Author’s pov
Cecilia’s patience snapped.
She t his stare with eyes that held a cool, dangerous glint.
"There’s nothing to discuss, Xavier. I know what you’re going to say—that I should leave Sebastian, that you can offer sothing better." She leaned forward, her voice low but clear.
"My answer is no. I love Sebastian. Only Sebastian. Accept that, and move on."
Alpha Sebastian’s eyes glinted with satisfaction as he deliberately ignored Alpha Xavier ’s barely contained fury and smoothly changed the subject.
"Tang," he said, "what are your thoughts about last night’s events?"
Tang looked up from the fruit platter on the coffee table, a piece of honeydew lon poised between his fingers.
Last night’s events?
Except for Cecilia and Cassian, everyone else seed confused about which particular incident Alpha Sebastian was referring to.
After all, last night had been a chaotic blur of ambushes and betrayals.
"I believe the ambush against Cassian and the kidnapping of Martha weren’t done by the sa group," Tang said lazily, eating the last piece of lon.
Cassian crossed his legs and began to explain. "I’ve been thinking about last night. The two attacks had completely different styles."
"The restaurant attack was clean and professional. They used the crowd as cover and had backup shooters positioned perfectly. It felt like a business hit."
He paused, his expression growing serious. "But the kidnapping of my grandmother was personal. Cruel. They left clear traces for us to follow, like they wanted us to find them. That’s not how professionals work."
"Last night I was too worried about grandmother to notice. But now I see the pattern," Cassian continued. "The restaurant attackers wanted dead quickly and quietly. The kidnappers wanted to play gas with Cecilia. They wanted her to suffer."
Tang nodded. "Also, the timing was off. If Maggie planned both attacks, why would her people kidnap Martha while her other team was trying to kill Cassian? If Cassian died first, the kidnapping would be pointless."
"So I believe these two groups weren’t working together. They might not even have been communicating."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
"Not the sa group?" Harper finally broke the silence, her voice tight with anxiety. "But aside from Maggie, who else would orchestrate sothing so ruthless?"
Cecilia clutched the fabric of her dress, her mind racing, connecting dots only she could see.
The others looked toward Alpha Sebastian, who remained eerily calm but offered no insight.
"If such a person exists," Alpha Xavier said flatly, "I believe they’re from the Locke family."
Alpha Gavin cast a thoughtful glance toward Cassian.
"What is that look for, Alpha Gavin?" Cassian saw the strange glance and laughed coldly. "Do you think I did it? I don’t really want the Locke family power that badly."
"If I wanted it, I could use Cecilia to get rid of Maggie first. Then I could find a way to remove Cecilia later. That would be easier, right? "
"And do you really think if Cecilia ca back and tried to take my place as heir, I would just accept it?If I wanted to fight for my position, I would do it in the open. These sneaky thods are not my style."
"I believe you," Cecilia said clearly.
Since the main person trusted him, Alpha Gavin gave up right away. "Sorry, Cassian. I did not an to offend you. I was just thinking through all possibilities."
Cassian waved dismissively, indicating no offense taken.
"Alpha Gavin’s reasoning is sound," Alpha Sebastian interjected. His eyes, sharp as a hunter’s, swept across the room. "As is Alpha Xavier ’s. You’re simply missing certain details, which makes your conclusions understandable but incomplete."
Alpha Xavier couldn’t stand Sebastian’s smugness. His eyebrows furrowed in irritation. "So you know who’s behind this?"
Alpha Sebastian neither confird nor denied. He appeared lost in thought, his gaze distant.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice low and ominous: "It could be her..."
Alpha Xavier had had enough of the cryptic responses. "Alpha Sebastian, stop playing gas!"
Alpha Sebastian shot him an annoyed glance. "Why are you shouting? I was about to tell you. Control your emotions."
Cecilia’s breathing beca fast. Her heart beat quickly. "You don’t an... Belinda?"
"Yes."
Cecilia’s face turned pale. "So she followed us from London to Denver, and now to Colorado Springs?"
Alpha Sebastian nodded seriously. "The way it happened matches her style perfectly. The crazy violence, the dramatic way of hurting people."
Alpha Xavier and Alpha Gavin looked at each other with confused faces. They had no idea what was happening.
But Cassian, Tang, Beta Sawyer, and Harper all rembered Belinda.
The group quickly briefed Alpha Xavier and Gavin on Belinda’s history of brutality.
Alpha Xavier remained surprisingly calm. "Sebastian, are you certain this woman was behind the attempt on Cecilia’s life? Do you have actual evidence?"
Alpha Sebastian looked up, his gaze piercing. "It’s an educated guess, but not without foundation.
First, I can confirm Belinda is in Colorado Springs, though I haven’t been able to pinpoint her exact location.
Second, she and Maggie were connected through an incident in Colorado Springs, suggesting they’re in contact.
Third, last night’s contradictions indicate Maggie and Belinda are operating independently, yet aware of each other’s actions. "
"From what I know, Belinda outranks Maggie in the Moonveil Ascendancy. This is Maggie’s territory, though.Belinda wouldn’t willingly take orders from soone she considers beneath her, yet she can’t openly defy her either. So they’re each pursuing their own agendas."
Remarkably, Alpha Xavier didn’t contradict him. His eyes had taken on a cold, impenetrable darkness. "How do we draw this Belinda out?"
Alpha Sebastian seed to understand Alpha Xavier ’s urgency. "Don’t act rashly. We need to follow our plan." After a beat, he added aningfully, "Reckless actions will cost you."
Alpha Xavier ’s face beca hard. "She clearly hates Cecilia deeply. She made video threats and tried to kill her.
Last night she failed, so she will try again soon!
She is more dangerous than Maggie. Can you guess what she will do next? We must do sothing first!"
Alpha Sebastian stayed quiet for a few seconds. Then he said, "Being impatient is the most useless feeling. As for making her co out in the open, I have ways to do that."
Cecilia added, "What matters is that we need to look into this carefully. Belinda is just one na she uses. We don’t know her real background or what she looks like.
We only know she’s a young woman. She might even be soone we have already t. She seems to know a lot about what we do."
"Cecilia is right. We need to go step by step," Alpha Sebastian agreed. "Alpha Xavier and Alpha Gavin, go ahead with joining the Ascendancy as we planned. Maggie will give you tests.
At the sa ti, I will get an invitation to their eting. If everything works out, Belinda will show herself."
Alpha Xavier and Alpha Gavin nodded their agreent.
By nine-thirty that evening, all important matters had been discussed, and the group began to disperse.
Alpha Sebastian and his party returned to the Lawson residence.
Everyone headed upstairs, retiring to their respective rooms after the exhausting day.
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