<h4>Chapter 283: Chapter 283 Trapped in Green</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    I set down my fork.


    Every single person at the table turned to look at me in perfect unison.


    Sebastian just dropped the "are we official now?" bomb, and his mom probably thought he’d lost his damn mind.


    The air went still. Even the clink of cutlery stopped, like the house itself was holding its breath.


    Or maybe... was this his twisted idea of scaring me off?


    "I think..." I began, summoning every ounce ofposure I had, doing my best to sound like a rational adult,


    "I just think rtionships take time. You don’t really know someone until you’ve gone through the good days, the bad ones, and everything in between. So... yeah. No need to rush."


    My voice was steady, but my heart hammered against my ribs. My palms were damp. I folded them in myp to hide the tremble in my fingers.


    The awkwardness was thick enough to spread on toast.


    Sebastian’s siblings risked quick nces at his face like they were watching a slow-motion car crash.


    Alpha Yardley looked stunned. Luna Regina was still processing.


    Sebastian’s expression stayed neutral. Too neutral. He was either deeply insulted or deeply amused.


    He kept staring at me, dark eyes unreadable.


    Zaria clutched York’s arm like she was bracing for an explosion.


    York reached for his water ss, probably just to have something to do with his hands.


    "You like the slow burn, huh?" Sebastian said with a grin."Me? I’m all about summer. Let’s fly south in December and chase the sun."


    The grin waszy, downright cocky, like he was enjoying the way I squirmed. His eyes gleamed with mischief, and maybe a hint of something else.


    My brain short-circuited.


    What even was that? A joke? A challenge? A proposal disguised as a pickup line?


    Seeing my stunned silence, Luna Regina stepped in to smooth things over.


    "The southern hemisphere sounds wonderful! You two should go to Australia for New Year’s. It’s settled, then."


    I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.


    My face was hot. I wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment, panic, or the absurdity of being pseudo-engaged in front of a pack of werewolves.


    One thought echoed in my head: This is going toe back and bite me. Hard.


    Sebastian seemed particrly pleased with his mother’s reaction.


    "Mom, you’re being ridiculously adorable today."


    "Don’t be silly," Luna Regina said, waving him off but touching her face self-consciously.


    Her cheeks flushed the faintest pink, and she ducked her head like a teenager being teased.


    Alpha Yardley nced at his often-dazed wife.His brow furrowed, but he said nothing.


    Zaria and York looked shocked, but they stayed politely quiet.


    For a second, it looked like we’d survive one meal without drama. The mom was still spaced out, the Alpha kept his distance, and the siblings weren’t getting involved. I was even starting to chill a little.


    But then Luna Regina snapped out of her blissful fog and turned sharply to me, like a switch had flipped.


    "By the way, darling, what’s your name? You were just about to tell me earlier, remember?"


    My heart clenched.


    Around the table, everyone stiffened. It was like someone had pulled the emergency brake.


    It felt like gambling in Vegas with a suitcase full of cash. One wrong move, and I could lose everything.


    But sooner orter, the truth had toe out.


    Sebastian stepped in, voice calm and smooth.


    "Seriously, Mom? First you drag her in, then you interrogate her, and now you want her whole backstory? You’re actually scary."


    Luna Reginaughed lightly.


    "I’m just asking her name! She was about to say it earlier."


    Sebastian countered smoothly,


    "She was just being polite. She never took credit for helping you. That shows she’s humble. She’s not hiding anything, she just likes to keep things private."


    Luna Regina opened her mouth to reply, but he kept going.


    "Let’s not rush it. Let her eat in peace. Next time, we’ll invite her over properly, and once she’sfortable, she’ll share whatever she wants."


    Luna Regina blinked, clearly confused.


    I caught the key phrases: next time, their home, invite...


    There was going to be a next time? ! Oh no. I couldn’t keep sneaking around like some mystery guest star.


    Better to rip the Band-Aid off now.


    It’s okay," I said quickly. "I don’t mind sharing my name, ma’am."


    "Miss! "


    Alpha Yardley’s voice cut across the room like a whip.


    I jumped, nearly flinging my napkin into my water ss.


    Seriously? Jump scare during dinner?


    He cleared his throat, then gave me a slow, meaningful look.


    "There’s no rush," he said, voice suddenly calm but firm. "Names aren’t important right now. What matters is presence. Energy. Intention."


    What? Was he quoting a self-help book?


    "For now," he continued, "let’s just go with... Green."


    Green?


    That wasn’t even a name. That was a color.


    "Green works," York said quickly, shooting me a look that screamed just go with it.


    "It’s kind of cool," Zaria added, way too cheerfully."Like a code name. Very spy movie."


    "Green," Sebastian repeated, smiling like he was in on some private joke.


    I blinked, torn between confusion andughter.


    Luna Regina didn’t seem suspicious, just vaguely amused. "Green?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "It’s fresh. Honest. Uplicated," Alpha Yardley said smoothly. "And she’s wearing green, aren’t you?"


    I looked down. I was.


    Lucky coincidence? Or deliberate misdirection?


    Either way, I nodded and smiled. "Green it is."


    One thought echoed in my head:


    This is either genius... or the weirdest dinner of my life.


    My scalp tingled.


    That nickname was going to haunt me.


    Then, as if she’d just remembered something, Zaria added:


    "Oh! We’re doing a family retreat this weekend. Just some hiking, a little meditation, and clearing our heads. You shoulde. After what happened with my mom, you could use some good vibes."


    That triggered Luna Regina’s memory.


    "Yes! You muste, Green. Bring those two girls with you. We’ll go reconnect with nature and clear the bad energy. It’ll be fun! "


    Fun? A weekend in the woods with the ck family and a name tag that said ‘Green’? My soul left my body.


    I nced at my watch, desperate for an excuse.


    "I gotta work this weekend," I said as I stood up. "Thanks, everyone. I’m gonna head out."


    I didn’t wait for replies. I was halfway to the door before anyone could blink.


    "Wait, Green! I don’t have your number! " Luna Regina called after me.


    But I was already gone.Like a gust of wind with social anxiety.