Chapter 3

“The – The Alpha is in a meeting right now.” My father’s secretary shivered in his boots when I arrived. “If the Missus had made an appointment, perhaps –“

“An appointment to see my father? Does it sound right in your ears for a daughter to schedule an appointment to visit her father?” I asked Mr. Kim, my father’s secretary.

“My lady, the Alpha is an important person who one can’t –“

“I shall wait for him,” I cut him off but he kept going.

“You cannot barge in – What?” His mouth fell open. “I mean – You will wait for him?” His voice shook with disbelief as he asked.

“Yes. I would like a cup of tea while I wait.” I saw myself to the waiting room.

“Is that really Lady Persephone?”

“She will wait rather than barge in on the Alpha?”

“It seems she knows the relevance of this meeting.”

“Doesn’t she seem a bit – off?”

I zoned out of the whispers exploding around my father’s office. Wolves had great senses. Some could smell things hundreds of metres away while others had enviable night visions. Wolves from older families like mine had better senses than others and the Adelards, in particular, have been known to have keen ears.

My biggest mistake in my past life was not forcing a mating on Cassius or playing tricks on April. No, everything that went wrong in my past life was due to my silliness. I read all the books, studied all the languages, and kept abreast of all the topics but I was a fool.

I knew everything but I never bothered with my character. I brushed up on all my skills while ignoring my temperament. April’s bright and humble character won everyone to her side.

“…phone. Miss Persephone!” I snapped back to the present to the image of my father’s secretary filling my vision.

“What is it?” My voice was tired when I spoke.

“My lady, are you alright?” Mr. Kim asked, worry creasing his brows. “Your complexion is pallid. I heard you fell into a bush. Perhaps you need rest.”

“I am fine, Mr. Kim. Thank you for your concern.” I tried to force my lips up but they would not move.

My body felt strange. Was it possible that the poison from my past life still affected my body? I felt heavy and sluggish. But then, it was just a few hours ago I woke up after being poisoned to death.

“I – I –“ Mr. Kim’s mouth fell open for the second time. His fingers touched his parted lips as he did a double-take. Had I never thanked him before?

“Has my father’s meeting ended?” I asked, assuming he had come here for that.

“Ah, yes. Yes!” He straightened. “The Alpha is ready to see you.”

I followed behind him as he led the way to my father’s office. I had come to this place a few times. All the times I came, I threw a tantrum and ended up being kicked out of the premises by my father.

Eyes and whispers followed me as I walked. The eyes burned into my back and made my skin prickle. The old me would have turned and yelled at them to get lost.

Unable to resist the urge to see those burning a hole into my back, I turned. All the heads poking out from random corners froze as my gaze swept through the hall behind me.

“Eek! We’ve been caught.”

“What do we do?”

The frozen people mumbled under their breaths, their eyes unblinking.

Should I smile at them? I turned, pretending I never saw them. It was easier than getting my lips to function.

Mr. Kim knocked once before pushing open the doors to my father’s office. I made an odd nose at the back of my throat that made Mr. Kim turn to me. This man must think I sustained head injuries at this point. I rubbed circles on my left palm with my right index finger.

“Go on in.” He made a sweeping gesture with his hand, his neck slightly bent in respect of the Alpha staring at us from his seat.

I entered the room with my father’s eyes trained on me, his lips down turned. Mr. Kim closed the door as he left.

“F – Father.” I swallowed down a thick lump in my throat, feeling sweat break out on my nape.

“What is it? I thought you outgrew interrupting my work.” His arrogant voice washed over me.

“You – You are here,” I whispered underneath my breath with my head bowed.

“Why wouldn’t I be here? This is my only office.” Tears splashed against the thick burgundy rug that covered the ground.

My father. He had always been a stern man who I got my temper from. He never spoke kind words and since I was a troublesome child, I felt he hated me. Yet – Yet – When everyone turned their backs on me, he was the only one to believe and stand with me. I had been a bad enough daughter for him to believe the allegations against me but he still stood with me.

“Persephone,” his stern voice called out to me. I raised my eyes from the rug to look at him. “Why are you crying? Who offended you? Give me their names, quickly.”

“No one offended me,” I choked out, wiping the tears that rushed down my cheeks.

“Nobody? Ha, is it that dunce Cassius? I will teach him a lesson for making my daughter cry!” He pushed out of his seat and approached me with purposeful strides.  

“I – I am just so glad to see you, Father.” I clutched at his coat when he came over and handed me his handkerchief to wipe my face. “I missed you so much.” I wrapped my hands around his neck and burst into tears.

I would give anything to make sure I could stay in my father’s embrace as long as possible. I loved this man so much. I took him for granted all my life and never told him what he meant to me. Without Alpha Rufus, Persephone Adelard was nobody.

“I love you. I love you, father.” I pressed my face into his chest and melted in his warm embrace. He stroked my back and let me cry my eyes out. I didn’t know how long I stayed like that, basking in his warmth, inhaling his scent, and hoping all this wasn’t a dream.

I cried until the office door opened and Mr. Kim cleared his throat from behind us. My father held me in his arms despite the interruption.

“Alpha Maverick is here for your three o’clock meeting,” he announced.

“Send him away,” my father commanded.

“But – He has been on the waiting list for two months –“

“Send him away. I have more important things to settle. See yourself out.” I nestled in my father’s arms, my wails dying to hiccoughs and sniffles.

Father’s arms tightened for a second when I pulled away from his embrace. Embarrassment colored my cheeks when I saw the wet patches on his pristine black coat. He had a bit of snot on him. I wiped it in a daze while he stared down at me without saying a word.

“What is the matter, Perse?” He hugged me again, stroking my hair. Pulling away from his embrace was a struggle but I managed. “You mustn’t hide anything from me. My power is yours so tell me what it is you want. We will get it sorted today.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I am an adult now. It is time for me to make my way in life.” Enough of dragging my father into my business all the time and dirtying his reputation. I would get myself out of this mess without sullying my father’s name.

“What is it? I will pave the way for you no matter what it is you want to do,” he vowed. A vow I took advantage of too many times.

“I – It is something I must do myself but you should know that I will not mate with Cassius.” I bowed my head.

“Ha, this child!” He exploded. “After all I gave up to get you with that cretin, you come to me with this?” He shouted. I raised my head and his next words died in his throat when he looked into my eyes.

“Cassius is not mine,” I spoke in a plain voice that hid my fear.

“After badgering me with talks of your love, you suddenly realize this?” I nodded at his sharp tone. “Your engagement ceremony is in a week. How do you expect to call off your engagement at this point?” I looked away from him.

I only woke a few hours ago so I didn’t have a concrete plan yet but I knew what I must do. I had to sever all ties with Cass.

“You are an adult now. If you have had a quarrel with Cassius –“

“No, we didn’t quarrel.” He murdered me but I couldn’t tell him that, not without the risk of looking like a lunatic.

“Persephone –“ He scrubbed his palms against his face. “Let’s assume I support this sudden decision of yours, what reason do you have to pull out of the engagement?”

“My life.” I swallowed. “My life is at stake.”