<h4>Chapter 123: Chapter 123 I’m A Cold-Blooded Woman</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    He suddenlyughed.


    In my eyes, was he the forbidden path I shouldn’t take?


    I couldn’t bear to meet his gaze anymore.


    The intensity there was far too much, raw, and tempting.


    "I have things to do this afternoon," I said, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor. "I should go eat lunch."


    This time, I didn’t ask for his permission to leave. I simply turned and walked out of the room, feeling his eyes boring into my back with every step.


    He was incredible, in every way a woman could desire. His kiss had nearly drowned me in sensation.


    But of course he could make women fall for him—that was Alpha Sebastian ck’s specialty, wasn’t it?


    When he set his sights on a woman, how could she possibly resist? He could take or leave anyone without a second thought -- effortless for an Alpha of his status.


    But me? I didn’t have the strength to fight the world for a man again. Not after what Alpha Xavier had put me through.


    ----


    When I returned to the dining room, I immediately reached for a ss of water, desperate to cool the lingering heat his lips had left on mine.


    His intoxicating scent still clung to me like a spell.


    As I drank, still half-dazed from our encounter, Harper’s disappointed voice floated to my ears.


    "Only twenty minutes? Is the great Alpha Sebastian... that quick to finish?"


    I choked on my water, sending it down the wrong pipe.


    Tang and Beta Sawyer exchanged horrified nces that clearly said: Is she making sexual jokes right now? She definitely is!


    "Oh!" Harper waved her hand with a smile that fooled no one. "I just meant their conversation was surprisingly brief. Don’t be dirty-minded."


    The awkward silence that followed was deafening.


    Your exnation just made it worse!


    WAY worse!!


    Tang, ever loyal to his Alpha, jumped to Alpha Sebastian ’s defense. "I can absolutely vouch that it’s definitely longer than twenty minutes! Right, Sawyer?"


    When Beta Sawyer didn’t respond, he nudged him. "Come on, back me up here!"


    Beta Sawyer looked like he was in physical pain.Vouch for what, exactly?


    Harper was thoroughly enjoying herself, her earlier stomach difort apparently forgotten. "Wow, you guys are quite knowledgeable about this. That’s... impressive. Have you both... experienced it firsthand?"


    Tang visibly shuddered at the implication.


    The table fell into mortified silence.


    "Don’t be shy, Tang." Harper reached over to pinch his cheek.


    "Harper!" Levan grabbed her hand and pulled it back. "Have some dignity. You’re embarrassing me!"


    "You little brat!" Harper retaliated by pinching her brother’s cheek instead. "You think you can lecture me now?"


    I continued sipping my water, torn betweenughter and second-hand embarrassment. Thanks to my "lively" friends, I was now fully alert, any lingering effects from Alpha Sebastian ’s kisspletely dispelled.


    By the time we were nearly finished with our meal, Alpha Sebastian still hadn’t returned. He probably wasn’ting back.


    Tang’s phone rang. He answered, exchanged a few words, then stepped outside the restaurant.


    Inside the restaurant, I slid into the seat next to Beta Sawyer and tried to sound casual. "So if the Alpha wasn’t here for a date, what was he doing? Did he say? Meeting some mysterious big shot?"


    Beta Sawyer gave me a tired look. "Would you believe me if I said I’m just as confused as you?"


    I nodded. "Of course. You have no reason to lie to me."


    He turned the question back on me. "Then what are you doing here with Harper and her brother? Liam saw you all getting into the car this morning and assumed you had a boyfriend. We all did."


    "He’s practically a child!" I protested. "And to be honest, I need to keep my business in Boulder confidential too."


    Beta Sawyer stared at me nkly.


    Fine, we’re both keeping secrets then!


    ----


    After lunch, we left first.


    I stopped by the front desk to pick up medication, then we headed out of the hotel.


    Just as we pulled out of the underground parking garage, we spotted a familiar handsome face waving at us from the curb.


    "It’s Tang," I said.


    Harper had Levan pull over.


    Tang sauntered up to the car and climbed into the front passenger seat with unearned confidence. "The Alpha sent me to protect you all, so..." He flipped his hair with dramatic ir. "You’re now in extremely safe hands,dies and gentleman."


    I exchanged a nce with Harper in the rearview mirror. We both fought to keep straight faces.


    Levan looked thoroughly unimpressed.


    Tang’s excessive confidence needed treatment, seriously.


    But considering his skills—high-speed driving, tracking, lock-picking, even that ghost impersonation stunt—Harper and I silently agreed his help was wee.


    Levan clearly felt challenged. "I can protect them too."


    Tang didn’t argue, just smiled indulgently. "Sure, you protect them, I’ll protect everyone. No conflict there."


    From the back seat, I asked, "Does the Alpha know what we’re doing?"


    "He absolutely... has no idea," Tang replied smoothly. "But he did say to let you do what you need to do. Just don’t push yourself too hard or get hurt. If things go south, he’ll handle it."


    With that, he settledfortably into his seat and closed his eyes.


    A warm feeling spread through my chest.


    Even after how coldly I’d treated him, Alpha Sebastian was still looking out for me.


    Harper leaned close to my ear. "That man has amazing intuition. He knows what you want and silently supports you, even sends his best bodyguard to protect you. And let’s not forget he’s incredibly gorgeous... How can you not be falling for him? Are you even human if you’re not?"


    I sighed. "Stop, or you’ll make me cry."


    "Tears of joy?"


    "No, tears for him. Because I’m a cold-blooded woman—colder than Denver in the dead of winter."


    Harper fell silent.


    ----


    We drove halfway across the city to reach an ordinary residentialmunity.


    There was a security guard at the entrance, but the iron gate stood wide open, allowing cars and scooters to freelye and go. We drove in without any trouble.


    Inside, cars were parked haphazardly wherever there was space. Levan pulled onto a patch of grass near the building we wanted.


    The four of us got out.


    Harper and I walked in front, with the two men following behind.


    We took the elevator to the sixteenth floor.


    Apartment 1603.


    Harper pressed the doorbell.


    After a moment, the door opened to reveal a young woman. She was thin to the point of frailty, like a paper doll. Though her skin was fair and her features delicate—she might have been beautiful once—a centipede-like scar ran down the left side of her face.


    "Who are you looking for?" she asked nervously, her hand instinctively moving to cover the scar.


    "You’re Nicole, right?" Harper asked.


    Harper had clearly recognized the girl.


    She looked much like the photos from school, except for that scar.


    All we knew was that after Mason’s incident, this girl had immediately withdrawn from school. We hadn’t known she’d been injured.


    In that moment, both Harper and I had the same thought: Could Cici have given this girl the scar?