in and this would probably cause those individuals something big...maybe even their lives, "If so then, They deserve a meeting for sure."

"You can go now, tell the new visitors to wait. I'll be there." I saw the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Oh no....

Whoever it was might not be able to get out alive today.

"Shall I go back to the room?" I asked Sebastian once the guard left.

I did not have any sympathy for anyone who belonged to that pack, they were as selfish as my parents were and I did not want to see their faces but I also did not want to witness any death. To be specific, I did not want to see my mate killing anyone.

"No, you'll come with me." He announced, standing up as I got off his lap.

"B-but..." I couldn't speak because of his sharp heated gaze that moved at me in a warning.

"You have any objections?"

I knew if I said anything, it wouldn't end up good for me. So, Gulping in fear , I shook my head.

"Thought so," He nodded brushing his tongue over his bottom lips before he grabbed my hand and headed out of the study.