Three days later.
Ruby
I knocked softly on the door, feeling the nervousness coursing through me, evident in my sweaty, shaking hands. After a few seconds, the door creaked open, revealing a beautiful middle-aged woman with a quizzical expression. She wore a floral-print blouse and jeans, her hands resting on her hips as she looked at me with a raised eyebrow, her eyes filled with curiosity.
I stood before her, nervously adjusting the strands of my newly acquired fake blond hair. With a deliberate blink of my fake blue eye, I attempted to exude confidence, despite the uncertainty swirling within me.
What if my plan fails and she sees through my disguise?
Clearing my throat, I pushed aside my doubts and mustered a polite smile as I met her gaze.
“Hello, ma’am,” I began, my voice steady.
“I’m here to speak with Mr. Smith. Is he available?” I kept my gaze steady, hoping to convey a sense of professionalism despite the unease I felt.
The woman’s brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced at me from head to toe, her eyes narrowing slightly. She folded her arms across her chest, a gesture of scepticism, and shifted her weight to one side.
“And why do you need to see him, if I may ask?” She questioned, her voice tinged with suspicion. I straightened my posture, adopting a confident stance, and pointed to my nurse’s uniform, a crisp white garment adorned with a small emblem of the academy.
“I’m the new nurse sent to assist from the academy.” I lied smoothly without blinking, hoping my explanation would suffice to gain entry into her home.
“The new nurse?” She shook her head in confusion, and I knew instantly that if my plan didn’t work, then it meant I had to resort to plan B, which I had hoped not…. because there was no fucking plan B.
Damian had been a great help, like he promised, by giving me all the details I needed to know about Mr. Smith, Lilith’s uncle, surprisingly in a short period of time, and he had left the rest for me to figure out while he took care of his pack businesses.
I delved into the confidential file Damian had provided, and I uncovered Mr. Smith’s story-a man in his late fifties, happily married with a son. But guess what? His life wasn’t perfect, as it seemed to hold a hidden darkness, veiled by a mysterious event a decade ago, coinciding with his son’s birth.
His heart, which was supposed to pump only blood, started pumping silver into his blood stream, which was very toxic and dangerous, also known as a lethal cocktail for Werewolf. Luckily for him, the academy was able to develop a medicine that expelled the silver by flushing it out of his bloodstream, a privilege granted for his position as head of the werewolf council.
I found it odd that the medicine seemed free of side effects, considering his decade-long treatment. Two days ago, while working in the sick bay, I became so nosy about the case of my son that, hoping to find more information, my curiosity led me to a confidential request from Mr. Smith, tucked away in Jane’s locker. He requested another nurse, preferably male, and I knew that this was an opening doorway for me into his world.
Going through my grandmother’s book, I discovered a method to alter my appearance. While I was tempted to disguise myself as a male nurse, the academy lacked one, making my ruse easily uncovered. Instead, I opted for a change, transforming into a blonde with blue eyes, a stark contrast to my natural brunette with brown eyes.
My attention shifted as a man, likely in his late sixties, approached and stood beside the woman. Surprisingly, her expression softened slightly in his presence. She glanced at him, her features betraying concern, before returning her focus to me.
“You might be mistaken. I recently dismissed our last nurse, and I haven’t requested a replacement,” she stated firmly, her tone unwavering. Before she could elaborate, the man gently placed his hands on her shoulder, as if to soothe her.
“I requested a new nurse myself,” he admitted, his voice frail and interrupted by a cough.
“My dear wife was feeling a bit insecure with the previous nurse, which is why I requested a male replacement,” he explained, casting a reassuring glance at his wife. She responded with a mixture of gratitude and concern, her lips forming a small smile. It seemed his words had temporarily eased her worries.
“Alright, dear, but next time, don’t hesitate to ask for my assistance. Besides, this isn’t a male nurse,”she sighed, casting a glance at the man who nodded before retreating into the house. Then she refocused on me.
“Oh, I apologise for any inconvenience. If my presence is discomforting, I can return to the academy,” I offered, bowing my head slightly, hoping to dissuade her.
Please don’t send me back.
There was a brief pause, during which I felt the weight of the woman’s scrutiny.
“And your name again?” she inquired, suspicion lacing her tone. I decided to stick with the real name of a nurse from the academy, and Jane seemed like the perfect fit. After all, she was an experienced senior nurse and the supposed recipient of Mr. Smith’s letter.
“Jane. My name is Jane,” I replied evenly, holding her gaze.
“Last I saw you at the academy, you were chubby,” she remarked skeptically causing my heart to skip a beat in fear. Why hadn’t I considered the possibility of her knowing Jane before? Damn.
“Hmmm.. I’ve lost weight recently due to the demands of my work,” I replied, hoping she’d buy the excuse.
“And your hair color?” She pressed on, her scrutiny unrelenting.
“The children at the academy where I volunteer expressed dislike for it, so I decided to change it just to make them happy,” I explained smoothly, weaving another deception effortlessly. She nodded, a sense of resignation evident in her demeanour as she stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.
“Very well, come in,” she said, her voice tinged with a sense of obligation.
“As you may know, I am Mrs. Smith, and the man you saw earlier is my husband, Mr. Smith,” she introduced as I stepped inside, closing the door behind me, then motioning for me to follow her. He appeared older than his outward appearance suggested, which struck me as odd. Could ageing be one of the medication’s side effects?
She led me through the house’s corridors confidently, pointing out various rooms and facilities along the way and providing brief explanations as we passed. Finally, we reached a door, and she pushed it open, revealing a neatly arranged room.
“This will be your quarters whenever you’re here, in case you need some privacy,” she stated, her tone businesslike as she stepped aside, allowing me to enter.
I glanced around the room, noting the simple but comfortable furnishings. Despite the unexpected nature of my arrival, it was clear that efforts had been made to make me feel welcome.
Offering a polite nod of gratitude to the woman, I stepped into the room and set down the box of medicines and other office essentials. I didn’t plan on staying overnight, as I hoped to return to my son after ensuring Mr. Smith took his medication, which was required once a day.
“Please, you aren’t allowed into any other room apart from the living room, kitchen, or bedroom. I hope it’s clear,” she said before leaving. She seemed unproblematic-a woman of few words-but I couldn’t help but wonder why she had something against female nurses.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I began organizing my belongings on the desk, feeling a sense of anticipation building within me. My plan was simple: gain their trust to get what I wanted. It shouldn’t be difficult, right?
Once everything was in place, I emerged from the room and traced my way back to the living room. There, I saw Mr. Smith sitting by the window, his gaze fixed outside, as if searching for something or rather waiting for someone.
Clearing my throat, I approached him. “Here are your medications, sir,” I said softly, extending the tray towards him. He turned to look at me, his expression distant yet somehow expectant.
“Thank you,” he murmured, taking the tray from my hands with a grateful nod before returning his attention to the window. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something mysterious about him, and I resolved to uncover the truth behind his demeanour.
“Why are you still standing there?” He questioned me, not turning to look at me as if he could feel my gaze on him.
“Sorry to make you feel uncomfortable, but it’s my duty to ensure that you take your medication,” I said. To my surprise, he started laughing.
“You think I don’t value my life? I’ll take the damn medication. Trust me, when I say I am more than desperate to find a permanent cure for what’s happening to me, and I am ready to do the impossible to get it,” he spoke, his words stinging my ears.
Was he serious about being willing to do the actual impossible? Would he give up his position as head of the council for me if I managed to cure him?
“Even if it means losing your position as the council president to a worthless omega?” I asked with a smirk, watching his reaction keenly. He turned swiftly to look at me with wide eyes, the tray in his hands almost falling.
“Excuse me?” he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by my question. Before I could repeat myself, his wife called him, and he glanced at me one last time before hurrying to answer.
Taking advantage of his distraction, I explored the living room further. My eyes landed on a family portrait displayed prominently on a nearby shelf. In the photo, Mr. Smith and his wife stood, with a young boy by their side.
Could it be their son? I wondered silently, studying the boy’s features for any resemblance to the couple. Then, I noticed that the boy bore a striking resemblance to the man but looked nothing like the woman. Although they appeared to be a normal family, something seemed off about the picture-the woman wasn’t smiling, and the boy appeared scared, as if forced to take the photo. Oddly, only the man held the boy. The more I looked, the more I saw a resemblance to someone I despised.
Lilith, that bitch.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Mr. Smith was her uncle, so it made sense for the boy to share some features with her. Another picture of Lilith with them caught my eye, revealing her influence extended further than I assumed. I made a mental note to tread carefully as I delved deeper into their secrets.
“What are you doing?” Mrs. Smith’s sudden voice startled me, causing the picture to slip from my fingers and shatter as it hit the ground. My heart raced as I turned to face her.
“I’m sorry,” I stammered, flustered by the unexpected interruption.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just concerned while you were standing there, admiring the photograph,” she said, her expression softening.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected her to be nice, and she offered me a reassuring smile.
“I’m sorry for crossing my boundaries,” I said, and she waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s alright, dear. I just didn’t expect to find you standing there, lost in thought. I hope you aren’t hurt.” I nodded, still reeling from her unexpected appearance.
“Yes, everything’s fine. I’ll clean this mess up,” I muttered, and she chuckled softly, stepping closer to survey the damage.
“Well, it looks like you found more than you bargained for,” she said, and I couldn’t shake the unease that settled over me. But I forced a smile, trying to appear unaffected.
“Yes, it seems so.” As I bent down to pick up the broken pieces, I couldn’t help but wonder about the secrets hidden within these walls-and what role I might play in uncovering them.
“Who is this kid?” I asked, pointing to the picture. Her expression hardened, and her face turned red as if she had seen the devil.
“He’s nobody. Put it down and stop snooping around, or consider yourself fired,” she snapped, her tone stern and unwavering. I was taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor. She seemed bipolar-kind one minute and rude the next. But it was clear that the topic of the boy was sensitive for her, and I didn’t want to test her patience any further.
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied quickly, sensing her irritation.
“Jane, didn’t you read the contract?” She added sharply, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“I did, and I apologise for my carelessness,” I replied, trying to remain composed.
“This is the last time I’ll forgive your mistake. Any other misbehavior, and I will kick your silly ass out of my house,” she yelled, her voice filled with anger.
Yep, the topic about the boy was definitely sensitive for her. It was crystal clear.