Cecilia’s pov
Of course it had to be Xavier.
I turned my head away from that nauseating face, feeling like the universe was playing so cruel joke on .
Was I being punished for sothing in a past life?
"What a coincidence," Xavier said when he realized I wasn’t going to acknowledge him.
I treated him like he was invisible, pretending to be absorbed in my phone.
My mind raced: This morning he might have legitimately spotted leaving my neighborhood if he happened to be nearby.
But now? There’s no way he’d skip work to lurk outside Silver Peak’s offices all day.
A chill ran down my spine. Had he installed a tracking device on my car?
Every ti I thought he’d finally leave alone, this man resurfaced like a bad penny.
Like so nightmare version of a werewolf who couldn’t take rejection.
Maybe having him "disappeared" was the only way I’d ever know peace.
Dr. Han erged from the back room and spotted Xavier.
"Sir, what seems to be troubling you today?" Dr. Han asked politely.
"My heart," Xavier replied with theatrical lancholy, staring at my ice-cold expression.
I slowly raised my head, my face a perfect mask of calm as I addressed Dr. Han. "Don’t rush on my account. Better treat him first. Too late, and you might need to call the morgue instead."
Dr. Han froze for a mont.
Then he sat down in front of and instructed to remove my shoe, placing my foot on a small leather stool.
He poured so dicinal alcohol into his palm and began massaging my ankle.
"This might hurt a bit," he warned.
"I’m fine, no problem," I answered bravely.
My bravado was imdiately shot down.
Holy shit... it hurt so badly!
I gripped my phone tighter, my breath slowing as I tried to manage the pain.
I never scread or shouted when in pain - instead, I went quieter, my expression more composed the worse it got.
Dr. Han, misinterpreting my stoicism as genuine tolerance, applied even more pressure.
In reality, I was on the verge of passing out.
" Gentler, please," Xavier suddenly interrupted, reaching out to stop Dr. Han’s hands.
I shot Xavier a withering glare. Who asked for his fake sympathy? Hypocrite.
"Dr. Han, will my foot be completely healed by next week?" I asked, deliberately ignoring Xavier’s intervention.
Dr. Han nodded. "If you minimize walking for a few days, it should be fine by next week. But you absolutely cannot twist it again. The area is already injured - another sprain could damage the bone. That would be serious trouble."
I smiled politely. "I understand. I’ll be careful."
The heart patient beside us suddenly chid in, "Why not just quit your job? When you’re healed, co back to Blood Moon."
"Does he even think before he speaks?" I said.
Dr. Han noticed the tension between us and wisely decided not to ddle.
After a while, he applied a dicinal compress and wrapped my ankle with a bandage. "Co back tomorrow. Four consecutive treatnts should do the trick."
"Thank you, Dr. Han." I expressed my gratitude, put on my shoe, and stood to pay.
Dr. Han had barely stated the price when Xavier swooped in and paid, his movent so quick it startled both of us.
I gave him a cold stare.
Then, turning to Dr. Han with a warm smile, I said goodbye and headed out.
"Cecilia..." Xavier followed, grabbing my arm.
I yanked away from his touch imdiately. "Mr. Green, please keep your hands to yourself. As for the treatnt you just paid for, I’ll transfer the money to you."
Xavier completely ignored what I’d said.
"Our old high school is right next door," he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. " Let’s take a walk there."
"I’m not going," I replied flatly, maneuvering around him toward my car.
Xavier moved faster, leaning against my car door to block .
"I was out of line this morning," he said, voice low and just a touch too polished. "I shouldn’t have said those things. I was jealous. Petty. I get that now. I’m not asking you to take back - just give one last drive, like old classmates. No pressure. After that, I’ll back off. For real this ti."
Uh-huh. Sure.
I’d heard this speech so many tis, I could’ve ghostwritten it.
Honestly, if this were a TV show, it’d be called: The Late-Stage Whining of a Washed-Up Ex. Season 5. Still no character growth.
But here’s the kicker - Xavier wasn’t just an emotionally constipated ex.
He was a full-blooded Alpha werewolf with a god complex and the patience of a toddler.
If he were easier to get rid of, I would’ve ghosted him into another dinsion by now.
I glanced down at my ankle - still sore, still wrapped - and then up at Xavier, who was radiating the kind of smug confidence only a man with Alpha energy.
All right. Two can play this ga.
"Here’s the deal," I said, arms crossed. "I can’t walk far. So we both take our own cars, drive in separately, do one lap around the school, and leave. You try to pull anything, and I’ll scream like you’re trying to murder . I’ll cry. I’ll collapse. I’ll call the cops, the neighbors, the mailman - hell, I’ll livestream it."
I smiled sweetly. "We both lose face, but I’ll survive the scandal. You? Not so much."
Xavier recognized I was negotiating with him.
I was pretending weakness while simultaneously threatening mutual destruction.
I was betting on his concern for appearances and hoping he’d know when to back down.
"We can drive in, but in my car," he countered.
"Absolutely not." I shook my head firmly.
Xavier retreated another step. "Then I’ll ride in your car. We’ll go in, take one lap, co back out, and you can drop here. I promise, once we’re done, I’ll leave."
"How about this - let’s invite soone else along. More people make it more fun," I suggested.
"I only want to be with you, just the two of us," Xavier insisted.
"Well, I prefer three people. Either we do it my way, or you can move aside," I stated firmly.
Xavier’s jaw tightened. " Rock-paper-scissors. Winner decides. If you still refuse after that, I’ll cover your mouth and carry you to my car. I guarantee you won’t get the chance to scream."
I clenched my fist.
After a few seconds of silence, I relented. "Fine. Winner decides."
I threw scissors. Xavier showed paper. I smiled triumphantly. " I win."
Xavier’s face darkened. "...Who could you possibly invite here?"
I was about to suggest Dr. Han, figuring I could compensate him for his ti.
"How about ?"
I turned.
There he was.
Sebastian.
Standing fifteen feet away, half-shadowed beneath the glowing barbershop sign, those rotating red-white-blue stripes casting soft light across his face.
His tall fra looked carved out of moonlight and vengeance, and his icy stare could’ve frozen a volcano.
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