Chapter 267
Cecilia’s pov
I fell silent for a few seconds.
Originally, I’d planned to ease into the conversation. I was planning to break it to him gently.
But clearly, Sebastian needed something more jarring to snap him back to reality.
I pulled out my phone, found the photo, and shoved the screen right in his face.
No warning. Just impact. If this didn’t shake him, nothing would.
“Severed heads?” Sebastian didn’t even flinch.
He simply leaned back and pushed the screen away from his face like it was mildly offensive, not grotesque.
I stared at him, stunned.
Was he broken? These were actual human heads. Who reacts like that?
“It’s them,” he said calmly, eyes narrowing as he studied the image. His tone shifted.
“Dick. The girls. Belinda’s people p>
“Did you get this today p>
“Around ten last night, actually p>
“Last night?” His brows drew tight. “Why didn’t you call me immediately p>
“That’s not even the point,” I said, trying to stay calm. “This wasn’t just some warning. It was personal. They’re coming for me, Sebastian. Me p>
Saying it out loud made it more real. More terrifying.”I’m scared, Sebastian. I really am p>
It felt like giving up ground, admitting that. But I wasn’t going to pretend I was fine anymore. Not after that photo.
“Come here,” Sebastian said softly, reaching for me.
He tried to pull me closer by the waist.
“We’re at work,” I reminded him, gently removing his hand.
“I didn’t come in here for a hug. I came in to warn you. We can talk more later p>
I snatched up my phone and turned on my heel, heels clicking as I left the office.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of meetings, emails, and numbers I couldn’t bring myself to care about.
No time to talk. No time to breathe. Maybe that was a good thing.
By noon, a few girls from the secretarial department invited me to grab lunch at a new place down the street.
With my afternoon calendar miraculously empty, I agreed to go.
Whatever was happening in my life, I still needed to eat.
We settled at a long table in a trendy little restaurant, the kind with mismatched chairs and overpriced iced tea.
Halfway through the meal, my phone buzzed.
Mom.
I stood up a little too fast.
“Sorry, I need to take this,” I said, already stepping away from the table.
“Mom,” I answered quietly.
“Is your cold any better?” Her voice came through with that warm, practiced concern only mothers can pull off.
“Yeah, much better. I’m back at work today p>
“Back at work she echoed.
Her voice wasn’t accusing. Just… loaded. Like the words were carrying more weight than they should.
Silence stretched between us.Neither of us wanted to be the one to bring it up.
Meanwhile, behind me, the secretarial staff had smoothly shifted from office chatter to full-blown gossip about the executive team.
At Silver Peak, the secretarial team knew everything.They doubled as HR and the rumor mill.Nothing escaped them, whether it happened in the boardroom or the basement.
“Did you hear? The Alpha Sebastian ’s mother is looking for the woman who saved her,” one of them whispered, voice just barely hushed.
“What woman?” another asked.
“I know this one! She nearly got into some accident at a gala event p>
“Right! And this stunning, well-connected girl swooped in and helped her out. Alpha Sebastian ’s mother is apparently obsessed with her now and wants to p>
“Shh! Shut up, Cecilia is right there p>
“Change the subject. Talk about… spreadsheets or something p>
Their voices faded in and out, but I didn’t need every word. I got the gist.
The Luna Regina. A gala. A beautiful, well-bred mystery girl.
I almost laughed.
Of course. One Amara exits stage left, and another heiress steps in to audition. Anyone but me.
“That’s Sebastian’s mother they’re talking about, isn’t it?” My mother’s voice came through the phone, suddenly cold.
“Yes,” I said tightly.
“And she prefers… what? Werewolf elite bloodlines? High society types p>
“I suppose so p>
I didn’t have any illusions about becoming a Black.
Luna Regina wanted something clean and perfect.
A Luna with pedigree. Someone who could show off a family crest and seal political deals.
Before, that had just stung a little.
But now?
My mom had heard that same conversation.
And she knew about me and Sebastian.
Yeah. That made my stomach twist.
“You haven’t broken things off with him, have you?” Mom’s voice was calm.
“No, I mean… yes. We’ve already talked. It’s done p>
I said it too quickly. Like I’d rehearsed it. And Mom definitely noticed.
“And your job p>
“It’s a job, Mom. We’re adults. We can keep our personal lives out of the office.” I tried to sound professional. Like none of this bothered me.
There was a pause.
“Alright,” she said eventually. “I need to go p>
I had no idea if she bought it or not.
“I’ll visit you and Dad soon, okay p>
She hung up without answering.
When I returned to the table, the secretarial team went quiet.
Not subtly. Like, sitcom-level awkward. Forks paused mid-air.
They knew I’d heard them.
“Why so quiet all of a sudden?” I asked lightly, picking up my fork again.
“We didn’t mean anything by it, Cecilia. Please don’t take it personally p>
Someone added, “The Luna has her views, but the Alpha might see things differently p>
I smiled like it didn’t touch me.”It’s fine. You’re not wrong. If you hadn’t said it, someone else would’ve p>
No sense in pretending I hadn’t heard. Better to defuse it than make it worse.
The group visibly relaxed, murmuring praise for my “grace under pressure p>
As they resumed their chatter, I tuned them out and let my thoughts spiral.
Who exactly was this so-called mystery woman who “saved” Luna Regina?
If she really came from a wealthy, influential family, wouldn’t Luna Regina already know who she was?
Why the secrecy? Why the suspense?
Unless… there was no rescue.
Maybe the whole thing was staged.
Another one of Luna Regina’s schemes to pair him off with someone she handpicked.
This time, she added a little emotional twist.
A fake life debt, just to sell the story.
Not a formal match, obviously. Just a “thank-you” dinner.
With someone from a pure werewolf line. How convenient.
Sebastian would never agree to an arranged mating.
But a woman who saved his mother’s life? That’s harder to turn down. Gratitude was a weakness even the strongest people couldn’t always escape.
I hated that it bothered me.
The night Sebastian left to help his mother, I understood. She’s his family. That’s not up for debate.
But this?This felt like weaponized manipulation, and I was tired of playing the side character in someone else’s drama.
After lunch, I went back to my office and laid down on the couch, hoping to catch a few minutes of sleep.
Left the lights on. Blinds open.
No shadows today. I wasn’t about to risk it.
I cracked one eye open when I heard a knock, then the door opened.
Sebastian stepped in.He sat on the edge of the couch and gently squeezed my leg.
“Move in with me,” he said. “You’ll be safer there p>
I snorted. “Nice try. But given your mom’s latest matchmaking plot, this is not the moment to move your very human secretary into your private den p>
I gave him a sharp look.
“Be a good son, Sebastian. Don’t ruin the fantasy your mother’s trying to script p>