Chapter 316

Cecilia’s pov

Breakfast was waiting when I walked out of my room. Liam had really gone for it. The table looked like something from a fitness blog: oatmeal with berries, iron-packed spinach omelets, and warm whole grain muffins with honey on the side.

“For your blood cells,” he said with a warm smile, setting down a steaming cup of raspberry leaf tea in front of me.

“Thanks,” I muttered, shooting a sideways glance at Sebastian.

Had he told Liam about my “condition p>

Sebastian looked completely unfazed, casually spreading butter on his toast like he hadn’t just broadcast my menstrual cycle to the staff.

After breakfast, Tang drove us to the office.

We were halfway there when he spoke up, completely out of nowhere.

“Oh, by the way, Alpha. I found out who was lurking outside Cecilia’s place the other night p>

I sat up straight, my spine stiffening.

Anxiety hit instantly. My hands curled around the seatbelt.

Sebastian’s voice turned razor-sharp.

“Who p>

“Private investigator. Been tailing Cecilia since she got back from London. Not much of a fighter, but he’s good at staying hidden and snapping photos p>

Then Tang paused, clearly enjoying the suspense.

“Wanna guess who hired him p>

Sebastian’s tone dropped into a low growl.

“Do you want me to guess, or do you want me to punch you p>

Tang cleared his throat.

The name knocked the wind out of me.

My breath caught. My stomach flipped. My whole body went cold.

Sebastian looked surprised. He didn’t say anything at first. He stared out the window for a second, thinking, then turned and looked at me.

I reacted fast.

Wide eyes. A shaky voice. Just the right amount of panic.

“Zane? Why would he be following me? Is he part of the Moonveil Ascendancy too? Oh my God… is he helping Maggie spy on me? That whole family is insane p>

I raised my voice a little, made it sound shaky.

Just enough to make it believable, but not over the top.

It was all an act.

Because if anyone could sniff out a lie, it was Sebastian. That wolf-sense of his? Practically a built-in truth detector.

The last thing I needed was for him to find out the real reason.

He looked at me for a long moment. Too long.

Then, gently, he stroked my hair.

“Don’t worry, Cece. Zane’s probably just confused. He’s not a bad person p>

Tang wasn’t finished.

“Oh—and there’s more p>

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed in the rearview mirror.

“Go on p>

Tang glanced back.

“There’s another tracker. Different from the first guy. The one who wiped the building’s security footage? Not the same person p>

I felt a chill crawl up my spine.

Another one? There were two people watching me?

“Any guesses who the second one works for?” Tang said, like it was a game.

Neither of us answered.

“Fine, I’ll tell you. The second one was Maggie. You were right. Zane and his wife aren’t teaming up p>

My chest tightened.

Fear coursed through my veins like ice water.

Zane and Maggie both had people following me, clearly for different reasons.

But what if their spies ran into each other? Maggie would realize Zane was watching me… and understand that I meant something to him.

A cold wave of panic crept over me, and my vision narrowed like I was staring down a tunnel.

The one thing I’d been dreading most? It might already be happening.

I didn’t even realize how pale I was until Sebastian leaned closer.

“Cece, I’m here,” he said softly, his arm wrapping around my shoulders.

His voice was calm, reassuring.

“You don’t have to be afraid p>

I took a shaky breath and looked up at him. “Can I ask you something p>

“You don’t even have to ask,” he replied without missing a beat.

“Zane’s guy went to my house,” I said. “I’m scared Maggie might go after my family too. Can you… put someone on them p>

I glanced toward Tang in the front seat, hoping he’d get the message.

“I need to protect Cecilia,” Tang said immediately, like it was a mission he’d sworn his life to.

“Tang,” I said gently, “I’m at the office during the day. I go straight to the apartment at night. I’m careful. I’ll be fine. But my parents and grandmother… they’re not prepared for this p>

“They’re not young anymore p>

Before, when I didn’t know the full picture, it was easier. Now it felt like I was living with a bomb ticking under my feet.

Tang stayed quiet, looking to Sebastian for a verdict.

“Cece, don’t beat yourself up for being scared. Maggie’s not someone most people can face with a straight back p>

He paused, thinking for a second. Then he said, “How about this? We won’t take Tang off you. But let’s move your family somewhere safer for now. I’ve got other people I trust. They’re just as good, and they’ll keep your family safe. I promise p>

I knew I couldn’t ask for more. What he offered was already above and beyond.

“Okay. Thank you p>

“No need to thank me,” he said, his fingers brushing gently through my hair.

“Your family is my family. I’d have protected them even if you hadn’t asked p>

The way he said it wasn’t sweet talk. It felt like a promise.

That afternoon, I finally had a quiet moment and called Esther.

I couldn’t exactly say, ’Hey, Zane and Maggie might be spying on us,’ so I went for something less alarming.

“There’s a rumor going around that Cici might be back in Denver,” I said, keeping my tone light. “I’m worried she could show up at our house, so I talked to Sebastian. Just to be safe… would you mind staying somewhere else for a few days? I’d feel better knowing you’re not at your usual address p>

Esther didn’t even question it. She just went with it.

When I hung up, I let out a slow breath.

At least I’d done one thing right today.

My family would be safe.

Even if everything else in my life was spinning out of control.