Chapter 126
Cecilia’s pov
“AHHH!” A collective scream tore from our throats as we scrambled backward, completely unprepared for what happened next.
And who wouldn’t be terrified? That massive dog lunging toward us looked ready to maim if not kill!
Even Levan, with all his athletic build and training, was so startled he nearly pushed Harper straight into the river.
I grabbed her arm just in time, spotting a crooked tree nearby.
Without thinking, I yanked Harper toward it.
“CLIMB!” I shouted, already hauling myself up onto the lowest branch.
Harper scrambled up behind me, while Levan and Nicole jumped down to the riverbank to hide. Complete chaos erupted in seconds.
“Would everyone please calm down!” Tang called out, his voice steady amid our panic.
But it was too late – we’d already scattered like frightened rabbits.
I clung to the tree branch, watching in horror as the snarling dog approached Tang, who stood calmly in place.
“Tang! RUN!” My voice cracked with panic. The beast was baring its teeth, ready to attack.
“Cecilia, don’t worry. It won’t bite me,” Tang replied, looking almost amused.
He turned toward the aggressive animal, its hackles raised and teeth gleaming. “Enough, sweetheart. Stop barking p>
The dog ignored him completely, barking even more ferociously, muscles tensing as it prepared to lunge.
Tang stepped forward and delivered what I can only describe as a gentle but firm “nudge” to the dog with his foot, followed by a pat on its head that carried a clear message. “Bark one more time and I’ll neuter you and feed your bits to the fish p>
The dog’s threatening growls faded into pitiful whimpers, and it dropped to a sitting position beside Tang’s feet.
Satisfied, Tang crouched and stroked its fur. “That’s a good boy p>
From our perches in the tree and by the riverbank, we stared in disbelief.
Did he just call that monstrous beast “sweetheart” and threaten a dog that shouldn’t understand human speech?
“Is… is that your dog?” Harper asked shakily, pointing a trembling finger at the now-docile animal.
I nudged her. “Tang came with us, remember p>
“Then why does it only listen to him?” Harper whispered. “Dogs don’t actually understand threats about their… manhood, do they p>
I pressed my lips together. It didn’t make sense.
Since when could harsh words tame an aggressive dog?
Tang stood and waved us down. “It’s safe now. You can come down from the tree and up from the river p>
None of us moved. What if the dog was only friendly toward him?
There was no way I was testing Tang’s “theory” on animal control. That beast looked fully capable of going for my throat in a heartbeat.
The commotion drew some attention – an old man watching from his porch, a curtain twitching in a nearby house. This personal disaster was now a modest public spectacle.
My cheeks burned. If clinging to this tree like a terrified squirrel wasn’t embarrassing enough, what happened next seared the moment into my memory forever.
The farmhouse door creaked open. Three men stepped out, their boots crunching on the gravel path. My eyes stayed locked on the snarling dog – I wasn’t stupid enough to look away. But I risked a quick glance upward, then back at the animal.
Recognition hit me like a physical blow.
Wait. Was that p>
My heart hammered against my ribs. I looked up again and froze completely. Pressed against the rough bark, I felt my terror transform into pure disbelief.
Had fear finally short-circuited my brain? Was I really seeing Alpha Sebastian here?
Harper’s voice cut through my shock, low and urgent. “Cecilia. Are you seeing what I’m seeing p>
“Unfortunately, yes p>
“Is this real p>
“Girl, I don’t know,” I muttered, my face still pressed to the tree. “Did we just step into some weird movie? You want me to check for a film crew p>
I heard her sharp intake of breath. My bad joke had done nothing to break the tension.
Alpha Sebastian stood there, brows furrowed as he observed me clinging to the tree.
He rubbed his forehead, looking somewhere between concerned and amused.
He approached Tang and lightly smacked the back of his head.
“Who the hell – ” Tang spun around, fist raised, then froze mid-motion. “Alpha! Boss p>
“How exactly did your protection detail end with her up a tree?” Alpha Sebastian asked, not bothering to question why we were here in the first place.
His attention was fixed on me.
Tang gave him an innocent look. “The dog came out of nowhere. They panicked. I turned around for one second, and suddenly they were climbing trees and jumping down riverbanks. I couldn’t get them to come down p>
Alpha Sebastian’s expression remained serious, but I had recovered enough of my senses to feel thoroughly mortified.
I was clawing at the tree bark so hard I might have been carving a hole into it.
And I could swear he was fighting back laughter. Yes, he was definitely laughing inside!
Alpha Sebastian instructed one of the men who had joined him to take the dog inside and secure it in a kennel.
Then he approached my tree, extending his hand toward me.
“Come down now. You’re going to break that branch p>
“The tree was already crooked!” I protested, my face burning red as I slowly began my descent. Going up had been easy in the adrenaline rush.
Coming down made me realize just how high I’d climbed.
I reached for his hand, and Alpha Sebastian effortlessly lifted me down, his strong arms steadying me. “Impressive tree-climbing skills. Very resourceful p>
“Please stop talking,” I groaned, covering my face with both hands.
“You should add that to your resume,” he continued, his shoulders now visibly shaking with suppressed laughter.
I knew it! He was enjoying this far too much!
From above, Harper called down,”Hey, Mr. Alpha, aren’t you going to carry me down too? How am I supposed to get down from here p>
Without turning around, Alpha Sebastian replied, “Just jump. It’s not that high p>
Harper laughed incredulously. “Wow, talk about playing favorites p>
Tang moved to help her. “Harper, jump and I’ll catch you p>
Meanwhile, Beta Sawyer helped Nicole and Levan up from the riverbank.
Author’s pov
Once everyone was safely on solid ground again, the group was invited into the yard.
The dog was already locked in a kennel – apparently, we’d interrupted his backyard guard duty. The whole crazy scene only lasted five minutes, but it felt like a lifetime. Pretty sure we’ll all be remembering that welcome committee for a while.
Cecilia made her way to a water spigot in the yard, splashing her face in a futile attempt to wash away her embarrassment.
“The way I was positioned on that tree… it wasn’t completely undignified, was it?” she asked Beta Sawyer as he handed her a towel.
Beta Sawyer considered her question for a moment, carefully selecting his words. “Well…It was… quite memorable, actually p>
Cecilia’s hope died on the spot.
Across the yard, Harper was enjoying a juicy peach offered by their host, seemingly recovered from the ordeal.
Alpha Sebastian approached, his curiosity evident. “What brings you all the way out here p>
“Just a countryside excursion,” Harper replied without missing a beat. “What about you? This seems like an unusual place for someone of your… position. Not exactly what I’d expect p>
“Visiting a friend,” Alpha Sebastian answered simply.
“What a coincidence to run into you here,” Harper remarked, both of them clearly engaged in a dance of polite pretense.
Tang was by the kennel, attempting to coax Levan into petting the now-docile dog, much to the young man’s visible distress.
Nicole tugged gently at Harper’s sleeve. “Sister, we should go to my uncle’s house now p>
“Yes, let’s do that,” Harper agreed, rising and tossing her peach pit into a nearby trash bin.
Cecilia had planned to slip away without further interaction with Alpha Sebastian, but he seemed intent on proper goodbyes.
He called her over to a shaded area.
“The countryside has its charms,” he said quietly, “but also its dangers. Snakes, insects, and other wildlife. Be careful p>
“Yes, Boss,” she nodded, acutely aware of his proximity.
His voice was gentle, almost intimate in the summer air.