HORNS (BoyXBoy)

Chapter 43

Chapter Forty Three

Have you ever been so lost in thought that another person's attempt at getting your attention scares you? Because I have, many times since childhood, and never did it ever get any easier. 

Let me be honest with you. I nearly pissed myself when I left Huang's room and saw Sebastian leaning against the wall directly to the left with his arms folded, visibly waiting for me.

"HOLY CRAP!" I screamed, jumping clean off the ground and sailing halfway to the ceiling; I flailed my arms, taking in a million things at once, from his bored eyes following my upward path to my heart trying to jump in different directions. My stomach twisted when I came crashing back down, and I hit the floor so hard that my legs buckled and I fell on my ass.

I sat there stupidly, legs splayed out, clutching my mouth with both hands as I looked up at him. He didn't move away from the wall, all he did was raise a disinterested eyebrow at me.

"Are you finished?" the alpha werewolf rumbled, and I looked at Huang, who didn't seem to be concerned since he was lying still, blue eye closed. "Take a breath and calm yourself. Your heart is beating faster than a spooked rabbit's."

I shook my head at him.

"Please don't tell anyone!" I begged, not lowering my hands from my lips. "Don't tell anyone what you just heard! About any of it!"

His other brow lazily rose and a small smirk graced his lips. He scratched at the fuzzy black beard lining his square jaw, curly hair pinned up on top of his head. His glowing amber eyes darkened somewhat, lips twitching even higher.

To my immediate irritation, he let loose a very small chuckle. My jaw dropped behind my hands, because what the hell, he was laughing at me!  Sebastian was fucking laughing at me! 

What a douche! 

"I'm no fool," Sebastian amusedly informed me. "If I hadn't given everyone outdoor chores when I heard you making your way down here they'd have without a doubt heard everything. You're lucky I was aware enough to act as quickly as I did, when I did."

I blinked, lowering my hands as a wash of surprise flooded through me. "You made everyone leave the house before I came down here?"

"Mhm." He smugly nodded. "Everyone." 

"Okay," I muttered, making a face. "Why?"

Bash rolled his eyes. "Is it not obvious?"

"Would I be asking if it was?" I tartly countered, and he scoffed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Aerin made his thoughts clear to both of us, Whelp," he explained, stepping off the wall and holding out a big hand with thick tan fingers. His face was stern but still kind. "Come. Take my hand and rise. You don't need to worry about me saying or doing anything--I know well the risks after what I've heard and I am not willing to take any chances with the lives of my loved ones."

I hesitated, feeling awkward and upset, but when he wiggled his fingers at me I clasped his extended hand and let him help me up. To my surprise, he pulled me into a strong, breakneck hug and squeezed so tight my spine and vertebrae popped.

"Hoo--damn, what's this for?" I wheezed, patting his hip with an awkward little hand flap since both my arms were pinned tight against my sides. "Bash.. uh... you're squeezing a bit tight--"

"Shh," he soothingly hushed, but to my relief he did loosen his grip a bit. Although, I still felt highly uncomfortable when one of his hands came up and cradled the back of my head through the fabric of my hood, patting gently. "You've been too stressed for your own good lately. Rest assured, there is nothing to fear. Everything will sort itself out."