The World-Shattering Kiss (Part 1)

Thea’s POV

My brain cells were completely fried. I’d been sitting here for about an hour since Jaxon left. Earlier, I’d asked if he could keep Leo overnight at his place, and he agreed. I needed space to process everything.

I was still trying to wrap my head around all that I’d learned today. It was too much information to absorb at once, and I had no fucking idea how to deal with any of it.

My phone rang, cutting through the silence. For a moment, I considered ignoring it, but decided to answer anyway. It could be something important.

I mindlessly swiped the screen and put the phone to my ear without saying anything. My brain was just empty, waiting for whoever was on the other end to speak first.

“Thea,” she sighed with relief. “Thank the Goddess. Are you okay? Roman told me what happened today.”

I instantly recognized her voice. Iris.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” I answered softly.

I still couldn’t comprehend how Aurora could be so cruel to Jaxon and Wyatt. I knew she’d always wanted to bear Sebastian’s children, but to reject your own flesh and blood simply because the child didn’t have Sebastian’s DNA? That was beyond fucked up.

“Roman told me that you discovered the truth and exposed Aurora’s lies,” Iris said.

As someone who knew what it felt like to be rejected by parents, I completely understood Wyatt’s pain. I took his pain as my own because he reminded me of myself. He didn’t choose Aurora as his mother, yet she hurt him like he was nothing. It both infuriated and broke me.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“Tell me everything,” she insisted, so I started telling her everything from beginning to end.

By the time I finished, I was crying again. I didn’t want to project my pain, but it was really hard.

“I didn’t know where I was going until I arrived at the Sterling house and saw they were all having a gathering,” I told her. “I was so angry for Aurora, and for myself. I wanted to do something for Wyatt, something that nobody did for me when I was cruelly dismissed as a child. I wanted to stand up for him, to make Aurora accountable for her actions.”

That was something I’d always prayed for growing up. Other Pack members noticed how Derek and Margaret treated me, but they said nothing. Even Sebastian’s parents kept silent, following their friends’ lead. No one stood up for me or for justice. So I decided to do that for Wyatt.

“I understand you, baby. You did the right thing exposing what a bitch she is,” Iris said.

I felt relieved. Part of me had wondered if maybe I shouldn’t have done it that way. Maybe I could have handled it better, but I was too angry to even think straight. I couldn’t help myself. All I thought about while driving was: like mother, like daughter.

I was about to say something when the doorbell rang.

“Someone’s at my door, Iris. I gotta go answer it.”

I felt so tired and drained, both emotionally and physically.

“Okay. We’ll talk tomorrow. I know it’s been an exhausting day for you.”

We said goodnight and hung up. I considered ignoring whoever was at the door. Like I said, I was too tired to deal with anyone.

I got up slowly to answer the door.

“Sebastian, what are you doing here?” I asked in surprise.

If I’m being honest, I hadn’t expected to see him. I thought he’d be with Aurora, comforting her. I was shocked that he was here instead.

“Can I come in?” he asked, not answering my question.

Something must be wrong with me, because I stepped aside and let him in. He walked into my house, giving me a smile as he did.

“Is Leo asleep?” he asked while taking off his jacket.

“He’s probably asleep, but he’s not here. He’s spending the night at Jaxon’s.”

I saw a flash of anger in his eyes at the mention of Jaxon. For a moment, I thought he was going to start an argument about Jaxon, but he forced himself to calm down. I almost wanted to applaud his self-control.

“Fuck. Today was crazy,” he paused. “Are you okay?”

I knew I’d seen some huge changes in him lately, but today it suddenly hit me harder. He wouldn’t have cared about me before. In fact, he would have been furious with me for hurting Aurora.

Was it possible he had really changed?

“I’m fine,” I said, then took a moment to consider what I’d just said. “No. I’m definitely not fine. I feel like I’ve been sandblasted raw.”

He walked closer to me, pulling me into his embrace. I felt his warmth, felt every inch of him pressing against me. Every hard plane of his body against my softer places.

I should have pushed him away, but for some reason, I didn’t. My brain was completely blank from exhaustion.

“What can I do to ease your pain? I know this must be difficult for you, not just because of Wyatt.”

My heart skipped a beat. I was shocked that he understood my feelings weren’t just about Wyatt, but about my own pain too.

I looked at his feet, but he cupped my cheeks, making me look at him.

“I don’t know, Sebastian,” I said quietly.

He gently caressed my cheek, his fingers trailing down my face and neck before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

His green eyes locked with mine. He was looking at me in a way I’d once dreamed about, like I was his world, which was impossible, right?

“I know one way to distract you,” he began. “If I lean down and kiss those pretty pink lips, would you allow it?” he asked, and my heart started racing wildly.