He noticed how subtly Janeth always put her hair behind her left ear each time she wanted to say something.
The gesture felt familiar but he dismissed it immediately. It was impossible.
“I-I can’t remember, Alpha, I was badly injured and passed out when I reached the Pack’s border,” Janeth replied, looking everywhere but at the Alpha.
She didn’t think he would have the time to ask such intricate questions.
“Then, why did you leave? And, how did you get injured?” Alpha Lake relaxed into his chair, ready to hear her oven-fresh lies.
“I-I wanted to escape, the bullying was too much for me to handle. You, you didn’t love me anymore…” Her voice cracked at the end, she started sobbing quietly and tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
“I never loved you!” Alpha Lake said dangerously.
“Yes, yes you did, Alpha, please, don’t talk like that. Remember, remember the bracelet you gifted me on my seventh birthday? I remember your promise to me that day, you promised to make me your Luna when I turned eighteen, but, but… that evil Janeth came and destroyed our relationship. Please, Alpha, remember me, I’m still that same Audrey you loved, I…”
“Quiet!” Alpha Lake growled.
He angrily stood from his chair, striding right at her with with furry. He harshly wrapped his hand around her neck; and, pinned her to the wall.
“No! No! Please don’t hurt me! I’m your Luna. You promised!” Janeth choked out.
“One last chance!” His voice was dangerously guttural.
“Who. Are. You!” His eyes were blazing red, and his wolf was angry.
Regal didn’t believe a single word she had said. He was Alpha and he could sense her deceit and dishonesty from miles away. His wolf felt insulted.
He didn’t like it when people thought they could play with his intelligence. It was unacceptable.
Janeth was sure she was going to die if she didn’t find something reassuring to say to the Alpha.
Her mind was scattered in confusion, she almost wanted to confess her real identity as she stared at the Alpha’s outraged face, she knew how deadly Regal was, and she didn’t want to mess with him.
“You have my amulet!” Janeth managed to squeeze out the words from her constricting airways.
Alpha Lake slowly released her neck. He was now confused. He knew no one else was present that day when he had gifted Audrey that bracelet and had taken her amulet in return.
What if this girl really was Audrey? But he had doubts, her stories weren’t aligning with the real story. Maybe the injury had made her lose her memory, leaving only scattered hints for her.
But then, if he were to believe her, how would she explain how she healed without scars? Why did she suddenly want to become his Luna when she had acted like she had no memory of them before she became his slave?
“You’re Audrey?” He moved away from her, looking her up and down.
What was he to do now? He had always wanted her dead, and when he saw her on the brink of death, he disposed of her without a second thought.
Now what? Did he want her back? Could he see her as he used to before Janeth happened? Then, what’s he going to do Catherine(Audrey)? He had no connection to the person in front of him whatsoever, but she had given him reasons to believe her.
Believing that she was Audrey should have unleashed his hatred and the forbidden untold feelings he had for her, but, he just felt dumb to this new realization.
He Almost believed her, almost. But he was an Alpha for a reason, his instincts were always right… just that it didn’t seem to be working fine with Catherine(Audrey).
Thinking of Audrey made him realize he’s been interrogating the wrong person. He knew what to do.
Janeth noticed the change in the Alpha’s demeanor and thought he had believed her gibberishes.
“So, what made you think I won’t hate you anymore if you returned?” He asked as he intimidatingly towered over her.
“The-the-mate bond, Alpha.” She said convincingly.
“Mate bond?” Alpha Lake asked, perplexed. He felt nothing for her.
Unless anger can be counted as a feeling; then that’s what he felt, dozens of it. He would give her one last chance to confess her sins, if not, after the party tomorrow, she’d face his wrath for thinking she could fool a whole Pack, with the strongest Alpha in history.
“Yes, Alpha. I feel it in my bones each time I see you, I know you feel it too. I’ve missed you, my Alpha.”
“Do not touch me!” He looked her straight in the eyes. What gave her the temerity to think that she could seduce him?
Janeth withdrew her hands midair, she had thought she was successful in her schemes and wanted to take her next step, seduction.
But it seemed like the Alpha still needed some persuasion. It was fine by her, as long as he wasn’t averse to her anymore, she would slowly warm her way to him.
“Follow.” He said and walked out of the office.
Inside Ms. Bridget’s room, four people were sitting on her bed, staring at Audrey.
Two pairs of eyes stared at her with mirth while the other two stared at her with disbelief and curiosity.
“I knew it. I had my suspicions!” Andrew said, sitting next to Alpha Sebastian.
“So, the other girl was… a fake?” Alpha Sebastian asked, astonished and short of words.
“Yes, Alpha Sebastian. She’s currently with the Alpha trying to convince him that she’s… her” Sandra pointed at Audrey.
“Shit! I fucked up real bad,” Alpha Sebastian angrily hit his palm on the bed.
“Yes, Alpha, you did,” Andrew said, smirking.
Alpha Sebastian felt stupid for how he had confidently confronted Alpha Lake earlier because of Janeth.
He wanted to expose her so badly. He didn’t like it when people played with his kindness.
“Then we must tell Alpha Lake at once!” Alpha Sebastian announced, Getting up from the bed to walk out of the room.
“No!” Sandra and Alex echoed at once.
“Why?” Alpha Sebastian was confused.
Why would they want to let that imposter walk around freely while claiming to be what she’s not? He saw many reasons to punish her; her collaboration with a witch to turn herself like that, her dishonest schemes, and his vendetta against her for making him confront the Alpha king so publicly.
If he wasn’t Alpha Lake’s childhood friend, he knew he wouldn’t be alive by now, he would have been killed in the hall.
“He hates me, remember?” Audrey finally spoke up. She secretly shared a glance with her friends.
They had only told Alpha Sebastian and Andrew that she was lucky to have been found and healed by a witch, they skipped the part of her being the ‘witch’ and they didn’t mention her having a wolf.
That would remain their top secret until Audrey was ready to show her real self.
“I see.” Alpha Sebastian said.
He slowly turned around and went to stand in front of Audrey.
“You know, I feel very stupid,” He looked from Audrey to Andrew.
“Me too.” Andrew nodded.
Andrew secretly wondered if wishes really came through. He wondered if the moon goddess had heard his wishes for Audrey that night, and sent someone to help her.
He was low-key jumping with happiness within himself, but his guilt didn’t let him fully express his elation.
“Just because she dyed her hair, damn! We’re so dumb.” Alpha Sebastian smiled at Audrey, he always knew there was something more to her.
“Come here!” He drew her into his arms and locked her in a long tight hug.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from him,” He said as he gently released her.
“I still can’t wrap my head around this but, I promise I’ll protect you this time, you can come back to my Pack with me, we don’t care if you’re human, most of us are mated to humans,” Alpha Sebastien didn’t want to waste any more time.
He wanted to start dropping his hints till she got it.
“I appreciate you, Alpha… I’ll think about it.” Audrey smiled.
She felt more at ease now that some people knew her real identity.
“She doesn’t want to go with you, Alpha,” Andrew stood and held Audrey by the wrist.
“She belongs with us,” Andrew added.
“Yes, she stays here!” Alex stood and held her other free wrist.
Sandra watched as three men secretly fought for her friend.
None was bold enough to own up their feelings, but they still couldn’t stand it when someone showed interest in her.
“Okay, okay, she stays with me tonight. Goodnight everyone.” Sandra snatched her from their tight grips, rushing to the door for a quick escape.
“It was me who drove her out that day… Alpha’s order,” Andrew said out of the blue.