Chapter 20

Sebastian The door burst open with a thunderous BANG. The needle poised above Cecilia's skin froze mid-air. I stood in the doorway, breath ragged, Soren howling with unrelenting fury inside me. The security team surged past me, their footsteps thunderous on the floor. I didn't need to tell them what to do—they knew. In seconds, the filth was on the ground, tackled, disarmed, screaming like rats dragged from a sewer. Two female hotel staff followed close behind, just as I'd instructed. I couldn't bring myself to enter yet. My fists were clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms. I was one step from losing whatever shred of control I had left. My white shirt was half-unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Sweat clung to my skin, already flushed from the run up, but it wasn't just exertion—it was rage. Burning, unfiltered rage. The Alpha mask I'd worn for years—cold, composed, untouchable—was gone. Shattered. Because of her. Because I saw fear in her eyes. Because I couldn't