Chapter 150
Cecilia’s pov
Alpha Yardley flashed that authoritative smile – the kind that said “I know everything” and made my stomach drop like a bad elevator.
“I know exactly which rumors are true, and which are not,” he announced, as if he were casually reading out the weather report instead of detonating my social life.
Oh, you know nothing, Alpha.
You’re just trying to make your son straight like it’s a DIY weekend project.
If the freaking Pack Alpha decided to go public with this mess, I was screwed.
I mean, one President Wiley breathing down my neck was already a full-time stress disorder.
Now I had to worry about Silver Peak’s Alpha jumping into the gossip pool too?
Was there a supernatural HR department I could file a complaint with? No? Cool.
Alpha Sebastian removed Cassian’s arm from his shoulder and sat down beside me, his movement fluid and graceful.
His eyes, cold and distant since he’d entered, finally softened.
“Stop teasing her,” he said, his voice warm as honey. “She’s shy. These pack rumors are already troubling her enough. If they keep spreading, she might resign p>
Every word denied the rumors.
And every single word… was making things infinitely worse.
The heat of his gaze made my cheeks flush crimson.
He called this an explanation?
With that look and that tone, even passing mountain lions would think he was scent-marking his territory!
Cassian flopped dramatically into the seat beside Alpha Sebastian, eyes brimming with theatrical betrayal.
“Sebastian, how could you?” he gasped. “You promised we’d rebel against pack traditions together. You said we’d grow old, fabulously gay, and infuriate your parents at every pack dinner p>
He threw a hand to his chest like a 19th-century widow mid-faint.
“But now – now Secretary Moore shows up and suddenly you’re… straight-curious? No! I object! This is emotional betrayal p>
He turned to me, eyes wide. “It’s either me or her – choose wisely p>
I blinked. Hard.
Wait. Was I… the other woman in a gay love triangle I never signed up for?
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one confused.
Alpha Yardley looked two seconds from combusting, eyes bugging and forehead shiny with rage.
“Don’t panic,” Zane Locke said smoothly. “Cassian knows better than to actually claim Sebastian. He’s just… expressive p>
Alpha Yardley was not comforted. He looked like he wanted to ship both of them to a remote cave with no Wi-Fi.
Cassian, meanwhile, was on a roll. “Come on, Uncle Yardley, we’re practically family already! Just think – Alpha Sebastian and I, one big, power-couple bloodline. I’d take excellent care of him p>
Alpha Yardley turned purple. Literally.
He grabbed a dish and launched it at Cassian.
Cassian dodged like a pro; the plate exploded against the wall.
Alpha Yardley surged to his feet, pure Alpha fury radiating off him. Zane Locke jumped in, hands up.
“Easy, Yardley. He’s been like this since birth. It’s not personal p>
“Keep him away from my son!” Alpha Yardley roared.
Then – because the universe clearly hated me – he turned to me.
“Secretary Moore, you cannot lose to a man. Fix things with Alpha Sebastian. Win him back p>
I stared, horrified. “Wait – we’re not even – “
“Nonsense. I can tell. Go get him. If you run into trouble, I’ll handle it p>
Alpha Sebastian leaned in, voice low.”With great power comes great responsibility,” he murmured. “I believe in you p>
Was I hallucinating? Was this real life?
I wasn’t a superhero.
Cassian sighed dramatically again and resumed eating, shooting me the occasional smirk between bites.
Zane Locke poured Alpha Yardley another drink. “Honestly, I just wanted to introduce her to Cassian. Had no idea she was Sebastian’s future mate p>
Alpha Yardley snorted. “Your nephew doesn’t even like women. Get him a boyfriend and keep him ten miles from my heir, and I’ll die a happy man p>
“Is Mr. Locke so enthusiastic about matchmaking p>
The polite yet chilly question came from Alpha Sebastian, his voice carrying that subtle Alpha edge that made everyone at the table straighten involuntarily.
Zane Locke pulled himself from his thoughts and looked at Alpha Sebastian.
Seeing his displeasure in the slight narrowing of his eyes, he explained, “I didn’t know she was your mate candidate. When I saw Secretary Moore in the courtyard earlier, somehow… she reminded me of my late wife’s profile. I was moved by the resemblance p>
Alpha Sebastian frowned, a dangerous glint entering his eyes.
I stared in confusion, feeling like I’d walked into the middle of a movie without seeing the first half.
Both Cassian and Alpha Yardley’s expressions sobered immediately.
Those few sentences had plunged the room into a silence so thick.
After an uncomfortable moment, Alpha Yardley cleared his throat. “People who look alike exist in this world. It’s not unusual p>
“Indeed,” Zane Locke nodded, sighing softly.
Alpha Sebastian’s lips curved into a faint, cold smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
I observed everyone’s expressions carefully, filing away every micro-reaction.
It seemed… there was quite a bloody story behind all this.
Author’s pov
After dinner, Cecilia and the group left the private room and made their way down the corridor toward the exit.
Near the restaurant’s elegant landscape garden, through a half-open window sat two figures.
Maggie Locke had arranged to meet someone here with her daughter, Xenia.
Across the ornamental lake, Xenia suddenly called out in excitement, “Mom, I see Dad and brother Cassian p>
A flash of calculating crossed Maggie’s eyes.
They came to Denver too? Weren’t they supposed to be in Australia?
She stroked her daughter’s smooth hair while looking outside at the approaching group.
When she spotted Cecilia walking at the back, her expression changed dramatically.
For a moment, she looked as if she’d seen a ghost – or perhaps more accurately, like she’d seen a ghost she had personally sent to the grave.
Xenia cupped her chin in her hands, oblivious to her mother’s reaction. “Mom, that guy looks so handsome. I like him p>
Maggie quickly composed herself, her fingers tightening almost imperceptibly in her daughter’s hair. “Do you like the one walking next to your brother Cassian p>
“Mm-hmm, he’s so cool, so handsome p>
Xenia nodded, her eyes wide with innocent admiration.
Beautiful as she was, Xenia had always been – well, let’s call it delightfully delayed. A few steps behind the rest of the world, mentally.
Maggie, of course, had never corrected this. Why would she?
A daughter who asked no questions and adored her mother like a living saint? That was a dream. A slightly creepy, codependent dream, but still.
Maggie doted on Xenia with the intensity of a woman who collected vintage dolls and never let anyone touch them.
She gave her everything she asked for – except agency. Independence was for people who didn’t know how to curate affection like a gallery exhibit.
She typically gave her whatever she wanted, cultivating dependence rather than independence. “That guy is just as disobedient as your brother Cassian. He’s no fun at all. How about Mommy finds you an obedient guy to play with p>
Xenia shook her head with surprising firmness. “No way! I want that guy p>
As mother and daughter spoke, the private dining room door opened with a soft click.
A man entered from outside, his dominance immediately filling the space.
Dressed in an impeccable suit that couldn’t quite hide the predator beneath, he was handsome with cold, brooding features that spoke of a man used to getting his way.
Maggie’s expression flipped like a switch. Her voice dipped into velvet mode, all honey and calculated charm.
“Alpha Xavier,” she purred, rising like a cat stretching before the kill. “Don’t look so grumpy. Honestly, you should be calling me ’Aunt Maggie’ – just like Cici does p>