Chapter 17 Aftermath

Getting a two-hundred-pound drunk Alpha from the curb to his front door was not how Serena Winthrop had pictured her night ending.

Alpha Sebastian hung off her shoulder like a sandbag, reeking of expensive wine, mumbling to himself. She got him through the lobby, into the elevator, down the hall — sweating through a silk blouse that cost more than the doorman’s paycheck.

The things I do for you, she thought, jabbing the elevator button with her elbow. You’d better remember this.

He wouldn’t. He was too far gone.

She’d barely dropped him onto the couch when his hand caught her wrist.

"Serena."

"Serena Winthrop."

This time, he got the right name.

Her mood lifted a little. She sat down beside him. "Oh, so now you know who I am. In the car, you called me something else."

The alcohol had fully taken over. Alpha Sebastian leaned his head on her shoulder, words running together. "You are my wife."

Serena smiled, smug and satisfied. Then she pushed him back lightly, testing. "No, I’m not. Eira is."

His brow creased, like the name took work to chew through. He said nothing.

"Why did you marry her?" she asked softly.

"Wanted to marry you," he mumbled. "But you left. You didn’t want me."

Her chest squeezed. She cupped his face in both hands. "I told you I’d come back."

"You left without telling me first."

"That was my grandfather’s call. It happened fast." She kept her voice steady and patient. "He sent me abroad for my career. He wouldn’t let me come back to see you. Still... thank you. For the funding, every month, all those years. It meant I never had to beg anyone."

Alpha Sebastian’s voice came out rough. "Told you. Whatever I earn is yours."

"Thank you, Sebastian." She leaned down and kissed him.

His pupils blew wide. He pulled her in and kissed her back.

Before long, they were tangled together on the couch.

--

The next morning, Alpha Sebastian woke with a splitting headache. He blinked at the ceiling, disoriented, and muttered the first thing that came to mind. "God, my head. Get me some water."

"Go back to sleep," a voice said beside him.

Not Eira’s voice.

Alpha Sebastian went stiff. He turned his head.

Serena’s face was inches from his, dead asleep.

He shot upright.

The movement woke her. She rubbed her eyes and pulled the blanket to her chest, sitting up too.

"What’s wrong?"

He swallowed hard. "Did we — last night, did we—"

"Yeah." Serena nodded. "You were wasted. I couldn’t exactly shove you off."

Alpha Sebastian swung his legs off the bed and dragged a hand down his face, like his brain physically couldn’t process the situation.

He’d slept with Serena. In the bed he shared with Eira.

"I need a shower."

When he came out, Serena was already dressed. The hickeys on her neck were impossible to miss.

She looked at him, cheeks pink. "You were... a lot, last night. Like you hadn’t touched anyone in years."

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him.

Alpha Sebastian looked down at this woman he’d been hung up on for years, and slowly returned the hug.

"Eira and I never... we never did that."

"I know." Serena held him tighter. "I’ve always known you kept me in your heart, Sebastian. And I’ve only ever had you."

She tilted her head up and kissed the corner of his mouth.

For a moment, he smiled.

Then his expression froze.

"Did Eira come home last night?"

Serena’s face soured at the name. She held on tighter, like she was afraid he’d bolt.

"No clue. Who even knows where she went."

Alpha Sebastian pulled away and walked into the living room. His phone sat on the counter, exactly where he’d tossed his keys. No missed calls. No texts.

His grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles went white.

"Sebastian... are you worried about her?"

"Worried about her?" His voice went flat, ice-cold. "She can go wherever the hell she wants. It’s not like she’s got anywhere else in this city to run to."

"Sebastian... do you have feelings for her?" Serena’s voice cracked, eyes welling up.

His breath hitched. "Don’t be ridiculous. I married her because she made a decent wife. That’s it. That’s the whole story."

He pulled Serena back into his arms.

She rested one hand over his heart. "Would you ever... divorce her?"

Alpha Sebastian hesitated.

Serena’s fingers curled slightly. "Kidding. As long as you still care about me, that’s all that matters."

"How could I not?" He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Just give me time to think about the divorce."

"You know Eira’s situation. Fancy degree, no real job, can barely take care of herself. We’ve been married four years. I can’t just cut her loose overnight."

Serena’s gaze dimmed for a second. She forced a smile. "I know you’re not that kind of guy. I won’t bring it up again."

"You upset?" His voice softened.

She shook her head. "I’m the one who left first. Not exactly in a position to keep score."

"Nobody’s keeping score." He glanced toward the kitchen. "You hungry? I’ll cook something."

Serena nodded.

He opened the fridge and rooted around. Came up empty-handed.

Eira had always handled the groceries. She knew where everything was, what they were low on, when to restock.

Thinking about her made his jaw tighten.

"Forget it. Let’s just grab breakfast out."

Serena wasn’t surprised. She looped her arm through his, all smiles. "Works for me."

Downstairs, the elevator doors opened onto the lobby. A cab idled at the curb just outside the glass doors.

"Serena... you should probably find your own place for a while."

Her smile slipped. "You trying to get rid of me?"

"No." He shook his head. "This building’s beneath you anyway. Let me put you up in a penthouse."

Serena’s face lit up like Christmas morning. "Really? Thank you, Sebastian."

They walked right past the cab, arm in arm, heading toward the diner on the corner. Neither of them clocked the woman in the back seat.

Eira had only stopped by to grab a change of clothes.

It took less than five minutes to hear her almost-ex-husband promise another woman a penthouse.