Chapter Six

Maliya's pov

"It's an honor you called, Alpha Sebastian." I kept my head lowered, shifting my leg to the side, fully aware of the significance of his invitation. He smiled and reached out, his hand grasping mine firmly.

“Hey, we’re supposed to be discussing Leila, right?” I challenged, my fingers weaving through his hair as my lips brushed against his.

“Leila isn’t our issue, hun,” he whispered, pushing my hair back with an intensity that made me sit firmly on his legs. He was relaxed against the expansive setting of his king-size bed, but his jaw tightened at the mention of her name. I wanted to provoke a reaction; I needed to know if he truly despised her.

“I forbid you from saying Leila’s name again,” he stated, but I chuckled and placed a kiss on his forehead, undeterred.

“I won’t,” I replied, crossing my fingers defiantly over my chest.

The dim light from the bedside lamp created a soft ambiance, shadows dancing across the room. His cologne enveloped the space as I settled on his legs, my fingers tangled in his tousled hair. There was power in this moment, and I could sense how easily I could draw his focus away from Leila. This was about asserting my place; I wasn’t going to allow him dismiss me with vague notions of her being irrelevant.

Leaning in close, I whispered against his ear, “Sebastian, what will happen with Leila if you continue this… affair?” My voice remained steady, knowing it would raise the tension in the air. I was fully aware of how deeply her name affected him, and it was time he faced it.

His fingers slid through my hair, but I felt the tremor in his hand—the remnants of anger still clinging to him. It was essential for me to hear him say it, to confirm his decision to sever ties with her.

“I told you,” he replied, his tone tight with restraint, “Leila isn't our problem. It never was.”

I scrutinized his face, the irritation tightening his jaw evident. Yet, behind that frustration was another emotion—a vulnerability that sparked my curiosity about his true feelings.

“But she is your mate, Sebastian,” I pressed. “You can’t just erase her. You’re bonded; that doesn’t just vanish.”

He exhaled sharply, pushing me back just enough to catch my gaze. His eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them, with a storm brewing beneath the surface.

“I’ve made a decision about Leila,” he said firmly, his voice steady and clear. “I’m ready to move on. I don’t want her in my life anymore. Do you understand, Maliya? She’s not what I need.”

For a moment, I was taken aback. Was this the same man I'd loved?

“Are you being sincere?” I asked softly. “Because I remember when she seemed to be your whole world.”

Sebastian shifted his expression, and as he held my waist, I felt a mix of emotions. His breath against my skin was warm, and he leaned in close.

“Maliya, things have changed,” he said quietly. “I’ve realized a lot about myself. My feelings for her were tied to moments in my life when I felt vulnerable. You’re the one who truly understands me and accepts me for who I am.”

His honesty struck a chord within me. I could sense the struggle in his voice, and despite everything, I felt a twinge of empathy. Leila never truly grasped his complexities, and now, I could see that he was seeking solace in our connection.

I let my fingers glide over his chest, feeling the tension there as I asked, “So what’s next for us? You mentioned Leila isn’t our concern, but what if she reenters the picture? What if she tries to reclaim what you two had?”

Sebastian’s grip tightened, fire in his gaze. “She won’t get the chance. I’m not going back,” he stated resolutely. His expression softened as he caressed my cheek. “I’ve finally recognized that she never had a hold on me. I want to focus on us now, on what we could be.”

A light chuckle escaped me as I studied him. “It’s easy to say that now. You’ve been shaped by your past with her. How can you be sure she won’t try to come back, or that others won’t perceive my presence as betrayal?”

He frowned, frustration flickering behind his eyes. “She’s not who I want anymore. You are. I’ve spent far too long caught in a narrative that wasn’t mine. I realized that what I thought was a connection with her wasn’t real.”

The weight of his words settled around us, making it hard to breathe for a moment. I wanted to believe him, yet doubt lingered. Could I trust this change of heart?

“Sebastian…” I began, my uncertainty creeping into my voice. “Are you truly certain? Because I know how significant your history is with her. Can I really move past that?”

Without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed me deeply, conveying a sense of urgency and sincerity. When he pulled back, his breath quickened, and he murmured, “You’re the priority now. Nothing else is as important as what we are building here.”

I wished I could fully embrace his words, but the uncertainty still lingered.

He held my face gently, looking into my eyes. “Leila is in the past. Our relationship is what matters now. We have the potential to create something meaningful together. Just you and me.”

I leaned in again, our lips barely brushing, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The way he held me, the way he kissed me—it felt real and it felt right.

I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew that in this moment, he needed me as much as I needed him.

Taking a deep breath, I wrapped my arms around his neck and said, “I’m willing to trust you, Sebastian. Just remember that it’s important to uphold that trust.”

He smiled, a gentle, understanding smile, and le

aned in to kiss me again, sealing this new chapter between us.