CHAPTER 5: AFTER FIVE YEARS

DANIELA POV

"Are you alright?" A tall, well-built, handsome man in a blue suit asked as he walked beside me. I nodded, allowing him to hold my hand and help me navigate the crowded airport terminal. We had just descended the long stairs of the plane, and his assistance was appreciated.

"Thank you," I said sincerely, looking up at him and smiling while holding back the joyful tears that wanted to rush down behind my sunglasses. He gently pushed a strand of my brunette hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear. Yes, I had changed my hair color, but that was a story for another day.

It had been five years since I was last here. The weather, the surroundings, and the entire look of Biafra Airport hadn't changed much in all those years. But anyway, I didn't care. I would take care of what brought me here and then leave.

"Hey, why are you crying?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. Hell no! I hadn't realized I was crying. Quickly, I wiped the subconscious tears from my cheeks. They had already reached down to my chin.

"I'm sorry, it's just hard to forget what happened to me five years ago," I said, giving him a distant look. He sighed sympathetically.

"I know. Or should we go back?" He turned to the bodyguards walking a short distance behind us. "Adam, order one of our personal jets, we are going..."

"No! No! No! I'm fine. I can handle this!" I blurted out and started walking hastily towards the crowd, pulling my cape closer to my face. I didn't want anyone to recognize me. No one cared about me here, but I still didn't want any attention.

After all, I wasn't a nobody anymore. I was the Queen of Gift's Designs, a company known for the best designs in the United States. I wasn't the weak, pathetic old Omega of this pack anymore. I was someone else, someone who was here to do business and then leave.

"If you say so," he responded, and I blushed, trying hard not to let him see my now pinkish face. Luckily, my sunglasses hid that.

We walked swiftly to a convoy of vehicles, and as soon as my eyes landed on them, I recognized them as ours. Our joint company's vehicles had a unique look.

"My lady," he said, quickly opening the middle car's back door and faking a bow. I smiled at him.

"Stop being dramatic..."

"Alphonce!" A deep, cold, and resolute voice interrupted, and my body reacted instantly.

No! It couldn't be him. I was dreaming, right? I didn't want to be reminded of the past! I didn't want to see the person who ruined my life. I didn't want to see the person who wanted me dead and tried to kill me without remorse.

If it were not for Alphonce, I... No, I shouldn't think of the past. I promised myself to let bygones be bygones, and that was what I was going to do.

"Alpha Alexander!" It was him! It had to be him! The atmosphere became tense, and I could feel it even though I hadn't turned to look at the man speaking behind me.

I quickly closed my eyes tightly, clenched my fists, and tried to disappear into the backseat. But before I could do that, someone caught me by the hand.

The feeling, the touch! It was him!

"Excuse me? You look familiar," he said. 'Dammit, Gift! Don't look at him! Don't look back!' I thought.

"Excuse me? Do I know you?" I asked, deciding to show him that I wasn't the same girl he used to know. After all, it wouldn't be easy for him to recognize me anymore. Maybe just a sense of familiarity.

"Alpha Alexander, meet Miss Gift Rosell, the Queen of Gift's Design Company in the United States." My heart stopped, and I turned to face the man I had been speaking to without really looking at his face.

Something had changed over the years, but I couldn't pinpoint what. 'Dammit, calm down, Daniela.' My heart was throbbing in my chest as goosebumps covered my body. I still couldn't believe I was looking at this man I hated with every fiber of my being.

Unfortunately, my body betrayed my mind.

"Nice to meet you, Alpha Alexander?" I finished my statement as if I wasn't sure it was indeed Alexander.

"Nice to meet you," he replied, shock and confusion evident on his face. "I didn't expect you to be the one bringing the greatest designer to the Pearl Pack." He quickly turned his gaze to Alphonce, but I noticed his fists clenching at his sides.

What was going on? Why was the tension so thick in the air, even though we were in an open area?

I turned to Alphonce, swallowing hard, and now I could see what had changed. Alexander had lost a significant amount of weight. Was Laura not feeding him well?

'Our pups!' My wolf, Elena, shouted in my head, and I froze.

My babies!

I was about to ask, unable to suppress the mother's instincts inside me, when I heard, "I didn't expect you to be the one to bring the greatest and most beautiful designer in the world." He now saw my beauty?

Oh, he still couldn't recognize who I really was. "My daughter deserves everything beautiful." I swallowed hard, maintaining a professional smile so that this man wouldn't know how much his words affected me.

"She will be turning five, and I want her birthday to be known all over the world." He stopped and then turned to me. "Her mother died, and since then, I have been both mother and father to her, meaning I love her with all my heart."

I was dead to him! The realization hit me hard, and I bit my lower lip. Alexander thought I was dead! Luckily, I had my sunglasses on and my cape pulled close, so he couldn't see the sadness I hated feeling.

Why feel sad that he thought I was dead? He wasn't my mate anyway. He was just my one-night stand, and that was all. He ruined my life when I was here.

'Yes, that is what he was informed five years ago,' Alphonce mind-linked me, and I couldn't stop the pain in my heart. My babies believed their mother was dead!

Was I complaining? Probably not!

But wait, 'Alphonce!' I called him through our mind-link, and he looked at me. Suddenly, my heart stopped, my whole body went numb, and I turned completely pale.

They looked alike! How hadn't I known this all these years?

"But I never thought my twin brother would be the one to bring the designer. It's still a shock to me." Twin brother! No wonder I felt some familiarity. As if I knew Alphonce. He was Alexander's twin brother! Why didn't he tell me?

"Or are these part of your plans to destroy me like what you have been doing all these years since you reappeared in our lives?" My heart was now beating wildly in my ribcage as I heard that.

"I think we will come to the packhouse, Alpha. For now, the lady is tired and needs to rest." Before I could snap out of my trance, Alphonce had already hidden me from Alexander's view. He swiftly ushered me into the car and closed the door behind me. Alexander stared at me through the window, and I gave him an awkward smile as the car started to move.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" I bellowed at Alphonce, who was sitting beside me in the car.

"I did. The only part I didn't tell you is that Alexander is my twin brother and that his daughter is the one who needs a dress!" He stared at me in confusion, and that was when I realised something. I hadn't told Alphonce the whole story. I hadn't told him about my babies who were taken away from me and who took them!

But he should have known if... if he was their uncle.

“I am getting off! Driver, stop the car!" I screamed like a maniac suddenly.