Knockout Blow – 1

Sebastian’s POV

“Will Leo be joining us today?” My mother asked, her eyes hopeful as we stood in the foyer.

“No. I didn’t tell Thea about this in advance. Didn’t want to add pressure on her,” I replied, stepping into the Sterling house. Another monthly gathering between our Packs. Just like last time, I didn’t want to be here, but I’d promised my mother I would show up.

“I miss Leo so much. Margaret does too. Now that she and Thea are estranged, these gatherings are the only time she gets to see him,” she paused, her eyes searching mine for some kind of reassurance.

I wanted to feel bad for her, but I couldn’t. That made me an asshole, but I was pretty sure we were all paying the price for what we’d done to Thea.

“Maybe next time,” I said, brushing past her.

My mother and Margaret had been friends for years. She’d do anything for her best friend. I didn’t want to stand there listening to a half-hour speech about how miserable Margaret was. I didn’t need to hear about someone else’s pain when I was drowning in my own.

Mom followed me to the backyard. I knew the Sterling house well. After all, they’d lived here for years. This was where Thea and I got married, where she tried to run away when she found out she was pregnant.

I stopped suddenly, causing my mother to bump into my back.

“What’s wrong, Sebastian?” she asked, but I didn’t turn around or respond.

When I didn’t answer, she moved in front of me. My eyes landed on her but didn’t really see her.

“Sebastian? What’s the matter?”

My Adam’s apple bobbed as I tried to find the words.

“I just remembered the day I caught Thea trying to run away. Looking back now, I can’t imagine what my life would be like if she had succeeded.”

“Sebastian dear, don’t think about that. It didn’t happen, and we should thank the Moon Goddess for that,” she said.

I sighed, thinking about how stupid I’d been.

“Thea was eighteen and terrified, Mom. She begged me to let her go because, deep down, she probably knew that if she stayed, I would destroy her—and I did. I broke her heart countless times. Now, I don’t know what to think. Part of me wishes I had let her go because maybe she wouldn’t be so broken now; part of me is grateful I stopped her because otherwise, I wouldn’t have Leo and wouldn’t know what an incredible woman she is.”

The weight pressing down on me whenever I thought about everything I’d done to her was almost unbearable. I should have tried harder with our relationship; maybe then I wouldn’t have so many regrets crushing my chest.

“You’re putting too much burden on yourself, Sebastian. Yes, you hurt her, but you forget that we all played our parts in hurting her. Both Packs participated in crushing her heart. You’re not the only one responsible for her broken heart,” Mom grabbed my arm, trying to comfort me.

“Your mother is right.” I turned to find my father standing by the sliding door.

“We all played our parts in hurting Thea. We, just like Derek and Margaret, watched her grow up, yet in the end, we only remembered she was wolfless, remembered how she came between you and Aurora. She didn’t come here willingly, but she tried so hard to fit in with us, tried so hard to make us laugh. It’s our fault. We were your parents, your guides. We ostracized her, so you did too. If anyone should take the blame, it’s us. As adults, we failed,” he said, clasping my shoulder heavily.

I knew they were saying this to make me feel better, but it didn’t work. Others mainly ignored Thea, treated her like she was invisible. I’d done worse, so much worse, and that was entirely on me.

I gave them a small smile. I didn’t want to dwell on this topic too long.

AKSANABlow – 1

“Come on, let’s go to the backyard before the others start wondering why we’re taking so long.” Mom took my hand, pulling me along with my father trailing behind.