8. Sebastian

8

Sebastian

" B oss, I need you to come to the police station. The stalker showed up and I handled the situation."

"I'll be there in a couple of hours. Hold tight."

Sebastian wasn't sure whether he wanted to murder Callie or thank her for her untimely phone call. Talia was a big girl and seemed more than willing to have sex with him. However, he knew that if they did, the encounter would mean something more than just a wham, bam, thank you ma'am type situation.

He was halfway expecting to see blue lights in his rearview mirror as he raced to Albuquerque. Sebastian got there in half the time it normally took and practically skidded to a stop at the police station.

"I need to speak with Callie Russo," he said.

"Are you her attorney?" the bored officer at the front desk asked.

"No. Her employer. My name is Sebastian Garner."

The officer was about to say something when a sergeant came down a hallway and said, "I'll take care of this. Sebastian, how have you been?"

"Well. How's the wife and kids?"

"The wife is losing her mind. We have one in first grade, one in kindergarten, and one on its way."

"Congrats."

"Thanks, I think. Callie is this way. She's been pacing the interrogation room like a caged lion."

"Dragon, more like it," Sebastian said.

"Yeah, that, too."

Sebastian smirked at his own joke, although the sergeant didn't understand it since he wasn't privy to the shifter world.

He was shown into the interrogation room and said, "No cameras and no recordings, please."

"You got it."

They sat down at the table and put their heads together, talking quietly, because they didn't trust anyone to turn off the devices.

"What happened?"

"I saw Fred watching her and my gut said that he was up to no good. When she went to bed, I sat in the chair just on the other side of the door. We locked it, so no one can say entrapment."

"Fair enough."

"I dozed but woke up when I noticed someone was wiggling the door handle. Somehow, he managed to get ahold of a key card."

"We'll look into that," Sebastian said.

"I waited until he was fully inside of the room. He had a knife. It was all over in a matter of seconds. The police brought us all here for statements, but they were a little more aggressive with me because I was the one to put him down."

Sebastian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "What did you do?"

"I might have broken an arm." She shrugged.

"And?"

"Maybe some ribs," she said nonchalantly.

"And?"

"A few teeth and his right leg."

"Damn, girl."

"I neutralized the threat. He had a knife and I had to protect my client. I am a little disappointed that he wasn't more of a challenge, though."

Sebastian simply shook his head and said, "Okay. I'll take care of this. Sit tight."

He knocked on the interrogation door and said, "Are you charging her?"

"She did hurt him pretty badly," one of the officers said.

"He broke into the room with a knife, which implies intent to do harm. I would like to speak with Chief Tibbs."

"I'm here," a growly voice said. "Why am I here at this ungodly hour?"

"They arrested one of my employees who was acting as a bodyguard."

The arresting officer explained the situation.

"Cut her loose," the chief said. "Her name and Sebastian's names stay out of any public reports."

"But, Chief…" the officer started to protest.

Chief Tibbs glared into the officer's face. The officer seemed to shrink a couple of inches and said weakly, "Yes, sir."

"Thanks, Chief."

Yaretzi ran toward Callie and hugged her when they walked into the lobby. Callie stood there with her arms hanging at her side for a minute and then lightly patted her on the back.

"You're not in any trouble, are you?"

Callie shook her head. "No. Everything is taken care of, including your stalker. When he gets out of the hospital, he'll go to jail, so you don't have anything to worry about."

"I still want you to stay with me and be my bodyguard," Yaretzi said.

Michael agreed and named a price that made Callie's eyebrows raise.

"Callie, are you interested?" Sebastian asked. He had a feeling he was about to lose his best bodyguard for a long time.

"Sure. It'll be interesting to go on tour with her. I'll get to see the country. The money is great, too. I can save it to put my kids through college."

"You don't have any kids," Sebastian said.

"I plan to, someday," Callie said.

It was late so he grabbed a room at the same hotel and then headed back home in the morning after breakfast and coffee. Instead of thinking about the situation with Callie, his mind was on Talia again.

He had really wanted to have sex with her, but his employees came first. His rule was that he always had their back.

Are we moving too fast? After all, she hasn't been back very long. We've gone out a couple of times, and she was willing, but if this is going to be a meaningful relationship, I don't want to rush anything.

He laughed at himself because he had never had these types of thoughts before. Her scent filled the cab of his truck and she had never been in his truck.

I am still wearing the same clothes as last night, so maybe that's it.

He was shocked to admit that he was looking forward to the next time they could hang out together. Sebastian hadn't felt that way about a woman before. He enjoyed women's company but hadn't ever craved it.

When he got back into town, Sebastian called Rory and invited him to lunch at Howlers'.

They took a table in the back and Sebastian briefed him on what he had found out about Kenneth. Then, he told Rory about what happened with Callie the night before.

"Are they going to press charges?" Rory asked. "Do you need my help?"

"Nah, the chief showed up and told the officer that neither of us would be charged and that our names were to be left out of any public records. Sometimes, it does help to know people and to be known."

"And, to know titbits of information that certain people wouldn't want to get out to the general public," Rory said.

"That also helps, although I would never blackmail anyone."

The waitress arrived with their cheeseburgers and fries.

"Hello, Elaine. How's life?" Rory asked.

"Excellent. I'm taking a couple of online courses in psychology. I like knowing how the mind words and why people do the things they do."

"You'll be great at that," Sebastian said.

They talked for a minute before she moved on to help other customers.

After wolfing down his cheeseburger, Sebastian said, "I've been spending a lot of time with Talia."

"That should make her happy. Everyone knew she had a crush on you way back then, although she tried not to make it obvious."

"Yeah, I knew she did, but I didn't think anything of it. She was just a little girl," he said. "Boy howdy, did she grow up."

"I noticed," Rory said. "So, are you two an item?"

"Not officially. Do people even go steady or any of that jazz anymore?"

Rory laughed. "I don't think that's what it's called. I think folks just say that they're dating exclusively."

"Gotcha. We haven't talked about that, but there is something about her that is magnetizing. Her scent is everywhere."

"That is a sign that she's your fated mate," Rory said.

Sebastian sighed. "I remember Zac talking about that, but I never put much stock in that. It's way too early to even think about that."

"Thinking has nothing to do with it, Little Brother. It's about how you feel and what your soul says. Savvy looked familiar to me the first time I saw her, even though I knew we hadn't met before. Her scent haunted me. Mom said it was because she was my mate in my past life and my soul recognized her."

"I think I'll just keep those thoughts to myself and we'll see where the relationship goes," Sebastian said.

"Have you slept with her yet?" Rory asked.

"Nosy, aren't you?" Sebastian laughed. "We were about to last night when Callie called. I could have cheerfully throttled her over the phone."

"I'm sure there will be other opportunities."

The conversation turned toward their next bike ride and then Rory's watch alarm beeped. "I have a client in half an hour. See ya later."

Sebastian was tied up at the office late every night for the next couple of nights, so he didn't get a chance to see Talia. He did text her to ask how her days went and just to let her know that he was thinking of her.

Saturday was the pack's picnic that celebrated the autumnal equinox. Talia's parents, Theo and Heidi, came back from the shifter world for the event. They greeted Sebastian warmly.

"Talia tells us that you've been looking out for her. We appreciate that."

"Of course. She's something special."

Theo looked at Sebastian knowingly and said, "Yes, she is, and you need to remember that."

Sebastian grinned. "Yes, sir."

Talia blushed but didn't say anything.

Sebastian and Theo talked about the shifter world and what Theo had been up to there. Theo had bought a motorcycle and was exploring it.

Talia and Heidi wandered over to where Savvy sat with her best friend, Beth, and Beth's daughter Taryn. The three of them were witches. Beth married Conner, who was a member of the pack. Taryn was also a wolf shifter. Beth's baby, Zane, was being spoiled by Cat. Drake was busy driving his Matchbox cars in the dirt.

Hollie and Owen, Sebastian's and Rory's parents were hanging out with them as well. Everyone was laughing and having a great time.

Sebastian and Theo joined the group in time to hear Hollie say, "I can't believe how much you changed. I know it's been six years, but all I can say is wow. It's like someone waved a magic wand over you."

"Bip, bip boppety boo." Talia laughed. "My fairy godmother visits every morning. You should see me between midnight and six in the morning."

Talia was welcomed home by all of the pack members. Many of them told her how glad they were that she had taken over the science classes. She was gracious with everyone.

At one point, Hollie pulled Sebastian aside and said, "I really like her. She's sweet and smart. The perfect match for you. Shall I start planning the mating ceremony now?"

"Mom, really?"

She laughed. "That girl has a lot of feelings for you. I won't tell you that she's fallen in love with you, but I will say she's working on it. Tread lightly with her heart if your intentions aren't for a relationship."

"I'm just waiting to see how it develops. Too soon to draw conclusions or make any promises."

Hollie grinned and nodded.

They were interrupted by the ceremony that ended the celebration. The setting sun was glorious as the sky was painted with gold, red, orange, and blue. The air became a little crisp. The pack members gathered in a circle around Zac and Olivia. The shifters undressed and folded their clothes neatly.

"Tonight, we honor the balance between light and dark, as day and night stand equal. It is a day of power, renewed strength, and good luck for our pack. We celebrate our lives and the coming fall."

Olivia stepped forward with a bowl full of berries and herbs mixed together. She sprinkled the mixture on the ground. "We give thanks to the Earth and her gifts to us."

Everyone shifted, raised their noses to the full moon rising in the east, and howled. Then, they ran through the forest as a pack.

It was exhilarating and Sebastian felt the pack's energy as the group became one entity. There were a couple of bears, a dragon, a tiger, and other shifters among them, as the fated mates weren't always found within the pack. A dragonfly, named Cassia, flew with Drake, Cat, and Rory, as she had become a part of their family. Cassia was Savvy's familiar. They ran to the river on the west boundary of their territory and then circled back to the humans and witches who didn't run with them but were no less a part of the pack.

Everyone shifted and dressed. After helping clean up the area, Heidi and Theo hugged Sebastian and Talia as they headed back to the shifter world.

Talia asked Sebastian if he wanted to go back to her place and hang out. He grinned and agreed.

They stepped inside the house and she locked the door and set the alarm. Then, he reached for her and pulled her close to him.