<h4>Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Misunderstanding?</h4>


    Sebastian’s pov?


    "I’m not exactly the generous type," I said, folding my arms across my chest. "And I don’t usually give free rides to strangers."?


    Alpha Xavier’s jaw clenched on instinct. I caught the twitch in his cheek, the way his hands flexed at his sides. ?


    "But since you’re also from Denver, I’ll give you a fair deal," I added smoothly, letting the words hang for a second. "Just make sure you send the payment, Alpha Xavier."?


    He red at me like I’d insulted his bloodline. "You’re seriously charging me? Are you that petty?"


    Before I could answer, Cecilia spoke. "He’s just being honest," she said tly. No softness. No hesitation. "You’re the one begging for a seat. Try some gratitude for once."?


    That hit harder than anything I could’ve said.?


    Alpha Xavier spun toward her, eyes wide. "I’m doing this for you."?


    Herugh was short and cold. "Please. You’re doing this because you have no other choice."?


    He stepped in, voice lowered like that would make him sound more sincere. "You think this is easy for me? Swallowing my pride like this?"?


    "You still have pride left?" she snapped, voice sharp enough to cut steel. "Could’ve fooled me."?


    He flinched. I saw it.?


    "You don’t have to be cruel, Cecilia," he muttered, trying to y the victim. Again.?


    "I’m not being cruel. I’m being clear." Her tone didn’t waver. "Whatever we had? It’s gone. You’re not my mate anymore. You’re just a man who made bad decisions—and now you’re paying for them."?


    Alpha Xavier looked like he’d been pped. And for a moment, he had no words.?


    My wolf, Soren, rumbled in satisfaction inside me. [This rival is persistent, but he’s weak. Our potential mate sees through him now.]?


    He wasn’t wrong. I didn’t need to say anything. Watching Alpha Xavier fall apart in front of her was enough.?


    I nced at Cecilia, just for a second.?


    She wasn’t looking at me, but the way she stood—shoulders back, chin lifted—told me she didn’t need anyone to speak for her. ?


    Still, I felt the urge to.?


    Soren stirred again. [She doesn’t need saving. But she deserves someone stronger than that.]?


    I agreed.?


    [A man like Alpha Xavier had no business standing beside her. Not anymore.]?


    Cecilia’s pov


    Once aboard the ne, I settled into my seat and pulled out my phone.?


    The timing was perfect—clear blue skies outside the window, the runway stretching ahead... and Xavier, identally caught in the background as he boarded behind me.?


    I opened Instagram and snapped the shot.?


    Caption: My beautiful vacation ruined--I’m so annoyed. How do I get rid of clingy nuisance??


    It was sharp, deliberately provocative, part whine, part flex, and pure bait.?


    It was aimed at one person, but loud enough for others to hear.?


    Honestly, I just wanted to show Cici one thing: The man she used to dream about? He’s still running after me.


    I had barely hit "post" when I felt a shift in the air.?


    I looked up. Alpha Sebastian was staring at me, not with curiosity or amusement but something colder—something unreadable.?


    His jaw was tight, his eyes unreadable.?


    The temperature in the cabin seemed to drop several degrees.?


    I blinked in confusion. Why was he...??


    Before I could figure out what I’d done to piss off Alpha Sebastian so much that he was giving me that look. Xavier was stalking me again.?


    "Would you like to rest for a while?" Xavier leaned toward me, his voice soft—almost like we were still husband and wife.


    "I don’t want to sleep," I replied sharply, grabbing a magazine and flipping through it without reading a single word.?


    "You didn’t eat properly this morning. Are you hungry?"?


    "No."?


    "How about some fruit, then?"?


    I said nothing.?


    Undeterred, Xavier waved down the flight attendant and asked for a fruit tter. When it arrived, he picked up a grape, peeled it slowly, and held it to my lips with infuriating gentleness.?


    I turned my head away.?


    "Come on," he coaxed, like I was being adorably stubborn. "Just one."?


    "No, thank you," I said tly.?


    "You always say no when you mean yes."?


    That did it.?


    My hand shot up, blocking his before the grape got any closer. "Try that line on someone who still gives a damn."?


    He blinked, surprised, but tried to recover with a chuckle.?


    I wasn’t done.?


    "You think this is cute? You forcing food into my face like I’m a toddler?" I narrowed my eyes. "Stop treating me like I belong to you."?


    "You’re overreacting," he muttered, still holding the damn grape.?


    "And you’re overstepping."?


    From the outside, we probably looked like a couple bickering over snacks.The thought made my stomach turn.?


    I nced across the cabin and met Alpha Sebastian’s eyes. His brow was drawn low, his jaw tense.


    He looked like he was seriously considering kiking Xavier off the ne. And me too.?


    "Fine!" I snapped, grabbing the fruit bowl and pulling it to my chest like a shield. "I’ll eat. Happy now?"?


    Xavier smiled, smug. "I knew you wanted it."?


    I stared at him, deadpan. "No. I just wanted you to stop breathing in my direction."?


    Sebastian’s pov?


    I hadn’t even been sitting for five minutes when a message from Liam popped up on my phone.?


    He’d forwarded me an Instagram post from Cecilia.?


    The caption was dramatic—something about a ruined vacation and a "clingy pest"—and the photo was clearly taken in the cabin... with Alpha Xavier conveniently in the background, just out of focus.?


    Liam had added a note: Cecilia looks upset. Seems like Alpha Xavier forced his way onto the ne. Should we intervene? Poor Cecilia.?


    I lowered the phone slowly, my jaw tightening.?


    So... This whole helpless act was a performance??


    Was she just ying victim for sympathy? Was she enjoying the attention? Still entertaining the idea of getting back with him??


    I nced across the cabin. There he was—Alpha Xavier—leaning way too close, his hand brushing hers, all fake concern and forced tenderness.?


    And her? She was pushing him away.?


    My hands curled into fists. I never should’ve let him on this damn ne.?


    Author’s pov?


    Back in Denver, Cici was already in a state of frenzy after seeing Cecilia’s social media post through Ana’s ount.?


    Nobody missed the irony. Cecilia had learned this particr trick from Cici herself, who had deliberately ensured Cecilia could see her posts with Xavier through mutual connections. It had been Cici’s way of unting their affair.?


    Now, Cecilia was giving Cici a taste of her own medicine.?


    Cecilia made sure the post was public—just enough for a few of Xavier’s girls and Ana, the owner of the Jade Pce club, to see it.?


    After Ana had summoned Cecilia to the club that day to witness Xavier entertaining Cici, Cecilia had realized Ana was working under Cici’s instructions. Ana’s husband wanted connections with the Shadow Pack making her Cici’s willing aplice.?


    Now, that same aplice would undoubtedly report back to her master about Cecilia’s post.?


    "I will NOT lose to that bitch Cecilia! Xavier is MINE!" Cici screamed, destroying everything in her bedroom in a violent outburst.?


    Since her release from the police station, her family had kept her confined to their home, refusing to let her leave. She’d called Xavier repeatedly, but he wouldn’t answer.


    When she’d escaped to find him at the Blood Moon Pack, Luna Dora had turned her away without sympathy.?


    Later, Harper informed her that Alpha Xavier had gone to beg Cecilia for reconciliation.?


    That news had sent Cici into aplete emotional breakdown. Her family had tried reasoning with her, then scolding her, but nothing could convince her to give up on Alpha Xavier.


    When she wasn’t crying, she was raging, even threatening suicide until her family became too afraid to push her further.?


    "Miss Cici , Cecilia is clearly bluffing," Ana assured her. "Think about it—you’ve been by Alpha Xavier’s side for these past six months. If he truly loved her, why would he have neglected her all that time?"?


    On the floor, a young housemaid picked up broken porcin shards with bleeding hands, tears streaming down her face. Cici had taken her anger out on the girl, deliberately stepping on her hands as she cleaned up the broken pieces.?


    Ana watched nervously, signaling for the maid to leave quickly. The girl stumbled out, clutching her injured hand.?


    Cici sat on her bed, her expression twisted with malice. Ana’s words seemed to calm her somewhat. "If he loves me, then why is he trying to reconcile with Cecilia?"?


    "Miss Cici, you’re young and don’t understand men," Ana exined smoothly. "A man might not love or care about his wife, but that doesn’t mean he wants a divorce. More importantly, Cecilia initiated the divorce. For a proud man like Alpha Xavier, being rejected by his wife is uneptable. That’s why he’s pursuing her."?


    "So you’re saying he’s only upset because Cecilia wants to divorce him?" Cici’s eyes narrowed.?


    "Exactly. In Alpha Xavier’s mind, a woman like her should be discarded, left as an abandoned wife. If there’s to be a divorce, it should be him throwing her out, not her making the decision."?


    "You’re right! That’s exactly how my Xavier thinks!" Cici grabbed Ana’s hand desperately. "But right now, he’spletely focused on Cecilia. He won’t even answer my calls. What should I do?"


    Ana smiled slyly. "Miss Cici, I’ve discovered their ne will bending at the airport at two o’clock this afternoon."