Cecilia's pov
Xavier ripped off his suit jacket and threw it over Cici's naked body as she collapsed to the floor in a storm of crocodile tears and hysterics.
Watching them, I almost laughed.
Eight years of loyalty wiped out by five minutes of pleasure-what a freaking joke.
He didn't even glance my way. Every muscle in him was bent on shielding a woman who'd already thrown him under the bus.
My lower back felt like it was breaking in half, but the pain in my body was nothing compared to the humiliation eating me alive.
"Cecilia, get lost!" Xavier barked, oblivious to how pale I'd turned.
Beta Henry finally moved, grabbing my arm to steady me. "Are you alright, Luna Cecilia?"
I gritted my teeth, fighting off the tears as pain shot up my spine. The betrayal burned, but the physical pain made it almost impossible to keep it together.
"Xavier, you make me sick," I managed, barely more than a whisper.
I pulled away from Henry's hand. Even if I could barely stand, I'd rather eat dirt than let any of them see me lean on someone.
Xavier's eyes widened, panic flickering for the first time.
"Cecilia, you're going to the hospital with Henry-now. And later, we're going to talk about what you did to Cici."
With his command hanging in the air, I pulled myself together just long enough to face him, flipped him off, and walked out. The look on his face almost made the pain worth it.
...
"Harper, I'm calling it quits early," I whispered into my phone, leaning against the elevator wall. "I can't- I can't look at him again."
My voice cracked, barely holding back the sobs. My back was killing me, but my heart hurt worse. I couldn't face my department looking this broken, so I forced myself out of the building and into my car.
Harper picked up on everything in my tone. I caught the sound of her grabbing her purse and keys. "Where are you?" she demanded, all business.
I gave her my address.
"I'm coming," she said.
Harper wasn't just my divorce lawyer-she'd been my best friend since we were kids. She knew me better than anyone: under the soft voice was steel.
Since learning about Xavier's affair, I'd been calm, cold, methodical. Not once did I cry in front of her.
So for me to sound like this, she knew something major had happened.
"That piece of shit," I heard her mutter.
"I'll wait for you," I managed before hanging up.
I closed my eyes and stayed against the elevator wall, hair falling forward to hide my face, thoughts spiraling into dark static.
I don't know how long I stood there.
"All done?"
The low, smooth voice cut through the silence so suddenly it made me jump.
My eyes flew open.
Tall. Broad shoulders in black. Pale throat, sharp jaw. Then those ice-cold eyes locked on mine.
"It's you," I breathed. "The guy I rear-ended."
He looked faintly amused. "Call me Sebastian."
He must've followed me in from the garage. I'd trapped myself in his way.
He leaned closer, a literal wall at six-foot-four.
I held up a hand. "What are you d-"
Before I could finish, his perfectly manicured hand caught my arm, moved me aside, then pressed the fingerprint scanner behind me.
Right.
I'd been blocking the damn scanner. No wonder the elevator hadn't moved.
Perfect. Just perfect. Someone shoot me now.
The elevator finally started climbing. When the display hit 5, I spotted his floor-46. The penthouse.
I shifted aside, wishing I could disappear.
Then his phone buzzed. That cool voice again. "What is it? .My measurements? Cecilia asked for them?"
I turned my head slowly, every movement painful. My face had to be bright red.
"Is this. awkward timing?" I croaked.
He looked at me, completely unreadable.
"Ding!"
The doors opened.
I practically ran, one hand on my aching back.
When Harper arrived, I was facedown on the bed, mostly back to normal.
"What happened?" she asked softly, crouching next to me.
I pulled myself together. The weird elevator encounter had actually snapped me out of my pity party.
I told her everything that had gone down at work, my voice steady.
Harper, though, was seeing red.
"He drags that home-wrecker into his company while you're still on payroll? Gets it on with her in broad daylight, then manhandles you like that? Has he completely lost it?"
"Cecilia Moore." When she used my full name, I knew she meant business. "They're openly disrespecting you now. You sure divorce is all you want?"
I tried to roll over, winced, and gave up.
"You know why I'm doing it this way," I said. "It's not fear. I just want him to know I bailed first. I'm not wasting another second on such a lowlife. I'll dump him like the trash he is."
Harper's eyes softened.
She brushed hair off my face. "You sound tough, but look at you right now."
I laughed dryly. "Give me two weeks. They could go at it right in front of me and I wouldn't even blink."
"Because you'd go blind?" she teased.
"Watching animals mate would just make me puke."
"That's still hurt talking," she shot back.
Harper stayed until I looked stable, then went out to grab medicated patches for my back.
Xavier
Remembering how hard I'd yanked Cecilia away-and the look in her eyes when I did-hit me like a punch to the gut.
I shot up from the couch, ignoring Cici's fake waterworks.
"Xavier?" she gasped, clutching my sleeve. "Don't leave me like this-"
I broke free, already dialing.
"Henry," I snapped. "Find Cecilia. ASAP. I might've hurt her back. Get her to the hospital."
The pause went on too long.
"Alpha," Henry said carefully. "Luna Cecilia's gone. Left over an hour ago. Alone."
My chest clenched. "You lost track of her?"
"We're looking. I'll keep you posted."
Click.
Behind me, Cici whimpered. "You're leaving me? After everything?"
I didn't bother turning. "You'll survive."
I stormed out, guilt tearing at my insides.
Night had fallen.
I hit every place she might've gone, called everyone she knew, even checked her parents' place. Nothing.
Harper was the first person I called. She said she didn't know.
By the tenth call, I was going crazy. When she finally picked up, her voice was like a slap in the face.
"Xavier, how nice for you? No one's bothering you now-just you and your side piece. Perfect world, huh?"
Her words told me everything. They were together.
My voice came out rough: "Let me talk to her."
"Not happening. I don't know where she is," Harper said, her tone arctic. "Maybe she's gone for good. You really outdid yourself this time."
Then she hung up.
I stood there, jaw clenched. I hit call again.
"Stop blowing up Harper," came Cecilia's calm voice. "I'll come back when I'm damn well ready."
I froze, my own breathing loud in my ears. When I finally spoke, my voice sounded foreign.
"Where are you? I'll pick you up. Does your back still hurt?"
She let out a short laugh. "Cut the act, Alpha Xavier-you're making my skin crawl."
