Chapter 121
Cecilia’s pov
The feeling that hit me was like a ton of bricks.
I couldn’t breathe for a moment as Alpha Sebastian ’s words hung in the air between us.
I forced out an awkward laugh and turned away, refusing to engage with him any further.
It all made sense now – he was upset about being set up with Miss Hazel, and somehow I’d become his designated punching bag.
His passive-aggressive tone on the phone earlier suddenly clicked into place.
With a quiet sigh, I noticed both Miss Hazel and her friend watching me curiously.
I managed to plaster on what must have been the most strained smile in history.
Alpha Sebastian didn’t push his little jab any further.
When I turned away, he did the same, facing forward again in his booth.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Tang and Beta Sawyer suddenly pretending the ceiling was fascinating. Real subtle, guys.
The restaurant door swung open, and Harper finally arrived.
She scanned the room until her gaze landed on our strange seating arrangement – and her expression went completely blank.
She looked like someone trying to solve quantum physics in her head, brow furrowed as she approached.
“Ms. Harper,” Alpha Sebastian called out, his voice dropping to that impossibly deep, magnetic tone that made heads turn.
Harper stopped mid-step, clearly caught off guard.
“Join us,” Alpha Sebastian invited, gesturing to his table.
Harper blinked rapidly. “Oh, I p>
I watched Miss Hazel’s eyes widen in shock. After being completely ignored by Alpha Sebastian all evening, seeing him actively engage with another woman was clearly the final straw.
Her eyes narrowed as she assessed Harper – tall, slender, makeup-free, dressed in a navy tracksuit with a slightly bored expression.
The contrast couldn’t have been more stark.
Miss Hazel had clearly spent hours perfecting her appearance only to be ignored, while Harper had just rolled in looking casual and immediately captured Alpha Sebastian ’s attention.
I could practically see Miss Hazel’s heart crumbling.
“Harper, over here!” Tang waved enthusiastically. “Come sit with us p>
With no other seats available and Tang’s eagerness, Harper relented and slid into their booth.
“You look terrible,” Tang observed. “What happened p>
Harper groaned. “Don’t even ask. I ate some watermelon on the highway and nearly died in the restroom. Did someone lace it with laxatives or what p>
“Speaking of watermelon,” Tang jumped in, “I once grabbed a piece from the fridge that had been sitting there for over a week. Almost didn’t make it out of the bathroom alive. Everything went black for a minute p>
“A week?!” Harper exclaimed. “You’re lucky you didn’t die, you idiot p>
The two of them launched into a detailed comparison of their food poisoning experiences.
I glanced at Miss Hazel, whose face reflected pure horror at their unfiltered conversation.
She kept darting glances at Alpha Sebastian, clearly expecting him to be disgusted.
Instead, his expression remained neutral, and he even added softly, “You should be more careful about what you eat. Take better care of yourself p>
Harper gave him a cool look. “Thanks for your concern, Alpha Sebastian p>
“What brings you to Boulder, Harper?” Alpha Sebastian asked, his tone surprisingly gentle.
Harper raised an eyebrow. “You should focus on your date, Alpha Sebastian. Don’t give people the wrong impression p>
Alpha Sebastian’s lips quirked. “Who told you I was on a date? Ah, must have been my troublesome secretary. She enjoys tarnishing my reputation. You shouldn’t believe everything she says p>
Despite his convoluted way of speaking, Harper caught on quickly.
“Not a date? Are you serious?” She glanced toward Miss Hazel.
Alpha Sebastian answered firmly, “Not a date p>
Harper’s entire demeanor shifted. “I should have known. You’re not that kind of wolf p>
Author’s pov
Miss Hazel watched their intimate whispering and the affectionate smile Alpha Sebastian gave Harper. Something in her finally broke.
She stood abruptly and walked out, her friend hurrying after her.
Once outside, Miss Hazel’s composure crumbled completely.
“How could he humiliate me like this?” she sobbed.
Her friend offered a few words of comfort before suddenly grabbing her phone.
After a quick search, she held the screen up to Miss Hazel’s tear-stained face. “I knew she looked familiar. That’s Cecilia Moore p>
Miss Hazel stared blankly.
Having only recently returned from studying abroad, she wasn’t up to date on Denver’s gossip.
She studied the photos and article on her friend’s phone, looking dazed. “This is all just rumors. Besides, Alpha Sebastian seems interested in the woman who just arrived p>
“Are you blind?” her friend scoffed. “Couldn’t you see how differently he acts around that secretary? He deliberately moved to sit behind her, turned to speak with her, and looked at her like he was about to devour her p>
“So… he likes her?” Miss Hazel felt increasingly dejected, realizing she’d been made a complete fool of.
Her friend sneered, “It’s not about ’like.’ She’s just pretty enough to catch his eye. Men only want one thing from women like that. She’s nothing but a temptress p>
With that, she marched back to the restaurant entrance and secretly snapped several photos.
“They won’t get away with making us look like fools!” she muttered, uploading the pictures to a private social media group for Denver’s elite women, along with a fabricated sob story.
Back inside the restaurant, Alpha Sebastian fixed his attention on Harper again.
“You came here with them?” he asked, nodding toward Cecilia’s table.
Harper was staring at the mountain of meat on their table with mild concern, but his question made her eyebrows arch.
The way he said THEM was particularly interesting.
After a moment’s consideration, she caught his meaning.
Suppressing a smile, she leaned in conspiratorially. “Yes, it’s their first date, so I tagged along to keep an eye on things. Can’t let her get hurt by another guy, you know p>
Alpha Sebastian ’s eyes turned arctic cold, like a Siberian winter. “How did they meet p>
“Oh, he’s my friend’s younger brother. He’s had a crush on her forever,” Harper improvised smoothly. “Since she’s single now, he pounced on the opportunity p>
“As her best friend, don’t you think you should discourage this?” Alpha Sebastian ’s voice was tight. “Is he reliable p>
“What’s there to discourage?” Harper shrugged. “They’re both adults who know what they want. Everyone deserves a sweet romance, don’t you think? Don’t you want that too p>
Alpha Sebastian ’s expression darkened to something that could have landed him a job as the Grim Reaper.
Harper was laughing hysterically inside. She found his jealousy utterly fascinating.
A glance passed between Tang and Sawyer, a silent conversation of raised brows.
Childhood friend? So this guy had fangs after all. This wasn’t a chance encounter; it was a calculated move in a much deeper game.
Meanwhile, Cecilia remained oblivious to the whispered conversation behind her.
She turned to call Harper over but froze when she met Alpha Sebastian ’s icy stare.
“Come with me,” he commanded, his expression severe.
“What I blinked in confusion. What had I done now?
Alpha Sebastian stood, clearly expecting immediate compliance.
With a sigh, I rose from my chair.
“Cecilia Levan stood up too, looking concerned.
One murderous glance from Alpha Sebastian had him dropping back into his seat like a stone.
“Alpha Sebastian, please don’t scare the kid,” I said, irritation creeping into my voice.
Alpha Sebastian ’s lips suddenly curved into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes:Defending this little boy already? How touching.