Author’s pov
Alpha Sebastian slowly turned his head toward Hazel, who stood before him.
His brows were furrowed with dark clouds, his expression nothing like the polite warmth he’d shown during their arranged mating eting. Now he was wrapped in a layer of ice.
"Miss Hazel," he acknowledged coldly.
"It’s lovely to see you again," she replied.
Hazel had clearly noticed his frigid expression. She probably thought a friendly greeting might thaw his deanor.
But Alpha Sebastian’s face remained glacial.
He gave the barest nod of acknowledgnt before turning away. He didn’t invite her to sit, didn’t offer even a single pleasantry—he simply left her standing there, completely ignored.
Hazel was instantly flushed with embarrassnt.
She couldn’t leave, yet staying seed impossible when he clearly had no intention of welcoming her.
"Alpha Sebastian..." she called softly.
Alpha Sebastian didn’t acknowledge her.
Hazel’s pretty face gradually reddened with humiliation.
Her friend, who had accompanied her, stood frozen in confusion. Wasn’t this supposed to be a date? How could he be completely ignoring her?
The two won stood awkwardly before the seated man as other diners began to stare.
Tang and Beta Sawyer looked at Miss Hazel with sympathy but dared not intervene.
Cecilia’s pov
I strained my ears to listen.
But the more I heard, the less I understood. Why was he being so cold to Miss Hazel? Wasn’t this their date?
From what I’d learned about Alpha Alpha Sebastian these past weeks, he wasn’t soone prone to mood swings. Quite the opposite—he was unnervingly stable, never letting his emotions show on his face.
"Alpha Sebastian, may we sit down?"Miss Hazel’s friend finally asked, unable to bear the awkwardness any longer.
Alpha Sebastian didn’t even grant her a glance.
"There’s no space," he stated, his voice flat and final.
Miss Hazel and her friend stood frozen, clearly not used to being dismissed so coldly.
"Then again—" he cut back in, turning slowly as if reconsidering. A sliver of hope lit in Miss Hazel’s eyes.
"If you’re that set on sitting in this section," he went on, tone almost conversational, "my secretary is seated over there. You’re welco to join her."
My eyes snapped wide. Miss Hazel’s gaze swung toward .
Silence fell—heavy and thick. No one moved. No one spoke.
The only person unaffected was Alpha Sebastian, who watched it all unfold with detached amusent.
I was furious, ntally screaming: What is WRONG with him?! He’s completely lost his mind!
Miss Hazel and her friend looked confused: ...what...why...?
The air turned so awkward that even you could cut it with a knife.
Typically, when a man behaves this terribly during a date, the woman should imdiately walk away.
But Miss Hazel suddenly shed her embarrassnt, smiled graciously and said, "That sounds fine."
She walked over to my table and sat down.
Her friend followed suit.
All four seats were now occupied.
Levan and I watched in disbelief as they smoothly took seats without even asking if we minded.
But unlike Alpha Sebastian, I wasn’t ntally disturbed, nor was I like Miss Hazel who indulged such behavior.
I took a subtle deep breath and gave Miss Hazel a friendly smile. "Miss Hazel, we’re actually waiting for soone else. If you prefer this area, we can find another table."
I stood up, and Levan followed my lead.
A delicate white hand touched my arm. "Please, let’s all sit together."
The voice carried a slight nasal quality.
I looked up to see Miss Hazel’s reddened eyes pleading with .
Though I wasn’t one to be walked all over, I couldn’t resist a beautiful woman looking so helpless. Perhaps Miss Hazel wasn’t spineless—maybe she simply didn’t know how to exit gracefully and didn’t want to flee in humiliation.
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to sit together for a while. Harper wasn’t back yet anyway.
I sat back down.
Author’s pov
Alpha Sebastian watched from his booth, eyes dark and unreadable.
Beta Sawyer slid the nu toward Tang. "Your turn."
Tang flagged down a waiter. He ordered ribeye, porterhouse, filet mignon—nothing but at. Not a single green thing.
Alpha Sebastian’s phone buzzed. He checked the screen. "Mother."
"Have you t Miss Hazel?" Luna Regina’s voice chirped through the receiver.
Alpha Sebastian stood up slowly.
Tang and Beta Sawyer thought he was stepping out for privacy. Instead, he just moved one booth over—and sat right behind Cecilia.
Back to back.
So close she could feel the heat from his body.
Now his mother’s voice carried perfectly. Cecilia couldn’t avoid hearing it if she tried.
"Yes, I’ve t her," Alpha Sebastian said, tone flat.
"Wonderful! I was worried you’d miss each other. Get to know her a bit. Didn’t you say you liked won with healthy appetites? Miss Hazel can put away two steaks in one sitting!"
"I prefer soone who could devour an entire boar."
The line went quiet. His mother’s cheer evaporated.
"But you two seed so compatible last ti. I thought you liked her."
"Next ti, maybe give a heads-up." Alpha Sebastian shifted slightly. "Your little stunt sparked so wild office gossip. Caused quite the headache."
Cecilia went rigid. Was he talking about her?
Luna Regina finally caught her son’s icy tone. "I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t think it through. Next ti—"
"There won’t be a next ti. We’re done with arranged etings."
"But you—"
"Don’t worry. I won’t die alone. I’ll find my own mate. You just have to wait."
His words were gentle, but his aning was stone.
Luna Regina wanted to argue, to defend Hazel—but she held her tongue. Pushing him now would only backfire.
He’d always been her most steady, reliable son.
But when he turned cold? He was downright terrifying.
On her end, Alpha Yardley shot her a look that scread, I told you so.
Frustrated, Luna Regina pinched his arm.
The call ended.
The air in the restaurant grew thick.
Hazel’s face burned. She’d begged her mother for this second chance. She really thought he didn’t dislike her—that his gentle manners ant sothing. How could she have known he’d be so brutally cold?
He’d moved seats just so she’d overhear.
Damn, Cecilia thought.
A triple kill. He’d called out her gossiping, shut down Hazel, and put his mother in her place—all in one conversation.
Brutal. Absolutely brutal.
"Cecilia."
That voice—cold and sharp—made her flinch. She turned nervously. "Y-yes, Alpha Sebastian?"
He let the silence hang for three long seconds.
"You wished a good weekend," he said, his voice dropping to a level only she could hear. "Looks like you started your own private celebration without . Feeling generous enough to share the joy?"
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