Chapter 0231

"Absolutely. I remember how much you've been wanting this haircut, so I booked the appointment yesterday." Sebastian moves swiftly to help me out of the truck, his fingers lacing with mine as we step into the salon.

A young she-wolf with bright eyes greets us immediately. "Alpha. Luna." She dips her head respectfully, her gaze lingering on my hair. "Your hair is stunning. That shade of white is incredibly rare."

She guides me toward the washing station, glancing at Sebastian. "Alpha, you're welcome to wait in the lounge."

He doesn’t budge.

"Or," she amends quickly, pointing to a chair nearby, "you can sit right there. I’ll position her beside you."

This time, he complies, though his eyes never leave me.

I recline as warm water cascades over my scalp. "Your hair is so thick," the stylist murmurs. "How much are we taking off today? Just a trim?"

"I want it short enough that I don’t sit on it anymore. It’s been getting tangled too easily, and it’s too heavy to put up. Maybe just past my waist?"

She works efficiently, rinsing and towel-drying before leading me to the chair beside Sebastian. "I can thin it out if the weight is still an issue," she offers.

Sebastian shakes his head before I can respond.

I smirk at him. "You like it this way?"

"Obviously. Unless you truly hate it, leave the thickness. I love the way it feels when I run my hands through it."

The stylist—Cassandra—sighs dramatically at his words. I catch her eye in the mirror. "You heard him. No thinning. Just shorten it."

Forty-five minutes later, my hair is sleek and freshly cut, falling just where I wanted. Sebastian stands behind me, his fingers combing through the strands. "Happy?"

"Much better. Still long, but lighter."

Cassandra beams. "I took off about six inches. It’ll grow back healthier now."

Sebastian handles the payment, and we head back to the packhouse. "Change quickly. I’ll take you to Gregory’s."

"Valeria could run me there."

"I don’t know when I’ll be free to pick you up later, so I’d rather drive you now and have someone bring you back." He hesitates. "You need your own car too. More independence."

"I don’t know how to drive."

He freezes mid-step, turning sharply. "What?"

I shrug. "My family fled when I was ten. The vampires took me at sixteen. Not exactly a lot of driving lessons in between. Honestly, riding in your truck was only the second time I’d been in a car since I was a kid."

His jaw tightens. "When was the first time?"

I don’t answer.

"Seraphina." His voice drops dangerously. "When?"

"When they shoved me into their trunk after capturing me."

A growl rips from his throat, raw and furious. I press against him immediately, my arms locking around his waist. "I’m safe now. But seriously, don’t buy me a car. I’d probably crash it into a tree."

"I’ll teach you." His tone leaves no room for argument.

I frown. He’s already drowning in responsibilities, especially with the looming vampire threat.

"Go change," he says firmly, cutting off my protest. "Gregory’s waiting."

I swallow my words. There’ll be time to argue later.