Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Nilah's Pov

“Click.” I drawled slowly as I lowered my phone, the screen still glowing with the photo I’d just snapped of them entwined in the study. I stared at the image of Kendrick’s hands on Stephanie, the same hands that would eventually feed me poison, and a cold sneer curled my lips. I could expose them now and cause a scandal, but that was too merciful. I didn't just want them disgraced; I wanted them to lose everything they had killed me for.

I retreated to my room, and closed the door without locking it. A mistake on my part, but no matter what I did or how much I tried to keep it off my mind, I couldn't. My mind kept drifting back to the photo Asher had sent, the silver locket, the man with my eyes. In my previous life, I was just an orphan Omega who believed she was lucky just to be noticed and adopted into the pack by the council members and the acting Alpha back then. When I first came to the pack, I wasn't accepted by anyone. I was an Omega, and for an arrogant and prideful pack like this, Omega's were a stain to their reputation. So I was isolated and hated.

I stayed alone, within the confines of the greenhouse or my room, either growing plants or creating different kinds of medications. Soon after, I became well known but I was still isolated by the pack. And it was during that time that Kendrick reached out. I had been so pathetically grateful that I’d handed him my soul, my heart, my research, and his Alpha title on a silver platter. But it ended up in blood and pain for me.

So pathetic.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts, pulling me out of them.

"Mom? Are you awake?" The door creaked open, and Alex stepped in without waiting for my permission to enter. He was carrying a cup of warm milk. My heart skipped a beat, but not with motherly love. I remembered this. He had complained about me earlier, been scolded by Kendrick for "upsetting the talent," and was now here to play the part of the repentant son.

"I'm sorry for being mean earlier, Mom," Alex said, his voice small and rehearsed. He held the cup out. "I made you this milk so I hope you’ll drink this so I know you aren't mad anymore."

“Is that so?” I asked quietly.

Alex nodded frantically, “Yes. Look at my hands, I even got burned because I wanted to make you happy. Don't be angry at me or daddy and aunty Stephanie anymore, okay? We all love you.”

I looked into his eyes, the child I had stayed up nights nursing, the child I had loved more than myself. I searched for a flicker of genuine remorse, but all I saw was a chilling calculation that mirrored Kendrick’s.

"Just leave it on the table, Alex. I'll drink it later," I said, my voice empty. Come to think of it, in my previous life, it was after I began drinking this milk that my health began to fail. The coughing, the weakness... It all started here. I didn't want to believe a child could be so cruel, but I was no longer a fool.

"Drink it now? Please?" he pressed.

"I said later. Go to bed."

He stiffened, the mask of a sweet child slipping for a fraction of a second before he turned and left. As soon as the door clicked shut, I went to lock it myself and took a bottle. I slowly poured the milk into the bottle and hid it under my bed.

I had to take it to the lab for testing, I wanted to see if they had poisoned this milk and if they had, Alex might have intentionally given it to me. He was part of the people who wanted to kill me. With that thought in mind, I quickly drifted off into sleep, tired from the day's events.

The next morning, I quickly dressed up and walked to the living room, Stephanie was once again clinging to Kendrick’s arm. She pulled away reluctantly as I stepped out, her eyes flashing with a triumph she could barely hide.

"Nilah, good timing," Kendrick said, his voice smooth. "I’ve been thinking. Silver poisoning research is a heavy burden. Stephanie has actually found a rare herb in the northern woods that might act as a natural suppressor. I want her to join the company."

Stephanie smirked. "It could really help you meet the Council's deadline, Nilah. If you'll let me help."

In my past life, I would have been defensive, protecting my work. Now? I smiled. "Actually, that’s a wonderful idea. In fact, why don’t you take over the entire project, Stephanie? I’ve been feeling quite burnt out. I think I’ll take a short vacation."

The room went deathly silent. Kendrick’s eyes widened. "Take over... the entire project? Nilah, you’ve spent years on this."

"And clearly, Stephanie has a fresh perspective," I said, already turning towards the door. “I'm going to the office to hand over my work. I'll come back late.” I informed Kendrick.

"Wait, Nilah…” Kendrick started, stepping toward me, his face clouded with unease. He didn't like this. He liked me to be predictable, not indifferent. I didn't even look back.

**************

Two hours later, the test results of the milk came out. It was just as I thought. I had really started getting poisoned from the onset. Looking at the result, I let out a soft chuckle.

“None of them are good people.”

“Who are you talking about?” Sarah interrupted, walking into the office.

I turned around, “Just some irrelevant people.” I answered. A pause, but I continued. “Sarah, I'll be handing over my research work to Stephanie, the Beta’s daughter.”

“What? What do you mean?! You've been working on this for a long time. You can't just…!”

“I'm tired.” I said softly. “I'm really tired. I don't feel like doing anything anymore. I need to rest. So I'm taking a break, but I'll continue the research later, you don't need to worry.” But it won't be here, in this place. Before Sarah could say any other thing, I took off my coat and carried my bag. “I'm leaving. I've handed over my work for now. See you later, Sarah.”

“Somehow, it sounds like you're going far away, Nilah. But I don't blame you, even if you leave, no one here will blame you. I promise.”

I nodded. I wanted to say something but Sarah's eyes suddenly lit up and she whipped her head around to face me, the corner of her lips lifting into a smirk.

“It looks like you're down so how about we go out? There's a club that just opened, let's go there?” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

I blinked. Sarah and I weren't close enough to go to a night club together. In fact, apart from a few words spoken during the research, we never had any contact with each other despite having her number. I was about to refuse, make up some sort of excuse but I thought about it for a moment. I've never done something so reckless before. In my past life, I was tethered to a lab bench or something that orbited around Kendrick. The idea of loud music and flashing lights felt like a foreign language, but maybe that was exactly what I needed, to drown out the voices of the past.

“Fine,” I said, the word feeling strange on my tongue. “Let's go.”