<h4>Chapter 172: Chapter 172 Morning Complications</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    I was deep in dreand, face buried in the pillow, trying to escape reality even in my sleep, when the doorbell shattered the morning quiet, a shrill, invasive sound.


    The sudden noise jolted me awake.


    I sat bolt upright, my heart pounding, hair looking like I’d lost a fight with a hurricane.


    I nced beside me, then toward the door.


    Who the hell could that be?!


    It could be Liam or Sawyer!!!


    "I’ll get it," Sebastian mumbled, sleep-rough voice and all, already moving to get up.


    "You will NOT!" I grabbed his arm, yanking him back with surprising strength. "I’ll go. You stay in this bedroom and don’t you daree out, or I’ll - "


    The threat died in my throat. What exactly would I do to an Alpha werewolf?


    Sebastian leaned back against the headboard, looking far too amused for someone who’d been fucking me senseless just hours ago. "Or you’ll what, exactly?"


    "Or I’ll be extremely ufortable," I finishedmely.


    "...Cecilia," he sighed, his voice dropping to that dangerous, velvet-soft register. "Be brave. You’re my girlfriend now."


    "Just... stay here. Please."


    I scrambled out of bed, pulled on enough clothes to be decent, and went to answer the door.


    Liam stood outside, looking impably put together as always.


    "Morning, Liam," I smiled, trying to look like I hadn’t just rolled out of his boss’s arms. "What brings you down so early?"


    "Miss Moore, it’s not early. It’s nine o’clock."


    What?!


    My eyes widened in horror.


    I awkwardly ran my fingers through my tangled hair.


    "I... overslept."


    Liam handed me two thermal containers.


    "The asional tardiness is excusable," he said, then pushed forward a clothing rack. "These are Alpha Sebastian’s suits. I’ve pressed them."


    I stared at the suits, my brain short-circuiting. "...Oh."


    I silently epted the containers.


    When Liam left, I let my forehead fall against the door in defeat.


    Except the expected pain never came.


    Sebastian was standing behind me, his hand cushioning my head from impact. "What are you doing? Testing if your skull or the door is harder?"


    I looked up at him, shoving the containers into his hands before retreating into the apartment.


    Nine o’clock. We were bothte.


    Thepany gossip mill would be working overtime now - not that it was gossip anymore. It was reality.


    When I emerged from getting ready, Sebastian had already changed in the guest bathroom.


    He stood there in his tailored suit, the picture of controlled Alpha power and sophistication - all clean lines and restrained elegance.


    But I’d seen what lurked beneath that polished exterior.


    The raw, primal beast that emerged in bed... my body tingled at the memory.


    "Come eat breakfast," he called.


    Well, I reasoned, we were already in this deep.


    Breakfast wouldn’t make it worse.


    I sat down to the nourishing meal Liam had prepared.


    Two bites in, and my brain screeched to a halt like a car hitting ck ice.


    Oh fuck. We hadn’t used protection. Again.


    And I’d already taken emergency contraception so recently...


    God, I needed to start thinking with something other than my libido.


    "What’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?" Sebastian moved closer, his brow furrowing with concern. "Did I hurt youst night?"


    "It’s nothing," I said with forced calm.


    This was partly my fault too. I’d figure it out myself.


    A quick trip to the doctor would sort this.


    Sebastian’s frown deepened, but before he could press further, the apartment door swung open.


    The sound made my soul practically leave my body.


    It had to be Harper.


    I once told her my apartment code.


    I instinctively reached for Sebastian, intending to shove him into the bedroom... acting like we were having some sordid affair rather than whatever this actually was.


    I barely grasped his wrist before he reversed the hold, capturing my hand in his. With infuriatingposure, he smirked down at me. "Don’t bother, Cecilia. It’s toote."


    My eyes widened in panic.


    Harper waltzed in carrying a container of food.


    "Bringing you some home-cooked love," she announced, her eyes immediately scanning the apartment beforending withser precision on Sebastian - who was standing barefoot in my kitchen, drinking coffee like he’d moved in.


    I felt my face crumble.


    "He’s... he’s just borrowing my kitchen to make a call," I rattled off at machine-gun speed. "Reception’s terrible upstairs."


    Harper arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Is that so? Making calls shirtless? How progressive."


    I grabbed her arm and practically dragged her into my study, like I was hiding evidence from a crime scene investigator.


    "Don’t go in the bedroom," I whispered urgently. "It’s... haunted."


    Harper’s smile spread slowly, knowingly. "Haunted? By the very alive, very naked Alpha in your kitchen, you mean?"


    I pulled her into the study and closed the door behind us.


    "So," she said, her voice thick with amusement, "you and the Big Bad Alpha, huh? When did this happen?"


    "It’splicated," I whispered harshly. "And you can’t tell anyone. Not a soul."


    "Why? Because he’s your boss?" She wiggled her eyebrows. "That’s hot."


    "No, it’s not hot, it’s problematic," I hissed. "I’ve worked too hard to be taken seriously. If people find out I’m sleeping with the Alpha..."


    "They’ll think you’re iming your rightful ce as his Luna," Harper finished, her expression turning serious. "Cecilia, you’re his mate. It’s written all over both of you."


    "We’re not... it’s not..." I struggled for words. "We’re just dating. Quietly. And you’re going to help me keep it quiet."


    She studied me for a long moment. "Fine. But his pack will figure it out eventually."


    Harper stood, grabbed her bag, and gave me a look that was equal parts smug and supportive.


    "You know I love you, right? But you guys are about as subtle as a mating howl in church."


    I groaned into my hands. "Go away."


    "Going,"she sang, heading for the door.


    But not before pausing just long enough to throw Sebastian - who had apparently been leaning in the doorway for God knows how long - a conspiratorial wink.


    "Alpha,"she said sweetly, before disappearing down the hall.


    Silence followed, heavy and charged. I exhaled slowly, then finally looked up.


    His arms were crossed, expression unreadable - but his eyes held that infuriating gleam of amusement.


    "You should go to the office first," I said quietly. "I’ll follow in ten minutes. I need to... run an errand on the way."


    He gave me a look that clearly said: * You really think I believe that?*


    But he didn’t push.


    Ten minutester, I was practically sprinting into a clinic, asking the doctor every question imaginable about emergency contraception, condoms, and long-term birth control ns.


    I left with what I mentallybeled my "regret-plus-prevention" package.


    And then - because the universe hates me - fate intervened again.


    Just as I wasing down the stairs, I heard that familiar voice that made my soul want to evacuate my body:


    "So your ’physical therapy appointment’ was actually in the women’s health clinic?"


    I stumbled, nearly dropping my pharmacy bag.


    Sebastian stood at the bottom of the stairs, arms crossed over his chest like a prosecutor who’d just caught a key witness in a lie.


    "I can exin," I managed.


    "No need." His tone was dangerously calm. "You lied. Again."


    I rushed down the remaining stairs and pulled him into the stairwell, away from the reception nurse’s gossip-hungry eyes.


    "I didn’t lie," I insisted. "I just... didn’t tell the whole truth."


    Heughed coldly. "Is this political doublespeak? ’Strategic omission’?"