Chapter 5: CLUMSY ONE 

GIA O'LEARY 

Keegan tried to persuade Alpha Levi into reevaluating his options but whatever this was about, Levi had already made up his mind. 

Nothing in Alpha Levi's perceptible mild exterior suggested he recognized me from the previous night. Wth the embroidered loose gown flowing to my ankles and hair covered with the shawl, it was hard to tell I was the same girl twirling around the pole last night. 

But what were those twinkles at the corners of his eyes whenever they regarded me? 

"What are you waiting for?" Keegan chided me, his displeasure plain in his manner and tone. 

I left the chair, towards Levi's outstretched hand. But chose to ignore his hand, I couldn't bear to know what they felt like another time. I couldn't risk his touch exposing me before the scrutinizing gazes of these men. 

I went straight ahead towards the inner room where the final rituals were to take place. 

Amusement seemed to twitch at the corners of his sensuous lips, his sweet patchouli tempting, almost having me twirling around to wrap him in a headless kiss. 

"Listen carefully because I know how clumsy you can get," Keegan's voice cut through my reverie, barking instructions at me. 

Alpha Levi's wolf is cursed and until this curse is uplifted then his wolf is bound to deteriorate in strength by the day. It seemed like it was starting to. 

This ritual was aimed at blessing our Alpha's wolf and reviving his strength. But not to uplift the curse. Uplifting the curse came with a lot more rituals. Keegan preached on, unknown to him, his words fell on deaf ears, my heart and mind were bent on sealing my lips once more with this attractive man beside me. 

"To begin, I would need you to swear on the goddess that you're indeed a holy..."

"That wouldn't be necessary," Levi disrupted Keegan's suggestion that I took the oath of purity. "Show the girl what she has to do then she gets the fuck to it. We don't have all night, Keegan."

My heart soared when he came to my rescue. I could've been exposed. The goddess indeed had my back. 

My eyes fused with his, the gratitude in my gaze almost giving me away.  

I poured the tepid water into the silver bowl for the revival rituals and handed the bowl to Levi. Our fingers lightly grazed at the bottom of the bowl. A short gasp escaped my lips. 

The touch sent electrifying signals through every nerve in me, feathering an unwelcome chill down my spine and instantly, I withdrew my hand causing the bowl to tip forward spilling the content on Levi. 

"You clumsy one!" Keegan roared exasperatedly. 

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that!" I spluttered instinctively reaching over to swat the water from his broad and rigid chest.

I paused in my tracks, realized what I was about to do and pulled back. My entire body already kindled with heat, to touch him was to risk it all. 

To risk everyone seeing I desired a man. 

His inscrutable gaze searched mine as I shifted from him as though from hot coal. If he caught the longing in my eyes then nothing in his features suggested so. 

His imperturbability was a clear sign he didn't recognize me as the girl he'd kissed last night. How possible was that? 

In no time the final rituals were done and the evening drew to an end. Keegan gathered us, ready to leave. 

I was ready to leave this nightmare behind. Come the time already! I mentally groaned. 

"I want to keep this maiden as my helpmate and Luna." Alpha Levi declared. 

Gasps filled the hall. I gulped. Blinked. Unsure if I heard right. 

My ashen face regarded him, nothing in his gaze to suggest a mischief but I wasn't fooled. He wanted to single me out. And punish me? 

"Please." I begged with frantically thrashing heart. 

Levi reached out to take my hand, considering the last time our hands touched, I flinched from him and moved to his side instead. 

Keegan, although disappointed, bowed, "I'll keep as close to the mansion as possible in case you need me at any point."

"You're a very loyal priest. I'll be sure to reward you."

"Taking one of my daughters as your Luna is enough reward."

But his hardened gaze stated otherwise. 

As the alpha's Butler led me to the main wing of his mansion I grew unsure if to confront Levi on his real intention of wanting me as his Luna. 

Chances of this alpha not recognizing me from the strip club were still there and it restrained me from an open confrontation. I couldn't recklessly let out my secrets. 

Escaping became my best option. If I could leave this mansion by midnight, creep into my room to get some money and the beaten up truck then my safety was guaranteed. 

Alpha Levi was acting this way simply because he wasn't quite sure of the punishment to dish out just yet. In no time, his real intentions for me would be put forth. 

I paced the room the butler offered me to stay in. I wouldn't get to meet Levi until the next morning which made it easier to escape. He wouldn't notice I was gone until the next day. 

I waited until it was a few minutes past midnight. I crept out of the room into the long and endless-seeming pearly hallway unsure of which direction to go. 

I settled for the right and my kudos ended in the stairway. I descended the stairs lightly as a feather. 

From there I found the vast living room and the closed front double-doors. Locked. 

The window was my next option. But breaking out of the alpha's home was a crime punishable by death. Well, all my crimes were punishable by death—taking no chances was the true act of a coward.

I pulled the expansive window open, and as the fresh breeze fanned my face, a surge of exhilaration washed over me. I retrieved my shawl from my head and wrapped it securely around my waist, then lifted the hem of my dress and readied myself to climb out.

Just as I crossed the window’s threshold and prepared to leap into the night, a strong hand yanked me back, holding me suspended in mid-air. I dangled there, suspended in space.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

The very familiar and commanding voice made me freeze, my heart pounding as I met the burning, commanding gaze of Alpha Levi.