<h4>Chapter 81: Chapter 81 He’d Been Completely Sober</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    Xavier kept his head down, not speaking.


    His hand rose slowly.


    "Alpha Xavier, don’t you dare!" I eximed instinctively, reaching to stop him.


    If he struck Alpha Sebastian, rumors would spread that Alpha Sebastian was attacked because of me.


    I’d be branded as the human homewrecker who caused conflict between two powerful Alphas. The Silver Peak Pack would tear me apart.


    Xavier’s hand froze mid-air.


    He turned to look at me, his eyes swimming with heartbreak and betrayal.


    I fought the urge to roll my eyes.


    Seriously? We signed divorce papers yesterday and he’s acting like I’vemitted some great betrayal? Does he have selective amnesia?


    Xavier’s bitter smile spoke volumes about his wounded pride.


    I returned it with a fake smile of my own.


    Our silentmunication spoke volumes.


    He was trying to y the victim.


    I’d grown immune to his maniption.


    Xavier turned back to face the table.


    The tension in the room was palpable—everyone poised to intervene if violence erupted.


    But instead of throwing a punch, he ced his hand on the table, rotated thezy susan, and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and a ss.


    Alpha Sebastian’s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Alpha Sebastian, I apologize for myck of sincerity earlier," Xavier said smoothly. "I’ll punish myself with three drinks."


    He poured himself a shot and downed it in one gulp.


    Then a second. Then a third.


    Everyone at the table watched in shock.


    But as everyone marveled at Xavier’s apparent business acumen, something seemed off.


    He’d said three drinks as punishment, but he was now on his seventh.


    "That’s enough."


    "Alpha Xavier, you’ve had more than three."


    "Someone take that bottle away from him!"


    The protests came from all sides.


    Anyone who tried to take the ss was either pushed away or cowed by Xavier’s intimidating re.


    Alpha Sebastian gave a coldugh. "Alpha Xavier would make an excellent tragic actor."


    Xavier didn’t respond, continuing to drink.


    When he’d emptied the bottle, he looked up. "Are you satisfied with my apology, Alpha Sebastian? If not, should I get on my knees next?"


    "Still ying the victim, I see," Alpha Sebastian remarked coolly.


    Suddenly, Xavier swayed.


    He tilted backward—straight toward me.


    I just got up and held him, knowing his werewolf bulk would crush me if he fell on me.


    Xavier smoothly turned in my arms.


    "Go sit down!" I hissed, ring at him.


    If he wanted to make a fool of himself, fine, but I refused to be part of his spectacle.


    Xavier’s face contorted in apparent pain as he wrapped an arm around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder.


    "My stomach hurts," he groaned.


    I wanted to punch him.


    I tugged at the arm encircling my waist.


    "If your stomach hurts, go to a hospital. I’m not a doctor. Let go!"


    Xavier conveniently went deaf.


    He just moaned pitifully.


    The room fell into awkward silence.


    Was he really pulling this stunt?


    Everyone seemed stunned by his audacity.


    Alpha Sebastian’s handsome face darkened with frost.


    Without a word, he stood and stepped forward, gripping Xavier’s hand from the side and forcefully pulling it away from my waist. "I’ll help you," he said tly.


    "I don’t want your help!" Xavier snarled, angrily batting away Sebastian’s hand.


    The moment I was free, I bolted from the room, not caring what anyone thought of my hasty retreat.


    Author’s pov


    Alpha Xavier moved to follow Cecilia, but Alpha Sebastian blocked his path.


    As Alpha Xavier’s rage, fueled by alcohol, threatened to erupt toward Alpha Sebastian, Alpha Gavin quickly intervened, grabbing his arm.


    "Alpha Xavier, you’re drunk!" Gavin eximed, trying to defuse the situation.


    Remy’s face grew serious. "Alpha Xavier is clearly too intoxicated to continue our business discussion. Alpha Gavin, perhaps you should take him somewhere to rest."


    The message was clear: get him out.


    Alpha Gavin, realizing the meeting was effectively over, hurriedly addressed Alpha Sebastian. "Alpha Sebastian, we’ll schedule another time to meet."


    Alpha Sebastian neither agreed nor disagreed.


    Instead, he said with mock concern, "Alpha Xavier seems quite unwell. I can rmend a doctor—I’ll send you the contact information."


    Alpha Gavin immediately agreed.


    Whether Alpha Sebastian actually rmended a doctor wasn’t the point.


    What mattered was that Alpha Sebastian was willing to maintain contact, meaning there was still hope for their business arrangement.


    Alpha Sebastian added Gavin’s number to his phone.


    As Gavin dragged the vtile Alpha Xavier from the room, his phone pinged with a message.


    It was a message from Alpha Sebastian—just a photo of a business card: Chief Psychiatrist, Denver Behavioral Health Center.


    Gavin stared at it for a second, then sighed.


    Was this a suggestion? A warning? Or both?


    How was he supposed to salvage this situation?


    If he’d known his sister’s affair with Alpha Xavier would create such a ck hole ofplications, he would have done everything to prevent it from the beginning.


    Once outside the private dining room, Alpha Xavier shook off Alpha Gavin’s supporting hand and walked away on his own.


    His steps were steady, showing no signs of drunkenness.


    Alpha Gavin stared after him, dumbfounded.


    So he’d beenpletely sober, purely putting on an act.


    Cecilia’s pov


    I hid in thedies’ restroom, trying topose myself.


    I’d fled because I knew my presence was only making things worse.


    Without me there as a target, Xavier might calm down.


    I just hoped Alpha Sebastian wouldn’t get hurt by that unstable wolf...


    After a few minutes, I cautiously stepped out and peered down the hallway.


    To my rm, I spotted Xavier and Alpha Gavin approaching with their entourage. I quickly ducked back into the restroom.


    The hallway was long, and their footsteps grew louder as they approached.


    Suddenly, a phone rang, followed by Alpha Gavin’s urgent voice.


    Within seconds, another phone rang—Xavier answering this time.


    Their voices ovepped in a chaotic jumble that suggested something unexpected and troublesome had urred.


    I couldn’t make out exactly what they were discussing through the door.


    Once I was certain they’d gone, I made my way back to the private dining room.


    The meal was concluding.


    As everyone stood to leave, Remy expressed various apologies before adding, "The Phase One inspection at Devil’s Thumb Ranch is next Wednesday. If your schedule permits, 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 goodbye and led me and Beta Sawyer out.


    Vice President Wiley stayed behind, still talking with Remy.


    In the hallway outside, 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 really was serious about contamination.


    The three of us left the restaurant and returned to the car to head back to thepany.


    As we drove, I couldn’t help wondering what urgent situation had arisen for Xavier and Alpha Gavin in the hallway.


    Whatever it was had certainly seemed serious...


    ?