I found the name of the burger joint she’d mentioned-a pathetic little spot she thought was safe. My lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile.
“Drive there,” I ordered Harlow, my tone flat and deadly.
She hesitated-stupid girl-so I fixed her with a hard look. One glance was enough. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the wheel tighter, and the car lurched forward again.
Inside me, my wolf prowled, savage and restless. Celina could run, fight, scream that she didn’t want me-but I would find her. I would bring her back.
And once I had her, she would learn that rejecting me was simply not an option.
***
Celina
After Alpha Sebastian rescued me, my stomach growled loudly enough to echo inside the car. He noticed immediately and pulled off the road into a quiet little town. But it was late-well past midnight-and most places were already closed.
We found only two spots still open: a smoky BBQ food truck surrounded by a rowdy line of drunk college kids, and a tired-looking 24-hour diner with flickering neon lights struggling to stay alive.
I chose the diner. The smell of coffee and greasy fries was oddly comforting after the chaos of the night. I texted Harlow my location-figured she might be hungry too-and ordered an extra bacon cheeseburger and fries for her.
Alpha Sebastian gave me a knowing smile as I slipped the phone back into my pocket.
“At least you still have a conscience,” he said.
“Huh?” I blinked, caught off guard. “Oh-do you like bacon cheeseburgers, Alpha?”
I recovered quickly, but not fast enough. He caught the hesitation. His smile faded just slightly as realization dawned.
“The second burger’s not for me, is it?” he asked, voice calm but distant.
“You’ve already ordered,” he added after a pause, “and now you ask if I like bacon cheeseburgers? That’s… convenient timing.”
“Not at all!” I gestured toward the table’s condiment rack. “Garlic aioli burger, mushroom Swiss burger, bacon cheeseburger-take your pick. You can customize it however you want.”
His expression didn’t change. He just studied me a moment longer, then asked evenly, “Tell me the truth. Did you order that second burger for me?”
“Of course it was! Who else would I order it for?” I widened my eyes, trying to look as sincere as possible.
This was like accidentally claiming someone else’s gift-what was I supposed to do? Admit the truth and make him feel awkward? My “hero points” weren’t infinite.
Alpha Sebastian stared at me, seeing right through my act. “Miss Celina, you’re wasting your talents not being an actress.”
My face flushed bright red. Under the harsh fluorescent lights that revealed every detail of my expression, my little ward lie was completely transparent. He saw right through my social maneuvering.
I surrendered. “Fine, I actually ordered it for Harlow.”
***
Alpha Sebastian said nothing more.
When the burgers arrived, he didn’t touch his. His cold stare across the table made me so uncomfortable I couldn’t enjoy my food either. Those eyes said it all: Ungrateful, dishonest woman-just sit there and eat alone.
I silently vowed to order for him first from now on.
Then I noticed Harlow’s car pulling up outside.
I smiled and started to wave-but then froze as a familiar figure stepped out of the passenger seat.
Alpha Sebastian noticed my expression shift and turned to look.
There stood a visibly miserable Harlow, flanked by a furious-looking Xavien.
After a moment, Alpha Sebastian seemed to piece it together. He turned back to me, watching my nearly tearful face, and said simply, “Fate.”
I nodded mechanically. “Yes. Fate.”
How could it be anything else? After all that running, Xavien had found me again.
The door swung open.
Xavien entered with long, purposeful strides and sat beside me, his gaze flickering from my face to my hands.
Suddenly, he smiled, took my hand, and pulled my burger toward him.
He picked it up and took a bite. “So hungry you had to run off and eat burgers alone? Why didn’t you just tell me?”
I managed only a dry, stiff smile in response.
Xavien turned his attention to Alpha Sebastian, his voice thick with territorial menace. “Alpha Sebastian, why do I keep finding you circling around my mate? She has a husband. Didn’t you know that?”
Harlow couldn’t hold back any longer. “Alpha Xavien, stop attacking like a rabid wolf. Alpha Sebastian was just being kind by rescuing her.”
Alpha Xavien shot her a dangerous look. “Didn’t your text say that if he wasn’t interested in her, you’d eat your entire closet? What, want to try that now?”
Harlow looked like she might faint. I froze completely.
Neither of us had imagined our private conversation would reach Alpha Sebastian’s ears like this.
The atmosphere thickened, tense and heavy.
After a moment, Alpha Sebastian smiled softly, calm and composed, radiating an aura of purpose and reason.
“Whether I have interest in Celina or not is my personal matter and has nothing to do with her,” he said in his smooth, melodious voice. “If my actions today have displeased Alpha Xavien, I can only apologize. However, regardless of the situation-even if you are still her legal husband-doing things against a woman’s wishes is extremely distasteful.”
I held my breath, heart pounding wildly.
Xavien was so thoroughly shut down that his anger had nowhere to go.
His jaw tightened, fists clenched at his sides.
If looks could kill, Alpha Sebastian would have been reduced to ashes on the spot.
“Excuse me,” Alpha Sebastian called out, voice unbothered and smooth.
The waitress-a woman in her mid-thirties with sharp eyeliner and bubblegum-pink nails-practically elbowed her coworker aside and hurried over with a bright smile.
“Yes, handsome? What can I get you?”
Alpha Sebastian gestured toward the table.
“We’ve been talking so long the food’s gone cold,” he said casually. “Could you take these away and bring us four fresh plates? Burgers, same as before.”
He glanced at Harlow, offering her a small, gentlemanly nod.
“And please make this lady’s a double with extra bacon.”
Harlow looked utterly mesmerized.
The waitress smiled broadly. “Of course!”
Soon after, the food arrived.
Alpha Xavien was too angry to eat.
I managed to eat half a bowl, my thoughts a chaotic mess.
Harlow spent the entire time sneaking glances at Alpha Sebastian, ignoring her food.
Only Alpha Sebastian ate methodically. When finished, he dabbed his mouth with a napkin and remarked,
“You’re all wasting food.”
“No! I’m still eating!” Harlow hurriedly dove back in, slurping down everything, then let out a loud burp.
“…Harlow,” I said with concern, passing her a napkin, worried she might be sick.
She often skipped breakfast and stayed up late reviewing case files. Her stomach was sensitive, and overeating could lead to acid reflux and vomiting.
Harlow waved me off vigorously. “I’m fine! We can’t waste food…” She turned to Alpha Xavien. “You eat yours too!”
Alpha Xavien gave her a cold, mocking glance.
When I tried to stand to pay the bill, Harlow pushed me back down. “You’re not allowed to leave anything either.”
I could only stare at her in helpless resignation: “Alright…”
Celina
I let out a long, weary sigh and picked up my burger with a sense of reluctant acceptance. Harlow, beside me, was clearly under the spell of Alpha Alpha Sebastian. Honestly, who could blame her? Those intense eyes, locked onto her with such tender intensity, combined with that smooth, seductive voice promising extra beef in her noodles-it was like some kind of magic weaving itself around us.
As we stepped out of the 24-hour diner, the cool night air brushing against our faces, Harlow was steadying me, but before I could fully lean on her, Xavien pushed his way between us, slipping his arm in place of hers. His presence was sudden and imposing.
“Would you just stop?” I hissed sharply, yanking my arm free from his grip.
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