<h4>Chapter 273: Chapter 273 Cautionary Exploration</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    "I just don’t see it working out," I said lightly, leaning back.


    "His mother can’t stand me.she wants a purebred werewolf, someone with the right pedigree.


    Even if I saved her life that night, do you honestly think that would matter? Please. She’d just spin it as some calcted move.


    I can already hear it: ’The human girl nned it all. She must’ve known I’d be there. How convenient that she just happened to be at the right ce at the right time.’


    Fairytale? More like PR nightmare."


    "Cece," Harper sighed, "can’t you, just once, entertain the idea that this might turn out well? If it really was you who helped her, maybe she’ll finally get off your back and let you and Mr. Alpha Extraordinaire be."


    "Bias like hers doesn’t just vanish," I said, my voice cool."If it were that simple, Luna Dora would’ve stopped acting like I weaseled my way into their perfect little bloodline."


    Harper went quiet.


    She knew I wasn’t wrong.


    I’d married Alpha Xavier and thrown myself into life with the Blood Moon Pack.


    I ran our household, supported his work, smiled through every formal event. I did everything a ’perfect’ Luna was supposed to do.


    But Luna Dora never saw me as anything other than the outsider with bad pedigree.


    And the Silver Peak Pack? They’re older, more powerful, and far more traditional than Blood Moon.


    "Anyway," I added with a shrug, giving her a faint smile, "maybe I’m just being paranoid."


    "But what if you’re not?" Harper asked, clearly not ready to let it go. "What if she really is trying to find you?"


    "Then we meet," I replied simply, shrugging as if it didn’t matter. "But I’m not going to her first."


    Harper nodded slowly, epting it. "Okay. So we pretend we don’t know anything. y dumb until we have to y smart."


    She started the car.


    We drove in silence for a while, until she dropped me off at my apartment.


    I handed her the handbag I bought for her in London.


    As she took it, something seemed to click in her mind.


    "Oh,by the way, there’s no sign of Cici.I went to Boulder the day before yesterday, representing the intiff, and tried to get some info at the police station. They’re being tight-lipped. Just said the investigation’s ongoing and she’s still missing."


    "If she was still in Denver, she would’ve shown up by now and probably stormed straight into my apartment or Xavier’s office." I frowned. "Sebastian’s right. Maggie Locke won’t let her resurface that easily. The real question is, what’s Maggie nning to do with her?"


    Harper nced at me, suddenly uneasy.


    "A fugitive can cause trouble," I said quietly. "But one with a name like White? And with Maggie pulling the strings? She’s not just hiding Cici. She’s nning to use her."


    "You think Maggie is using Cici to mess with the White family?"


    "It’s more than that," I said, my voice calm but certain.


    "Maggie’s in it for the long haul. She wants full control of the Locke family.She wants Cassian gone, and anyone loyal to him out of the picture.


    But she’s not pulling this off with a few street thugs and angry runaways.


    She needs real alliances. Political backing. Something with teeth.


    To her, Cici’s just a pawn. But she’s a valuable one."


    "That woman gives me chills," Harper muttered.


    I didn’t disagree. "She should," I said quietly, my gaze hardening.


    "Because I’m on her radar now. Thanks to Cici. And because of that, I’ve seen things I can’t unsee—a business cult, people who wear other people’s faces."


    Harper shivered.


    "Cece, we were just trying to see Cici brought to justice. How did we end up in a freaking horror novel?"


    I gave a dry chuckle and shook my head.


    "She found us," I said quietly.


    Without another word, Harper grabbed her bag and left.


    Then I took the elevator up to the penthouse, the weight of it all following me inside.


    When I stepped into the penthouse, the sliding door to the balcony was slightly open. I could hear the quiet hum of the city and the soft mewling of Muffin drifting in on the night air.


    Liam was out there, sitting with Muffin curled beside him, just watching the lights.


    I wondered if Sebastian was back yet. I nced toward the study, but the door was shut. I stepped outside.


    Muffin trotted over, tail high, and rubbed against my legs with a soft purr. I picked him up and sank into the chair next to Liam, gently stroking his fur.


    "Wee home," Liam said with a warm smile.


    "I picked up some ice cream this afternoon. Want a bowl?"


    "I’d love some," I said, smiling.


    He walked back out holding a bowl of ice cream with four vors in it: vani bean, dark chocte, pistachio and strawberry swirl.


    "Thanks," I said, taking the bowl.


    Liam sat back beside me. "Alpha’s in his study. Once you’ve had a few bites, maybe you could bring him some, too?"


    I raised an eyebrow at him, amused.


    "Sure," I said, trying not to smile. Subtlety was not Liam’s strong suit.


    I took small spoonfuls, savoring the mix of vors.


    After a moment, I asked casually, "So... I heard Mr.York’s back in town?"


    If I was going to ask about Luna Regina, I had to ease into it. We’d talked about York a few days ago, so the question wouldn’t feel totally random.


    "Yes, he came back a little over a week ago," Liam replied easily. "After what happened to Luna Regina at the masquerade, both he and Miss Zaria returned home."


    "I see," I nodded, my fingers tightening slightly around the spoon.


    To keep the tone light, I added, "Then I guess he’s here to make sure Luna Regina’s okay. Maybe take her out a bit, help her unwind. A little mother-son bonding never hurts."


    A voice spoke up behind me. It was calm, low, and definitely amused.


    "Since when is my secretary so invested in my yogurter’s itinerary?"