Chapter 117

Leif drove me to the town center and pulled up right in front of a cell phone store. The street buzzed with life, lined with shops and boutiques. It reminded me of a high-end shopping district—only on a much smaller scale, less crowded, and far more inviting. As I stepped out of the car, I was immediately met with the warm smiles of passersby.

They all seemed so carefree, so at peace... too much so. I narrowed my eyes, scanning their almost too-perfect expressions, and couldn't help but wonder if their smiles were genuine or just a well-rehearsed façade. For a brief moment, I felt like I had wandered onto the set of The Truman Show.

Leif's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Aren't you going inside?" he asked, nodding toward the shop entrance.

I blinked, realizing I'd been standing there lost in my own head. "Yeah, I am... I just—" I turned to him, struggling to explain my momentary lapse. Instead, I forced the brightest smile I could muster. "I'm going in now."

He gave a nonchalant shrug. "Fine. I'll wait in the car," he muttered, already reaching for the door handle.

"Actually..." I blurted out, stopping him mid-motion. "Could you pick me up in about an hour? I’d like to take a look around and, you know... buy some girls’ stuff."

His sigh was heavy, accompanied by an exaggerated grimace that made his irritation clear. "Fine. Half-past twelve," he said with obvious reluctance.

"Thanks," I replied, pouring as much politeness as I could into my voice.

"Yeah, whatever," he muttered, climbing back in and driving off without another glance.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. He clearly despised the task he’d been assigned, but would it kill him to be a little more courteous? I could almost hear his thoughts: The new girl isn’t impressed with my skills and now she’s acting like I’m her personal chauffeur.

Well, I wasn't the type to openly call someone out on their attitude, but if fate was kind, I’d get the chance to put him in his place someday.

Shaking off the irritation, I stepped inside the shop. It was empty, save for me, and I found myself drawn to the wall lined with gleaming new smartphones. A pang of emotion hit me unexpectedly—the last time I'd truly needed a phone, it was to reach Amara. Her number had been the only one saved in my contacts.

The ache in my chest flared, a sharp reminder of that night at the casino. I rubbed the spot absentmindedly, grimacing at the memory.

"Are you all right?" a gentle voice asked.

I looked up to see a tall blonde saleswoman with cascading curls and striking blue eyes. Her smile was warm, almost maternal, and her eyes held a kindness I hadn’t expected.

"I'm fine... Just an unpleasant memory," I admitted, surprised at my own honesty. I wasn’t usually one to share personal things with strangers, but somehow the words slipped out before I could stop them.

Realizing how vulnerable I sounded, I quickly tried to cover it up with an awkward smile. To my surprise, she simply patted my shoulder.

"I don't mean to pry," she said softly, "but I recognize that look. You've lost someone."

I swallowed hard, her words hitting too close to home. "A friend," I murmured, feeling an unexpected urge to confide in her. "It’s silly, but my old phone only had one number saved—hers." I let out a self-deprecating chuckle, trying to downplay the weight of it.

"She must have meant a lot to you," the woman said, her voice soothing in a way that made my chest tighten.

Realizing how emotional I must have seemed, I took a step back and forced a smile. "I’m sorry, that must’ve sounded weird... I swear I’m normal. Well, mostly."

She laughed, a rich, genuine sound that filled the space. "You’re adorable," she said, still chuckling. "I’m glad we’ll have someone like you in our pack."

My heart skipped a beat. "W-what?" I stammered, caught off guard.

She gave me a teasing smile. "You’re Thalassa, right?"

"H-how do you know that?" I asked, instinctively taking a step back and scanning the store, suddenly wary.

"You fit the description perfectly," she said with a smirk before leaning in ever so slightly. "A dazzling human green-eyed brunette."

I should have expected that word had already spread about me, but hearing it firsthand sent a shiver down my spine. More unsettling was the thought of who had given such a detailed description.

"Wow," I muttered, forcing out an awkward laugh.

"I'm Charlotte Frost. A pleasure to meet you." The woman extended her hand, a wide grin lighting up her face.

"Thalassa Drayton... likewise," I replied, pushing aside the nervous flutter in my chest as I shook her hand.

"So, what kind of phone are you looking for, Thalassa?" In the blink of an eye, Charlotte shifted from a friendly neighbor to a polished saleswoman.

"I need something... secure," I said carefully.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, curiosity flickering beneath her friendly demeanor. "Are you worried someone from the pack might try to get into your phone?"

I let out a soft chuckle, trying to ease the tension in my shoulders. "No, not from the pack," I said, though her piercing gaze made it hard to stay completely at ease. "I actually need three phones with high security."

Charlotte raised both hands in a playful gesture of surrender. "No questions asked," she laughed, turning to grab a selection of phones from the display.

I couldn't help but be impressed by how effortlessly she explained each model. She broke down their features in meticulous detail, outlining the security measures with a level of expertise I hadn't expected. After careful consideration, I chose three iPhones with the extra security apps she recommended.

I paid with the money I had saved from my time at Monteforte Investment Bank—finally, I had a reason to use those earnings for something worthwhile.

As I made my way to the door, I paused. "Can you point me to the post office?"

"Of course!" she beamed. "It’s just around the corner. Head left to the end of the block—you can’t miss it."

"Thanks, Charlotte," I said, offering a nod of appreciation.

"Bye!" she called out cheerfully as I stepped outside, the bell on the door jingling behind me.

Phase one of my plan was done.

Now it was time for the next step. Those extra phones weren’t for me. Each one had the other two numbers programmed into it, and they were meant for Freya and Varen. It might have seemed excessive, but I couldn’t risk anyone in Selene’s orbit finding out we were still in contact. Given what Selene was capable of, this level of precaution was necessary.

True to Charlotte’s word, the post office was easy to find. The moment I walked in, a wave of too-friendly gazes met me. It was unnerving—like they all already knew who I was. I forced a polite smile, stretching my face until it started to ache. The people here seemed genuinely kind, their curiosity sincere, but the way they all stared at me made me feel like they were already planning my wedding to their Alpha. No pressure, Thalassa.

Ignoring the awkward tension as best I could, I focused on my task.

Addressing a package to Varen was straightforward; no one would dare tamper with anything meant for the Prince, aside from his closest aides. Freya, however, was a different challenge. I had to be creative and hope that the person I sent it through would actually deliver it. Trusting them completely wasn’t an option, and whether they'd be in the right mood to help me was anyone’s guess.

Sending both phones to Varen and relying on him to pass one to Freya was a risk I wasn’t willing to take. If anyone caught wind of their connection, it could jeopardize everything.

"God, so many complications just to talk to someone," I muttered under my breath, scribbling down the addresses.

At last, I approached the counter, placing the packages down in front of the young postal clerk.

"How fast do you need them delivered?" he asked with a friendly smile.

"As soon as possible," I replied, offering a hopeful grin.

He glanced at the address and his face lit up. "How does today before evening sound?"

My eyes widened. "Seriously? That fast?"

"There’s a special delivery going out to Monteforte City today—happens once a week," he explained with a wink. "Your destination is right on the route."

It sounded too convenient to be standard service, but I wasn’t about to turn down the offer. I handed over the packages and stepped out of the post office, feeling the weight of lingering stares behind me.

Leif, to his credit, was punctual. He arrived right on time, opening the car door for me without a word, and drove me back to Alpha Kenzo’s estate. The ride was quiet, and the moment we arrived, Leif was quick to help me out of the car, clearly relieved to be rid of his chauffeuring duties.

"Oh, and I have a message for you, Ms. Thalassa," he said casually, just as I was about to head inside. "Alpha Kenzo requests your company for lunch. One o’clock, in the dining room downstairs—on the left."

I nodded, finding no reason to refuse. Lunch was... safer than dinner. No candles, no wine—hopefully.

As I climbed the stairs to my room, I checked the time. The Alpha was giving me a generous ten minutes to get ready. I sighed and pushed open the door, only to find something laid neatly on my bed.

A dress.

White, delicate cotton with lace details. It flared slightly, exuding an almost angelic innocence. A small card rested on top of it, with two simple words: Wear me.

I groaned, tossing my hands up in frustration. "Why does everyone insist on dressing me? Am I some kind of doll?" My voice echoed in the empty room.

Despite my irritation, I reluctantly changed into the dress, swapping my undergarments for something equally delicate in white. A small sigh of relief escaped me when I noticed the neckline wasn’t nearly as scandalous as the ones Penrose used to force on me. Maybe Kenzo had a sense of tact after all.

But my relief was short-lived.

Turning to the mirror, my eyes widened in horror. The fabric was so light, it was practically see-through. My entire silhouette, down to the lace of my underwear, was on full display.

"Innocent dress, my ass," I muttered bitterly.