I want my wife

Aurora settled the quadruplets into the carriage, her eyes lingering on their guilty faces, particularly Lucien's, who looked like he had been crying.

"Sweetheart?" she said softly, reaching out to touch his head. He leaned into her touch, lowering his head.

"Everything will be okay, baby. I will make sure of it." She gently ruffled his curly hair, coaxing a small smile from him as he looked up.

"Does this mean you and Papa will keep me out of trouble?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with hope.

Aurora shook her head. "No no... I.." She paused with a small laugh, taking in her children's expressions.

They looked so hopeful...

Clearly, they could tell the tension between her and Sebastian, the rift.

She sighed, collecting her thoughts. "Theodore will escort you back to... " She paused, glancing at Theodore, who was waiting for her instructions.

No! She couldn't risk leaving her children alone in that mansion.

"Follow Sebastian's carriage," she directed him.

"As you wish, young mistress." Theodore bowed at her while she climbed into the carriage, closing the door behind her.

...

Sebastian's carriage idled outside the school grounds, awaiting Aurora's carriage to move. His impatience grew as he stared at the emerald Zion necklace, his silver eyes reflecting the bright emerald gem.

Christophe, seated across from him, expressed his concerns. "Why are we lingering here? You are only provoking her, Sebastian. We should not risk infuriating her further."

Sebastian's lips curled into a sly smile. "I am waiting for my informant to signal when to leave. I want to know if she is still interested in following me."

Christophe snorted in disgust. "You are already manipulating the situation, Sebastian. You rejected her and hurt her deeply. Do you really think she still desires you as she once did?"

Sebastian's expression turned stubborn. "I want her, Christophe. I want my wife."

Christophe couldn't believe his ears. "But she wants to kill you, Sebastian. She is restraining herself for now, but if you push her too far, she will unleash her wrath on the entire pack. You, of all people, know her capabilities."

Sebastian said nothing, and Christophe took it as an obvious sign that he was dead serious. He was notoriously stubborn, a trait that contributed to his power and authority. It was like the early days at school, when everything first began...

"Let's go," Sebastian commanded abruptly, rapping on the carriage wall.

The carriage instantly lurched into motion, and soon they arrived at the Apothecary Hall.

Sebastian walked out of the carriage, followed by Christophe. As they stepped onto the pavement, another carriage pulled up behind theirs.

Theodore descended from his seat and opened the door, allowing the quadruplets to spill out excitedly. They waved enthusiastically at Sebastian, who couldn't help but smile in response, his expression softening momentarily.

However, as soon as Aurora emerged from the carriage, her displeasure evident on her face, the quadruplets' enthusiasm waned.

Sebastian merely sighed, his eyes fixed on her as he approached her. She raised a brow, offended by his actions.

Sighing deeply, he stopped in front of her, his eyes locked on hers. "You should return to the mansion," he said. "I will handle everything here."

Aurora's eyes narrowed, her expression scornful. "I do not need your permission to come or go. And I will not be thanking you for your help, if that is what you are expecting."

Sebastian cocked his head. "Then why are you here?"

"Must you stand so close to speak to me? Can you not see I am trying to keep my distance?" Aurora had to ask. She was feeling heavily irritated by his presence.

Her eyes flashed a warning, her restraint evident in the effort to keep la mort at bay, especially with her children present.

Sebastian's lips compressed into a thin line, his eyes acknowledging the unspoken message in her eyes. He sensed her aversion to his proximity, the murderous glint in her eyes a clear warning to maintain his distance.

How could he explain the fact that he loved that look? Since their reunion, those piercing eyes had haunted his dreams, illuminating the darkness whenever he closed his eyes.... He was obsessed.

Just then, Henri's voice burst into his mind, urgent and insistent. 'Sebastian, I need you now.'

Immediately, he turned away from Aurora, instructing, "Leave the children with Christophe and the coachman." He then strode into the building.

Aurora held her breath, her eyes shifting to Christophe, who greeted her with a warm smile. Slowly, she returned the smile.

"Thank you," she said, her voice sincere.

Christophe's eyes expanded in surprise. "You do not need to thank me, Aurora," he replied.

But Aurora insisted, "I do." Her smile broadened, and with a nod, she followed Sebastian into the building, leaving Christophe, Theodore and the quadruplets behind.