Chapter 7

ATHENA

I could see the relief in Sebastian's features as he stared at Bella. I just couldn't understand why.

Why would he care who I live with?

Why would he even bother saving me?

My presence must be dampening the mood of his coming mating ceremony, so why does he care?

Bella rushed to my side as she checked my wounds which were already healing.

"I've contacted a security company and they're sending a few of their best over here right now. What happened to you, ma'am?"

"Nothing much," I forced a smile. "Just had a little altercation."

"She almost got assassinated," Sebastian said from his corner, earning himself a sharp glare from me, while Bella's eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"By the goddess, what?!"

"It's nothing, Bella," I replied and then glared at him again as I spoke through gritted teeth. "It was taken care of before anything serious happened."

There was a faint hint of amusement in his eyes as he met mine.

When he opened his mouth to speak again, I knew he was about to make things worse.

"She was almost choked unconscious by the time I got there," he said calmly. "A few more seconds and she would have been killed."

Bella had gone pale at the sound of that and I gave in to my urge to facepalm.

"Bella, he's exaggerating."

"You can check her neck," he countered.

"Who would do something like that to you?" Bella asked, horrified.

Sebastian frowned at that, his mind obviously trying to figure that out too.

I had a pretty solid idea of who it was, but I doubted Sebastian would approve of it so I kept that to myself.

"Probably your competition," he eventually said. "Ever since your emergence as a company, most high profile, luxury jewelers have been relegated to the conveniently affluent niche of society. Those who are still rich and influential, but not enough to control the city like I and a few others do. All of the top 1% of society have deferred to you for your creativity and ingenuity. Since you're the sole source of the designs, at least that's what your company says, they'll think taking you out should declare your company quite easily."

I mulled it over and he was right.

They in fact, could do that.

Somehow though, I don't think they did.

It was just a hunch but I couldn't possibly blame anyone with just a hunch to go by.

With a sigh, Sebastian pushed off the wall he was leaning on, and stood at his towering height of 6'5".

"Well, you're safe for now, but I'll be here until your guards get here. I can't leave two ladies home alone, especially when one was almost assassinated."

I fixed him with a glare, but I couldn't argue.

"Bella, you will live here with me from now on," I sighed as I allowed myself to lay back in bed.

"Of course," Bella said with no hesitation. "I can't let you live here alone even if you hadn't asked."

"Thank you," I gave her a small smile and then turned to Sebastian. "If you don't mind, I would like some privacy. You can stay until security comes, just not in my room."

Those green eyes searched mine for a few seconds before he nodded and turned to leave.

"If you need my help, just scream at the top of your lungs."

With that, he opened the door and walked out, closing it behind with gently.

Once he was out, I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding.

Bella's eyes observed me for a few seconds before she turned to the door.

"You don't seem too grateful to the Alpha for saving your life, ma'am."

"I am," I said as I laid back down. "I just don't need to tell him that."

She seemed puzzled at that.

"Do you have history with the Alpha prior to now?"

I chuckled at that.

"That's a story I am neither willing nor in any condition to tell."

She nodded, acknowledging my words.

That was one of my favourite things about Bella. She was a curious lady but she never let her curiosity lead her. She always had a grip on her emotions, only letting them out when she's comfortable enough to do so.

It was almost like me.

Being four years younger than me, at twenty four, Bella had proven to be a much more capable companion when compared to her most other older and more experienced counterparts.

"I'll get you something to eat," she suggested as she stood up to leave, but I held her back.

"I don't need to eat now," I said calmly. "Just stay here."

Bella gave me a puzzled look once again but said nothing in response.

Once she settled down, I closed my eyes and relaxed.

My mind was all over the plance as I tried making sense of the events that transpired earlier.

What were the odds that I was wrong?

I've always known Sienna to be a little unhinged, but no one else seems to have noticed that except me.

Maybe it was valid that my competitors ordered this hit to kill me but my gut was telling me that this wasn't that.

My home was a well guarded secret known only to a very few, some of which include Sienna.

Also, I am under Sebastian's protection as his mate's personal jeweler for the mating ceremony.

Definitely my competition aren't stupid or desperate enough to want to cross arguably the strongest Alpha in the city and a ruthless one at that.

They would still be worried about the repercussions of an intensive investigation launched into the proceedings.

In all honesty, I can't see them being the ones who ordered the hit.

My best guess would be someone bold and desperate enough to throw caution to the wind.

That suited Sienna more than it did anyone else.

I could say it with certainty even though I couldn't tell anyone.

Sienna tried to kill me.