Chapter 27: Torn Between Two – 1

Sebastian’s POV

“Alpha?” Kestrel’s voice through the mind link was uncharacteristically shaky.

I lifted my head from Aurora’s embrace. We were watching a movie at her place, finally getting back to normal after my recent behavior. I wanted nothing more than to stop hurting her, to return to the simplicity we once had. But honestly, I had no fucking clue what I was doing anymore—dating one sister while kissing the other.

The ghost of Thea’s kiss still lingered on my lips. Like everything else about her lately, I forced it down deep where it couldn’t mess with my head. I’d waited years to be with Aurora again. She was my world, always had been, right after Leo. I couldn’t let anything screw this up.

“What is it?” I growled, annoyed at the interruption. Tonight was supposed to be spent at Aurora’s. We’d chosen to stay in, watch movies, maybe more.

He hesitated—unusual for him.

“Spit it out, Kestrel. I don’t have time for this.”

Aurora looked at me questioningly, but I shook my head. Standing, I moved a few steps away while she continued watching the film.

“Someone broke into Thea’s house. I think it’s the same person who’s been trying to kill her.”

“What?” My wolf and I roared in unison.

I didn’t hear anything else he said. My heart started racing, terror clawing through my chest. My body moved on autopilot, shoving feet into shoes, grabbing my jacket.

“Sebastian, what’s wrong?” Aurora’s worried voice barely registered.

I saw her lips moving but couldn’t process the words. My mind focused on a single thought—get out, make sure Thea’s safe. My wolf was already trying to take over, ready to run.

“I have to go.” The words tumbled out as I yanked open the door.

I heard Aurora calling my name, but I couldn’t stop. Everything in me focused on getting to Thea as quickly as possible. It felt like someone else was controlling my body.

Moving robotically through the underground parking garage, I got into my car. My heart clenched repeatedly, imagining worst-case scenarios.

How the fuck did the intruder get past security? Where was Kestrel? If Thea had even one hair out of place, I’d beat him bloody before kicking him out of the pack.

Breaking every speed limit, I arrived just as police cars pulled up. Neighbors were emerging from their houses, probably wondering about the late-night commotion.

When I entered and saw her condition, my heart nearly stopped. A gash marked her forehead, her lip was split, and her left cheek was swollen and bruised like she’d been struck.

Rage consumed me. She’d barely recovered from her hospital stay, and now this. I swore whoever hurt her would beg for death before I was done.

Sitting down on her right side, I turned my fury on Kestrel. I wanted to bury him alive. I’d trusted him to keep her safe, trusted him with this one fucking job, and now look what happened.

“Are you okay?” The words caught my attention.

Kane was holding her hand tenderly. The urge to separate them hit me hard. What right did he have to touch her like she belonged to him?

“My head hurts,” she whispered.

I knew Thea well enough to recognize when she was fighting tears. I couldn’t imagine how terrified she must have been facing the attacker alone.

She closed her eyes, leaning back against the couch.

“Hey, stay awake. Talk to me… what happened?”

“I’m really tired, Sebastian. I just want to sleep.” Her voice was small.

The vulnerability in her tone nearly brought me to my knees. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her. The urge felt strange—I’d never wanted to comfort Thea like this before.

“I know, but wait for the ambulance. We need to make sure you’re alright.”

I almost reached out to touch her face but stopped myself. That would only confuse us both more.

“Okay.” She opened her eyes.

Hawthorne interrupted: “Don’t worry, ambulance is almost here. Mind if I ask a few questions?”

Thea shook her head, then winced.

Fuck! I ran my hands through my hair. Her pain was tearing me apart.

“Good. Can you describe the person who attacked you?” Hawthorne asked.

She took a deep breath. “His face was mostly covered, couldn’t see much. But he was around six feet tall, built like a tank.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes – he had no scent… I’m not sure if he masked it or just didn’t have one.”

Kane and I both frowned. A wolf without a scent was unheard of. What did that mean? If he’d deliberately concealed it, combined with everything else, this was someone highly trained and experienced. Just who was this assassin?

“Did he say anything? Why he was targeting you?”

“He said he wasn’t with any organization, but someone promised him a lot of money to kill me. He didn’t say who hired him.” Her hands trembled as she finished.

Fear and fury grew as I listened. I hadn’t wanted to believe someone was hunting her, but the evidence was undeniable.

“So I was right. These attacks aren’t connected to the threats against both Packs. This means someone else is targeting her specifically,” Hawthorne mused.

“But why would anyone want her dead?” Kane voiced the question bouncing around my skull.

None of this made sense. Thea never caused trouble, her life revolving around work and Leo. Why would anyone want her dead? Who?

“That’s what I can’t figure out,” Hawthorne frowned. “But clearly whoever hired him wants her dead at any cost.”

I started to speak but an officer cut in.

“Sir, we found blood on the kitchen floor.”

Hawthorne turned to Thea. “Yours or the attacker’s?”

“His. I hit him with a lamp, then stabbed him with his own knife when it fell.”

For the first time since taking her case, Hawthorne smiled. “Perfect. Bag it for evidence. We can run DNA, find out who it belongs to.”

The officer hurried to comply. Finally, a lead. When we caught the bastard, he wouldn’t live to see trial. I’d make sure of it.

Kestrel’s warriors returned.

“Alpha, we lost him.” One reported, making Kestrel curse.

“How did an injured man escape you?” I demanded.

The other swallowed hard. “We think he knows the area well, has been watching her. Probably why we never spotted him before.”

“Makes sense,” Hawthorne added. “He’s likely been monitoring her for months, using the rogue threats as perfect cover.”

“They probably meant to kill her the first time, make everyone think it was the rogues,” Kane concluded.

“Exactly.” Hawthorne snapped his fingers.

I felt Thea trembling beside me as ambulance sirens approached. Paramedics rushed in, two checking Thea while another tended to Kestrel. Kane and I moved back to give them space.

My phone rang – Aurora. Shit, I’d completely forgotten about her. Frustration mounted. With Thea’s situation and my relationship with Aurora, everything was spinning out of control.

Aurora probably wouldn’t forgive me this time, especially if she learned how I’d dropped everything the moment I heard Thea was attacked. The problem was my reaction had been too intense. Even I could see how abnormal it was for someone claiming to feel nothing for his ex-wife.

How could I convince Aurora that Thea meant nothing when I’d abandoned her to ensure Thea’s safety? Fuck, everything just got more complicated.