Chapter 0345

"He's carrying a gun now." Sebastian informs me.

"What?" I was sure I heard him wrong.

"Don't worry about what's happening outside. We're handling it. You just need to rest." Sebastian watches me, waiting for my agreement.

"I need to talk to him."

"Brianna, you need to rest."

"Please. I just... I understand him better than anyone."

"I'll get him." Theodore gives me a small smile and rushes from the room.

"We need to discuss this, Brianna. I feel your pain. I feel the ache in your heart."

I shake my head at him, tears already clouding my vision. I can't talk about it. Not yet.

"I knew."

"Huh?"

"I knew. I searched your house after the fire. I saw the tests."

I lower my gaze. "It was supposed to be a surprise. I was nervous, after what happened to the boys. I knew you wanted it. And now... Now I can never give you a pup."

It's strange. Only now do I realize how much I wanted it. I always knew I wanted to be a mother. To have my own little family. I never saw it happening. Not until I saw those two lines.

"I'm sorry." I whisper again.

He grabs both my hands. "Stop apologizing. This wasn't your fault. You didn't know this would happen. No one could have predicted it. This is not on you."

It still felt like my fault.

I force a smile as Zachary enters.

"I'll give you two a minute." Sebastian mutters. He gives me a pointed look. "Stay in bed."

"I was coming to see you." Zachary speaks softly. He peers through the window blinds. "Are you okay?" I ask.

"I should be asking you that. I guess they told you."

I nod, though he isn't looking at me. "I don't understand. I thought Julian was dead."

"It doesn't matter. They're both dead now."

"She was your mate."

"Was! She gave up, Brianna. I didn't see it. I couldn't see it. Or maybe I didn't want to. But she gave up. I wasn't even worth holding onto. She loved him more than anything. Twins in life. Twins in death."

"So you're okay?" I ask with a head tilt.

"Yes."

I stare at him. "I don't believe you."

He moves to the chair beside my bed. "Everyone is watching me. Waiting for me to break. Luc has his beady little eyes on me every chance he gets. He's probably pissed I'm in here where he can't see me. I don't need you watching me too, Brianna. Focus on your own health."

"I've seen people lose their mates. This isn't how they react."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Or maybe I've been preparing to lose her since the day we met." He groans. "I knew a time would come where I'd lose her or she'd lose me. Though I never imagined losing her to her own damn brother."

I wanted to gag. I really hoped he didn't mean what I thought.

"Like I said. Twins in life. Twins in death."

I've seen Zachary do many things. Including the stuff he did as a Rogue. But this left me the most unsettled. He was too calm. Too understanding. Or maybe he was right. He was too used to death.

"I swear Brianna, you don't need to worry about me."

I dip my head in acknowledgement. His comment only made me more uneasy.

"Oh, I'm taking the oath tomorrow evening. Being Beta is hard without being able to link Alexander. With this many Lycans, we need someone who can link both."

"Right." Our conversation felt so strange. Sebastian said he was acting odd. But he wasn't. He was acting like his usual self. And that was what was odd. Maybe he was having some kind of delayed reaction?