Chapter 149 The Fall

Serena’s nails dug into her palms.

[This was impossible. Alpha Sebastian had come for her, not Eira.]

The moment he stepped onto the deck, she hurried toward him with a bright smile.

"Sebastian."

Only then did he seem to notice her. He looked honestly surprised, as if he had walked right past her without seeing her.

Serena’s smile faltered.

Eira had already turned away, ready to leave the scene, when Alpha Sebastian’s voice cut through the night.

"Eira!"

He walked straight past Serena as though she were part of the furniture.

The hurt on her face lasted only a second, but Vincent saw it. His chest tightened.

He almost told her the truth. Eira and Alpha Sebastian were already divorced. Maybe if Serena knew, she would stop putting herself through this.

But before he could say anything, Alpha Killian stepped in front of Alpha Sebastian.

Alpha Killian moved with calm precision, placing his broad frame between the two of them and drawing Eira behind him.

"Watch yourself, Alpha Sebastian." Alpha Killian’s voice was low. His eyes held a cold warning.

TThis was Sterling Group’s victory celebration. The deck was filled with Sterling employees and members of Eira’s research team.

Alpha Sebastian had no business causing a scene in front of them. An Alpha didn’t air his dirty laundry in front of his pack.

He certainly didn’t do it in front of a rival pack’s celebration.

Everyone understood that a leader had to protect his reputation. You did not drag your private mess into public and expect to walk away clean.

Especially when you were the one who’d been caught cheating.

Alpha Sebastian stopped a few feet away.

"Eira." His voice softened. "There’s a lot I need to explain. When you’re finished here, let me take you home. Please."

"No."

Her answer was quiet, but it left no room for discussion.

Alpha Sebastian froze.

"There are things I can explain if you’ll just give me a chance."

"What’s left to explain?" Eira looked at his face, and disgust twisted in her stomach. "You love Serena. Then go be with her. I’m not stopping you."

"Eira!"

His pupils widened. The edges of his eyes turned red.

She was his mate. How could she dismiss him so easily?

Serena watched his reaction, and it felt like a knife twisting between her ribs.

Alpha Sebastian was fighting back tears.

For Eira.

"Vincent," she whispered. "Do you think he still has feelings for her?"

Vincent’s jaw tightened.

He had no answer that would not hurt her.

Nearby, Logan watched the scene unfold. At this point, he would have had to be blind to miss what was going on.

The pieces finally fell into place.

The woman Alpha Sebastian had married was Eira. Serena was the other woman. And Eira had once been Serena’s boss.

[I am way out of my depth here.]

Logan pulled out his phone and texted Barry and Fiona.

[Where are you two?]

A few minutes later, Barry and Fiona stepped onto the upper deck and looked down.

The scene below had gone completely sideways. Alpha Killian stood between Eira and Alpha Sebastian, while Serena and Vincent remained nearby. It looked less like a party and more like two packs preparing for a territorial fight.

"Alpha Killian, Eira," Barry called. "There you are. We’ve been looking everywhere."

Alpha Killian glanced up, then shifted his eyes toward Eira and the stairs.

Upstairs.

Eira caught the message at once and headed upstairs without hesitation.

Alpha Sebastian tried to follow, but Sterling security blocked his way.

The entire third deck had been reserved for the party, and they had no intention of letting him through.

He could have left.

Instead, he stayed by the railing. If he waited until the boat docked, he might still get a chance to speak with Eira.

Too many questions were tormenting him.

Why had she refused the house? Why had she skipped the fertility classes? Why had she lied to him?

And why had she looked at him like a stranger when they were mates?

"Sebastian, you’re really going to wait here for her?" Serena asked, stepping closer. "You only want to explain the money and the investments, right? It’s freezing out here. Come inside with me."

She was already using the explanation they had agreed on. The money Alpha Sebastian had given her was supposed to be treated as loans and investments, not support for an affair.

Alpha Sebastian shook his head.

"I’m staying right here." He glanced at Serena. "It’s cold. Go back with Vincent."

Serena stared at him.

He was sending her away with another man, and he did not look jealous at all.

Before she could respond, Vincent came over.

"Serena, the boat is docking soon. We should get ready to leave."

With so many people watching, Serena forced a smile."Sure."

She turned toward the railing.

For one brief second, she looked back at Alpha Sebastian.

Then she went over the side.

"Serena!"

Her body hit the water with a loud splash.

"Man overboard!" Logan shouted.

Serena surfaced a few yards from the boat, thrashing in the freezing river.

"Help!" she cried. "Sebastian, help me!"

Vincent rushed toward the railing, but Logan caught him around the waist.

"Don’t even think about it. That water is ice-cold."

"She can’t swim!"

"She jumped, Vincent. I saw her do it."

Alpha Sebastian heard the shouting and ran to the railing. The moment he saw Serena struggling below, he jumped in without hesitation.

The cold water hit him like a punch. He surfaced, fought through the current, and reached Serena within seconds.

"Get the crew!" Vincent shouted.

The cruiser had already begun pulling away from the dock, so the crew turned it around. By the time they reached Serena, Alpha Sebastian was barely keeping himself above water.

The crew hauled them both back onboard.

Serena coughed up river water and collapsed against Alpha Sebastian. A moment later, she passed out.

Vincent watched in silence, his expression hard to read.

Did she really have to risk her life just to see whether Alpha Sebastian would come after her?

"Get her home," Vincent said at last.

Alpha Sebastian lifted Serena into his arms and carried her off the boat.

He had promised to wait for Eira.

In the end, he left with Serena instead.

The people on deck turned toward Eira. Sympathy showed in their faces.

Eira did not react. She simply raised her phone and took several pictures. Then she started recording.

The entire rescue was now on file.