<h4>Chapter 401: Chapter 401 Wolves at the Door</h4>


    Author’s pov


    Maggie’s brow tightened at Cassian’s words. She hadn’t seen thising.


    After Cassian and Martha disappeared for so long, she figured Belinda had stepped in when her own people failed.


    But that was just a guess. She never got the chance to confirm it, and Belinda hadn’t sent a single message.


    Maybe she’d celebrated too soon. Maybe Belinda had already left Colorado Springs without interfering tonight. Maybe Cassian and Martha had simply been dyed picking up those socalled "friends. "


    The thought that her earlier sense of victory might have been nothing but wishful thinking hit her like a punch to the gut.


    "What friends ? "Zane asked, pushing his sses up his nose, a nervous habit he’d never quite shaken.


    Maggie’s sharp gaze snapped to him, catching the quick flicker of tension in his eyes. A dangerous thought hit her.


    [ Could it be Zane’s secret child ? Had Martha found out about an illegitimate heir and nned to show them off tonight ? ]


    Cassian’s grin turned sly as he watched Maggie’s expression shift. "You’ll find out soon enough. Try a little patience, Aunt Maggie. "


    --


    Across the room, Alpha Sebastian’s jaw tightened. He knew what was really going on. His eyes darkened as he turned and headed straight for the exit.


    He thought Cassian had brought Cecilia here against her will, and he wasn’t about to let that happen.


    "Sebastian ! Wait ! "Cassian shouted, but when his friend didn’t stop, he ran after him.


    Alpha Sebastian tried to push past, but Cassian blocked his path.


    In seconds, things got physical. Cassian wrapped his arms around Alpha Sebastian’s waist and held on tight.


    "Sebastian, you can’t run from this. Just let it y out, "Cassian said through clenched teeth.


    "Back off, "Alpha Sebastian growled.


    "Not a chance. You’re staying right here. "


    "Let go. "


    "Nope. My arms aren’t moving. "


    "Cassian ! "Alpha Sebastian’s voice was low and dangerous now.


    The scene was ridiculous. Two powerful guys were brawling in the middle of a ck-tie event, and the whole room went dead silent.


    Conversations stopped. Guests started whispering behind their champagne sses, curiosity crackling through the ballroom like static.


    While everyone’s attention was locked on the spectacle, Maggie’s eyes darted across the room.


    She caught someone’s gaze near the edge of the crowd and gave the slightest nod. The figure slipped out a side door, unseen by anyone else.


    --


    In the private lounge, Cecilia finally gave in and let Helena and Martha dress her up for the evening. She’d been restless the entire time, her mind racing.


    When the older women turned away, she secretly texted Harper, asking her toe by and fill her in on what was happening outside.


    Harper showed up a few minutester, Beta Sawyer trailing behind her.


    "Harper, Sawyer, please tell me you have a n to get me out of here, "Cecilia said, grabbing both their shoulders, her voice trembling with frustration.


    The three of them leaned in close, whispering fast. Harper and Beta Sawyer threw out guesses.


    Maybe Cecilia was nervous about getting caught faking an illness. Maybe she was dreading another run-in with Alpha Xavier’s family.


    But the truth was nowhere near what they imagined. Cecilia’s fear ran much deeper, heavier than anything they could guess.


    With a sigh, she let them go and sank onto the sofa. She pulled out her phone and typed a short message to Sebastian : I’m in the lounge next to the Locke ballroom. Come here. There’s something I need to tell you.


    Better he heard it from her now than be blindsidedter.


    Harper and Beta Sawyer exchanged uneasy looks. Cecilia’s face was too serious, too tense for something like stage fright.


    Then it clicked. Whatever she was hiding had to be something big.


    The door swung open. Martha and Helena stepped inside.


    "It’s time, Cece, "Martha said gently, her warm smile doing little to hide her excitement.


    She looked radiant in a sage-green gown, her silver hair swept up in an elegant twist. The simple jade jewelry at her neck caught the light as she moved. For her age, she carried herself with the kind of grace that turned heads effortlessly.


    Helena had changed too, though she hadn’t put much thought into it. She wore a simple, tidy dress that made her look decent standing next to Martha.


    "I wanted to talk to Sebastian first, "Cecilia said, forcing a polite smile.


    "Alpha Sebastian’s in the ballroom, "Martha replied. "You can talk to him there. "


    "I meant... privately. "


    Martha chuckled softly. "You can do that there too. We’re not going to hover over you two like chaperones. "


    Growing impatient, Helena stepped forward and took Cecilia’s arm. "He’s noting here, "she said tly. "Cassian’s keeping him busy. "


    Before Cecilia could say anything, Helena took her other arm and handed it to Martha. The two of them guided her to the door, though it felt more like they were dragging her.


    Harper and Beta Sawyer stood frozen before scrambling after them.


    In the hallway, a woman in a sleek ck gown lingered near the corner, half-hidden in the shadows.


    The moment the lounge door opened and she spotted Cecilia, her eyes widened.


    She fumbled for her phone and started snapping photos like she’d just uncovered a scandal for the town gossip column.


    Before she could hit send, a hand reached from behind and plucked the phone out of her grip.


    She spun around. A young man stood there, tall, lean, and effortlessly dangerous in an open-cor suit. He didn’t look like the polished socialites in the ballroom. There was something raw about him, something that made your gut say not to mess with him.


    While she stared, speechless, he scrolled through her phone, deleted the photos, and crushed the device in one hand.


    The crack of metal and ss echoed down the hallway.


    He tossed the ruined phone back to her like it was trash.


    The woman just stood there, frozen, clutching the broken pieces as he walked away, hands in his pockets, not even ncing back.


    "Tang ! "Harper’s voice rang out as she spotted him at the far end of the hall.


    She grabbed his arm as he passed, relief and urgency shing in her eyes.