Chapter 23 Nemesis
TARA:
'Don't trust the Alpha!'
That was the message I saw as soon as I opened my door. I looked around to check if anybody had been there. I sniffed the letter but that was when it struck me. Since I was an omega with no wolf, I couldn't detect scents.
"Worst time to be wolfless." I sighed deeply, staring blankly at the paper. "Should I take it to the Alpha? Or should I ignore it?"
I was confused about what to do.
I decided to take it to the Alpha. I was already dressed for my first day of cooking school and was happily going out when I had stumbled upon the letter.
I wasn't going to lie. It sort of changed my mood because it kind of resonated with my thoughts. The Alpha was a ruthless man and yet, he was giving me so much. Even Rose and Mason confirmed it.
How could a normal person—coming from a background like mine—not suspect that he was up to something evil?
But how did it get to me? For all I know, it couldn't have been any of the Alpha's trusted associates. They watched firsthand how he chopped the head of a person who betrayed the pack.
Could it have been the maids? They were the only ones I could think of.
I was about to pass through the living room when the head maid stopped me.
"Tired already? It's just day two." She folded her arms, her brows arched. She gave me a knowing look while I reciprocated with a nervous smile.
"You had earlier begged me for his. Now look who's ditching."
"I'm so sorry. The Alpha enrolled me in a school yesterday. A culinary school and I'm starting today. I just wanted to let him know I was leaving."
I couldn't tell her about the letter. Not yet. Everybody except the Alpha was a suspect.
"Really? That's nice. Good luck at your school." She dropped her hands and walked away.
I never got the chance to ask her the personal questions I had in mind.
"Well, I don't know if she would mind." I shrugged and headed straight for the Alpha's room.
My hand stopped mid-air when I raised it to knock. I wasn't sure if he was still sleeping or not.
"He could also be grumpy in the morning." I hissed, completely dropping my hand.
"Maybe later."
"Get your indecisive arse in here now." I heard the Alpha's voice.
I gasped. How did he know I was there?
"You have three seconds. One..."
I hurriedly opened the door and scurried in, shutting the door behind me.
The Alpha sat majestically around his desk, a hand propping against his chin. He stared at me like I was some kind of prey.
I gulped, threading toward him slowly while bringing the letter out from my bag.
"Good morning, Alpha. I saw this in front of my door." I glided the letter toward him slowly. He glared at the note, unmoving from his position. He only closed his eyes and sighed.
"Who do you think wrote this note?"
Was he asking me? Or was he thinking out loud?
"I asked you a question." He shifted his gaze to me.
"I don't know who dropped it there, Alpha. I was about to step out when I saw it. I checked around but I couldn't find anybody. I don't have a wolf to trace scents."
"Why do you think you don't have a wolf? How do you think I was able to know you were about to leave? And how do you think I asked you to come in here?"
My body tensed under his glare. My fingers played behind my back as I looked at the ground.
"I told you that your wolf is just hiding from you. You have to give it a reason to resurface." He corrected me. "Now, is there anything else? Apart from the letter, that is."
"Yes, I am about to head out to the school. I was asked to come back today." I told him.
"That's right." With his free hand, he opened and closed a drawer attached to the desk. Seconds later, he slipped some cash to me.
"You may leave,"
Should I accept it? No, I cannot accept it.
"Why can't you accept it?" He asked.
Wait, was he really reading my mind?
"No, I'm not reading your mind. Your facial expression says everything. I only read your mind with your permission. Except for the time you were outside. I apologize for that."
"Collect it or you go back to your room. The choice is yours."
He wasn't giving me any choice. He was outrightly threatening me.
I accepted the cash, thanked him, and was about to leave the room when the door was opened and Diana walked in.
Did she knock? Or was I the one who didn't hear?
"Diana..." The Alpha called her first. She didn't look happy, so I just avoided talking to her entirely.
"Good morning, Alpha," She greeted grumpily, glanced at me, and sneered.
'What is her problem?' I almost rolled my eyes.
"I'll be going now, Alpha. Thank you." I bowed and exited the tensed room.
As soon as I descended the staircase, I saw Mason talking to the head maid.
My heart beat against my chest remembering what almost happened between us. He nearly stole my first kiss.
My fingers instinctively touched my lips. When I caught him looking at me, I dropped my hand and headed to him.
"Good morning, Gamma Mason." I greeted him. The head maid left, leaving the two of us.
"Mason is just fine. Are you ready?"
I nodded. We both entered the car and he drove toward the school. We stopped halfway to get my stationery and then went to the school.
I was welcomed by the head of the school and was made to sign some documents. Mason stayed with me all through the process. His presence made me feel a bit confident.
But all that confidence disappeared when he got into his car and drove off.
"Come on, we don't have time to lose." The headmistress spoke, snapping me out of my thoughts. I followed her to a large hall with an inscription, 'Beginners', in gold.
"We have three different classes. The beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. Students are expected to arrive at eight, lunch break is at twelve, and leave at two thirty." She explained.
"As I've said earlier, we began classes five weeks ago, so you'll be taking extra classes so you can catch up with the rest. So till the end of this session, your lunch break is only thirty minutes and you'll arrive thirty minutes before others and leave thirty minutes after others. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma." I nodded.
"Welcome to our school," She opened the door wide, revealing the faces of those who were supposed to be my classmates.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their heads to us.
I wished the floor would open and swallow me up. I hated the attention I was getting.
I scanned the crowd carefully and my eyes caught familiar ones.
My body froze, beads of sweat forming on my skin.
There she was, smiling with others like she was a saint. But deep down, she was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Vera. The girl who made my life miserable at Red Moon.