AMBUSHED!

By the time I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment, it was pretty clear that the sun was getting ready to set. I killed the engine of my car and sat there for a long moment, my fingers resting on the steering wheel as I took deep long breaths.

Then, I exhaled and stepped out of my car.

The moment I opened the door to my apartment, I knew something was wrong. The air felt crowded and heavy, my suspicions were confirmed the moment I walked in.

Lyra stood in the center of our living room with her arms crossed and her expression furious. Besides her were three familiar faces. It took me a moment, but I finally figured out why they were. This was an intervention.

I almost laughed at how absurd it was.

“Well,” Lyra said with a sharp tone, “Finally, the prodigal child is back. Where did you even go to?”

I shut the door behind me with an unhurried expression on my face, my gaze flickered over the living room before settling back on her, “What is this, Lyra?” I asked through furrowed brows,

“You know exactly what this is, Nyssa,” Lyra snapped, then with that same heavy tone, she pointed towards a couch, “Sit down, we need to talk to you,”

I didn’t move. One of the others – a girl named Mira who I had once thought was my second-closest friend – leaned forward, “Nyssa, we are all just worried about you,” she said, her tone noticeably softer than Lyra’s, “What you did today, It just doesn’t make sense.”

Another of my ‘friends’ chimed in, “You rejected Alpha Adrian for God’s sake. Do you even understand the scandal you have already caused?”

I looked at them. This time, I really looked.

In my past life, these were individuals whose opinions practically ruled my life. These were the friends I had always tried to impress, friends whose insidious whispers had caused me more pain than anyone else.

Now? They all looked small and insignificant.

“I’m not sitting down,” I said in the calmest tone I could, “Neither am I listening to any words any of you might have.”

Lyra tightened her jaw, “This is not some sort of joke, Nyssa.” she hissed, “We can’t just watch you throw away what is the biggest opportunity of your life.”

There was a soft pause before Mira continued, “You know lots of wolves would kill to be in the position you are in now.”

I tilted my head and shrugged at them, “Then they are welcome to it.”

Silence resounded in the room and Lyra could no longer hold back her rage and emotions. With a pissed-off expression on her face, she took a step forward, “Stop deflecting Nys,” she hissed, “We both know you are doing something very stupid here. All we want to know is why.”

I let her words sit for a moment before smiling, “You want to understand?” I asked,

They all nodded,

I took a step forward, then another until I was standing just a couple of feet away from her, “You all see this as an opportunity,” I started in a calm tone, “But I see this as nothing more than a prison with posh iron bars. If kneeling, obeying and sacrificing yourself for someone else is your definition of a good life and a massive opportunity, then you can all have it.”

Mira looked shaken, the others stared blankly at me. But all of them were confused and a little scared.

Lyra was the only one who was able to look directly into my eyes,

“You are just being dramatic,” she said, but it was clear there was a crack in her voice now, “Alpha Adrian chose you to be his mate, and that means something.”

I met her eyes and shook my head, “No, it does not.”

Before she could reply, I straightened, then brushed an invisible crease from my sleeve, “If this is all you all want to talk about, then we are done.”

Lyra stepped forward with her hand raised. “No,” she said with a frown, “We are not done-”

“Yes,” I cut in before she could finish, “We are.”

And with those words, I walked past them. There was no hesitation in my steps nor did I glance back.

“Nyssa!” Lyra called after me but I ignored her.

I reached my door, stepped inside and shut it closed behind me.

The noise faded, a few seconds passed before I heard multiple knocks on my door.

“Nyssa!” Lyra’s voice came through the door, “Open the door. We are not done talking,”

Another knock sounded, “Don’t do this, we just want to help you,”

I walked to my desk, pulled out my chair, sat down and brought out my laptop.

“Stop knocking,” I said with enough harshness in my tone that it stopped instantly,

Good. The screen on my laptop lit up and it cast a warm glow over my room.

And just like that, everything faded away. I spent the next few hours just working. I began to compile all the data I had taken from the trade center, from the suppliers to the cost and even my expected returns.

By the time I was done, my plan was no longer just a rough idea in my mind, it was a blueprint now, a full path that hopefully was going to make me millions of dollars.

This was the path to a future. Mine.

I closed my laptop with a smile on my face and leaned back, just in time for my phone on the table to buzz.

I picked it up and even though it was an unknown number, I answered the call with a soft smile on my face.

“..Hello?” A low, familiar voice flickered through the line, “Nyssa.”

Damien.

There was something about the way my name rolled smoothly off his lips that made shivers run down my spine.

“I was starting to think I wasn’t going to receive a call,” I said with an amused tone,

“I don’t make decisions I plan on reversing,” he answered, “And besides, no man would ever want to disappoint a lady as gorgeous as you are.”

I chuckled, “That was smooth,”

A brief pause before he replied, “I don't try to be,”

I laughed harder, and before I could reply, he had already continued,

“I’ve made a reservation. I’ve already texted you the addresses. It’s the largest restaurant in the city, so I am sure you already know where it is. You can’t miss it even if you want to.”

“Oh, that’s a nice place,” I answered, smiling,

I could feel the way his voice lit up with my words. “Good,” he answered, “Should I send a driver for you?” he asked,

“No,” I replied, shaking my head, “I can drive myself,”

“An independent wolf,” he murmured, almost to himself even, “I love that.”

I didn’t respond,

“Eight o clock,” he continued, not even noticing my pause, “Don’t be late,”

The line clicked, and I stared at my phone for a moment before setting it down.

Getting ready did not take long, I moved with the same efficiency I applied to my everyday tasks. I had my shower, and did my makeup and hair in record time. When I was done, I picked out my dress for the night.

It was a red dress that hugged my curves tightly. It wasn’t just beautiful, it was an intentional statement.

When I stepped out of the room, the entire house fell silent. Lyra and the others stood up, they were watching and staring with obvious shock written over their faces.

I didn’t even acknowledge them, I walked past them and stepped out into the night.

I had just reached for the handle of my car when a voice behind me made me freeze.

“Is he why you rejected me?” the voice was tight, controlled and filled with fury.