Chapter 343

Author’s pov

Alpha Sebastian watched as the color drained from Alpha Xavier’s face.

He stayed quiet for a moment and let the silence do the work.

Then he said,”You brought Cici into your life. You couldn’t handle her. Now Cecilia’s the one getting hurt p>

“You dragged Cecilia into the mess. I’m the one picking up after you p>

He leaned forward slightly.

“Still think this isn’t your fault p>

“Still pretending you didn’t screw everything up p>

Each question hit hard. Clear. Direct. No way around them.

Alpha Xavier’s eyes lit with anger.

He didn’t respond. Because it was all true.

Regret hit him like a sucker punch. Then came the panic. And the shame.

His jaw locked. His hand gripped the table, knuckles white.

Alpha Sebastian took a slow sip of cold coffee.

“And your mother? You still planning to protect her p>

He set the cup down.

“She’s already in the line of fire p>

Alpha Xavier ’s head snapped up.

“You didn’t know?” Alpha Sebastian raised an eyebrow, like the news personally bored him. “Well. She’s on their radar now p>

From the look in Alpha Xavier’s eyes, he clearly didn’t.

Luna Dora hadn’t told him. She was still trying to fix things the old-fashioned way, quietly and behind the scenes.

She’d banked on using Cecilia to push Cici out of the picture, just like last time.

Which explained why she’d kept quiet about what happened at the ball.

Alpha Sebastian said,”Go ask her. See what else she’s hiding p>

Alpha Xavier said nothing. He pressed his forehead into his hand, thoughts spinning.

After a long pause, he looked up.

“Alpha Sebastian p>

“Don’t,” Alpha Sebastian cut in, lifting a hand. “I don’t want excuses. I want results p>

“I need people who actually follow orders. Not walking disasters who light fires and call it strategy p>

Alpha Sebastian opened his laptop with a casual flick.

“You know,” he said lightly, “I actually considered slipping a few drops of silver into your system p>

“Just enough to settle into your blood. Just enough to burn every time your heart speeds up p>

He paused, then gave a small shrug. “But honestly? Too much effort. Watching you fall apart on your own is far more entertaining p>

“After all, Cici will come back to you eventually, right p>

He gave a cold smile.

“Best of luck with that p>

He snapped the laptop shut.

“You can leave now p>

Alpha Xavier’s face went from pale to ashen to something close to green.

He didn’t move.

Alpha Sebastian looked up again.

“Still here? What, hoping I’ll offer you a hug p>

Alpha Xavier’s lips tightened.

Pride kept him rooted in place. He couldn’t bring himself to beg, but he couldn’t walk away either.

Alpha Sebastian studied him for a beat, then let out a dry laugh.

“You’re looking at me like you’re about to confess your love. It’s weird p>

Alpha Xavier ’s throat tightened.

He spotted a full cup of coffee, grabbed it, and drank it in one go like it might drown the humiliation.

When he finally spoke, his voice was rough.

“I overreacted. I’ll admit that. I want to keep this alliance going p>

Alpha Sebastian didn’t answer right away. He tapped his fingers against the table. Once. Twice. Then silence.

Alpha Xavier clenched his jaw.

“I’ll follow your lead p>

Sebastian’s tapping stopped.

“You sure? You’re not gonna say one thing and do another p>

“Swear it p>

Alpha Xavier snapped.

He kicked the table hard enough to make the coffee rattle.

“Don’t test me, Alpha Sebastian. You need me. And if you push too far, I’ll make damn sure Alpha Gavin walks p>

Alpha Sebastian didn’t blink.

“Then get out p>

Alpha Xavier ’s blood pressure spiked so fast it felt like his skull might crack.

He forced a breath, then said through gritted teeth:

“Fine. I swear. I’ll follow your lead. That what you wanted p>

Alpha Sebastian’s posture eased.

“That’ll do p>

He stood and, surprisingly, grabbed a bottle of water and handed it over.

Alpha Xavier took it, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

“You seriously have a plan p>

Alpha Sebastian’s eyes gleamed.

“Oh yeah. And it’s nasty. You’re gonna love it p>

Alpha Xavier narrowed his eyes.

“Define ‘nasty p>

Alpha Sebastian’s smile was too calm. Too satisfied. It made Alpha Xavier ’s stomach twist.

He leaned in slightly.

“Maggie wants you to marry Xenia p>

“Cici doesn’t know yet, does she p>

“And since she still loves you… that gives us leverage p>

Alpha Xavier ’s face went blank.

He stared at Alpha Sebastian like he’d just been told to jump off a cliff.

Cecilia’s pov

Six a.m.

Tang knocked on the door Harper and I were sharing.

“Cecilia, Harper, time to get up. We’ve got to move,” he called out. “Cassian just called p>

Harper and I dragged ourselves out of bed, zombies in pajamas.

I rubbed my eyes and muttered, “Is the helicopter really coming this early p>

“Looks like it,” Harper mumbled, still half-asleep.

“God, it’s six in the freaking morning.

This feels less like an escape plan and more like some military-grade group tour p>

We squinted at the pale light slipping through the curtains, trying to force our bodies into motion.

By the time we made it downstairs and checked out, I felt like I was walking through molasses.

The three of us piled into the car.

It wasn’t until we were halfway there that I started to feel even remotely human.

The fresh air helped. Sort of.

Soon, we pulled up in front of a squat concrete building that looked more warehouse than airstrip.

As Harper climbed into the helicopter, she leaned toward me and whispered,

“I’ve never been in one of these before p>

I smirked and mouthed back, “It’s overrated p>

Which, to be fair, it totally was.

The second we were inside, the noise hit like a freight train.

The blades were so loud I could barely hear myself think, and the constant vibration made my stomach roll.

Harper glanced at me and frowned.

“Cece, you okay? You look kind of pale p>

She rubbed my back gently.

“I’m fine,” I lied, waving her concern away.

Nausea crept up my throat, but I forced a smile.

Tang was just about to close the cabin door when he froze.

His hand stayed on the handle, and his eyes locked on something outside.