“I don’t want your help!” Xavien snarled, angrily brushing Sebastian’s hand away.
The moment I was free, I bolted from the room, not caring what anyone thought of my sudden retreat.
Alpha Xavien moved to follow me, but Alpha Sebastian blocked his path.
As Xavien’s rage-fueled by alcohol-threatened to explode toward Sebastian, Alpha Garvin quickly stepped in, grabbing his arm.
“Alpha Xavien, you’re drunk!” Garvin exclaimed, trying to calm the situation.
Remy’s face turned serious. “Alpha Xavien is clearly too intoxicated to continue our business discussion. Alpha Garvin, perhaps you should take him somewhere to rest.”
The message was clear: get him out.
Realizing the meeting was effectively over, Alpha Garvin hurriedly addressed Alpha Sebastian. “Alpha Sebastian, we’ll schedule another time to meet.”
Alpha Sebastian neither agreed nor disagreed.
Instead, with a mocking tone, he said, “Alpha Xavien seems quite unwell. I can recommend a doctor-I’ll send you the contact information.”
Alpha Garvin immediately nodded.
Whether or not Alpha Sebastian truly recommended a doctor wasn’t the point.
What mattered was that Sebastian was willing to maintain contact, meaning there was still hope for their business arrangement.
Alpha Sebastian added Garvin’s number to his phone.
As Garvin led the volatile Alpha Xavien from the room, his phone pinged with a message.
It was from Alpha Sebastian-a photo of a business card: Chief Psychiatrist, Denver Behavioral Health Center.
Garvin stared at it for a moment, then sighed deeply.
Was this a suggestion? A warning? Or both?
How was he supposed to salvage this mess?
If he had known his sister’s affair with Alpha Xavien would create such a complicated black hole, he would have done everything to prevent it from the start.
Once outside the private dining room, Alpha Xavien shook off Alpha Garvin’s supportive hand and walked away on his own.
His steps were steady, showing no sign of intoxication.
Alpha Garvin stared after him, dumbfounded.
So he’d been completely sober all along-just putting on an act.
Celina
I hid inside the women’s restroom, trying desperately to gather my scattered thoughts and steady my racing heart.
I had fled because I knew my presence only made things worse.
Without me as a target, perhaps Xavien might calm down.
All I could do was hope Alpha Sebastian wouldn’t get hurt by that unpredictable wolf.
After several minutes, I cautiously stepped out and peeked down the hallway.
To my alarm, I spotted Xavien and Alpha Garvin approaching with their entourage.
Quickly, I ducked back inside the restroom.
The hallway was long, and their footsteps grew louder as they neared.
Suddenly, a phone rang, followed by Alpha Garvin’s urgent voice.
Within seconds, another phone rang-this time Xavien’s.
Their voices overlapped in a chaotic jumble, suggesting something unexpected and troubling had happened.
I couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying through the door.
Once I was certain they had moved on, I made my way back to the private dining room.
The meal was wrapping up.
As everyone stood to leave, Remy offered various apologies before adding, “The Phase One inspection at Devil’s Thumb Ranch is next Wednesday. If your schedule allows, perhaps you’d join us there?”
Alpha Sebastian nodded. “I’m aware. I’ve already made arrangements.”
Remy patted his chest with apparent satisfaction. “Good. We’ll see you there.”
Alpha Sebastian politely said his goodbyes and led me and Beta Sawyer out.
Vice President Wiley lingered behind, still deep in conversation with Remy.
Outside in the hallway, Alpha Sebastian removed his suit jacket and handed it to Sawyer. “Throw this away.”
“Yes, Alpha Sebastian,” Beta Sawyer replied without hesitation.
I bit back a smile. Alpha Sebastian was truly serious about contamination.
The three of us left the restaurant and headed back to the car to return to the company.
As we drove, my mind couldn’t help but wonder what urgent situation had unfolded between Xavien and Alpha Garvin in the hallway.
Whatever it was, it had clearly been serious…
Celina
As the car cruised back toward the office, an unsettling thought gnawed at me. What was the true connection between Xavien and Alpha Garvin, beyond their business dealings? The name that sprang to mind was Cira Wynn.
Just the mention of her name made my skin prickle with unease.
What new scheme was that cunning viper plotting now? She had this uncanny ability to taint everything she touched, like a slow, invisible decay creeping beneath pristine skin-quiet but deadly.
I muttered under my breath, “Why can’t someone just lock her up already?”
According to Harlow, the evidence so far only implicated her as an accomplice in the kidnapping. But if they could link her to the assault and attempted murder charges, she could be looking at a sentence of up to fifteen years-even with the Shadow Pack’s high-powered lawyers pulling every string to shield her.
Yet Cira was relentless in dodging even a single day behind bars.
First, she produced medical records claiming a severe mental illness. Then, she staged a seizure right in the courtroom. Honestly, who did they bribe to make that act look so convincing?
Is this what justice has become? The wealthy bending the rules to their will while the rest of us are expected to obey without question?
I had hoped Alpha Sebastian would intervene and put an end to the Shadow Pack’s manipulations. But so far, he remained silent.
Maybe he had his reasons. Not that I had any right to question him.
A soft sigh escaped me, the weight of frustration pressing heavily on my chest.
“Who’s coming with me next Wednesday?” Alpha Sebastian’s deep voice cut through my gloomy thoughts.
I turned slightly in my seat. Beta Sawyer glanced at the rearview mirror.
“I should probably stay at the company,” I offered quickly. “There’s still so much I need to learn about how everything operates.”
“That works for me,” Beta Sawyer said with ease. “I’ll go with you, Alpha Sebastian.”
We thought the matter was settled.
But five minutes later, Alpha Sebastian casually declared, “Celina will accompany me.”
Beta Sawyer and I exchanged puzzled looks.
“This visit is mostly ceremonial,” Alpha Sebastian explained, his tone cool and detached. “Just a formality, going through the motions. Perfect for a secretary still getting acquainted with the business.”
I bit my lip, wondering if he was implying I was merely decorative. And if he had already decided I was going, why bother asking us at all? Why not just give the order outright?
Beta Sawyer’s expression shifted, becoming oddly unreadable. He stole a glance at Alpha Sebastian through the mirror, then turned his gaze back to me in the passenger seat.
By the time we arrived back at Silver Peak Pack headquarters, it was nearly one o’clock.
As usual, Alpha Sebastian retreated to his private room for his afternoon rest.
Beta Sawyer and I stepped out of his office together.
“Beta Sawyer, could you-” I began.
“I’ll wake him,” he interrupted swiftly.
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