OLIVIA
I took a deep breath and adjusted the mask on my face as I stood in front of the tower. My eyes roamed around the huge and mighty securities and I subconsciously snickered.
It has been years, but it still felt like everything happened yesterday. I remember being thrown out and pushed around by these same people who are now bowing right in front of me as a welcome to the same tower I was sent away from.
I know they acted on instructions, but they could have treated me better.
“Miss Hunter?” my eyes moved up the seconds my name escaped one of the securities’ mouths. “Yes, I am here to see the Alpha,” I said without missing a tone. There was no need for me to.
“Please, come with me. He has been waiting for you,” he answered, motioning me to enter the tower.
I took a deep breath, hoping to steady my heart as it pounded wildly in my chest, betraying me with every beat. I was wearing a mask, and that was supposed to be my armor tonight.
He wouldn’t know me. He wouldn’t see past the intricate design covering half my face. And yet, here I was, unable to calm the fierce drumming inside me.
Ridiculous. After everything that had happened, the last thing I wanted was for him to affect me like this.
Would it have been better without my mask on? Should I have suggested a meeting outside of this place that holds a lot of memories, both good and painful ones?
I indeed want to prove my worth to him. I plan on showing him that I survived without him, but as I thought about meeting with him, my heart swatted.
I silently chuckled at my stupidity. He wouldn’t recognize me through a mask. How is he supposed to know it’s me?
I cleared my throat and looked around the familiar place where I spent a year of my life. It was short, but herein lies my most unforgettable memories.
This was the place I had the most fun of my life. Yes, there was an issue with Claire and she was just like Karen, who would do anything to make sure I lived in hell, but it was just for a few months, thankfully. I am not exactly saying that I am happy she is dead, either.
“Miss Hunter?” I jumped at the sudden yell of my name, the bulky man staring at me. My heart jumped when I realized I was standing in front of Alpha Damon’s room.
I bet I would still know my way around here. There’s no way I wouldn’t remember how it looks.
As I stepped in, I caught the sight of him seated gracefully on the cushion. The familiar tilt of his head sparked some naive thrill in me, igniting another traitorous thud in my heart.
The moment my gaze found him, the wall I’d thought I had built cracked open, making me feel foolish for ogling at him.
What was it about him that still managed to crawl under my skin? The way his hand rested casually on the back of a chair? The way his curled lips were the same as I remembered, charming, disarming, and dangerous all at once?
Alpha Damon’s gaze fell on me and for a moment, I thought he found out who I was from how intense he was staring at me.
He was still the same Alpha I knew. Nothing much has changed. Except, he is not wearing a smile on his face like he used to, and even with that; he looked more handsome than I knew him to be.
Being left alone with him after the security bowed and left unexpectedly made me feel stuffy, and I couldn’t explain why.
“I guess you are the infamous Miss Hunter” his voice was calm and soft as he spoke to me, gesturing me to sit down.
I slowly closed and opened my eyes, his voice repeating in my ears, distracting me from saying anything for a few seconds before I comforted myself.
I know I shouldn’t be thinking about how much I have missed hearing his voice, but I couldn’t help it. Taking a deep breath, I forced a smile through the mask and politely greeted him as I tried to pull myself together.
“Good morning, Alpha. It’s nice meeting you” I was hoping my voice didn’t betray me because it took him a minute to reply.
My wolf kept giggling and messing up my head. I had to ignore her until I was done from here. I do not want her to make me do stupid things when I am already nervous as it is.
The way he was staring at me was making my skin crawl, and I didn’t understand the impulsive growl of my stomach.
I watched keenly as he crossed his leg on the other with his eyes, not looking away from me as if he was trying to see beyond the mask I was putting on.
With his attention to me, he gave me a southward look before fixating his eyes on mine once more. “Which pack are you from?” he asked out of nowhere, attaining a surprised scoff from me.
“Do I have to answer that, Alpha? “I don’t think that’s why I was invited,” I said, as he looked at me with amusement.
My heart thawed after hearing a low chuckle from him. His face was solid rock a few minutes ago. Did I say something funny?
“Right. You don’t have to answer that for now,” he chimed. For now? I didn’t understand what that meant, but I also didn’t press further.
“I am sure you’ve heard the news of the missing Luna,” he stated. Without thinking about it, I hastily nodded my head and muttered a “yes” and in the next second, I almost choked on my spit.
“What? Your Luna is missing?” I raved in surprise. I have been here for a few months. How did I not know about that? Why and when did she go missing? And a full grown-up at that?
Alpha Damon raised his brow at me as though I just asked the most stupid question. “She isn’t exactly missing.” She exited the tower with my cherished possession.
The astonishment on my face earlier metamorphosed into a low laugh because I found it funny to know that Luna would run away with Alpha Damon’s things.
Harley? Hamel? Hazel? Haley? What was her name again? I sure do know it starts with the first two letters. Whatever it is.
I let out a discreet hack before taking my attention back to him. Hearing that brought so much joy to my heart for no reason. Or maybe there is.
The Haley girl was/is his mate, the same person he sent me out of the house for. She was the reason Alpha Damon failed to keep his promise of letting me go only when I found my mate.
I thought the mate bond wouldn’t fade, so what happened? Why did she run away? As much as I was curious to know, a part of me was excited.
Seeing that familiar angry look return to his face and knowing that it wasn’t directed at me but at his mate made me so pleased.
“Why? I mean, why did she run away? What did she steal from you?” I queried while pretending to take notes of the things he had said.
Even without writing anything down, there is no way I would forget whatever he will say to me.
“I do not need to tell you why she left. And to answer your second question, she left with my mother’s necklace. It’s the only thing of hers that I have left.” he paused, crossing his legs on the other.
I silently gulped as his jaw slightly clenched in anger. I knew not to ask questions that might provoke him. I do not want him getting all riled up at me for simply asking a question.
I want him to be mad for other reasons and that would be when I finally reveal myself to him. I have been waiting patiently for years just to witness that day. Nothing has to ruin it.
I scribbled on my note, but I couldn’t write anything meaningful, not when he was back to staring at me like he wanted to see through my soul.
“Are you capable of finding her? I do not care how much you want, I can give you any amount. All I want is the necklace. I would also appreciate it if you can bring her back to me. I won’t let her go unpunished for thinking she can make a fool out of me!” he spat without hiding his rage.
I took a quick peek at his face, enough to make me want to do things I was not ready to take into account. I asked him a few more questions, of which he answered some and chose not to answer some.
I was fine with it because right now I want to be anywhere but here. I have overstayed my alone time with him.
“I will try my best to find Harley, your Luna. When I-” “Hazel. Her name is Hazel,” he corrected as my mouth formed an ‘oh,’ shape.
I mentally took note of it before proceeding to stand up. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I didn’t.
“I will get back to you as soon as possible, Alpha Damon. I will also reach out to Beta Luca if there is anything I want to know,” I said, picking up my bag.
Alpha Damon stood up, his eyes fixed on me. I would lose if he continued goggling at me for a long. He’s not going to ask me how I knew his Beta, is he? Because that would be super ridiculous.
“Why does it feel like I have met you somewhere, Miss Hunter? Do I know you?” he asked, taking a few steps closer to me while I stepped back with shock written all over my body.
I tensed, instantly shaking my head. “Why would the Alpha know a commoner like me? I am sure you are mistaken,” I said rapidly and made my way to leave.
I hit my leg on the table in front of me in the process of doing that, making a painful scream escape my lips. I want him to know who I am, but not just today.
I am not ready to face Alpha Damon as Olivia, the 17-year-old omega he made a deal with years ago. “Are you okay?” he made his way to me but I was quick enough to stand up.
I guess luck wasn’t on my side today. While trying to reach for the door, I stumbled on my dress with my heels, catching the fabric and instead of falling to the floor, I fell backward, into his arm.
I jostled in fear. My eyes widened as he held me in place to prevent me from any further fall. The proximity heightened the stake in my pounding heart.
In my quest to get away from him, my hand brushes my face, catching the edge of the mask and accidentally snagging the strap.
I watched in bewilderment as the mask stumbled to the floor, spinning like a fallen leaf. I instinctively froze upon the realization that my face was bare to him.
The sound of my heartbeat roared in my ears as I slowly lifted my gaze to find him locked with mine. I could see the confusion and dawning recognition warring in his expression.
My shoulders slumped in defeat as Alpha Damon let go of me, gaping at me with a mix of disbelief, shock, and tension.
“Olivia?” My name slipped from his lips like a question, but there was something else beneath it. Surprise, yes. Doubt, definitely.
But his voice, it wasn’t just any voice. It was the kind that curled around me like a velvet rope, pulling me closer against my will.
There was a low edge to it, soft but commanding, and it sent a shiver racing down my spine before I could stop it.