Chapter 101
Sebastian’s pov
Cecilia’s lips parted like she wanted to say something, but no words came.
I expected her to brush it off. Instead, she surprised me.
She took a breath, steadying herself. “Alpha Sebastian… I’d like to track your location because I care about you,” she said—quiet, but steady.
That caught me off guard—in the best way.
Maybe it was rehearsed. Maybe not. But it sounded real enough.
Soren stirred in the back of my mind, pleased.
I smiled, this time more warmly. “I appreciate that. I really do p>
I pulled out my phone and handed it to her, no hesitation.
She took it carefully, her fingers brushing against mine.
There was something formal, almost reverent, about the way she lowered her eyes as she tapped through the settings.
Beside her, Yvonne all but squealed. “He’s totally into her p>
Tang didn’t comment, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
When Cecilia finished, she handed the phone back with both hands, like it meant something. “Thanks,” I said. “And if you ever need anything… just ask. Seems fair p>
She nodded, quiet again, her mind clearly drifting back to her friend’s situation.
Cecilia’s pov
The Wilson Tower was some distance from the hotel.
When I anxiously asked if we could go faster, Tang immediately transformed from careful driver to speed demon. He cut our estimated thirty-minute journey to fifteen minutes.
Even with traffic lights slowing us down, the speed was terrifying.
After one particularly aggressive drift into the parking area, Yvonne and I were both pale as ghosts.
“Fast enough?” Tang asked, turning back, clearly proud of himself.
My legs wobbled as I scrambled out of the car, immediately doubling over to empty my stomach in the nearest planter.
“Are you trying to kill us?” Yvonne snapped, swinging her designer purse at Tang’s head.
Despite her small frame, she put impressive force behind it.
Tang dodged easily, looking unrepentant until Alpha Sebastian fixed him with a cold stare.
The Alpha tapped his knuckle against Tang’s forehead in a light but meaningful reprimand.
“She asked if you could go faster, not if you could fly,” Alpha Sebastian said flatly. “You’ll pay any tickets yourself p>
He grabbed a water bottle and stepped out of the car, offering it to me as I crouched by the sidewalk.
“I’m fine,” I insisted, quickly rinsing my mouth. We couldn’t waste time on my queasy stomach when Harper might be in danger.
The building before us was unimpressive—about twenty stories of aging concrete and glass. Inside was even more depressing, with many vacant storefronts and a general air of neglect.
The location tracking had only shown that Harper was somewhere in this building. We’d need to search floor by floor.
We approached the building manager first—a middle-aged, heavyset man with suspicious eyes. Tang gave the guy a friendly nod and said, “Hey, sorry to bother you—I think I dropped my wallet somewhere around here. Any chance I could take a quick look at the security cameras? It’d really help p>
The manager looked skeptically from Tang to the rest of us waiting by the entrance—Alpha Sebastian in his immaculate suit, Yvonne in her designer dress, and me still in my formal attire from the reception.
His expression clearly said: Who do you think you’re fooling?
“Just tell me what you’re really here for,” the manager said firmly. “I can’t help if you’re not honest p>
“We’re looking for someone,” Tang said, casually rolling his shoulders—just enough to show off the muscle under his sleeves.
The manager blinked, then quickly nodded. “Uh—sure. This way p>
He led us to a tiny security room that looked like it hadn’t been used in years.
Dust on the monitors, a faint smell of stale coffee.
“Just a heads-up,” he said, a little uneasy. “Most of the cameras are down. Place doesn’t get much traffic, so… yeah, maintenance hasn’t exactly been a priority p>
When we checked the monitors, the situation was even worse than he’d suggested.
Most cameras showed nothing but static, including the crucial one at the first-floor elevator.
After scanning the few working feeds, we finally spotted Harper passing near one of the shops before disappearing around a corner.
“At least we know she’s here,” I said, relieved to have confirmation.
“We should split up,” Tang suggested. “Twenty-one floors won’t take long if we each take different sections p>
“Absolutely not,” Alpha Sebastian vetoed immediately. “No one searches alone p>
After my previous experiences, I strongly agreed.
The last thing I needed was to find myself in another dangerous situation without backup.
Alpha Sebastian turned back to the building manager, promising a substantial reward for information that might help us locate Harper quickly.
The manager perked up instantly, describing the building’s layout in detail.
The upper floors were once office space, with a few small companies still operating there.
Several floors had been converted to cheap apartments, though not many were occupied.
“Why would Harper come here?” Yvonne whispered, voicing the question we were all thinking.
I shook my head, equally puzzled. Harper was methodical and strategic; she wouldn’t come to a place like this without good reason.
Alpha Sebastian seemed to be considering something specific. “Why would she turn off her phone? That’s typically required in highly secure or private establishments. Is there anything like that here p>
I ran my fingers through my hair anxiously, trying to think.
The building manager’s eyes suddenly fixed on my wrist, where my obsidian bracelet caught the light. His expression changed to one of recognition.
Tang noticed immediately and clapped a hand on the man’s shoulder. “If you know something, say it p>
“Well, it’s just—what your friend said about phones reminded me,” the manager said, glancing at the black bracelet on my wrist. “That bracelet made me think of one of our tenants—kind of an eccentric. She’s on the eighteenth floor p>
I looked down at my bracelet, just a simple piece of obsidian I wore for peace of mind. “Eccentric how p>
“She calls herself a spiritual guide—Madam Amber,” the manager explained. “Does tarot readings, energy therapy, that sort of thing. She’s got strict rules, though: no phones, no jewelry, no talking once you’re in the room. Says it helps her clients focus p>
Yvonne raised an eyebrow. “If she’s such a big deal, why’s she working out of this place p>
The manager clearly took offense, but kept his tone polite. “She says this building has the right kind of… ambiance. Quiet, isolated. She likes the atmosphere—it helps her work p>
“Which floor?” I asked.
“Eighteenth p>
We headed to the elevator.
When the doors opened, we stepped into a dim hallway lit by reddish bulbs and thick with the smell of incense—probably sandalwood.
Just as we moved forward, a grotesque face with fake fangs suddenly loomed out of the haze.
“Fuck!” Yvonne yelped, instinctively grabbing the nearest arm—Tang’s—with surprising strength.
Tang laughed and stepped forward, pulling a carved wooden mask off the wall near the door.
“Relax,” he said, holding it up so she could see. “Just a weird decoration. Guess someone’s got a thing for creepy masks p>
Yvonne let out a shaky breath and released his arm. “Ugh, don’t do that. My heart’s still racing p>
He glanced at her, amused. “You’ve got a strong grip for someone wearing heels p>
“Adrenaline,” she muttered, brushing her hair back and shooting him a look. “Also, don’t judge the heels p>
“I wouldn’t dare,” Tang said with a mock salute.
Yvonne rolled her eyes but couldn’t help a small smile. Then she gave him a light shove on the shoulder. “Next time, you go first p>
Tang stumbled half a step back, laughing. “Noted. You scare easier than I thought p>
I glanced at Alpha Sebastian. His usual poker face had cracked just enough to show the hint of a smile.
But the moment passed quickly.
We had work to do. Harper was still missing, and this place—strange as it was—might hold answers.
The hallway stretched ahead, lined with odd artwork and more of those masks.
It felt like we were about to step into someone’s very personal idea of therapy… or something else entirely.