Chapter 24
Sebastian’s pov
I finished my meal at the Peninsula Hotel’s restaurant but didn’t rush to leave. Instead, I remained seated, scrolling through my phone.
Something caught my attention, drawing a rare smile from me. “She’s got nerve,” I remarked, my deep voice carrying a hint of admiration.
Beta Sawyer, standing beside me, peered over my shoulder and offered his assessment, “More drama than any TV show. This Cecilia has courage and cunning p>
“People act on television. She’s fighting for her life,” I commented casually.
After watching a bit more, I tucked my phone away and stood to leave. In the elevator, after Beta Sawyer had already pressed the button for the basement level, I asked, “Since it’s so entertaining, want to catch the live version p>
Beta Sawyer blinked in surprise. Yes, absolutely p>
The kind of ’yes’ that really wasn’t a choice.
Cecilia
Back in the banquet hall, Dora stared at Cici like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
She never expected Cici to sell her out like this.
“No, no, that’s not what happened,” Dora stammered. “I didn’t force her. She said she had a way to make Cecilia sign the settlement agreement, so I… I arranged for Cecilia to come to the hotel. But I didn’t know she would go that far! I thought they would just scare her a little to make her sign. I only wanted her signature on that agreement p>
Her panicked explanation basically admitted she was involved.
Meanwhile, Cici tearfully countered, “How could you say that, Luna Dora? You bitched to me about how greedy Cecilia was, jacking up her demands from 10 million to 50 million. I felt sorry for you and for Xavier, so I helped! You were afraid Xavier would be pissed at you, so you asked me to contact those people p>
“I’m not lying. Luna Dora, for Xavier’s sake and mine, please just admit it,” Cici insisted, her tears flowing right on cue.
Dora looked like she might have a heart attack right there.
The White family, finally getting the picture, didn’t bother with right or wrong—they just wanted to help Cici dodge the blame. They collectively threw Dora under the bus, going on about how inappropriate it was to involve a young woman in such matters.
All hell broke loose as Dora and the Blood Moon Pack began going at it with the Shadow Pack.
The guests were eating this up. They had underestimated just how juicy this drama would be—each wave more shocking than the last, twist after twist, non-stop intensity.
I was surprised too. I never expected Cici to suddenly turn on her future mother-in-law, watching them rip each other apart like wolves fighting over the last scrap of meat.
I glanced over to see Xavier’s reaction. His face had frozen into a mask of ice, as if a thick layer of snow had covered his features, choking him.
For someone so image-conscious, he must be completely crushed inside.
This was payback for his betrayal!
“Cecilia, I apologize to you,” Cici’s fake remorse drew my attention back. “For your injuries, for your illness—I’ll pay for all your treatment! With today’s medical advances, even AIDS might be treatable p>
I turned to look at her as she wiped away crocodile tears, putting on a show of regret and begging for forgiveness.
But I could still see the malicious gleam in her eyes.
She didn’t care about being exposed for her crimes or backstabbing her future mother-in-law. All that mattered was spreading the lie that I had been violated and infected with AIDS.
Pure evil!
“Ha I let out a cold laugh. “First, I don’t forgive you—I’ve already called the police. Second, sorry to burst your bubble, but last night, someone rescued me. Your hired scumbags didn’t succeed. I won’t get sick, and I won’t die. But you! You will definitely do time p>
Cici froze. The mask of remorse, sorrow, and apology cracked and fell away piece by piece, revealing the dark, ugly core beneath.
Xavier’s eyes brightened. He rushed to my side. “Really? Is that the truth p>
I didn’t even look at him.
Seeing Xavier’s reaction, Cici’s voice went shrill—like nails on a chalkboard.
“That’s bullshit!” she snarled. “That hotel is locked down tight. The room was way in the back—no one would’ve found you! Who could’ve saved you? Who would even care? What, some knight in shining armor sent from the Goddess herself p>
I met her fury with calm steel.
“If you insist on calling him a knight,” I said softly, “then yes—he felt like one p>
His scent had grounded me. The warmth of his voice, the way he told me I was safe p>
“I don’t buy it,” Cici hissed, eyes wild now. “This person doesn’t exist. You’re just lying so Xavier won’t think you’ve been… ruined p>
I laughed—cold and cutting.
“I don’t need Xavier to think anything. And if something had happened to me, the ones who’d be dirty wouldn’t be me. It would be the ones who did it—and the one who sent them p>
Cici flinched. Just slightly. But I saw it.
Her mask slipped for half a breath.
Then came the rage.
“Enough of this holier-than-thou crap,” she snapped. “You say someone saved you? Fine. Prove it. Call him out. Bring your ’knight’ into the light. Let everyone see who this so-called savior is p>
Her words echoed through the ballroom like a challenge.
And in that moment, the crowd leaned in—dying for a name.
I remained silent.
I couldn’t reveal Sebastian’s identity. A man of his status wouldn’t want to be dragged into this shitshow. How could I repay his kindness by causing him trouble?
“Can’t say anything now? I knew you were full of it!” Seeing my silence, Cici became increasingly aggressive.
The light in Xavier’s eyes began to dim again.
He made no move to stop Cici’s interrogation because he, too, wanted to know p>
“Knight might be an exaggeration, but I did indeed rescue her p>
A rich, composed voice rang out from the back of the crowd.
Everyone turned in unison.
Only then did we notice an exceptionally handsome man who had entered without anyone noticing. His bearing, his stature—absolutely flawless.
Someone figured out who he was first, exclaiming in a low voice, “It’s Alpha Sebastian p>
“Which Alpha Sebastian p>
“How many Alpha Sebastians do you think there are? Are you brain-dead p>
“Holy shit, the one from the Silver Peak Pack! What’s he doing here… Wait, what did he just say p>
The banquet hall went nuts.
Alpha Sebastian would never show up at an event like this.
And yet—there he was.
The man every Alpha feared and every council watched. The one whose bloodline carried weight older than most packs in this city. Calm. Controlled. Dressed in black, like danger in an expensive suit.
He stood at the top of the stairs, eyes sweeping the room with the kind of cold detachment that made even high-ranking wolves lower their gaze.
Then his gaze landed on me.
And didn’t move.
The whole vibe shifted. The crowd went dead quiet.
He wasn’t here for business.
He wasn’t here for Xavier.
He was here—for me.
My heart stopped.
Sebastian had broken down doors to save me last night. And now he’d walked into enemy territory, in front of every blue-blooded family… and looked at me like I was the only one who mattered.
I felt everyone staring. Whispers spreading like wildfire.
So he was the one.
The so-called “knight p>
Cici had never met Sebastian personally, but she knew of him. Everyone did. The moment she recognized him, her face went white, then twisted with rage. All her scheming collapsed. All that was left was fury.
Her gaze snapped to me, poisonous and unblinking.
I could read her mind:
[Why did I survive?
I was supposed to disappear, to be destroyed p>
But instead, I had walked back into this room—bleeding, bruised, and with Alpha Sebastian having my back.
This complete reversal shocked her.
Sebastian walked down the steps with purpose. Each movement was unhurried, yet every Alpha in the room instinctively got out of his way.
I swallowed hard, pulse racing.
He stopped in front of me—close enough that I felt his commanding presence settle over me like a protective shroud.
I lifted my chin, refusing to shrink beneath the attention.
“Alpha Sebastian,” I said quietly, my voice steadier than I expected.
His eyes met mine.
And for a moment, the world fell away.
“I was just eating here,” Sebastian explained casually, as if he were truly just a passerby who had wandered in after a meal. “I saw the chaos and decided to check it out p>
He stood with one hand in his pocket, his gaze sweeping across the room.
Something about his relaxed posture created an overwhelming aura of dominance. Every wolf in the room could feel the power of the Alpha radiating from him—even Xavier unconsciously straightened his posture in response.
My heart suddenly began to pound.
What was this strange feeling washing over me? It felt like recognition, like something reaching out to a part of me I hadn’t known existed.
I watched as Sebastian’s piercing eyes landed on Cici, and I could swear I saw her physically shrink under his gaze.
The whole game had just changed.