Rhea’s POV

I imagined I could go back in time to make Sebastian perform the Crimson moon rite, and make things normal at this point.

I wouldn't be this worried and betrayed.

My hand pressed too hard against the doorknob, causing it to open slowly to reveal Mira and this human’s eyes on me.

“Rhea!” Mira leaped up from the bed she was sitting beside Lilith, her eyes wide-eyed at me. “Have you? Have you been outside the door?”

Her index finger was pointing at me, gritting her teeth not because she’d met an enemy, but probably because of the words she must have uttered behind the closed door.

They should be that bad to make her this concerned.

“Have you been listening?” She asked, walking to me.

But I ignored her at first instance to reach the bed.

Mira stopped in her tracks, and Lilith had her eyes on me, watching me, waiting for me to let words out of my mouth. But all I was doing was studying her physique, wondering about her key features that made her more outstanding than me.

Could that be the case?

It must be, or maybe it involved something else other than physical features? I doubted. I would always doubt that because I would never count myself ugly. Never.

Her hazel eyes displayed me like a mirror as proof she was focused on me. My eyes walked down her olive skin so focused that I could almost feel how moist her skin was. Well, she had pointed boobs. I also had those. I could gauge how curvy she was even though she was seated.

I had all these, but Sebastian didn't choose me as his mate? Absurd.

And everyone would claim that no one is ever in place to choose a mate.

“Rhea?” Mira touched my back.

I snapped back. I didn't realize I'd lost myself studying Lilith.

“You have to leave.” Mira said.

I turned back, walking to the door, the grief in me returning in a double fold that my feet felt too heavy.

“Did you hear anything?” Mira asked when I reached the doorpost. “You invaded our privacy!”

“And what if I did?”

She grunted.

And I didn't even hear a word she uttered to Lilith. My mind wouldn't let me focus on that. Listening to their discussion wouldn't offer a remedy for Sebastian.

***

I stood at the doorpost of Sebastian's room, doing nothing but watching him.

His face… It carries some sort of dampness I couldn't define, going pale like a faded white shirt kept among rags. His cheekbones were drawn out. His lips parted slightly to reveal his teeth gradually turning into fangs.

“Sebastian…” I swallowed the lump down my throat.

My eyes were heavy, but I shouldn't let them take control over me. Even if they were going to release blood instead of tears. But… I didn't have such strength to suppress it.

“Sebastian?”

He didn't answer.

His eyes were on me, he was staring at me, but those eyes were blank. He couldn't have seen me. I could never get used to episodes of the curse taking control over him.

I sat beside him. Still, he didn't react. The foam depressing on the spot I sat didn't notify him.

My left hand relaxed on his back. “I left everything to come see you… I’m here for you, Sebastian.”

Of course he didn't hear. I accepted that. That was part of our reality. But I would still pour out my thoughts to him.

“I saw the girl you called your mate…” I forced a smile on my face, but my eyes betrayed it as tears came along with it. “I noticed she was in fear… in fear of you, and you still insist she's your mate.”

I left the bed to stand where his bank amber eyes were facing, blocking whatever his view was. I did this imagining that he was my audience, and that I was making an effort to convince him.

“Of what use will she be your mate if this curse consumes you?”

I waited even though I knew he wouldn't answer.

“She was meant for your cure!” I screamed at him.

Again, he didn't move, he didn't flinch.

This numbness from him was not strange. It always happened on occasions the curse decided to have its effect. I’d never been used to it, but now, it was worse.

He was getting closer to a feral state.

“Of what use would it be if you lose yourself?”

I stepped backward till my back touched the wall. I crawled downward, refusing to resist the warm line of tears that came down my jaws.

“Sebastian… even if you decide she’s your mate… I need you cured of this,” I said with chattering teeth.

The sound of my sobbing filled the room.

“Rhea…”

His voice… He pulled my attention. He regained sanity as usual?

“Sebastian.” My palms touched his jaws, smiling at him.

“It's not safe that you're here,” he said. “I might become feral at any moment. I would become an aggressive wolf.”

“Yeah… Yeah, I know that.”

The fur in his skin, dark in color, was still out. It was more visible than the way it always was.

“Every one of your sane moments should be spent with me.”

“Hmm…” His eyes were no longer blank. “You want to do so?”

“Yes, yes.” I nodded rapidly. “And I wonder why you refused me to come so close to you.”

He shook his head. “Being so close to her makes the instinct of her being my mate strong. So strong that I can't stand any other female.”

This line of words pierced me, but I waved it off as this moment was too special to spoil by raising tantrums.

“Yeah, I get it.” I chuckled so fake that he noticed. “No wonder you let me touch you now.”

He just nodded. At least I could tell he was sincere.

“And–”

I kissed him. Now that I had this moment, why waste it?

It was pleasing that he wasn't resisting, but he wasn't taking part in it. He let my tongue touch his lips, but wouldn't return the favor.

I would manage, I thought.

“Rhea!” Talon stepped in.

Damn! What a crazy pack healer!

“It's time.” He walked to us, gesturing I left the room.

No… I couldn't do that.

He was holding a box, but no cross signs were drawn on any of the sides as it should have been. On further look, this box was different. It wasn't the usual box he carried whenever he needed to offer treatment to Sebastian.

“Just leave.” He insisted, placing the box on the floor. “It's time I did this.”

My eyes were narrowed at him. “Time you did what?”