Chapter Seven

Sebastian's P.O.V.

"I can't do this anymore," Sebastian groaned, his arm draped across his eyes in a feeble attempt to block any light from adding to the searing pain in his head. The concealment potions weren't as effective as his magicians had implied, and due to the excessive amounts he had to consume to even spend a small amount of time with Giavanna, his body was rebelling against him. 

"Do you even have any potion left? With the way you've been guzzling those bottles, you should only have a few left," Grant said, bringing a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin for his bed-ridden Alpha. "They sent you with a three-week supply, and you used it up in a few days. That can't be good for you."

"Yeah, did you get any response about why it's not working correctly?" Jared plugged in another heating pad to help soothe Sebastian's sore legs. The excessive shifting from his regular form to his incognito version was wreaking havoc on his muscles, and Sebastian didn't have the strength to do much else besides talk. 

"They have no clue. But I've decided that you and I are flying back tomorrow. Grant, would you mind staying a couple of days and fly back with Giavanna?" Sebastian asked, wincing as he tried to sit up and adjust the placement of the newly warmed heating pads. 

"Uh, what exactly is your plan, because no new mate, particularly an Alpha, would just leave their partner behind," Grant questioned, a look of worry and confusion on his face. 

Leaning against a wall, Jared frowned at his friend. "Sebastian, you know Giavanna is already unhappy about your relationship, right? You see her an hour a day, but we see how angry, hurt, and confused she gets when you leave. She might not want to come out and visit our pack."

Sebastian was well aware of Giavanna's distress. Besides hiding his true identity and abilities, the concealment potion was also supposed to dull the intensity of the mate bond, but along with the other potion aspects, that too was not functioning correctly. He had fallen hard and fast for his mate the second she regained consciousness at the ball. From the moment her buttery brown eyes fluttered back open, he could feel the magic holding his true form at bay weaken. He'd blown through five portions of potion that evening just to be able to spend more time with her. Seeing her nose scrunch adorably when she laughed, the way her pinky finger automatically stuck out when she lifted her coffee cup to drink and catching how she'd bite the left corner of her plump bottom lip whenever she was intently listening to someone had captured his heart.

"I don't take any of this lightly, not her or the mate bond, but if word were to somehow get out that the infamous Blood Lake Alpha was laying here in a bed, weak and exposed, our pack would be vulnerable. I can't allow this to continue." 

"Besides," Sebastian went on as he stretched the muscles in his back, "I'm doing this for your safety too. The urge to rip your fucking eyeballs out every time I see you even glance in Giavanna's direction is near impossible to resist anymore." 

"We've noticed. Are you sure it's going to be safe for me to escort her? What about getting one of her sisters to do it?' Grant asked, eyeing his Alpha. 

Sebastian sighed and shook his head. "I am not allowing any outsiders, except for Giavanna, onto pack land until all of this mate business is sorted out. When you land at the airport, I'll have Meadow and Izzy pick you up. That should help dampen the urge to beat you into a bloody pulp."

"Yay," Grant muttered unamused while his brother barked out a laugh. 

"It's ok, bro. I'll make sure Sebastian remembers he asked for your help. And I'll be sure to get his mother and baby sister involved if I had to." Jared snickered, patting Grant's shoulder, the reassuring gesture failing miserably.

Sebastian laughed wearily before instructing, "Alright, you guys get out. I need to talk to Giavanna in person later and need to rest up until then."  

"Don't have to tell us twice," Jared replied, dragging his brother out of the room in a headlock.

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Sebastian swiftly walked through the thinned-out trees, catching sight of the small lake ahead of him. He was grateful for the clear instructions Mrs. Sperino had given him when he had stopped at Giavanna's house fifteen minutes earlier in search of his mate. Increasing his pace, Sebastian broke through the tree line and grinned as Giavanna's scent drifted his way. He took a few more steps in her direction before she turned around and gave him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. She gave the sand next to her a little pat and turned back to the lake to enjoy the sunset. 

"This was a bad idea," Sebastian thought to himself as he settled next to her quickly, stripping off his socks and shoes so he could enjoy the coldness of the beach sand on his heated body. With the orange glow of the setting sun shining on Giavanna's face, he had to work hard to restrain himself from pouncing on her and covering her entire body with kisses and bite marks, claiming her as his.

Instead, he murmured, "It's been such a long time since I've gotten to enjoy a sunset that I almost forgot how beautiful they are." 

Giavanna was quiet for a moment before asking, "Really? Does your Alpha always keep you so busy?" Her eyes remained glued to the sunset like she couldn't bring herself to look at him anymore.

Sebastian inwardly groaned, her unhappiness with their situation becoming even more transparent. "That's actually one of the reasons I came to see you tonight. I know this week hasn't been what you were expecting, not even close. And a large part of that is my fault for not preparing well enough before I took leave from the pack."

He continued, his voice growing more profound. "I had a long talk with my Alpha this afternoon and told him things needed to change. Giving so much of my time and energy to pack business isn't leaving much for me and pretty much nothing for you. I told him that if things continued the same between us that I knew you'd reject our bond, and I can't have that, Giavanna."

Against his better judgment, he had gently taken her chin in hand and turned her eyes towards him, hoping against hope that she would see the genuine regret and care in his gaze. He heard her small gasp and withdrew his fingers, returning his hands to his lap, silently cursing himself for making such a dangerous gesture. 

"I can't expect you to travel halfway across the country, uprooting your entire life, to suddenly live with what amounts to a stranger. I'm returning home with Jared tomorrow. There are some things I need to finish up in person for our pack," Sebastian paused, the look of despair that washed over Giavanna's face caused him to elaborate hurriedly. "Give me two days. Then I would love for you to visit the Blood Lake territory. Grant has agreed to stay behind, so you have a travel companion, and I can prepare for your arrival."

Sebastian's stomach clenched as he saw tears forming in her eyes. She was quiet, too quiet. 

"I, Giavanna Rosalie Sperino of the..."

Sebastian's eyes widened. She wanted to formally reject him? He had imagined crying, screaming, arguing, pleading, maybe even hitting. This was worse than any of that. "No, no, no, please no!" He clutched Giavanna tightly to his chest, trying to stop her body from shaking. "Please don't, not yet."

"Giavanna, please visit me first. Please. Give us a chance before you reject the bond. Give me one chance. Please?" Sebastian begged, his voice full of panic. He attempted to pour every ounce of his affection for her in his voice and motions, softly clasping the side of her head with one hand, his thumb caressing her face. 

Sebastian froze momentarily when Giavanna whispered, "Ok," and gave him a tentative hug in return. His body relaxed at her touch. Sebastian nuzzled her shoulder with his face as he squeezed her waist. 

"Thank the Moon Goddess. Things will be different when you visit," he mumbled into her hair before allowing his hand to reach up and wrap itself into her thick hair. Giavanna looked up, tears slowly falling as she met Sebastian's grateful eyes. He would never forgive himself for making her feel like this. Like she was unwanted and unworthy. She was hurting because of him, and even though he knew it would only hurt her more, he threw caution to the wind, leaning forward and kissing Giavanna. 

The brief touching of their lips seemed to burn through the concealment potion. He could feel the lower half of his face reverting to its usual appearance, so he covered his nose and chin with a hand. 

Giavanna looked shell-shocked, a hand rubbing back and forth her lower lip, and her forehead pinched in worry. "What's wrong? Am I that disgusting?"

 "Don't ever think that. It's me. It's all me. Just give me two days. Two days," Sebastian called as he grabbed his socks and shoes and hurried away. His disguise was slipping away quickly, and he only had a few moments before it was gone entirely. 

Sebastian had never felt worse in his life. Having to leave his distraught, heart-broken mate on the beach shore like that was something he'd never forgive himself for.