Chapter 393 Deception Unraveled

Author’s pov

Alpha Sebastian was furious, his voice tight with barely contained anger. “Where exactly are you walking right now ? “

He asked again, each word clipped and sharp. “The hotel garden, maybe ? “

Tang froze, his face twisting in panic. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles white, as if gripping it could somehow keep him safe.

He turned to Cecilia, eyes wide and pleading for rescue.

Her stomach dropped. A cold wave of dread spread through her chest.

She’d deliberately kept her family’s trip to Colorado Springs a secret from Alpha Sebastian, but now her careful plan was unraveling right in front of her.

She could almost feel his anger humming through the phone—a low, electric threat just waiting to explode.

Cecilia rubbed her forehead, trying to steady her breathing as a sharp dizziness crept in.

[ This can’t be happening, ] she thought. [ I turned off location sharing last time. Did he switch it back on without telling me ? ]

“Answer me. “

Alpha Sebastian’s voice cut through the silence, low and dangerous.

Tang flinched and shoved the phone toward her like it was burning his hands.

“Alpha, Cecilia wants to talk to you, “he stammered and practically jumped out of the car to escape.

Cecilia stared at the phone as if it might explode. Her reflection in the dark screen looked pale, lips pressed tight.

After a deep breath, she lifted it to her ear.

“Don’t blame Tang, “she said, keeping her tone even, almost light. “This was my idea. We were in the garden earlier, but then my mom called. My grandmother came to Colorado Springs to see a doctor, and I’ve missed them. I asked Tang to give me a quick ride. “

The excuse rolled off her tongue smoothly, sounding so casual it almost felt true.

Her hand trembled slightly, but her voice didn’t betray it. She forced herself to sound calm, to sound like someone who had everything under control.

For a few seconds, Alpha Sebastian said nothing.

The silence stretched thin, heavy, pressing against her chest like a physical weight.

He was still angry, but he couldn’t bring himself to yell. And he didn’t call out her obvious lie.

“Next time, tell me before you go anywhere. It’s not safe out there, and you know it. “

Cecilia didn’t argue. “I’m sorry for worrying you. “

There was a quiet sigh on the other end, and his voice softened a little.

“At least you apologize fast, “he said. “Finish what you’re doing and come back. No more wandering off. “

“Of course, “she said quickly. “Tang and I are already on our way. “

“I’ll be back soon, “he said.

“No need to rush, “she replied, forcing a light tone. “Enjoy your time there while you can. “

“There’s nothing to enjoy, “Alpha Sebastian said dryly. “And tell Harper not to ruin her eyesight spying for you. If she does, I’ll be the one paying her medical bills. “

Cecilia’s expression went blank. Her mind stuttered for a second, caught between disbelief and irritation.

[ How much did he actually know ? ]

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, “she said flatly, then hung up before he could say another word.

The moment the line went dead, she let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Her hands were clammy, her heart still hammering in her chest. She leaned back in the seat, staring out the windshield, trying to steady herself.

Tang, who had been hovering outside, saw the call end and cautiously slid back into the driver’s seat.

Cecilia fastened her seatbelt. Her movements were slow, almost mechanical.

She didn’t look at him right away; her eyes were fixed on the road ahead.

“Let’s just go, “she said quietly.

—

At the gala, Alpha Sebastian ended the call and stepped out of the guest lounge.

The first problem of the night had started with Cassian’s call : Martha was missing.

Guests had been told she’d caught the flu, but the truth was messier.

She’d come down from the mountain only that afternoon, and the poisoning incident had left her completely estranged from her children.

Now she trusted no one except Cassian. She’d even turned down her own birthday party.

But the invitations were already out.

After Zane begged her several times, Martha finally gave in.

He sent Cassian and Poppy to escort her, but when they reached her cabin, she was gone and her phone was off.

Cassian asked one of his contacts to check her call history and found that the last number belonged to someone named Helena.Poppy recognized it right away. She used to work for their family .

When Cassian mentioned Helena, Alpha Sebastian remembered Cecilia’s strange behavior earlier that day, like sending Harper to the gala.

He’d already gotten the truth out of Harper easily enough : she was there to keep an eye on him.

At first, he thought she was just jealous, and he couldn’t help feeling a bit amused.

But Cassian’s call ended that illusion fast.

After hanging up, Alpha Sebastian contacted the two bodyguards assigned to watch Cecilia’s family and pieced together what she’d done.

Helena had stayed behind to meet Martha, and by now the two older women were already together.

Alpha Sebastian told Cassian to head back; Martha was safe and on her way to the Locke estate.

Cassian didn’t ask for details. He just rushed back to the gala.

Alpha Sebastian turned down the quiet hallway toward the ballroom. Only the soft click of approaching heels broke the silence.

From a side corridor, a woman in a white gown appeared, walking straight toward him until she stopped right in front of his path.

“Hello. I’m Jessica, “she said, calm and confident.