Chapter 107: Lure

AJAX.

The bright morning light seeps into my bedroom, right through the gaps in the curtains that I’ve drawn shut since last night.

Livia’s scent continues to linger on my sheets, and my sleepless, messy mind just wants to get rid of it but I know that I can’t. I know that I can’t draw any kind of suspicion.

The ‘party’ last night seems to have been a blast. The Alphas haven’t left the house. I think they just went to the guest bedrooms and did their thing. I saw the women leaving early morning, ushered the soldiers. I wanted to intervene so badly and just free them, but I knew how loyal those soldiers were to my father and how quickly they would rat me out if I did as much as say a single thing about the women.

All I know is that it’s probably good that they’re gone. That would give me an excuse to hide the fact that Livia is also safe in the Beta’s house.

Speaking of Beta Jackson, he’s been sending me updates about Livia.

“My wife has given her an antidote and now she’s asleep in the guest room,” was his last text from five hours ago.

I guess he also took some time to sleep and relax, which I have no problem with. But now I’m anxious because for me, five hours seems like a huge thing.

I check my phone again. No message. I have deleted everything in case someone looks through it. But right now, it’s all clear. Frighteningly clear.

Maybe I’m just being paranoid. Maybe I’m just suffering from too much trauma. Either way, I get up from bed and decide to get the news myself and maybe see Livia in person again.

Once I get out, I brace myself for my father’s prying gaze but it’s not there. He’s not there. He must still be in bed after whatever he did. I don’t even want to think about it. I just head to the driveway and get my car ready, but before I can even get in, I notice another car pulling up.

The windows are tinted, I can still see a silhouette of a chauffeur and a lady in the backseat. The door opens and the woman comes out, and I have to say that I’m shocked to see Yelena.

She clambers out and heads straight to me, beaming as she usually does. But there is strain and fear in her eyes that I don’t think I’ve really seen before. She hugs me, and I’m about to politely push her off when she presses her lips close to my ear and whispers, “I come with updates about Maxine Kane’s best friend.”

Yelena pulls away from me and beams again. “Are you not going to invite me inside?”

It’s a game. A show. I have to get my act together, literally.

I smile at her too. “Come with me. Let’s go to the garden.”

I lead her there, holding her hand. It’s awkward since I know that she did have a thing for me, but I’m just grateful that she’s coming all the way here just to help me.

We sit in the garden and wait until the helpers are done giving us drinks before we start to talk. We go around different topics at first, just in case someone is watching. But then she looks me in the eye and says, “Everything is good. With her.”

“She’s not… under the influence anymore?” I ask.

“Not anymore.” She takes a sip of her tea. “Dad managed to get it out of her system. All of it. At first she was hysterical when she was surrounded by people she didn’t know, but we assured her that we know you, and that she’s safe with us. The only problem now is getting her back to… where she belongs.”

I have the feeling that she didn’t say Human world not just because it’s dangerous, but also because she’s still not open to the fact that we’re pretty much coexisting now. Still, I have to give her credit for being here and trying to participate.

“The transport is the problem,” she says. “We can’t really go around to the gates and convince anyone there that we are transporting someone who should be back. Everyone knows we’re not really involved. The Alpha Supreme made that clear. So now, the only option for you is to go with me, take her, and have someone else return her to her place.”

“You’re right,” I say, immediately thinking of Jonathan.

I was also talking to him last night, and he assured me that all his travels have been successful. It would just be strange to see him in the palace if I invited him.

I take my phone out and text Jonathan, telling him to go to the Beta’s house.

He replies immediately and says yes, and just meet him there.

I look at Yelena. “Let’s go then.”

With that, I get into her car with the chauffeur. She’s twisting her fingers together so hard that I can’t help but be scared she would end up breaking something. The farther we get from the mansion, the more anxious she seems. Was Livia really that bad to strike this much fear into her?

“Is everything okay?” I ask as we get close to her house. “You seem very nervous. Livia didn’t hurt anyone, did she?”

“No,” Yelena says. “She’s very safe. But we did hide her in the basement so no one would see her. I hope that’s alright. She doesn’t seem to mind.”

With that, she looks at me pointedly, like she’s trying to convey so much more. It feels like she’s trying to mind-link me, but we never had that much of a connection so it doesn’t go through.

Now I feel something is off.

We pull over to her driveway, and the first thing I see are two familiar cars parked haphazardly in front of their house.

One is Jonathan’s.

And the other one is Draco’s.

Yelena snatches my arm before I can face her, whispering against my ear from behind. “I’m sorry I had to lure you in. But he came out of nowhere and threatened my parents. But Dad hid Livia really well. Draco has no idea. But Ajax, you really need to help my parents. I will be right with you. But I’m so scared….”

All anger dissipates from me when I realize what situation they were in and how dire it must be.

After all, now we just have one enemy.

I take a deep breath as Draco opens the door and extends his arms for welcome. “Come on in! I missed you, brother.”