Five.

DAMIAN.

I opened my eyes to the blinding white ceiling and sat up immediately before I was hit by a nauseating feeling and profound headache as though my head was being pounded on. All this because of that scumbag from yesterday.

I gritted my teeth and shuffled out of bed. My head rang the moment I stepped my feet on the floor. It was as though something was different inside me. I just didn't know what it was yet. I passed out last night, as soon as I got home.

I remembered my senses being so distorted that I even smelled a human in my home, although I knew that was impossible. That girl was making me feel things I hadn't felt in a long time. I sat at the edge of the bed and placed my hand on my chest to summon my wolf.

I heard shrieking and snarling sounds in my head, and I knew what it meant. My wolf was weak and still hasn't recovered yet, but it gladdened by heart that he showed up yesterday and said a word, thanks to that fucking traitor.

The sunlight slipped past the curtains, disturbing me way more than I wanted. I reached for the curtain and pulled it down, and the room fell into a cooler, darker shade. I'd come to and was now able to process the meeting from yesterday. Who was she?

She blurted out a name to me yesterday. Caroline. Who was Caroline, and why does she have that face? Was it some kind of test!? I clutched my hand around the bedsheet and grasped it tightly, angrily. I was infuriated that I let her slip through my fingers yesterday.

If she was here with that face? Does that mean everyone was, too? Even Amyra, my mate? Could she be here too? I ruffled my hair and exhaled a broken sigh, feeling more paranoia wash up inside of me. Was this what I came out of hiding for? To be tormented by my failure in the past.

My heart pounded, and my brows drew together while I struggled with the puzzle pieces in my head. I had no clue what was going on. The only thing I was sure of was my undying hate for that creature and how much I wanted her to suffer.

If the barely sane, old man hadn't walked in yesterday, I'd have taken her life, and if I saw her now, I was sure I wouldn't hesitate too, but first, she'd have to provide answers to my questions. I had a lot of those.

I stood from the bed and made my way out of the room. It was still the early hours of morning, and I had to be present at the organization today to fully take over. I was hoping this desperate cry for help attracted the people I wanted it to.

Maybe somehow, in this time and age, I reunite my pack members, and we can live as we should have.

Maybe.

As soon as I stepped foot in the corridor, I was hit by the same smell as yesterday. I chuckled wryly, convinced I was going crazy. That bitch really got to me yesterday, didn't she? The urge to rip her apart seemed to multiply.

I rubbed my nose and prowled on while the scent grew more intense. It wasn't as bad as this yesterday. I took one more step and turned to the living room. My foot touched something soft and gluey.

It felt disgusting against my skin, and I looked down at it, scrunching my nose. Behold, a half-eaten donut. Wha-

But that wasn't all. There were bitsy bits of snacks everywhere, including their wrappers, and it made a trail all the way down to the living room. Damnit! I cussed, bewildered.

My brows arched as I watched the once tidy and tiled floor be brutally mutilated with biscuit wrappers and large crumbs of chips.

And cheese.

And chocolate

And empty cans of soft drinks.

WHAT THE FUCK!? The one thing I hated the most after Minerva and humans was untidiness. It sure tipped me over the edge.

My feet hadn't known this much suffering since the dark, old days, and the disgust that encompassed me almost had tears streaming down my face. I sniffled, and the human smell still lingered. Someone was here, or someone had been here.

There was an empty bottle of gin on the couch, and as I walked closer, I heard a slow, strained body movement along with a small groan. For no reason at all did goosebumps scrub up my hands, and I was frozen for a moment.

I'd been so close to humans that I'd begun to take a few of their attributes, like fear, surprise, and pain. The only thing I hadn't learnt to feel was happiness. I inhaled deeply and walked to where the sound came from.

My jaw dropped— that's how they describe it. I meant, my mouth hung open in utter awe of the figures before me. Figures.

Not one but two sleeping humans. There they were, just a few steps away from the door, sleeping so soundly. Two men. One in an unbelievable large comfort clothings and the other looking more official. And they were sprawled on the floor like dead bodies. What?

Could this be…one of Alfred's workers? I was perplexed. Stunned. Angry and disgusted that within two days of my arrival in the USA, I already had a thousand reasons to have my peace threatened. How on earth!

"Hey! You two!" I yelled, clapping both hands. "Get your filthy asses off my floor!"

I didn't get a reaction at first. I rubbed my forehead, hating to have to yell like this. I'd always hated talking too loud or talking at all. "Get your asses out!"

"My father is a billionaire!" The man in the official fitting yelled out of his deep slumber with a gasp. He continued to pant and tugged at his tie as he came to, looking completely lost and flustered.

He grabbed his forehead and felt it up. I couldn't even tell if he noticed my presence. "Damn, I drank too much, it hurts!" He exclaimed, and I contemplated slamming my fist into his fragile-looking jaw.

The other man, whom I was convinced was dead, still slept face down.

I cleared my throat, and he finally noticed me. "Oh my god!" He exclaimed as he jumped to his feet, wiping his hand on his black pants and stretching it out to me. "You must be Mr. Kincaid. I've heard so much about you."

I eyed his hand and shifted my gaze back to his face without taking it. The lad seemed rather determined and reached for my hand, a genial smile etched on his face. "I know you must have heard a lot about me, too. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir!"

Help me understand what was going on. I find two men deeply asleep on my living room floor, and not a single explanation was being offered. He made it seem like this wasn't the most awkward situation I'd ever found myself in.

"Who are you?" I pulled my hand away from his playful grip. It reeked of candy and alcohol. "What are you doing in my house?"

"Oh," he shrugged, smoothening his hair. "I'm Reiss. Alfred's grandson and your P.A to be. See? You know me." He clicked his tongue and winked.

I winced, feeling my patience running out. Why would Alfred allow his teenage grandson to drink and crash in my house with, my theory, his dead best friend? I shook my head, "No, I don't know you, kid…"

"I'm twenty-two!" He protested before I could continue.

I brushed it off and continued. "I only care about your grandfather. So carry your dead friend and go away."

He looked back at the other guy. "What? That's your wife."

"My wife?" I echoed, tasting the words. My wife. That was the most ridiculous thing I've uttered in such a long time. "What are you saying?"

"The lady—" his words hit stuck in his throat when the presumed dead body moved without flipping over.

The person yawned and groaned while standing up slowly, "I told you drinking was a bad idea. I need to go now before morning comes…" They said.

That voice. I recognized that voice, but I couldn't place my hand on it. In the blink of an eye, the creature was up, and they staggered slowly before turning to me. I watched her dark hair cascade down her shoulders as her eyes met mine, and time seemed to be still.

My heartbeat quickened. It raced like crazy before I felt a sudden rush of energy descend over me, and my wolf growled internally, for the second time in forever.

"Minerva?" I winced as I called out, perplexed and shocked. Why was she in my house with this kid? How did she get in? Thousands of questions formed in my mind, and I wanted to reach for her and put her in her place.

She was stunned and speechless, too, and she looked at me as though she looked death in the face. She looked less hideous than last night. No, there was no less hideous for someone like her. Minerva backed away slowly, widening those sea-blue orbs of hers. "Wait- let me explain!"

"She's not your wife?" Reiss turned to me, then to her. "You're not his wife? You said you were his wife!"

"When did I say that?" She barked at him, panting before her gaze fell back to me. She looked at me with eyes full of fear. "Look, Mr Beast-"

Mr beast? I cocked my head. Did she name me that? I was running low on patience but thinking of how much of a hassle it'd be if I made Reise witness a murder. The best I could do was wait for her to talk without sending a knife through her throat.

"Sorry, sorry, Mr…Caid? Look, I don't know, man, I was on my own when this gentleman here found me and offered me a place to sleep last night…and we came in here. That's all that happened!" She explained, and her eyelids twitched.

I could tell she was lying. A lot of thing about Minerva was so different. She no longer glared and held herself of high prestige as she did. The elegance she carried that drove men to her feet has severely diminished. Her pride and vainness was no longer there. All I could see standing before me was a lost, desperatechild.

I didn't know why it scared me so much. Was this a joke? Something about reincarnation that I didn't know about? It was so unsettling, ng and I felt my stomach churn. I wanted to grab her and make her confess to me, but of course, Reiss.

"That's a lie! I remember…" Reiss' voice trailed off. "I remember walking in and finding her here! I thought she was your wife, and she said she was!"

"You fucking liar!" Minerva yelled back. "You brought me here. You were drunk as fuck, so what do you even remember!"

"I-" Reiss paused again. "You might be right. I got drunk and probably…messed up." He signed and looked up with teary eyes, throwing his arms in the air. "Stacey! I can't believe you ruined my life up until this moment!"

I looked at Minerva, who somehow wanted me to believe she was Caroline. She shrugged, "Don't look at me, I don't know who the fuck is Stacy."

Their madness was really beginning to get to me. I was confused and angry at the same time. "—who the hell is Stacey?" I barked.

Reiss looked at me, teary-eyed. "My ex-girlfriend," He began to weep. "She broke up with me yesterday."

What? "Why's that my business?"

"Because!" He paused and gasped for air. "She's the reason I messed up! I went to the bar and drank and-"

Why was he crying so loudly!? I closed my eyes and sighed, utterly exhausted. "You know what? It's fine. As long as you two get out, It's all good!"

"Fine by me," Knock off, Minerva agreed. I still needed to make her suffer. I just didn't know how yet.

"I need a hug, big brother!" Reiss wept and threw himself in my hands.

"I'm not—" I was appalled, and right before I could push him off of me, I felt warm liquid trickling down my chest, the part where Reiss' head was currently placed.

"Oh damn!" Minerva gasped, eyeing my chest. "That's a lot of puke."

"Did. You. Just—"