Chapter 91: This is Impossible

Chapter 91: This is Impossible Sebastian~ The convoy rolled into Vereth at exactly 9:00 p.m., the city lights flickering like a sea of restless fireflies against the night sky. From my seat in the limousine, I watched the towering skyscrapers pass by, my mind heavy with an unsettling weight I couldn’t quite name. Something was off. Zane had been acting strange since his conversation with Natalie. He hadn’t said much after the mind call, which was unusual for him. Normally, he’d throw some sarcastic comment my way, tease me about my brooding tendencies, or demand that I stop making the limousine "feel awkward with my ancient vampire humor." But tonight, he’d been stiff, silent—calculating. When we finally pulled into the gated estate, the guards stationed at the entrance straightened immediately, their postures rigid with fear. Zane’s presence had that effect on people. Mr Cole Lucky was cold, ruthless, and unpredictable. But I knew him better than that. The car slowed to a stop in front of the mansion—Zane’s home in Vereth. It was an imposing structure, bathed in silver moonlight, with tall gothic windows and black iron gates. The convoy had barely stopped when Fox stretched lazily, cracking his knuckles. "Finally. I was starting to think we were going to live in this car," he muttered, sliding out the door before anyone could respond. Tiger stepped out without a word. His sharp green eyes scanned the area as if sensing something beyond the ordinary. The way his shoulders tensed made my instincts bristle, but I ignored it. I moved to say my goodbyes and then run home, already anticipating the quiet solitude of my own house—my sanctuary—when Zane’s voice stopped me cold. "You’re staying here tonight. No arguments." I let out a dry laugh. "No arguments? You’re actually telling me what to do now?" I leaned against the car, arms crossed. "Since when do you care where I sleep?" Zane exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose like he was already exhausted by this conversation. "Since tonight." "Right. And why exactly?" I tilted my head, studying him. "You know I prefer my own place. My bed. My wine cellar." I smirked. "Unless, of course, you suddenly grew sentimental and can’t stand the thought of being away from me for a few hours." Zane didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he simply met my gaze and said, "I feel more comfortable with you here." I had known Zane for over a decade. I had seen him at his worst, his best, and everything in between. He was the most calculated person I knew. And right now, he was acting... off. Now I knew something was wrong. My smirk faded as I narrowed my eyes. "Bullshit." His jaw ticked, but he kept his expression neutral. "Sebastian—" "No. Don’t Sebastian me," I interrupted, stepping closer. "You’ve been acting weird since we left Golden City. You were staring at me like I was about to drop dead in the limo. And now, you’re suddenly insisting I stay here? What the hell is going on?" For a moment, Zane said nothing. His eyes flicked to Tiger and Fox, as if contemplating something. Then he exhaled. "I just feel more comfortable with you here. Too many new guards. I don’t trust them yet." Lies. I scoffed, running a hand through my hair. "Zane. Tiger and Fox are here with you. You’re not exactly defenseless." I glanced at Tiger, who stood a few feet away, silent as always. His golden-brown hair ruffled in the cool night breeze, but his green eyes remained locked onto Zane. Fox, on the other hand, looked amused, arms folded over his chest as if enjoying the show. Neither of them spoke. I turned back to Zane. "See? You’ve got enough firepower around you. So what’s this really about?" Zane’s eyes flickered. For the briefest moment, something passed across his face—hesitation. He bit his lip, just slightly, a rare tell that only someone like me would notice. I inhaled slowly, my unease deepening. Zane didn’t hesitate. He didn’t second-guess. That wasn’t who he was. And yet, here he was, looking for an excuse. Something wasn’t right. My gaze softened, studying him. Zane had always been composed, always in control. He carried himself like a king even when he wasn’t ready for the throne. He was the one person I had sworn to protect—not because he needed it, but because I wanted to. And now... now he was anxious about something. I just didn’t know what. My voice was quieter when I spoke again. "It’s not the guards, is it?" Zane’s posture stiffened, but he didn’t answer. I sighed. "Zane, whatever’s going on, you know you can tell me, right?" His fingers curled slightly at his sides. "It’s nothing, Sebastian." Lie. Again. I clenched my jaw, knowing that pushing him wouldn’t work. Zane was stubborn as hell. If he didn’t want to talk, he wouldn’t. But that didn’t mean I had to like it. After a long pause, I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "Fine." I forced a smirk, deciding to take a different approach. "Since you’re being clingy, I’ll stay. But only because I’d hate to see you cry if I left." That did the trick. Zane’s lips parted slightly in amusement, and then—just like that—he smiled. A real one. One that softened the sharp edges of his face, making him look almost... relieved. And that relief only made me more suspicious. Zane wasn’t the type to need company. He liked his personal space, guarded it like a fortress. So why was he so happy I was staying? Something was wrong. I just didn’t know what. Yet. But one thing was certain—I wasn’t leaving until I found out. ********* Inside the house smelled like expensive leather and aged bourbon, but tonight, it felt a bit suffocating. I threw my coat onto the nearest chair and stretched. "Alright, now that I’m officially being held hostage in your luxurious prison, I assume you have my ’wine’ somewhere?" Zane shot me a look. "You know where it is." I smirked at him and head straight to my private kitchen, got out a bag from the fridge and poured it’s content into a wine glass. Thirty minutes later, I stretched out on the plush leather chair in Zane’s dining room, swirling my fifth glass of ’wine’ in one hand and smirking at the ridiculous sight before me. Across the table, Fox was watching Zane with an expression of barely contained laughter, while Tiger sat beside him, impassive as ever. Zane, however, was not amused. "Sebastian," he said, rubbing his temples. "Do you really have to drink that here?" I raised a brow, taking a slow sip. "What? It’s not like I’m bleeding someone dry in your dining room. This is top-shelf, pre-packaged, ethically sourced, Grade-A blood, my dear friend. And you stocked it for me." Zane exhaled sharply. "That’s not the point." Fox, ever the troublemaker, leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Wait, wait, wait. You mean to tell me that you actually keep blood in this house for him?" He jerked a thumb toward me, looking as if Christmas had come early. Zane shot him a glare. "He’s a vampire. He needs it." Fox grinned. "So let me get this straight... You, actually have a private blood bank for your best friend? That’s kinda sweet. Almost domestic." I smirked, raising my glass in salute. "He loves me. He just doesn’t know how to say it." Zane’s eye twitched. "I regret every life choice that led to this moment." Tiger, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. "He does need it, Fox." His voice was calm but firm, like an elder settling a dispute between two unruly children. "Zane is only being responsible." Fox snickered. "Right. Responsible. Not whipped." Zane slammed his fork down. "I will throw you out of my house." Fox held up his hands in surrender, but the mischievous glint in his golden eyes didn’t fade. Tiger simply returned to his meal, unfazed by the chaos, while I continued sipping my dinner with the satisfaction of a man who was far too entertained. After dinner, I made my way to my room. It wasn’t often that I got to enjoy the comfort of actual sleep, but I relished it when I could. Vampires didn’t need to sleep, but for me, it was the only way I could see her. The faceless woman. She had haunted my dreams since childhood, whispering my name in a voice both urgent and sorrowful. Every time I closed my eyes, she was there—watching, waiting, pleading. Tonight was no different. Darkness surrounded me, an endless void stretching in all directions. And then, a voice—soft but clear—called out. "Sebastian..." I turned, searching for the source, but as always, I found nothing. Only shadows. "Find me. Please, find me." The words sent a shiver down my spine. There was a desperation to her voice tonight that hadn’t been there before. Like time was running out. I reached forward, but before I could touch anything, I jolted awake. Damn it. I sat up, running a hand through my hair. The dream always ended the same way—unfinished, unresolved. And every time, I woke with the same gnawing feeling in my gut. Something was coming. Something big. But what? I didn’t have time to dwell on it. The sun was up, and I had work to do. I stepped out of my room to find Zane already waiting, looking infuriatingly awake despite his long trip the day before. I arched a brow. "You’re up early." "So are you," he shot back. I sighed. "Because I actually have work to do today. You, on the other hand, need to rest. Take a day off. Be lazy. Live a little." Zane scoffed. "I’m coming with you." I blinked. "What?" "You heard me." I stared at him, waiting for the punchline. When it didn’t come, I folded my arms. "Zane, you just got back. You need—" "I need to check on the company." His voice was firm, brooking no argument. I sighed. "Stubborn as ever, I see." He smirked. "Always." I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Fine. But if you pass out from exhaustion, I’m leaving you on the office floor. No special treatment." "Noted." I turned to head downstairs, only to stop short when I saw them. Ten of them. Dressed in identical black suits, wearing identical scowls, and standing at perfect attention behind Zane like they were guarding the damn president. His bodyguards. I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. Fox, who had come downstairs to see us off, took one look at the scene and doubled over. "Oh, this is priceless." Tiger, standing beside him, just shook his head. "Unnecessary." Zane exhaled through his nose, clearly trying to control his temper. "Enough." He turned to the guards. "I don’t need all of you following me to work. This is ridiculous." The head guard, the burly man with a permanent scowl, responded without hesitation. "Orders from the King, sir." Zane’s jaw tightened. "I’ll be fine." "Orders from the King," the guard repeated. I leaned over to Fox. "Is it just me, or does this guy have the personality of a brick?" Fox grinned. "Oh no, he is a brick. I bet if we pushed him over, he’d just fall face-first and stay there." Zane pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sebastian. Fox. Shut up." Fox wasn’t done. "C’mon, Zane. Ten? Really? That’s excessive even for you. Are you secretly in a boyband? The ’Faceless Ten’?" I grinned. "More like ’Cole and the Clones.’" Zane shot us both a death glare. "I hate you both." Fox smirked. "You love us." Tiger turned to Zane and repeated. "They are unnecessary." Zane let out a long-suffering sigh. "Tell that to the king." We all turned to look at the guards. They remained silent and motionless, like statues carved from stone. Fox clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Well, good luck with that, Sebastian. Enjoy your day babysitting the royal parade." I groaned. "You’re a terrible person." "I know." Tiger and Fox stayed behind as Zane, his entire security detail, and I made our way to the company. The moment we arrived, Zane strode inside like a man on a mission, the ten guards moving in sync behind him. Every single employee in the lobby stopped to stare. I could practically feel Zane’s frustration. "Sebastian," he muttered under his breath. "Say nothing." I smirked. "Oh, don’t worry. I won’t say anything." Zane exhaled in relief—until I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture. "Sebastian!" I grinned. "Sorry, my friend, but this moment deserves to be immortalized." Zane growled under his breath before storming off to his office. His guards, of course, followed. As I watched them go, I shook my head in amusement. This was going to be a fun day. ********* I had barely stepped into my office when my secretary, Brianna, called out to me before I could even settle into my chair. "Mr. Lawrence, you have a meeting scheduled in ten minutes," she informed me crisply, her red-rimmed glasses sliding down her nose as she scanned her tablet. I frowned. "I don’t recall scheduling a meeting this morning." "You didn’t," she said, looking up at me. "They requested it this morning, but considering the offer on the table, I thought you might want to reconsider turning them away." I arched a brow. "And who exactly am I meeting with?" She glanced down at the screen in front of her before meeting my gaze again. "Mr Griffin Blackthorn and Miss Brielle Hector." My entire body went rigid. Griffin. Zane was already having a terrible day, and now this? I almost laughed at the absurdity. Almost. Instead, I scowled, already shaking my head. "Tell them I’m not interested." Brianna hesitated. "Mr. Lawrence..." I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "What?" She cleared her throat. "Griffin came with a 200 million dollar contract." That got my attention. I paused, running my tongue over my teeth. Of all the things I expected from Griffin, a financial incentive wasn’t one of them. "200 million?" I repeated, arching a brow. She nodded. Damn it. I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. I wasn’t in the mood for whatever Griffin had to say, but 200 million dollars was hard to ignore. I could already hear Zane calling me an idiot if I turned this down. "Fine," I muttered. "Send them in." Brianna nodded and stepped out. I spent the next fifteen minutes trying to prepare myself. But then there was a knock at my door. Immediately, the thick, unmistakable scent of werewolf hit me. Griffin. But there was something else—something different. Something... intoxicating. A scent so sweet, like wildflowers and apples after a fresh rain, drifted into the room, curling around me like a whisper of something forbidden. It made my pulse quicken. My throat went dry. What the hell? I wasn’t one to be easily affected by scents, but this was different. This scent made my entire body tense, my instincts scream, my heart— Wait. My heart was racing. That had never happened before. "Enter," I called out, my voice rougher than I intended. The door opened, and Griffin strode in with a woman beside him. I never saw Griffin. From the moment she stepped inside, she was all I could see. She had piercing brown eyes that flickered with an unreadable intensity, jet-black hair that framed her strong, sharp features, and an aura of danger that clung to her like a second skin. But it was her scent—her presence—that threw me into complete chaos. Something inside me snapped into place, something I didn’t even realize had been missing. I couldn’t stop looking at her. The room, the air, the world around me faded. All I knew was her. And then— It hit me. Like a wildfire roaring through dry timber, a bond ignited between us. My mate. I staggered slightly, my breath coming fast. I had heard about this—read about it—but I had never thought it would happen to me. Ever since I could remember, Vampires had mates, and they talked fondly about what it felt like to meet your mate; but I was told that Vampires like me, would never get to experience that feeling because I was a rarity, an abomination. They said this was impossible. Yet, here she was. The pull toward her was unbearable, like an invisible string was yanking me forward. Before I even realized what I was doing, I was moving—stepping around my desk, walking toward her like a man possessed. She was staring at me now, eyes wide, chest rising and falling rapidly. She could feel it, too. I could hear her heartbeat—wild and erratic. "Brielle," Griffin said beside her, clearly confused. "Are you okay?" Brielle. Her name settled into my chest like a brand, but before I could say anything, before I could reach her— She turned on her heel and ran. One second she was standing there, staring at me in shock. The next, she was bolting toward the door as if the devil himself was chasing her. What the— I barely had time to react before the door swung open. And she slammed right into Zane. He grunted at the impact, taking a step back as she collided with his chest. But Brielle didn’t stop. With a force I didn’t expect, she shoved Zane aside like he was nothing more than an obstacle in her way. And then—she was gone. The silence that followed was deafening. Zane, Griffin, and I all stood there, staring at the now open door, completely dumbfounded. Zane slowly turned his head toward me, brows furrowed. "Did she just... push me?" Griffin looked just as confused. I barely heard him. All I could think about was her. The way she had looked at me. The way my entire world had tilted the moment she walked into the room. The way she had run— From me.