She had thought he would be a werewolf, but, alas, he was just one of his human allies.
Someone suddenly grabbed Audrey around her waist, holding her tightly against his body.
“Hola, bonita, bailar conmigo,” A Man’s slurred voice spoke from behind Audrey.
Audrey moved her face away and took a deep breath, the man heavily oozed off booze and other unidentified substances.
“No, lo siento,” Audrey said and tried to pry the man’s hand away from around her waist but he held on tightly.
Audrey sighed; she didn’t want to use force; the man was badly tweaked, but she changed her mind when she saw the man’s hand trying to go up her chest.
She was about to burn the man’s hand when he was roughly yanked away from her.
Alpha Lake pinned the man on the floor and repeatedly punched him furiously in the face. Henry and Philip standing behind him.
“It’s enough Alpha, for the sake of your reputation,” A suited man walked out from the dancing crowd and held Alpha Lake’s hand, stopping him from pureeing the man’s bloodied face.
Audrey yanked her face toward the man’s voice, and when she saw who it was, how was it him? How was he related to the Alpha? Why was he here?
“Take him away!” Alpha Lake said darkly.
“Yes, Alpha,” Henry and Philip replied at once.
Audrey watched as they carried the battered man out of the club.
The people were so lost in lust and booze and didn’t seem to notice what had just happened.
“Catherine?” The suited man called in surprise.
Alpha Lake was shocked when he heard Mark calling Audrey’s name. How did he know her?
Audrey walked over to Mark and politely offered him a handshake but he wrapped his hand around her and hugged her.
He always preferred to act friendly with her outside the office, and right here was not a place to act professionally.
“What are you doing here?” Audrey asked, raising her voice so he could hear her because of the loud music. She didn’t know… She didn’t have to.
“I could ask you the same, Missy,” Mark replied.
Alpha Lake watched them with narrowed eyes. He didn’t know how to describe it, but he felt greatly uncomfortable seeing Audrey in another man’s arms.
“I have to apologize for the incident,” Mark said sincerely.
“It’s alright, you guys came just in time, thank you,” Audrey smiled.
“Let’s go,” Alpha Lake breezed passed them angrily.
He was the one who saved her, yet she went ahead to thank someone else.
“This way, Catherine,” Mark held Audrey’s hand and led her away from all the noise.
They climbed a dimly lit staircase and entered the first door by the right side of the short passage.
“Welcome to my office,” Mark said casually, yet with a hint of pride for his achievement.
“Wow, nice,” Audrey looked around the office and fell in love with the simplicity of it.
So he was the owner of this club after all; she was wondering why he had wanted to meet Alpha Lake at the club; she had thought he was only into real estate; she never pegged him as a club kind of guy.
She ignored the glare Alpha Lake was sending her from the single red sofa and rather focused on the view behind him.
The transparent glass allowed her to see the people downstairs; drinking, dancing, and chatting. She loved it.
“I love this, but doesn’t it get a little uncomfortable when everyone starts staring at you from down there?” Audrey asked curiously.
“Ha-ha, it’s opaque, darling,” Mark chuckled and led her to sit opposite Alpha Lake.
“I don’t have all day, Mark, where’s it?” Alpha Lake said irritably.
He was boiling in jealousy seeing Audrey smiling nonstop with Mark.
“Tsk, touchy as always,” Mark shook his head and went over to his table, drawing out his drawer and taking a flash out of it.
“Come over here,” Mark motioned to Alpha Lake as he fixed the flash in the computer that was sitting on the table.
Alpha Lake stood and walked over to the table and together they watched whatever it was that was stored in the flash.
Audrey noticed that Mark kind of spoke too freely to Alpha Lake, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
He was a human and was unaware of Alpha Lake’s status.
She wondered what it was they were watching that left such a dark aura around them, she could feel the hatred oozing off from them, and as she stared at their faces at that moment, it almost seemed like they were twins.
Audrey sighed and brought out her phone to keep herself busy, idleness was making her imagine impossible things.
“The bastard doesn’t know what’s coming to him,” Alpha Lake said menacingly.
“Be rational, Lake,” Mark said as he took out the flash from the computer and handed it to Alpha Lake.
“Alpha Lake,” Alpha Lake corrected with a frown.
Audrey couldn’t help but stare at them.
Alpha Lake was acting quite unusual. He never tolerated disrespect, but he’s been doing a lot of tolerating since he met Mark, what was it with them?
And if he asked Mark to call him ‘Alpha,’ does it mean he was aware of the existence of werewolves?
She started to wonder that maybe Mr. Russell knew about them too, but, if he did and still decided to act the way he did with Alpha Lake, then that meant he was a very stupid man.
He was asking to be killed.
“Ok, Alpha Lake, please do remember that I’m always here to help,” Mark said and playfully punched Alpha Lake’s shoulder.
“Yeah, really helpful,” Alpha Lake scoffed.
“Let’s go,” Alpha Lake said to Audrey and marched towards the door, not sparing her a glance.
Audrey frowned and remained seated, not moving a muscle.
Meeting with Mark was the last official thing she would be doing together with him for that day, any other thing would be considered unofficial.
Alpha Lake paused at the door and looked back at Audrey. She was casually scrolling through her phone as if he hadn’t spoken to her just now.
“Want to tour my club, darling?” Mark asked, smirking mischievously at Alpha Lake.
“No, she doesn’t,” Alpha Lake replied haughtily.
“Yes, I do,” Audrey softly replied, ignoring Alpha Lake.
“Let’s go, my lady,” Mark said, offering Audrey his hand.
She took Mark’s hand and together they walked out of the office, leaving Alpha Lake alone.
Alpha Lake broodingly followed them like a shadow, watching Audrey with hawk-like eyes.
Audrey and Mark finally settled in a boot, away from the dance floor.
“Oh, you’re still here, man?” Mark asked Alpha Lake who came and sat opposite them, his unwavering sight set on Audrey.
“I think I’ll take her home now,” Alpha Lake announced and stood from the chair and held Audrey’s hand.
“Come on,” He said to Audrey in a serious tone.
“No, you can go ahead,” Audrey snatched her hand away from his grip.
“Chill out, Alpha, I’ll bring her back safely to you, let the poor girl have some fun-”
“Stay out of this!!!” Alpha Lake growled at Mark.
He’s had enough of his annoying meddling between Audrey and himself.
He wanted to put an end to that uneasy feeling that settled at the bottom of his chest each time he saw Mark hold Audrey’s hand.
“Whoa!” Mark raised his hand and reeled back from the angry Alpha-wolf.
“Chill, Alpha, it was just a suggestion,” Mark said and turned to Audrey, “I’m sorry, darling, you can come back any time, I’m always here for you,” He promised.
Audrey felt the tension between the two men and decided to leave… for the sake of Mark.
“Goodbye, Mark, see you soon,” She smiled at him.
“See You soon, darling,” Mark waved happily like a kid to her as she walked away with her head held up, ignoring the shit out of the Alpha.
“This is no way to treat your elder brother, Lake,” Mark said to Alpha Lake.
Alpha Lake ignored him and left.
Audrey used all her willpower to stop herself from pausing and turning back to go and ask Mark the meaning of what he had just said, but, she knew they would question her on how she heard what he said through the loud music.
Brother? She couldn’t believe her ears, and Alpha Lake didn’t refute it either, which meant it was the truth.
She slowly walked to the car and sat down, quietly drowning in her bubble of a thousand imagination.
“We’re home, Catherine,” Alpha Lake spoke softly beside Audrey.
He knew he had overreacted at the club, and he was looking for a way to make it up to her.
He was tired of the silent treatment he’s been receiving since morning.
Audrey quietly opened her door and left the car.
She reached the door and paused as she saw Cara talking with one of her friends called Grace.
“If it’s not another Imposter, trying to sleep with our Alpha. Look how she shamelessly follows him around, disgusting!” Grace said as Audrey approached them.
Audrey heard them but didn’t react. She was more concerned about how to process the information she’d just learned that evening.
“Ugh!” Audrey winced from the unexpected pain.
“Where do you think you’re going to?” Grace asked maliciously, holding up the knife she had just used to stab Audrey’s lower abdomen.