Two

Her descent was with deliberate slowness.

Life had always been monotonous and hopeless for Olivia Carter. Sometimes she felt in her spirit that she had lived a truly exciting life in another place and time. That life sometimes appeared in glimpses and a series of fast-moving kaleidoscopic flashes but whenever she tried to catch the memories, to hold them and relish them, they inadvertently disappeared and she was left with the blankness and darkness she had no choice but to adapt to. 

And now a life that had been characterized by monotony and nothingness was going to transform this morning, as she unwillingly took the place of Charlotte. Olivia felt in the depths of her soul that the change was going to be for the worse. The second her feet touched the last step of the stairs, she felt the dark tension that had enveloped the atmosphere. And the minute she was face to face with him, Olivia knew her life had changed in a way she would never truly recover from. 

There was strength and authority wrapped around Titan Black and he radiated it in enormous waves. Combined with his immense magnetism, it was easy to understand why he was a natural-born leader. He was the kind of man who would give an order, and it would not need to be repeated twice. He was the kind of man who would enter a room filled with strangers, and everyone would stop and stare. He was the kind of man who looked like he could rouse people's spirits with a few words. 

Over time, Olivia would be proven right on these things. But on that morning, she felt petrified of Titan and his soulless grey eyes emanating coldness from their deepest depths and the vital force of the man. He was classically handsome. Six feet tall and broad-shouldered. His black hair was gelled back, revealing a devastatingly handsome face. Thick black brows, stormy grey eyes, a pointed nose, and full lips. His entire aura projected domination so strong, Olivia could feel all she needed to do was reach out, and she would touch it. 

Titan Black's eyes swept through her briefly from head to toe, while Olivia stood uncomfortably and self-consciously under the scrutiny. She smiled nervously at him, but the scrutiny was over even before it began, and Olivia could see no emotion etched in his eyes or his face. It was an indifferent mask. Perhaps the vital force of Titan's domineering nature affected Penelope too, because she seemed quite subdued. 

Even when she pushed Olivia forward, it was a gentle push born out of fear. She feared that like a rat, Titan would inevitably sniff out the deception. 

Titan's attention was on his phone, and no one dared to encroach on it. If he was aware that he had suspended time in the room, it didn't show, or he did not care. Finally, after what seemed like an age, Titan looked up as though he just remembered where he was and what he had come to do.

"Penelope Carter?" He called. His voice was a rich, deep, commanding baritone. The very representation of vibrant masculinity.

Penelope who was synonymous with a thunderbolt commandant in terms of her character was suddenly pliant and meek, and Olivia had to wonder how this part of her could co-exist with the implacable cruelty she perpetually exhibited. 

"Yes, King?" Penelope responded by coming forward.

"This is the girl?" He asked, nodding towards Olivia.

"Yes of course," Penelope answered, nodding severally like a lizard. 

"I see, she looks decent enough," Titan said, his gray eyes sweeping through Olivia once again.

"Oh yes, my King. She is decent and very hardworking of course. I am sure that in a few months, you would not regret having taken Charlotte as a wife and..."

Titan looked at her with annoyance written all over his facial features. Needless incessant babbling irritated him. One of the men who he had come with shook his head slightly at Penelope and Olivia could see she got the hint. She cleared her throat instead.

"Uhm...Will my King have something to eat at least? I have buttery cookies, meat, and potatoes, a lovely chicken curry sauce that is just divine..."

Titan stood up hastily as though Penelope had just unveiled her intention to serve them poison. 

"We are just here for the girl," he said curtly. "And nothing more. I have other pressing matters to attend to that are of greater urgency."

Olivia's heart dropped. The man spoke about her like a commodity. A product or property he had come to buy and could hardly wait until the business was fully conducted. She had a prescient belief that she was transcending another form of slavery. And it was a metamorphosis she knew she did not want to deal with. But what was she to do? Her life had never felt like it ever belonged to her. 

"Thank you for your time," Titan said with a curt nod to Penelope. 

"Oh, it's nothing at all, nothing at all!" Penelope said, shrugging off the appreciation, eager to be rid of Olivia Carter once and for all. 

"Follow me, girl," Titan commanded as he walked out with brisk strides.

The two men glanced at Olivia in pity before following their boss out. Olivia stood rooted to the spot for a moment unable to still process the turn of events and Titan's blatant rudeness.

"Will you move your feet and get out?!" Penelope hissed. "You have barely known the man for five minutes and you want to start by disobeying him? Move it!"

Her feet shuffled out, and once she was outside, she looked at the house for the last time. For most people whenever they left a place, it was to go someplace greater. She had lived in this house all her life enduring all forms of psychological and emotional torture at the hands of Penelope and Charlotte. 

She had dreamed and craved endlessly for her freedom but now that it was hers, she was incapable of enjoying it. For it would seem that freedom held a grimmer future. 

It had never once occurred to her that escaping Penelope's torture and abuse would be a path leading to the house and life of the infamous Lycan King - Titan Black.

She got into the car and it immediately started and zoomed off. From the rearview mirror, she watched Titan's men climb into the second car. 

Olivia kept her eyes out the window, taking in her surroundings for the last time. On the highway, she finally found the courage to look over at an expressionless Titan whose attention was back on his phone. The moment his eyes caught hers, she looked away quickly. 

The standoffish composure, his cold demeanor, and his gorgeous looks combined produced something she found irresistibly attractive. 

"What is your name?" Titan asked, out of the blue, unexpectedly breaking the silence. 

Olivia nervously cleared her throat. "Um, my name is…"

"Before you answer," Titan said, interrupting coolly. "-know that I despise liars."

The surprising revelation threw her off guard. Something in Olivia dropped into a bottomless pit. Did he know? Could he know? Penelope had told her the identity information was top secret. Did Alpha wolves have clairvoyant or telepathic powers? What would he do to her if she lied and he found out? What would he do to her if she told the truth? 

Fear suffocated her on the inside, coalescing into a panic. Why did she have to be dragged into this? Had Penelope not made her life a living hell enough?

Titan was watching her. "Did you not hear me?"

"I…yes, My King I heard you,"

"So?"

"So I believe you were told my name," Olivia said evasively, stalling for time. "Why are you asking me again?"

Titan's cold eyes appraised her. "You dare to answer a question with a question?"

Olivia was silent.

"I asked you a question," Titan said. "And whenever I ask you anything, I expect a clear response. Is that understood?"

"Yes my King," Olivia mumbled.

"So now I ask again, what is your name?"

"Olivia Carter,"

Titan's eyebrows shot up. "That's interesting, I was told Charlotte would be coming with me as my wife and not Olivia."

"It was a changed decision,"

"Who changed it?" Titan inquired.

"Madam Penelope,"

"Why?"

Olivia was getting increasingly angry with the questions. She had not had a proper rest in days, and with all this unfolding drama she was forced to participate in, she was wrung out. In order not to be rude to Titan, she kept her lips shut.

"I asked you a question," Titan said through gritted teeth.

Silence.

Shockingly, he grabbed her arm and pulled her so close, her full breasts pressed against his hard solid chest, as his breath fanned against her face.

"Why are you taking Charlotte's place?"