Emily’s POV
The door opened before I could hide, and an unnerving chill ran down my spine, revealing a she-wolf.
There was something familiar about this she-wolf, yet I could put my finger on it.
The same unnerving feeling of her being dangerous pushed up inside me.
I was sure that underneath all that beautiful skin, she was cold and wicked.
“Alex darling,” she called, her voice pitchy, as she entered the office. “I came to apologize. It was wrong of me to threaten you like that! Can we please talk about it? I can’t bear to lose you.”
The woman’s gaze scanned Alex’s office in search of him but instead landed on me.
She froze, blinking a couple of times, frowning as if what she was seeing wasn’t there a second ago, and her beautiful face turned into a scowl.
“Isn’t that the same she-wolf from the club?” Willow asked. “What is her name again?”
I internally growled, feeling my blood heating up in my veins.
This was the same she-wolf everyone thought Alex took as a mate.
“Angelica,” I internally hissed, balling my hands into fists. “Her name is Angelica!”
“Who are you, and why are you in my mate’s office?” Angelica barked, cutting Willow and my conversation short.
Who the hell does she think she is, demanding that I tell her who I am? Not to mention that she was claiming my fated mate as hers?
My blood reached a boiling point, and I saw red. I had the urge to force her to her knees and make her beg for forgiveness for her rudeness.
“So possessive,” Willow mussed, enjoying my spur-of-the-moment jealousy. “But don’t waste your time on her.”
“Why?” I internally growled. “She wants our mate!”
“The mate you don’t want?” Willow asked, rolling her eyes.
That took the wind right under my wings. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Alex. Things were just too complicated to just claim him as mine.
What will I do if he is part of the rogue attacks? Or if he doesn’t accept Lex as his?
“We have not rejected each other,” I snapped. “He is mine until rejection.”
Willow released a breath of annoyance, shaking her head.
Was I missing the obviousness? Why was she acting this way? She should be possessive as well!
“Take a whiff of her scent,” Willow said, amused.
I did as she said and lifted my nose to the air, taking a whiff of Angelica’s scent.
My eyebrows immediately knitted, surprised.
“What the f*ck?” I internally gasped. “How the f*ck is that possible?”
Angelica’s scent was that of a low-rank omega.
Why haven’t I picked that up sooner?
My mind raced, picking up questions I didn’t have answers for.
How the hell did she manage to dig her filthy claws into Alex?
How was it possible that she could attend Alpha Camp?
Something didn’t add up.
“Told you,” Willow huffed, annoyed. “The she-wolf is certainly confused. There is no way she could be what she claims to be.”
I slowly rose to my feet, forcing the unnerving feelings to the side. There was something unholy about this girl.
“I am Parker,” I said, keeping my voice level as I introduced myself.
“Yeah, so?” Angelica snapped, raising a perfectly crafted eyebrow.
“I am from the White Moon Pack, sent by King Alpha Xavier to investigate the rogue attacks!” I said. “I don’t think we officially met. Who are you?”
Angelica flinched, yet she recovered quickly and crossed her arms around her chest.
“Did you see that?” Willow gasped suspiciously.
“I did,” I said.
“Do you think she had anything to do with the attacks?” Willow asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said, “but I sure as hell would be investigating if she were.”
“My name is Angelica Rower,” she said, forcing my attention back to the girl. “I am the soon-to-be Luna of the Opal Pack.”
“Why is she ignoring which pack she originated from?” Willow asked.
“I don’t know,” I answered.
I was about to ask when footsteps came from down the hallway, and my attention snapped toward the door.
“Lex,” Mila’s voice sounded from outside. “Slow down!”
Sh*t!
“Mila!” I yelled over the link. “Don’t let Lex call me mommy!”
Lex was the first to peek his head around the corner and smile, followed by Mila with Lilly in her arms.
Mila flinched upon seeing Angelica and grabbed Lex by the shirt.
Startled, Lex looked over his shoulder, wide-eyed, at Mila.
Mila let go of Lex, and his head snapped toward Angelica. He took an unwilling step back, seeing her, and quickly hid behind Mila.
Mila smiled down at him, pushed him forward, and rubbed his hair. She squatted down and carefully set Lilly on her feet.
“It’s all right,” Mila said. “You can go to Parker and say your goodbyes.”
Lilly took Lex’s hand, and the two nervously passed Angelica to come to me.
“Parker!” Lex addressed me when they were close enough.
For Lex’s safety, I told him not to address me as ‘mom’ in the company of an enemy. This will be the first time he has needed to address me by my given pack name.
I stretched my arms open, and Lex and Lilly leaped into my arms, giggling.
Yet I could feel the tension in their small bodies-they were scared, maybe even afraid of Angelica.
I internally sighed.
I wished she would leave so that I could spend some decent time with Lex, but instead, she took a seat opposite me, adding to the tension.
“I’ll see the both of you soon,” I said, cutting our visit short and kissing the tops of their heads. “Be good, and listen to Mommy!”
Lex nervously smiled, nodded, and pulled away from me, taking Lilly’s hand.
“We will, Parker!” he said, his voice quivering. He didn’t like me to be away from him, but he understood that this was my duty and work.
My heart pinched in my chest, and the tears burned behind my eyes as I watched the pups wave at me and go to Mila’s side.
“Thanks,” I mind-linked Mila when the two pups were safely next to her. She nodded and started steering the pups out of the office.
Lex lifted his gaze and waved, unshed tears glittering in his eyes.
“Let me know when you are returning,” Mila linked when she was outside, closing the door.
“I will,” I replied. “Take care.”
A breath escaped my lips, and Angelica turned her gaze towards me.
“Is that your family?” She asked.
“Friends,” I replied.
Angelica gave a nod.
“You seem close,” she said, and in an attempt to gauge her feelings, I knitted my eyebrows.
What was this she-wolf planning?
I felt my body start heating up and pushed my concerns aside. I had better leave before my heat has me on my knees. I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of her.
“It was fun meeting you, Angelica,” I said, heading to the door to leave. “If you would excuse me, I have other things to attend to.”
The office door suddenly opened, forcing me to step back, and my eyes widened to see Alex.
Oh no!
Alex entered with Luke following behind him, his eyes hard and his body posture cold and stiff.
He turned to look at me and narrowed his eyes.
What he said next sent shivers down my spine at the intensity of his hard, cold, and poisonous words.
****