Chapter 233

Cecilia’s pov

“What exactly do you mean by’danger’?” I asked, leaning in.

My tone was casual, but my heartbeat wasn’t. It ticked up, like my body already knew something I didn’t.

Evelyn’s eyes flicked wide–just for a second. She fidgeted with her mug before smoothing on a smile.

“Oh, I was joking,” she said lightly, waving it off. “Just a standard interpack exchange. Nothing dangerous. You should follow Sebastian’s instructions p>

Her voice was light, but her fingers were tense around the ceramic. Grip too tight. Smile too practiced.

I gave her a look.

Seriously?

“You don’t drop the word’danger’ and expect me to ignore it p>

“You’ve already let the cat halfway out of the bag,” I added. “Might as well finish the thought. What kind of meeting is it p>

Evelyn sighed, glancing around like someone might be listening.

“If Sebastian hasn’t told you, I shouldn’t either. He’d be… really pissed p>

Of course he would.

My jaw clenched, slow and tight. There it was again–that wall. The one he built whenever something got too real.

This whole trip had felt off. Like we were all dancing on a floor that might crack at any moment.

After a beat, Evelyn leaned in again, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Just between us…There’s real risk. Sebastian’s keeping you in the dark because he thinks it’s safer that way. But honestly p>

She paused, eyes softening. “Keeping secrets from your mate? Never ends well. Trust doesn’t recover from that. If you want in, I can make it happen p>

Then, as casually as if she’d just offered me gum instead of a backstage pass to a classified werewolf summit, she took another sip of her drink.

I watched her walk off toward the bathroom, still trying to wrap my head around what she’d just said.

Footsteps approached behind me.

“Please tell me I didn’t just hear what I think I heard,” Sawyer muttered, dropping onto the armrest beside me like he belonged there.

Tang flopped down on my other side, already working himself into a panic.

“Alpha’s in danger?” he said, a little too loud. “I have to protect him p>

I winced. “Tang, inside voice p>

He looked like he was ready to grab a weapon and throw himself in front of a bullet, and we weren’t even sure there was one.

Sawyer didn’t look worried–just annoyed. “You seriously think Sebastian doesn’t have this handled? The guy probably mapped out five contingencies before breakfast p>

Tang crossed his arms. “Still. If there’s danger, someone should have his back p>

I bit my lip, anxiety curling in my stomach like smoke in a bottle.

Sebastian was as flexible as a brick wall once he made a decision.

Try to confront him, and I’d be shipped home with a smile, a boarding pass, and probably a wolf escort.

Tang suddenly sat up straighter. “What if… we just go anyway? Quietly. No drama. Just eyes on the ground p>

Sawyer gave him a look. “You planning on sneaking into a restricted interpack summit? What’s the plan–fake mustaches and fake names p>

Tang shrugged. “If he sees us, he sees us. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, right p>

Sawyer narrowed his eyes. “You do realize going against Alpha’s orders is like… pack treason. With consequences p>

Tang grinned. “You’re just scared p>

Sawyer’s jaw twitched. “I’m not scared. I’m sane. This isn’t a covert op–it’s a diplomatic summit, not a werewolf Hunger Games p>

I finally spoke, voice low but steady.

“Evelyn said she could get me in p>

They both snapped their heads toward me.

By the time Evelyn came back, the three of us were already seated, locked and loaded.

Author’s pov

Over an hour later, Sebastian and Vance finally emerged from the study.

Evelyn had been standing by the fireplace, arms loosely folded, eyes unreadable.

“Vance, we should head out,” she said, cool and composed.

Sebastian walked them to the door. When he came back, his gaze swept across the room.

Searching. For someone.

Finding it empty, he turned and headed upstairs.

He stopped outside Cecilia’s door and knocked, soft and steady.

“Miss Moore? Are you still awake p>

The door opened just a crack.

“I was about to take a shower,” she said, voice even, body mostly hidden behind the frame.

She wore a thin nightgown, hair loose and slightly tousled.

Not intentional. Not calculated.

But the effect? Immediate.

His eyes darkened–just a fraction. But she caught it.

He leaned in, voice smooth as velvet.

“Need a hand p>

Her heart stuttered. She cursed it silently.

The space between them seemed to shrink, the hallway suddenly too narrow, the air too still.

A flush climbed her cheeks.

Images from last night surged forward like a scene on autoplay.

Her palm grew slick on the doorknob.

He knew exactly what he was doing.

“Do you?” he asked again, voice softer this time, gaze locked on hers.

She licked her lips before she could stop herself.

“I’ll… think about it p>

That was all the invitation he needed.

She didn’t even register the moment her fingers let go of the doorknob.

The door opened wider. Whether he pushed or she pulled, neither of them would remember later.

All that mattered was that he was suddenly inside, and the door clicked shut behind him–quiet, final, inevitable.

He pressed her back against it, their bodies meeting in a slow, deliberate collision.

His breath ghosted against her neck.

“Still thinking?” he murmured.