The Alpha's Healer

16 | Act Willfully

The apartment Iris would be living in was on the twelfth floor. Each floor had four apartments and hers was the first one right out of the elevator.

"This is the key. I have a spare." Sebastian handed her a bunch of three keys, explaining the purpose of each one. "This is for the main door, the smaller one is for the balconies and this one is for the rooftop. It's accessible to everyone in the building. I've marked everything for convenience, but you should remember them by appearance."

Iris nodded like a hen pecking on feed to everything he said. She carefully studied the keys once, then followed his directions to open the door.

The apartment Sebastian arranged for her was too big for one person. As someone who lived in a small attic her entire life, it was spacious to the point of being wasteful.

Iris' first thought was a question to herself; was it alright for her to live in such a beautiful place? Her insecurity rose like an unstoppable tide and fixed itself in her throat, turning into a lump that didn't allow a single word to escape.

She stayed rooted two steps in by the door, watching Sebastian walk in like he owned the place, his voice echoing over the beige walls and the rasteful wooden furniture.

"The kitchen is fully stocked with everything you might need, including groceries for the next two weeks. The decor is lacking, but it's entirely up to you, decorate however you like it. Ah, the things we shopped for have already been arranged in their places. Iris, come here, what are you standing at the door for?"

His voice was like a string pulling her towards him. Iris stumbled over to his side with no more control than a puppet to it's master. She followed him into the bedroom, where a neat bed looked invitingly at her.

A wardrobe, a full size mirror and an attached bathroom were not the main thing that caught her attention, it was the window that made her unable to extract any words sitting in her throat.

An entire wall was replaced by glass. The window with no way to open it, was framed by two curtains rolled on both sides to let in natural sunlight.

The blazing sun was already on its way to descend from it's peak. A ball in the sky that she only ever observed from the smallest corners of the pack house had now suddenly risen to eye level and was screaming in her face, impossible to ignore.

The glow of it's bright reflection spilled and burst through the glass, lighting up every corner in the room. Her unblinking eyes were filled with tears as she stared at the moving sun that guided her through 18 years of hell.

So close.... Iris could feel the warmth hug her body... As if her mother had broken away from the restraint of worlds and embraced her frail self.

"Do you like it?" A gentle whisper blew on her ear. Sebastian's face hovered above her shoulder, close enough to feel his breath, yet inches away from an actual touch.

In a moment where her heart was spilling, she craved the touch of her mate more than ever. Her wolf searched for the stability that it knew Sebastian couldn't bring.

Iris resisted the pull with everything that was left. Because she knew, once her feet stepped on the line, it couldn't be retracted, only sliced off for good. Iris was afraid of losing the only thing she has left. A broken heart shattered twice would kill her.

Sebastian, the man looking at her with a harmless smile and eyes full of the same warmth as the sun, had the potential to destroy her once and for all. Iris didn't fight herself each day and brave the coward in her just to land herself in such a situation.

Once again, Iris reminded herself why she was here. A new beginning. Not to attach herself to a shackle. So, ignoring the emotions spilling like blood from an open wound in her heart, she stuck her arms wanting to reach for him to her sides.

"Hm. I like it. Thank you."

"The bond between us leaves no place for gratitude and regrets. Let's get you properly settled, then head out to explore. I'll show you around."

Three hours later, Iris and Sebastian headed out to a nearby restaurant for dinner. She trailed half a step behind, always aware of the eyes following them on the street.

Respectful, amazed and lovingly, they caressed on sebastion but turned into cutting threads when they stumbled upon their joined hands and Iris.

The restaurant was a big one. A man dressed in uniform opened the door for them and the manager led them to an inner dining room.

"It's for maximum privacy." Sebastian explained as he pulled a chair for her. "Usually I eat outside. But you're visibly uncomfortable from all the stares. I acted on a whim. I'll plan better next time."

Iris' eyes widened slightly, surprised that he noticed. His unwavering steps and the strength of his upright back were not from ignorance but rather unshakable, absolute confidence.

Her admiration for him grew a bit more. Not because of his Alpha title, but for the simple reason that he was everything Iris couldn't even imagine in her wildest dreams to be.

"It's fine." Iris responded, gripping the edges of the white table cloth.

"You're scared of everything under the sun but still fine with it. Is your tolerance made of steel?" Sebastian chuckled, holding his cheek in one hand as he leaned on the table. "You can act a bit willfully around me. You're the only one who can."

Iris' eyes met his under the golden brilliance of the chandelier. Her eyes reflected the mischief gleaming in his, and for a split second, a silly idea crossed her mind. Before Iris could hold back, her tongue rolled back and the words already left the constraints of her lips, "What about Zachary?"

Sebastian blinked, taken aback by the visible change on her face. "Huh?"

Heat slowly crawled under her skin, rising up to her cheeks. Iris bit her lip and refused to answer, hoping he'd drop the topic.

But the colour on her cheeks darkened further when Sebastian puffed out a laugh. A low, breathy laugh that landed blows on her heart like beats on a drum.

"Zachary doesn't count. He's my brother. I'll have to tolerate him no matter what he does." Sebastian's laugh faded away, settling into a smile on his lips. "You are different. Even without a mate bond, falling for you would be as easy as it is now."