Chapter Twenty-Four:Sebastian
1306 Words
Something was different about Kai.
I had noticed it for the last two days.
At first, I thought I was imagining it.
Then it happened again.
And again.
And again.
Kai had become… clingy.
I wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
I simply didn’t know what to make of it.
During the day, I could be sitting in the Luna’s office, reviewing documents or speaking with members of the community, when suddenly someone would knock.
“Come in.”
The door would open.
Kai.
“Seb.”
“Yes?”
“Come with me for a moment.”
I would immediately assume something was wrong.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes.”
“Then what happened?”
“Nothing.”
He would walk toward me.
Then he would lean down and bury his face against the side of my neck.
And breathe.
Deeply.
I would freeze every single time.
“Kai…”
“Hmm?”
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
He would continue.
I could feel his breath against my skin.
Then, after several seconds, he would pull away.
And look at me.
That look.
I didn’t know what that look meant.
It was intense.
Almost hungry.
I would become so embarrassed that I wouldn’t know where to look.
Then he would simply say,
“Thank you.”
And walk away.
Leaving me standing there completely confused.
It happened during the afternoon too.
Sometimes he would call me into his office.
I would arrive expecting to discuss pack business.
Instead, he would simply look at me.
“Come here.”
I’d approach.
He would sniff me.
Again.
And I would stand there wondering whether I was supposed to say something.
The strangest part was that I didn’t dislike it.
I was just confused.
Kai had never been this physical with me.
We had only recently started hugging.
Now he was constantly seeking me out.
One night, it became even stranger.
I was asleep when I suddenly felt someone gently shaking my shoulder.
“Seb.”
I opened my eyes.
It was dark.
“What happened?”
“It’s two in the morning.”
I stared at him.
“Yes.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you awake?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he leaned closer.
And sniffed my neck.
I blinked.
“Kai?”
He breathed in deeply again.
I sat there, completely bewildered.
Then he pulled back.
His eyes met mine.
That same look.
Hungry.
Intense.
I swallowed.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded.
Then he kissed my forehead.
“Go back to sleep.”
And walked away.
I stared after him.
What was happening?
⸻
There was only one person I could ask.
Liam.
Liam knew everything.
Unfortunately, Liam also had a tendency to explain things in ways that made me want to disappear.
Still, I needed answers.
I went to the hospital.
When I arrived at Liam’s office, he was attending to a patient.
“Sebastian?”
“I’ll wait.”
He nodded.
“Give me a few minutes.”
I sat outside.
Eventually, the patient left.
Liam opened his door.
“Come in.”
I entered.
He closed the door.
“What’s wrong?”
I sat down.
“I need to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
I took a breath.
“Kai has been sniffing me.”
Liam stared at me.
“What?”
“Kai has been sniffing me.”
His eyebrows rose.
“How?”
I explained everything.
The office.
The mornings.
The afternoon visits.
The two-in-the-morning incident.
By the time I finished, Liam was struggling not to laugh.
“This isn’t funny.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You are laughing.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“I need to know what’s happening.”
He finally composed himself.
“Okay. Tell me about the look.”
I hesitated.
“The look?”
“You said he looks at you strangely.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
I looked away.
“He looks… hungry.”
Liam’s lips twitched.
“I don’t think hungry is the word.”
“Then what is it?”
He sighed.
“Sebastian, I think Kai is experiencing his rut.”
I frowned.
“His what?”
“Rut.”
I stared at him.
“What is that?”
Liam explained carefully.
“It’s basically an Alpha’s biological cycle. Similar in some ways to an omega’s heat. During that period, an Alpha becomes much more aware of his mate.”
I listened carefully.
“He wants to know where his mate is. He wants their scent around him. He wants reassurance that they’re safe.”
“So that’s why he’s sniffing me?”
“Exactly.”
I blinked.
“Multiple times a day?”
“Especially because you two haven’t really developed much physical closeness yet.”
I looked down.
“We’ve hugged.”
“That’s a start.”
“And I make him tea.”
Liam smiled.
“Very romantic.”
I ignored him.
“So what am I supposed to do?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes.”
“Let him have your scent.”
I looked at him.
“That’s all?”
“For now.”
“And the rut will pass?”
“Usually.”
“How long?”
“A few days.”
I nodded slowly.
Liam studied me.
“But Sebastian…”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”
I looked at him.
“I know.”
“Good.”
He smiled.
“Because I know you.”
I stood.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
As I reached the door, he called after me.
“And don’t be surprised if he wants you around him more than usual.”
I nodded.
“I understand.”
At least I thought I did.
⸻
On my way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Was I doing enough?
Was I neglecting Kai somehow?
He had never complained.
He had never pressured me.
He had always been patient.
Perhaps that was why I felt guilty.
Maybe he needed me more than I realized.
I decided I would talk to him.
Not about anything I wasn’t ready for.
Just about how he was feeling.
Communication mattered.
So that evening, I made his tea.
Then I carried it to his office.
I knocked.
“Come in.”
I opened the door.
Kai looked up.
The moment he saw me, he stood.
Before I could say anything, he crossed the room and wrapped his arms around me.
I froze.
Again.
His embrace was warm and firm.
I could feel him breathing against my neck.
His wolf seemed calmer.
I held the cup carefully until he gently took it from me and placed it on the desk.
Then his arms returned around me.
I wasn’t sure what to do.
So I simply stood there.
After a moment, I slowly placed my arms around him too.
Kai went still.
Then he relaxed.
I felt his breath against my shoulder.
He didn’t say anything.
Neither did I.
And somehow, the silence wasn’t uncomfortable.
I wanted to ask him.
How can I help you?
I wanted to know what he needed.
But Liam’s words returned to my mind.
You’re not ready for everything that comes with it.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe I wasn’t.
So for now, I would give Kai what I knew I could give him.
My presence.
My scent.
My patience.
And perhaps…
A few more hugs.
Because if that was what my mate needed right now, I could learn to give it to him.
Even if every time he buried his face against my neck, my heart still raced.
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