Reed’S POV.
“The door is open.” I say out loud the moment a knock sounds on my door. I focus on typing away on my laptop, but that doesn’t last long because once the door opens and I get a whiff of a very familiar perfume, my head automatically snaps up and my heart plummets to the floor when I see Halle stepping into my office.
Halle.
What is she doing here?
I have been avoiding her for days now!
I am not ready to face her yet.
“Omega Reed.” She addresses me with a formal bow. My organs shut down within me.
“Halle.” I call and rise to my feet. “What are you doing here?” My voice is a raspy mess. A whisper. Almost inaudible. That’s what Halle is capable of doing to me.
Making me sound like a nervous piece of shit when I’m not.
I’m not nervous and neither am I a piece of shit.
But I’m a jerk!
I’ve been cruel to her and I don’t intend to stop anytime soon.
“I’m sorry for showing up unannounced, but what I have to say to you cannot wait another minute.” She walks over to me and my gaze is plastered on her face because I’m drowning in her green eyes and there’s no one to save me from them.
My heart is actually screaming her name right now. My arms want to wrap themselves around her and engulf her in the biggest, gentlest, warmest hug and my lips want to kiss her until her mind is completely blown away, but my mind won’t let me do any of that.
I know better than to do any of that!
“What do you have to say to me?” I ask dryly.
“Can I… can I take a seat?” She asks, pointing to the seat across from me. I quickly nod my head.
“Yes, of course. Go ahead.” She takes the seat and I do the same. The indifferent look on her face is chopping my heart into pieces.
She doesn’t look like being in my presence affects her in any way.
She looks perfectly fine. Like we never shared a kiss and I ghosted her.
“You were right.” Her words interrupt my thoughts. I look at her, blank. I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“What am I about?” I ask, confused. My brows are creased.
“Tania. You were right about the fact that she’s working with someone.”
Ahah!
My mind springs back to life.
Tania.
Working with someone.
It’s freaking important. Feelings can come later. I push my predicaments to the back of my mind and focus my gaze on her.
“Tell me everything!” I urge impatiently. She clears her throat.
“A while ago, after our training for the day, she joined me in the arena and asked a very weird question. She asked me if I hated Alora to the point where I wanted her death. That question made me understand the fact that she was driving somewhere I decided to play along by accepting. She then went along to tell me she’s working for a few people who want both Alora and Alpha Jayce dead.”
“Did she say who they were?” I ask eagerly.
“Nope. She wouldn’t tell me no matter how much I urged her.”
“What else did she say?”
“She told me about their next attack plan which will be on Alora. They have come up with another plan to kill her.” All the hair on my body stands erect. I exhale hard and lean against the backrest of my chair.
Anger boils in my chest like magma in the Earth’s crust that’s threatening to explode.
I’m angry. I’m furious. I want to kill someone right now.
Tania!
I’m going to mess her up.
“Tell me everything.” I say in a deadly tone. Phone goes ahead to tell me about their plans to attack her in a restroom in the mall and my anger keeps rising with every word she says.
I swear I’ll die soon if I listen to more.
“So… that’s literally their plan.”
I fold my arms over my breast and look at her long and hard.
I can’t believe what my ears just heard. She’s patiently waiting for me to talk and I have no idea what to say, but I know I have to say something.
Everything is in my hands right now?”
“Are you going to tell Alpha Kai?” She asks after a long moment of silence.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Why not?” She looks confused. I sigh and lean forward on my table so I can be closer to her.
“He’s going to get very upset and might blow things out of proportion. I’m going to tell him, but not now. So you have to promise me you won’t say anything to me.”
“I will, if you promise to keep Alora safe.”
“I swear it on my life I’m going to keep Alora safe.” I divulge with all seriousness. She calmly nods her head.
“Fine, then I won’t tell him.”
“Thank you. I’ll get back to you when I come up with a plan on how to counter their attack plan. Okay?”
“I will be waiting.” She rises to her feet. “I’ll take my leave now.”
‘Don’t go.’
I want to tell her that, but the words have been stitched on my tongue.
I simply shake my head and watch her start walking towards the door, but two steps later, surprisingly, she turns to look at me once more. I freeze on my seat and my heart falls into my abdomen.
“Have you been avoiding me these past days?” She asks out of nowhere.
I’m not ready for the conversation.
I never will be.
“Yes. I have.” My mouth blurts out before I can even think.
“Why?”
‘Because I’m in love with you’
“Because being with you will only cause trouble for the both of us.”
“What about the kiss? Did it mean anything to you?” I swallow dryly as I prepare to tell the biggest lie I have ever told in my life.
“Yes. It meant nothing to me. It will do you some good if you stop thinking about it.” I keep a fake serious look, even though I’m crying within.
I’m going to regret this.
This act of cowardice is going to hunt me for the rest of my life.
Halle is hurt. I just broke her heart. She wants to break down, but as usual, she’s trying to stay strong.
“You are a heartless jerk!” And then she storms out of my office with tears-filled eyes, slamming the door hard behind her.
My head falls on my table and I curse myself over a million times for what I’ve just done.
Halle was right.
I’m a cruel jerk!