Chapter 271
Cecilia’s pov
The next morning, Liam made breakfast. It was good.
Sebastian drove me to work again.
As we pulled into the company parking lot, fate decided I needed another run-in with Vice President Wiley.
Unlike our previous encounters, however, the tension had shifted.
Both of us regarded each other with surprisingly calm gazes.
“Good morning, Alpha. Miss Moore,” Wiley greeted us with an overly bright smile as he fell into step beside us.
I returned a polite smile. “Good morning, Mr. Wiley p>
Sebastian merely nodded, studying the older man with that slow, deliberate gaze that always made people squirm.”You’re awfully chipper for a Monday, Wiley. Did you have something… special for breakfast p>
Wiley’s smile twitched. “Uh…just coffee p>
I thought he was just caught off guard by Sebastian’s tone.
Later, thanks to Silver Peak’s unofficial rumor circuit, I’d find out that Wiley was secretly dating a twenty-year-old college student while his wife remained blissfully unaware.
Apparently, he’d gotten her an apartment, a car, and even pulled strings to get her parents jobs.
Last weekend, according to one very talkative intern, he’d attended her grandfather’s 70th birthday party and had the audacity to call the man “Grandpa p>
No wonder Sebastian’s innocent question left him looking like he’d just been caught sneaking out of a hotel room.
The three of us stepped into the elevator together.
Wiley, clearly desperate to change the subject, cleared his throat.
“Alpha, I’ve been making progress on those negotiations with Alpha Gavin and Alpha Xavier that you requested p>
“Good work,” Sebastian said with a nod.
I kept my expression neutral, but a thousand questions stirred beneath the surface.
Negotiations? I thought the loan agreements were already finalized.
What else could they possibly be talking about?
I stayed quiet. It wasn’t my place to ask.
Wiley exited the elevator first, casting one last nervous glance at Sebastian before the doors closed.
“Aren’t you curious about what I’ve asked Wiley to discuss with them?” Sebastian looked down at me, amusement flickering in his eyes.
“Not really,” I lied, shaking my head.
“Truly not curious?” he said, clearly enjoying himself.
I met his gaze evenly. “I figure when I need to know, you’ll tell me p>
Sebastian chuckled softly, a quiet sound that still somehow managed to feel intimate.
When the elevator doors opened, we stepped out together, and he said casually,
“It’s nothing complicated.Alpha Gavin and Alpha Xavier have been seeking investment from Silver Peak. I initially declined, but I’ve changed my mind.
“If there’s money in it, why not work with old enemies p>
I nearly tripped.
Sebastian wanted to invest in their projects?
The sudden shift in his stance hit me like a bucket of cold water.
It almost felt like he was trying to build trust with them. Maybe even form an alliance.
“You’ve gone quiet,” he said.
“I’m just… surprised,” I said honestly.
“Don’t be. You’ll understand why soon enough.”With that cryptic remark, he disappeared into his office.
I stood there for a moment, mind racing.
“Cecilia p>
Sawyer’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts as he walked over from his office.
Remembering yesterday’s awkwardness, I immediately felt a twinge of guilt.
“Sawyer, I’m sorry about yesterday. Are you… okay p>
He blinked. “Okay about what? I should be thanking you.
Yesterday I didn’t have to drive anyone home, and this morning Liam said I don’t need to swing by the penthouse either. It’s been amazing p>
I stared at him, caught off guard.
Sawyer grinned.
“Actually, when you get a second, can you check if this is a permanent arrangement p>
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Then finally managed, “Ask him yourself p>
I turned and headed toward my office, already fighting a smile.
Here I was, worrying about his feelings, and he was out here celebrating like he just got paroled.
That afternoon, Harper called.
Ironically, after I used her as an excuse last night with that made-up Korean BBQ story, she actually called to invite me out for the real thing.
I wanted to see her anyway. We hadn’t properly caught up since I got back from England.
Before agreeing, I called Sebastian to check if we’d be working late.
Once I got the green light, I texted Harper back and left work a little early.
I met Harper at K-Town BBQ, an all-you-can-eat spot with built-in grills and a whole lot of smoke and sesame oil. Even my clothes smelled like it afterward.
I slid into the vinyl booth across from her, already eyeing the bulgogi platter like it owed me money.
While we grilled the meat, I filled her in on everything that had gone down in England. She barely moved. Her chopsticks hovered midair, a strip of beef dangling from her tongs like she’d forgotten it existed. Her eyes didn’t blink much either.
I ate like I hadn’t seen food in a week.
I went through two plates of galbi and spicy pork, then washed it down with a cold local IPA the server said was “bold and citrusy.” It was from Boulder. He was right.
When I got to the part about the human-skin mask, I picked up a piece of grilled beef and waved it in the air for emphasis.
Harper flinched.
“Jesus Christ, Cece. That’s disgusting p>
I popped a slice of pickled radish into my mouth like it was popcorn.
“And then she started texting me photos of severed heads,” I added, reaching for my phone. “Still got them, if you’re in the mood to ruin your appetite p>
“Hard pass,” Harper said, pushing her plate away. “Your description alone is doing permanent damage p>
I shrugged and dropped more marinated short ribs onto her side of the grill.
“You need to eat. You can’t fight evil on an empty stomach. That’s how you end up being the first one to die in the movie p>
She stared at me like she couldn’t decide whether I was the final girl or the villain in disguise.
“This isn’t just ’fighting evil,’” she said. “These are serial killers, Cece. Psychopaths. Real monsters. What’s your plan, exactly p>
I sighed. “It’s not about wanting to fight. I’ve already been targeted. This isn’t optional p>
She paused, chewing on her lower lip. “You said this person isn’t Cici, but they felt familiar. Could it be someone from your past? Maybe someone you don’t really remember p>
“I’ve been racking my brain for days. People I’ve met, people I’ve ticked off… but nothing fits p>
“Well, damn.” Harper grabbed her tongs and paused. The grill was empty.
“Where the hell did all the meat go p>
I gave her the world’s most innocent face. She looked at me like I’d just eaten her dog.
After dinner, we decided to walk off the meal by wandering through the mall.
As we passed a high-end jewelry store, Harper tugged at my arm.
“My mom’s birthday is coming up. I want to get her something nice. Maybe a bracelet p>
“Let’s check it out,” I said, following her inside.
We were browsing the display case, comparing styles and price tags, when I noticed the salespeople suddenly perk up and turn toward the entrance.
Looked like someone important had just walked in.
Author’s pov
Meanwhile, in his apartment, Alpha Xavier drank alone.
He bought the place as a last-ditch attempt to win Cecilia back, but it felt cold and unfamiliar.
No matter how long he stayed, it would never be “home p>
But going back to the house they’d once shared? That was worse. That place was haunted… not by ghosts, but by memories that pressed in like walls.
And returning to Blood Moon Pack headquarters meant dealing with the “family council” and their relentless pressure to settle down. He had zero patience for that.
One second, he was brooding over Cecilia’s supposed pregnancy. The next, he was replaying Alpha Sebastian ’s oddly specific question.
Alpha Sebastian never talked just to talk. Every word had a purpose.
So did he know Maggie Locke was playing him? Pushing him toward a ring and her idiot of a daughter?
Had Cecilia told him about the Blood Moon Pack’s internal power plays?
But… why would Alpha Sebastian care about any of that?
[Unless… this has never been about me.
It’s her. It’s Maggie.Because of Moonveil Ascendancy p>
He set down his glass and grabbed his phone.”Gavin, I just sent you my location. Come over. We need to talk p>
“Is this about Cici?” Alpha Gavin asked.
“No…She’s made a mess I can’t clean up,” Alpha Xavier muttered. “It’s about the Shadow Pack.
And you care about the bigger picture. You’ll understand what’s at stake p>
“Fine,” Alpha Gavin said. “I’m on my way p>
Alpha Gavin ’d already been pulling strings for weeks, and at best, he was maybe seventy percent sure he could keep Cici off death row.
That was the best-case scenario.
Then she went and made it worse.
Now?There was no saving her.Not anymore.
He rubbed his face, exhausted, and stepped out of his room.
As he reached the stairs, he caught a glimpse of his parents heading out together.
It was 11 PM.
Where the hell were they going at this hour?
He moved fast, but by the time he made it to the front door, their car was already pulling out of the driveway.
He frowned, pulling out his phone to call his father p>
Then paused.
What if Maggie had come to collect her favor from the Shadow Pack?
He shoved the phone back into his pocket and turned toward his car.
One quick text to Xavier: [Something came up. Running late p>
Then he hit the gas, headlights cutting through the dark as he peeled out of the driveway.