Chapter 7 "The Former Alpha"

Maxine’s POV

I never had a boyfriend.

Instead of using my time to date in spring or to find a partner whom I can exchange with countless ‘I love you’, I focused on my study and finding part-time job while waiting for opportunity to come in my way.

However, the bachelorette like me dared to lie to my college classmates, saying that I have a rich boyfriend named Chandler Wayne.

‘Pride is the trap of ego pleasure.’

 I read that line in a book of Kevin Everett FitzMaurice. And I thin he is right.

The pride which made me lie became a trap. It is like a spider web, making it had for me to move which thereby might lead to my death and eaten by. Lying that I am in relationship with Chandler Wayne has trapped me, and as of now, I am unable to do anything according to my will.

I regretted a lot.

The first thing that came to me when I woke up in an unfamiliar place is repent.

‘I will never lie about my relationship,’ I vowed this. However…

“He will be so shocked that I brought my girlfriend to my friend’s house. Isn’t it?” the blonde-haired guy named Brett said.

From what I can understand, Brett and the tall red-haired guy are clearly talking about me. Does it mean that the girlfriend is also none other than me?

My jaw dropped. Gradually, I turned my head to Brett.

Our gazes met and I felt the chill ran down on my spine.

‘He is really talking about me!’

A catastrophe happened when I first lied about being in a relationship with Chandler. Certainly, another mess will come because of this.

I have a bad premonition.

Being in relationship with beasts, I can tell that it won’t do any good. NEVER.

“A girlfriend,” the red-haired guy murmured as he set his eyes towards me, and as I peered back, my anxiousness began to pound inside my chest. Louder. Louder.

“Sir Brett brought his girlfriend to Sir Chandler’s house,” he murmured without taking off his eyes on me.

“Oh, yes,” Brett replied, nodding his head.

‘What do you mean ‘Yes’?! I am not your girlfriend!’ is what I wanted to shout. But the words stuck in my throat and like fool, I stayed on my spot while looking alternately at these two men.

“It’s weird. Bringing your girlfriend to sir Chandler’s house,” the red-haired said.

I would like to nod my head, as to agree. However, Brett dropped a remark which took my reasoning power.

“Well, I enjoyed having s*x in different house.”

At his words, my lips pressed together in thin line as I clenched my teeth. There is a sudden flames of hell nurturing inside me and I could feel my veins popping out from my skin!

‘S*x? This b*stard…! This b*stard is  really a s*n of a b*tch!’

He did not just lie about our relationship but he dared accused me for enjoying s*x with him in another man’s place. Does it not make me look like a weirdo like him?!

“If that is the case, I will assume that this woman knows about your identity?”

The question I heard made me suppress my anger and to unlit the fire in my the ticking bomb of my patience. I loosened the grimace on my face as I turned my head back to the red-haired guy.

A moment ago, I definitely heard him called Chandler an ‘Alpha.’ On which, it tells me that this guy is also a… werewolf.

‘Right?’

“You are right,” a voice came and answered my question.

As soon as I laid my eyes to the man who brought me in this place by force, I felt the chilling atmosphere that I have already felt the first time we saw each other.

Chandler arrived with his other friend who stayed with him while Brett took me in the bathroom before. When I looked at the black-haired guy, he also ogled  to my side. All of a sudden, he glistened in red and he quickly avoided my gaze.

‘Why?’

That’s when I remembered what state I am in.

I am only wearing a towel around my body and my hair is still wet!

Realizing that, I felt the heat spread throughout my chest into the roots of my hair.

If it will be only possible to meddle in and ask if I can close the door while they are talking. But, at this moment, I know it isn’t possible. How can I precipitously raise my hand and ask: ‘Excuse me. Can you please damn leave me alone?’

No.

Not when I am the topic of the conversation.

‘But at least, they should have let me wear something! This is so awkward!’

“I greet the Alpha Chandler,” the red-haired guy said as he bowed his head to Chandler.

Firmly holding the towel around me, I watch how the scene will unfold before my eyes.

“Just like what Brett said,” Chandler uttered.

He took a peek at me before gawking back at the red-haired man, who seems in lower position than them, seeing how he greeted with utmost respect.

“This woman in my house is his girlfriend. That’s correct,” Chandler continued.

‘Wait a minute.’

Before, I was playing the role of Chandler’s girlfriend. He even introduced himself to my college classmates as my lover. But now, he’s introducing me as his friend’s lover?

I felt like a ball as how it was so easy for them to pass me here and there.

“And she’s aware about our identity,” Chandler added.

“A human who knows she’s dating a werewolf,” the red-haired guy murmured, as if processing the information. “The Elder would be surprised.”

As of now, he keeps on calling me ‘human’, which mean I really look like a normal human in other werewolves’ eyes.

But for a woman to date a beast, it is a weird combination. Not that I can understand what this red-haired guy’s words well.

‘And who is this Elder anyway? Someone in higher position?’

“Hey Isaac,” Brett called the red-haired guy.

So, his name is Isaac.

“You told me before that I should not butt in Wayne’s clan business. In the same case, you shouldn’t butt into my business too,” Brett continued, grinning.

The man, Isaac, bowed his head to Brett as to apologize. “I apologized, Alpha Brett.”

“But speaking of the Elder,” Chandler murmured.

Isaac looked back at him.

“I am wondering why he sent you here in my house, that you even chose to use the narrow door instead.”

Chandler gander at the opened window of the room.

Wind blew from the open door, giving me goosebumps.

Did the man named Isaac entered the house using the window?

But this is the second floor.

How the hell will he…?

Oh. Right. They aren’t normal human.

‘Huh. Look at me talking what a human should be when I am also different.’

“Tell me what you need in my house,” Chandler said.

With an expression that is hard to read, as if he was born without emotions, Isaac answered, “Elder asked me to look over you. It’s been months since you did not visit the house so he got worried.”

“So, he wanted you to spy on me?” Chandler asked.

“No. He told me to find anything about you. I thought you are in business meeting so I came here. But what I saw inside your room is Alpha Brett and…”

Slowly, his eyes ogled at me.

Panicked, my mouth hanged loose.

‘What will I so? Greet him? Smile? Wave my hands? But I am naked. Even just saying hello in this state is crazy.’

“At least you are honest,” Chandler responded with chuckles. He glanced at me and spoke without avoiding my eyes. “Then tell him that he does not need to worry anymore.  I will visit the house and meet the soon.”

Something flickers through his eyes so quickly there’s not time for me to read it. Sadness? Anger?

No matter what it is, I don’t think there’s something good about that person whom they are calling ‘Elder,’ enough for them to lie at my identity.

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Third Person’s POV

As Delta werewolf who is in training for Beta position, Isaac is the third in rank to Alpha and Beta. He does not hold the authority to call for medium or large hunts as this privilege only ranked to alphas and betas. However, as Isaac is serving as guard of the Elder, who is Chandler’s father and the former Alpha of the Wayne pack, everyone in the clan holds a respect to him.

After visiting Chandler’s house, Isaac went straight back to the mansion to give his report to the elder. Lanceil Wayne.

Isaac entered the large mahogany door and entered the room. As soon as he got inside, he saw his master waiting for him.,

The old man, who was once the most powerful Alpha in the remaining clans, is not sitting in a wooden-rocking chair in front of the fire. Some distance back, he stretched his legs in front of him. His chin was sunk on his breast, forehead raised in odd wrinkles. Isaac glanced momentarily on his master’s silent half grin, a little tipsy like satyr.

Lanceil, who is about 1007 years old, looked at Isaac.

Isaac’s left knee knelt down while his other leg supports his arm. He bowed his head to show respect to the man he swore his loyalty.

Werewolves can control their aging. They can age, but if they can continue to shape-shift and take on the form of werewolf, they will not. This is the reason why werewolves like Lanceil can stay a certain age for as long.

But when he stopped shifting permanently, Lanceil continue to age. After maintaining the control over the long period of time, he gave the Alpha position to the next line and became the Elder of the Wayne clan.

As an elder of the werewolf, their opinion is greatly respected throughout the pack, being adviser to both Alphas and Betas.

True, he has the right to meddle at the pack affairs, but for his son, Chandler, he’s some kind of enemy whom he cannot kill even if he wanted too.

“What did you get by exploring around my son’s house?” Lanceil asked Isaac, the young Delta whom he directly brought in the pack.

Isaac lowered his eyes and answered, “I haven’t found anything as the Alpha Chandler stayed in his house with the two Alphas from the other clans. However, I saw a woman inside his house.”

“A girl inside my son’ house,” Lanceil repeated. “Isn’t that odd? What do you think, Isaac?”

Isaac nodded his head. “Yes. I thought it was odd too, Elder. The Alpha has never brought a girl home, as he couldn’t find his mate yet. And also, Alpha Brett was there. He said that the woman in the house is his girlfriend.”

“Is it another human?” Lanceil asked.

“Yes, Elder. He seems to date another human girl. But it is odd that he brought her to your son’s house. At the top of that…”

Isaac paused. He slowly lifted his head and met the Elder’s gaze.

“The human girl knew their identities as werewolves.”

A burst of chuckle resonated, a sardonic one from Lanceil’s lips. “That is interesting,” he said.

“So, what should I do? Shall I look further about the woman?”

As the beam vanished in Lanceil’s mouth, his eyes narrowed. “Did you try hunting by using a fish rod?”

Fish rod?

Isaac tilted his head.

When werewolves hunt, using fish rod isn’t necessary. But as the Elder cannot shift anymore, he took a lot of time fishing, and so Isaac thought that he’s talking about his hobby.

 ”If the rod suddenly shakes, you should not guess if you hunt a big one or small. You need to lift the rod, check the answer and eat the fish.”

With a smirk, the old man looked at Isaac.

“Lift the rod. And kill my curiosity.”