Chapter 5

The alarm clock rang.

I ignored it, apathetic about breaking my perfect attendance record.

My heart still laid at the base of my stomach, dismantled and drowned of every emotion I have ever felt. Not a flicker of hope, just melancholy swooping in like a deserted ocean. I sniffled and tossed the squeezed tissue into the trash can. It was already full, so it just hit another tissue and bounced to the floor.

I knew that no one would even notice my absence today. Maybe Chadwick might, if he wasn’t too obsessed with gawking at Sasha Blackwell. I had told him severally, an omega will never get the chance to fuck someone as highly ranked as-

A knock suddenly sounded on my door, sending a jolt through my body.

Malric?

My wolf sprang to life and growled excitedly. Maybe he had realized his fault and wanted to reconcile! Oh, how I had prayed for this at night!

It had to be him!

No one else knew where I stayed, this apartment was also part of our secret. I scrambled out of bed and a tirade of panic flushed through my body. My room-it was a complete mess! Malric would be so furious! Beads of perspiration littered my forehead instantly and my fingers quaked.

Malric didn’t like to knock twice. I had no choice but to open the door. I dropped my head desolately, bracing myself for a tongue lashing. I stared down, expecting to see his usual black gleaming shoes. My heart froze.

I gasped at the gorgeous pair of red heels and slowly, my eyes travelled up her slender legs until I met those electric green eyes. My body trembled at the intimidating sight of Lyra Grimvale.

My heart pulsed heavily with a blend of fear and disappointment. What was she doing here? More importantly, how did she find this place?

I caught myself gawking at her and my cheeks heated up as I bowed respectfully to her, “Lady Lyra…to what do I owe this-” I cleared my throat nervously, “very unexpected visit?”

A calm smile crept onto her lush lips, but there was a glint in her eyes- a promise of looming doom.

“Aluin, is it?” she said softly and handed a sheet of paper to me, “I noticed that you weren’t at school today. Mr. Greyjoy handed out a very important homework assignment. I thought I'd bring you a copy.”

I swallowed, utterly stunned by her kind gesture. “You noticed?” I mumbled, taking the paper from her with trembling fingers. She noticed my absence! How the heck was that even possible? “T-Thank you.”

She arched a perfectly trimmed brow at me, “Are you not going to invite a lady in?”

My jaw almost dropped. I cleared my throat, forcing down the cough that rose to my throat. I stepped out of the way with jelly legs, breathing heavily as a mist of her rich perfume clouded my lungs. I had never felt so terrified in my entire life. I didn’t even care about the homework paper.

Every step she took felt like a sledgehammer to my guts. She glided gracefully, picking through my stuff. My eyes caught Malric’s golden bracelet on the bedside stool, only a few inches away from where she stood. I froze, my lips trembled and a cold, sickening feeling in my stomach made me cringe. The world stopped for a moment when she picked up the bracelet.

I gasped breathlessly…she knew!

“There we go!” she suddenly exclaimed with a broad smile, “I knew I would find this here.”

What?

My reflexes sprang to action in a panic move, “Uhm…oh dear, that? I have no idea that it was-”

She raised her palm sharply and rolled her eyes, “Oh save it, you sound like a squirrel.” She sniffed the air with her delicately sculpted nose and shut her eyes for a moment, “I can smell him.”

No lady had ever terrified me the way she did right now, and ironically, she wore a decent smile the entire time! Maybe it was just my mind messing with me, but I could sniff out the crafitness in her elegant gestures.

“His scent is quite the charm, no?” she chuckled and her eyes suddenly hardened, “Besides, I’ve had people looking into things, especially after I overheard chunks of your conversation in the hallway yesterday. I had my suspicions. A hot young Alpha like Malric certainly had to have a record with girls,” she eyed me with a charming smirk that only sent shivers into my spine, “Or he was hiding something. You’re not exactly what I bargained for, I thought I’d get a run for my money.”

I swallowed and averted my gaze, goddess! She sent chills into my bones! Her words were like bombs, dropped strategically, destroying the walls around my deepest secret.

Her voice lowered lethally, “I’m very disappointed in Malric, but at the same time, now that he and I are in the public eye, I have to protect my reputation. I will keep your abomination a secret, only for my own sake.” She grimaced after her scornful eyes scoured me from head to toe. “I'd rather his secret was a foreign whore or even an animal.”

Her words burned into my chest, the weight of mortification grew heavy on my shoulders and I could barely hold back my tears.

“He loves me!” I blurted out and bit my lip with instant regret.

Her eyes flickered with surprise and she chuckled lightly, “Oh dear, I almost felt bad for you, but you are dumber than I thought.” she squinted at me, “You really think you’re more than a passing indulgence in his dull world?”

She clicked her tongue repeatedly, the sharp sounds sounded like a ticking bomb in my head. “I’d feel bad if I were in your shoes, honey. But just like you, I’m just playing my part in a political marriage.”

Her words were pitiful and gentle, but I couldn’t miss the steely whip each word she said carried.

“You won’t be relevant for much longer. If I were you, I’d leave the pack while I still can.” She concluded and flashed a meek smile at me that was supposed to mitigate her words, but only made it more aggravating.

I gasped at her in shock.

“I am here now, Alvin and I am the real deal.” She stated firmly, her eyes gleaming with a burning intensity. “Let me help you, that’s my best offer from the lightest part of my heart, dear Alvin.”

It’s Alruin!

But I didn't have the guts to spit it out. Her words sunk deep into my heart, shredding it into pieces. How could I leave my mate? All I have been building for two years, evaporating into nothing?

“Be smart, omega.” She said and walked out of the room, but her choking aura lingered in the room.

She was right. My eyes burned, my tears scorching down my cheeks like lava. I didn’t believe Malric would be willing to throw away two years of our lives together. I had to hear what he had to say. If he showed no hesitation in me leaving, the goddess forbids, then I would go.

I sniffle and scoop my phone from the bed. To hell with his stupid rules, I texted him through his private number without caring if he’d reply or not. I invited him to a very special place we both held dear. If he didn’t reply or show up…

“Goddess forbids…” I mumbled tearfully and packed my bags.

…Then, that would be my answer anyway.

***

This was it.

My legs felt like molds of lead as I dragged myself to the spot. My heart was racing with anxiety but all that flamed into excitement the moment I saw him.

He came! He actually saw my text! Malric…

My excitement immediately drained out of me, my heart leaping to my throat. It felt like I had just walked into a brick wall.

Standing next to Malric and hugging his arm, was Lyra.