Cecilia’s pov
My cheeks burned hotter than a forest fire as I scrambled to explain myself. "Oh! I thought you ant... cleaning or sothing. That’s why I said I couldn’t do it—because of my leg."
Alpha Sebastian didn’t respond imdiately. He just leaned against his desk with his arms crossed, wearing that infuriatingly knowing expression. He clearly saw right through but seed content to let stew in my embarrassnt.
Then, without warning, he burst into laughter. "Cecilia," he drawled, "you certainly have quite an imagination."
My face erupted into flas.
Was he implying I was fantasizing about him? Goddess help , he was. And the worst part? He wasn’t entirely wrong.
I ducked my head, frantically opening the folder in front of . "What do you need to do? I’ll start right away."
Thankfully, Alpha Sebastian didn’t pursue the matter further. He moved to sit across from and began giving work instructions. Soon enough, we both settled into a comfortable rhythm of productivity.
The study fell silent except for the gentle rustle of turning pages. For a full hour, I kept my head down, working with such intense focus that I practically forgot where I was.
Occasionally, I caught Alpha Sebastian glancing at , the corner of his mouth lifting slightly each ti.
Liam ca looking for us once, clearly confused about where his Alpha Sebastian had disappeared to with his injured guest.
Poor man had no idea Alpha Sebastian would set to work—even the cruelest Alpha wouldn’t push an injured pack mber this way.
When dinner was finally ready, Alpha Sebastian wheeled out of the study. I felt dazed, sohow both nervous and comfortable in his presence.
As we entered the dining room, Liam pulled out a chair with a welcoming smile. Alpha Sebastian maneuvered my wheelchair closer, then bent down as if to lift onto the chair. He paused, glancing at with mock seriousness.
"If I carry you, you won’t get any inappropriate ideas, will you?" His tone was earnest, but his eyes danced with mischief.
I wanted to crawl under the table and die.
Liam missed the joke entirely, probably thinking his Alpha Sebastian was being overly gentlemanly.
"Haha, I’m fine staying in the wheelchair," I managed, my laugh sounding more like I’d swallowed a lemon.
"Overthinking again, I see,"Alpha Sebastian comnted as he straightened.
[I hadn’t been!] I silently scread inside my head.
Dinner was absolutely spectacular. Liam’s cooking surpassed professional chefs by miles. I drowned my embarrassnt in food, devouring soup and vegetables at an impressive speed. I even—to my later horror—snatched a piece of at Alpha Sebastian was reaching for.
Liam bead with pride as he watched eat with such enthusiasm.
I could almost feel his joy radiating from across the table.
I imagined this was the greatest complint any cook could receive—seeing their food disappear so quickly.
"Is it that good?" Alpha Sebastian asked with a small smile, his tone teasing but gentle.
He pushed the last piece of at toward .
"Here, take this too."
I finally paused, realizing I’d been eating without even looking up.
My eyes t his amused gaze, and I suddenly beca very aware of myself.
Right. I was probably eating like a starved wolf.
I straightened in my seat and picked up my fork a little more delicately, trying to salvage what was left of my dignity.
I slowed down considerably, suddenly self-conscious.
Liam returned with another bowl of butternut squash soup, the steam curling up invitingly.
I accepted it with a grateful smile, my cheeks still warm.
"Thank you so much, Liam. Seriously—were you a professional chef before? This is absolutely incredible."
Liam’s face lit up like a child getting praise from their favorite teacher.
He launched into an eager explanation about roasting techniques and spice blends, and I listened with genuine interest, nodding along.
Eventually, he said with a hopeful grin,
"If you enjoy my cooking, you should co every day!"
"That would be—" I began automatically, the words out before I could stop them.
Then I caught myself and laughed awkwardly.
"I an, I couldn’t impose like that."
Before I could backtrack further, Alpha Sebastian’s voice cut in—steady, quiet, and impossible to ignore.
"No imposition necessary."
I turned to him, surprised by how casually he said it—like it was already decided.
He didn’t smile, but there was sothing warm in his eyes, sothing... steady.
Liam, of course, jumped on the mont.
"That settles it!" he declared cheerfully.
"I’ll make extra dishes from now on!"
I stared blankly at both of them. How had a casual conversation turned into a standing dinner invitation? And was Sebastian’s comnt about not needing to feel shy genuine, or was he subtly mocking my hearty appetite?
After dinner, I was eager to return ho, but rembered the unfinished work in his study. "Alpha Sebastian, could I take the work ho to finish?"
"That won’t be necessary," Sebastian replied.
My brain instantly twisted that into: You’re not going anywhere until you finish your work.
"Fine..." I sighed, wheeling myself back toward his study.
Alpha Sebastian looked startled, then laughed softly. He didn’t stop though.
By the ti I completed everything he’d assigned, it was already ten o’clock. The heavy dinner made struggle against waves of drowsiness, and once finished, I could barely keep my eyes open.
"Alpha Sebastian, I’ll head ho now," I announced, operating my wheelchair toward the door.
Mid-yawn, my wheelchair veered sideways and bumped into the coffee table. My knee hit the edge, sending a sharp pain through my injury that instantly chased away any sleepiness.
Alpha Sebastian was at my side in a flash. "Did you tear your stitches?" Without waiting for an answer, he knelt and lifted my skirt to examine the wound.
"It hurts a bit," I managed, "but I don’t think it’s torn."
After confirming there was no bleeding, Alpha Sebastian’s inspection lingered. His eyes moved from my wound to my legs—pale and exposed under his gaze. I caught a subtle shift in his breathing, his Adam’s apple bobbing once before he abruptly pulled my skirt back down.
"I’ll take you ho," he said, his voice surprisingly normal as he began pushing my wheelchair.
We traveled in silence. He escorted inside my apartnt, then turned to leave imdiately.
I watched his hurried departure with confusion. He acted like I might grab him and refuse to let him go if he stayed any longer...
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Alpha Sebastian stood outdoor, waiting for the elevator in silence.
I glanced at him, about to say sothing, when the elevator chid.
The elevator door suddenly opened and exposed a face that surprised us - Xavier!
His face was flushed from alcohol, eyes bloodshot, shoulders tense.
He swayed slightly, clearly drunk—but not so drunk that he didn’t recognize us.
Both n froze.
Alpha Sebastian’s face hardened instantly.
"You—!" Xavier slurred, his speech slowed by whatever he’d been drinking.
When his gaze dropped and he saw the glowing number above the elevator—13th floor—his expression twisted with rage.
His eyes snapped to mine, then to Alpha Sebastian.
He lunged forward, grabbing Alpha Sebastian’s collar.
"What are you doing at my wife’s place?" he shouted. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
I maneuvered my wheelchair toward the hallway, alard.
Alpha Sebastian shove Xavier back with a look of pure disgust.
Xavier stumbled, landing hard on the floor.
Noticing in the doorway, Sebastian turned, his cold, piercing gaze pinning in place.
"If you’re going to let him into your ho," he said icily, "why play these gas?"
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