Cecilia’s pov
I fell silent for a few seconds.
Originally, I’d planned to ease into the conversation. I was planning to break it to him gently.
But clearly, Sebastian needed sothing more jarring to snap him back to reality.
I pulled out my phone, found the photo, and shoved the screen right in his face.
No warning. Just impact. If this didn’t shake him, nothing would.
"Severed heads?" Sebastian didn’t even flinch.
He simply leaned back and pushed the screen away from his face like it was mildly offensive, not grotesque.
I stared at him, stunned.
Was he broken? These were actual human heads. Who reacts like that?
"It’s them," he said calmly, eyes narrowing as he studied the image. His tone shifted.
"Dick. The girls. Belinda’s people."
"Did you get this today?"
"Around ten last night, actually."
"Last night?" His brows drew tight. "Why didn’t you call imdiately?"
"That’s not even the point," I said, trying to stay calm. "This wasn’t just so warning. It was personal. They’re coming for , Sebastian. ."
Saying it out loud made it more real. More terrifying."I’m scared, Sebastian. I really am."
It felt like giving up ground, admitting that. But I wasn’t going to pretend I was fine anymore. Not after that photo.
"Co here," Sebastian said softly, reaching for .
He tried to pull closer by the waist.
"We’re at work," I reminded him, gently removing his hand.
"I didn’t co in here for a hug. I ca in to warn you. We can talk more later."
I snatched up my phone and turned on my heel, heels clicking as I left the office.
--
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of etings, emails, and numbers I couldn’t bring myself to care about.
No ti to talk. No ti to breathe. Maybe that was a good thing.
By noon, a few girls from the secretarial departnt invited to grab lunch at a new place down the street.
With my afternoon calendar miraculously empty, I agreed to go.
Whatever was happening in my life, I still needed to eat.
We settled at a long table in a trendy little restaurant, the kind with mismatched chairs and overpriced iced tea.
Halfway through the al, my phone buzzed.
Mom.
I stood up a little too fast.
"Sorry, I need to take this," I said, already stepping away from the table.
"Mom," I answered quietly.
"Is your cold any better?" Her voice ca through with that warm, practiced concern only mothers can pull off.
"Yeah, much better. I’m back at work today."
"Back at work..." she echoed.
Her voice wasn’t accusing. Just... loaded. Like the words were carrying more weight than they should.
Silence stretched between us.Neither of us wanted to be the one to bring it up.
anwhile, behind , the secretarial staff had smoothly shifted from office chatter to full-blown gossip about the executive team.
At Silver Peak, the secretarial team knew everything.They doubled as HR and the rumor mill.Nothing escaped them, whether it happened in the boardroom or the basent.
"Did you hear? The Alpha Sebastian ’s mother is looking for the woman who saved her," one of them whispered, voice just barely hushed.
"What woman?" another asked.
"I know this one! She nearly got into so accident at a gala event!"
"Right! And this stunning, well-connected girl swooped in and helped her out. Alpha Sebastian ’s mother is apparently obsessed with her now and wants to..."
"Shh! Shut up, Cecilia is right there."
"Change the subject. Talk about... spreadsheets or sothing!"
Their voices faded in and out, but I didn’t need every word. I got the gist.
The Luna Regina. A gala. A beautiful, well-bred mystery girl.
I almost laughed.
Of course. One Amara exits stage left, and another heiress steps in to audition. Anyone but .
"That’s Sebastian’s mother they’re talking about, isn’t it?" My mother’s voice ca through the phone, suddenly cold.
"Yes," I said tightly.
"And she prefers... what? Werewolf elite bloodlines? High society types?"
"I suppose so."
I didn’t have any illusions about becoming a Black.
Luna Regina wanted sothing clean and perfect.
A Luna with pedigree. Soone who could show off a family crest and seal political deals.
Before, that had just stung a little.
But now?
My mom had heard that sa conversation.
And she knew about and Sebastian.
Yeah. That made my stomach twist.
"You haven’t broken things off with him, have you?" Mom’s voice was calm.
"No, I an... yes. We’ve already talked. It’s done."
I said it too quickly. Like I’d rehearsed it. And Mom definitely noticed.
"And your job?"
"It’s a job, Mom. We’re adults. We can keep our personal lives out of the office." I tried to sound professional. Like none of this bothered .
There was a pause.
"Alright," she said eventually. "I need to go."
I had no idea if she bought it or not.
"I’ll visit you and Dad soon, okay?"
She hung up without answering.
--
When I returned to the table, the secretarial team went quiet.
Not subtly. Like, sitcom-level awkward. Forks paused mid-air.
They knew I’d heard them.
"Why so quiet all of a sudden?" I asked lightly, picking up my fork again.
"We didn’t an anything by it, Cecilia. Please don’t take it personally."
Soone added, "The Luna has her views, but the Alpha might see things differently."
I smiled like it didn’t touch ."It’s fine. You’re not wrong. If you hadn’t said it, soone else would’ve."
No sense in pretending I hadn’t heard. Better to defuse it than make it worse.
The group visibly relaxed, murmuring praise for my "grace under pressure."
As they resud their chatter, I tuned them out and let my thoughts spiral.
Who exactly was this so-called mystery woman who "saved" Luna Regina?
If she really ca from a wealthy, influential family, wouldn’t Luna Regina already know who she was?
Why the secrecy? Why the suspense?
Unless... there was no rescue.
Maybe the whole thing was staged.
Another one of Luna Regina’s sches to pair him off with soone she handpicked.
This ti, she added a little emotional twist.
A fake life debt, just to sell the story.
Not a formal match, obviously. Just a "thank-you" dinner.
With soone from a pure werewolf line. How convenient.
Sebastian would never agree to an arranged mating.
But a woman who saved his mother’s life? That’s harder to turn down. Gratitude was a weakness even the strongest people couldn’t always escape.
I hated that it bothered .
The night Sebastian left to help his mother, I understood. She’s his family. That’s not up for debate.
But this?This felt like weaponized manipulation, and I was tired of playing the side character in soone else’s drama.
After lunch, I went back to my office and laid down on the couch, hoping to catch a few minutes of sleep.
Left the lights on. Blinds open.
No shadows today. I wasn’t about to risk it.
I cracked one eye open when I heard a knock, then the door opened.
Sebastian stepped in.He sat on the edge of the couch and gently squeezed my leg.
"Move in with ," he said. "You’ll be safer there."
I snorted. "Nice try. But given your mom’s latest matchmaking plot, this is not the mont to move your very human secretary into your private den."
I gave him a sharp look.
"Be a good son, Sebastian. Don’t ruin the fantasy your mother’s trying to script."
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