005_Web Of Shadows

Elora's POV

I stared at the pair in front of me, trying to decide if I should go with pink or red.

After getting paid at a grocery store, I used the salary to pay off some of our debts, house bills, and some luxurious stuff Zeke had gotten for the house.

I decided to use what was left to do some lingerie shopping. But from the figures on the price tag, I could only afford one. And I couldn't figure out which one to go for—red or pink.

Red was my favorite color, but pink would definitely make me look a lot younger.

I was about to feel the texture of both of them when one of the patrons at the store held my hand back.

"If you're going to keep staring at them without wanting to buy, then I think you shouldn't touch them," He said, arms crossed and a frown etched into his features.

"Oh, no. I think you got it all wrong. I want to buy it."

He was stunned at first, then he crouched over, laughing. When he straightened, he wiped invincible tears from his face.

"Yeah, right. Like you can afford it?"

Now I was pissed. I was about to say something as the patron looked past me.

"Is this man bothering you, lady?" A voice spoke from right behind.

It was smooth and deep, having a low, rich timbre to it. And for some reason, it sounded familiar.

I watched as the patron trembled, and that made me even more curious.

I turned around, slamming my head on a hard surface.

"Ouch," I muttered as my hand flew to my forehead.

I tried to take a step back but ended up losing my balance and falling backward.

I shut my eyes, waiting for the impact of my body colliding with the hard floor. But then a strong hand grabbed my waist, holding me in place.

"Are you okay?" The voice asked, helping me straighten.

"I'm fine," I muttered as my eyes flew open, meeting a pair of silver ones. A gasp escaped my lips as I saw who it was. "Alpha Lloyd!"

His lips tipped into a smile. "I'm sorry about that."

I shook my head. "No, it's okay. I should be the one apologizing and—" Then I remembered the patron. I turned around but couldn't find him anywhere.

"I guess you scared him away," The Alpha teased.

A scoff escaped my lips. "I'm pretty sure it was your eyes—" My hand flew to my mouth as I realized what I had said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that. You actually have amazing eyes and..."

I smacked myself on the forehead. What the heck was I saying?

He laughed, making me turn to him.

"It's fine," He said, a smirk on his lips. "As long as no one is bothering you."

"Sure, Alpha Lloyd," I smiled awkwardly, taking a few steps away, hoping not to say anything stupid again.

I was about to turn around when he spoke up.

"Actually, I was hoping you would attend to me."

I was stunned. I pointed towards me, hoping I was sure I heard correctly.

He nodded, as he took a few steps towards me. "Yes. You."

"Is that the Alpha?"

"What the heck was he doing here?"

I heard some of my colleagues whispering. Luckily my hearing abilities made me hear them clearly.

I was also wondering the same thing. And also, why me?

I had been seeing him a lot but from a far distance. I had never thought of approaching him.

I thought he just wanted to help me out—or the patron, because I was about to knock him out with a kick to his balls.

But I didn't see this coming.

Alpha Lloyd had been receiving mentorship training from a neighboring Pack for years and had just recently returned to take his place.

He ended up becoming the most promising Alpha to have ever lived because of his youth and achievement.

At first, the council and some elites were against him, but that all changed after he invaded a rogue pack and wiped them out. No one dared to question or stand against him again.

Neither could I turn him down.

"So what would you like to buy?" I asked.

"I heard your store also trades in rare... magic props... sometimes, I mean," He said. "I'm searching for something that can block a mate bond's influence."

I froze, a chill running down my spine. Was that even possible? I haven't heard of anything like that.

I shook the weird nervous feeling I was having deep inside as I muttered, "Why are you asking?"

Alpha Lloyd smiled, but it was an Old Beta that had been standing behind him the whole time that did the talking.

"We're actually investigating the smuggling of illegal magic artifacts into the Pack, and also tracking the forbidden artifacts," The Beta explained. "So any information you have right now would help us. Including if anyone had come around asking about such artifacts."

I wanted to say something when one of my colleagues—the youngest—leaned towards us.

"I'm sorry, Alpha Lloyd, and um... Old man, but I couldn't help overhear your conversation," She said, winking at the Alpha.

I rolled my eyes as I looked away.

Kids. She was clearly flirting with the Alpha.

"Oh really," The Old Beta leaned forward, closing the gap between them. "Tell me more... Or else... We'll have to arrest you forTo to trying to seduce the Alpha."

My hand flew to my mouth, stifling the laugh that tried to escape my lips. I also caught the Alpha chuckling.

I had to look away the moment he turned to me.

She swallowed hard before speaking up. "Well, I was on duty a few weeks ago when a man came in, asking for one of the artifacts, the one that blocks the mate bond sense."

"And?" The Beta asked.

"When we told him we didn't have it, he hurried out. But he left his contact, saying we should contact him if anything like that arrives."

"And his number?"

"Here," She replied, going through her phone and then handing it to the Beta.

I couldn't help but lean in to get a glimpse of the number.

The moment I saw the number, my mouth dropped open.

The name there was Clinton... but that was definitely Zeke's number.