Chapter 102 Packing Up the Past
Meanwhile, back at the office, Alpha Sebastian’s phone buzzed. A message from the head of the wellness clinic.
[Mr. Hale, we’re having a power outage over here, cameras are down. Want me to go snap a few photos of Mrs. Hale in class, just to keep you posted?]
Alpha Sebastian stared at the screen for a second, something twisting in his chest.
He typed out two words: [Sure.]
He stared at it. Deleted it.
[No need.]
[From now on, don’t bother.]
Eira was already dealing with enough right now. If she ever found out he’d had someone keeping tabs on her like this, snapping photos behind her back, it’d only make things worse between them.
He set the phone down.
He hadn’t even clocked it yet, this quiet shift in how he treated her. His whole set of priorities had rearranged itself without him noticing.
Back at the start, he’d been scared she’d slip out of his grip. That’s why he’d made her quit her job, no matter how much she pushed back.
Now? Her feelings came first. Before anything else.
When a guy starts putting someone else’s feelings ahead of his own agenda, that means something.
He liked her.
He just hadn’t figured that out yet.
--
Eira punched in the door code, stepped inside.
Stale air. Dust on the shoe cabinet. Nobody had set foot in here in weeks.
She glanced around the entryway. Four years of her life in this place, and it already felt like someone else’s apartment.
"You taking all your shoes?" Lila was already digging through the cabinet.
"Just grab whatever’s mine." Eira headed into the bedroom, swept the last of her things into a bag, a couple sweaters, some odds and ends. Barely anything left. Two minutes, done.
Lila’s phone buzzed. She answered, listened, groaned. "Professor Chase, I swear to god." Hung up. "Eira, I gotta run, lab emergency. Got someone coming to help you haul this stuff though, don’t even argue."
"It’s one bag, Lila. I don’t need backup."
"Too late, he’s already on his way. Man’s got nothing else going on anyway." Lila grabbed her coat. "When I’m back, we’re hitting my bar. Drinks on me."
"You say that every time."
"And I mean it every time." Lila winked and was out the door.
Eira stood there a second, bag slung over one shoulder. The living room caught her eye, dust sitting thick on every flat surface, the leather sofa dull with grime along the seams.
She set the bag down by the door. Told herself she’d just wipe the counters, a few minutes, tops.
--
Thirty minutes later, sweat beaded on Eira’s forehead as she knelt in front of the leather sofa, working a rag into the creases.
The doorbell rang. The door was already cracked open.
"Who is it?" She looked up, tense for a second.
[Please don’t be Sebastian.]
"Me."
Alpha Killian stepped through the door. His eyes found her immediately, on her knees, soaked in sweat, rag in hand.
His jaw went tight.
He scanned the apartment. Three bedrooms, two baths. Cramped. Dated.
Alpha Sebastian pulled in seven figures a year and put her in this?
Money for his precious Serena. None for his own wife. And now, with things falling apart between them, she was still here scrubbing his floors.
Her clothes were filthy. Dust smudged across her face.
Alpha Killian crossed the room in four strides.
"Alpha Killian." Eira wasn’t surprised to see him. Lila must’ve called him.
The two of them bickered nonstop, but when it mattered, they always showed up for each other.
"Don’t Alpha Killian me." His voice came out sharp, controlled fury simmering just under it. He yanked the rag out of her hand, tossed it in the murky basin.
Dirty water splashed across the floor between them.
"You enjoy this? Playing maid?"
Eira opened her mouth to explain.
"Ridiculous," he muttered. "Come on. We’re leaving."
He grabbed her wrist.
She didn’t budge, eyes still on the unfinished work. "Just need a few more minutes—"
"Forget it."
Alpha Killian’s patience snapped. He bent down, threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, turned for the door.
Eira gasped, grabbing his shoulder for balance. "Alpha Killian!"
"Shut up."
He didn’t slow down. The driver was already waiting outside.
"Grab those two bags." Alpha Killian nodded at the hallway. "Careful with them."
"Yes, Alpha Killian." The driver scooped them up, followed behind.
"Alpha Killian, please, put me down." Eira kept her voice level despite how ridiculous this was, getting hauled around like luggage. She jostled when he adjusted his grip, on purpose, she was sure of it.
First time in her life a man had ever slung her over his shoulder like this. She was mortified and pissed in equal measure, though only her eyes gave away the second part.
No point fighting it. She knew that much.
"At least let me finish," she said quietly. "I lived there four years. I should leave it right."
"Absolutely not."
The elevator dinged. She got carried in, carried out, carried through the lobby, finally dropped into the backseat of Alpha Killian’s car.
Before she could scramble for the other door, Alpha Killian slid in beside her, slammed it shut.
She reached for the handle.
He caught her wrist. Hard. Face like ice.
"Try it. See what happens."
Weirdly, she wasn’t scared. Even staring down that look, she felt steady.
She just couldn’t figure out where all this anger was coming from.
They were employer and employee. Former employer and employee, technically. At most, he was her friend’s older brother.
She tugged against his grip. He didn’t let go.
"This is my business, Alpha Killian."