03

Scarlet's POV

As soon as I saw his face, I slammed my hand against the elevator close button, hoping the doors would shut before he could step in. I looked away from Roman just as the elevator door closed. A million and one questions ran through my mind regarding why he was here or what he was doing here. Nothing seems to make sense.

“Remember, Roman?” Jake asked. That’s when I realized I’d completely forgotten he was standing next to me.

I wish I were able to forget him. I wish that night had never happened.

My body had never forgotten. My nightmares never let me.

“Well, he's back,” Jake said. "And not for a visit,"

“For what?”

“For retribution, revenge, or whatever. All we know is, he's here to become the Alpha of the Pack.”

“What?” I spat in disbelief.

“You heard that right, he wants to challenge the Alpha to a fight in two days and get back what he believes belongs to him, and the crazy part, the pack’s administration allowed it.”

I didn't care about every other thing that Jake said. I didn’t care for whatever reason Roman came back for. All I knew was that he was back.

Why now? Why this moment? I thought he was gone for good.

If Roman became Alpha… if he had access to everything… How long until he found out? Until he dug up the past I buried? Until he learned about Elara?

My nails dug into my palm, and I scratched at my skin as my anxiety spiraled. I fumbled through my purse for my medication, but my fingers found nothing.

The elevator door opened, and I walked out alongside Jake. I tried to push the thoughts of Roman to the back of my mind and focused on what was important. I needed the job like it was life. It was my only escape and hope for freedom as well.

“Good to see you, Miss Greene. Your father told me you were on your way, but he didn’t mention that the Alpha’s son will be here too.” The Principal said sarcastically. 

I hate this man already. He was friends with my dad, and that could only mean one thing: he was as terrible as my father was.

“He’s a friend,” I quickly replied. I turned to glare at Jake, and he replied with a wild grin. I'd told him I could do this alone, but for some reason, he decided to tag along.

“If you say so, Miss Greene,”

I smiled at the man even though there was chaos brewing inside my head.

“Let me cut to the chase. I’m afraid I can't process your application yet.”

I frowned. Did I do something wrong? I almost asked, but I kept my lips glued together and waited for the man to say something sensible.

“There has been a new development with the leadership situation in the pack. That is, the Alpha’s been challenged, and until the position has been established, the pack administration has instructed all applications to be pending, even for new members of the pack. I’m sorry, Miss Greene,”

I shook my head, about to give him the usual automated answer in my head that it was okay, but then I stopped.

This wasn’t okay. I had less than 3 months to get Elara back? If I fail, I'd lose her forever. How else would I be able to get Elara back from those monsters if I didn't become a teacher at the school? 

“How long will this take?” Jake asked instead.

The principal wore a glum expression. “I don’t know, you’re the Alpha’s son. You should know more about this than I,”

I snapped my gaze to the rude and condescending man while I tried to figure out my next line of action.

“Thank you for your time, sir. I’ll check back again.”

I told him, and he shook my hand. I knew Jake was fuming, but he was trying his best not to show his anger as we left his office.

“That could’ve been done over the phone,” Jake spat once we were out of the door.

“I need to use the restroom. I’ll be back soon,” I told him.

“I'll wait out here for you.”

“Why don’t you just get to work? I’ll see you later.”

He nodded without saying a word and took the other way while I turned towards the restroom. I turned on the tap and listened to the water flowing. I needed to calm down. My heart was racing and I knew the anxiety was setting in already.

It was only a day, and things were going wrong. I needed to think fast.

The door suddenly opened. At first, I didn’t turn around to see who it was since I assumed it was probably a female, but as soon as his scent hit me, I turned briskly.

It was Roman.

He stood there in the middle of the bathroom, staring right at me. My back was pressed against the sink as I wished to be anywhere but there.

Without thinking twice, I grabbed my bag and began walking away from him. I had nothing to say to him. 

He grabbed me and pulled me back into the room before I could leave. 

“Let go of me,” I demanded. He didn’t listen; I bet he wasn’t one to listen. 

Even though he was older, he looked better than when he was eighteen. His eyes were still beautiful, but there was always this tired, worn-down look about him. I couldn't tell if his eyes were muted gray or blue because I didn't care enough to look at him long enough. 

Everything about him pissed me off. 

He kept staring at me as though there was something both horrible and amusing on my face. That bastard!

I tried pulling away, but it only made him pull me closer into his body. His eyes bore into mine, and I could feel the heat of the bastard against my skin as my chest was pressed against his.

I sucked in a deep breath as the demon's eyes pierced mine. I swallowed hard. This wasn’t real. I was still trying to make sense of how he was back in the pack, and now he was standing in front of me as though telling me he was as real as the day.

I tried removing myself from him, but he didn't give me the break I wanted. I should scream.

“I thought you left the pack, Scarlet,” He finally said something. I thought he’d gone deaf and dumb.

“I thought you died, Roman,” I spat through gritted teeth.

“Yeah, I was expecting hostility from you in all honesty,” He answered so casually as though we’d met a year or even two years ago.

“Let me go,” I demanded again.

I watched as his grey eyes turned black, and again, they turned to grey.

How was that even possible?

“Wrong! Your words should be, What do you want from me?” He asked with an evil smirk that made my heart beat twice as hard.

I clenched my jaw. He was a psychopath if, for a minute, he believed I would be interested in him.

“It’s been eight years. Why should I be interested in what you want? You can die, and I wouldn’t even bat an eye.”

He held my gaze and smirked. “I’ve got a little fight in 2 days. If I win, you’ll get to see me every day. So, wish me the best of luck, Red,” I stared at him in disbelief.

I scoffed. “I hope you get killed or burned at the stake.”

“You hate me that much,”

“More than you'll ever deserve,” I told him.

He clicked his tongue. “Brace yourself, Red,” He said just as he let me go. My eyes were curious as to the meaning behind his words, but my mouth was shut.

I should've asked because before he walked out, he gave me a sharp, cruel look and said, 

“This is only the beginning.”