Chapter 5

 

[HOLLY’s Point-of-View]

“Holly!”

“Yes, Dad?”

Dad’s voice was cold. His eyes were focused on the papers he was reviewing—as if looking at me was a waste of his time, “Have you prepared Irina’s dinner? She told me she’s going out with her college friends tonight, and I want to ensure Irina has everything she needs before she leaves the house.

“Yes, Dad,” I answered. It was hard to hide the sadness in my tone, “Irina said she will have dinner with her friends.”

“Hmm…good.”

“Alpha Randalf, your Beta said you need to talk with me—”

I froze when Alec entered the Office and he and I locked into each other’s gaze. I never expected his presence in my father’s study area and if I only did, I would never think of going there.

I awkwardly averted my eyes from him the second his eyes glared at me disdainfully. The argument we had still sunk in my head, and the hatred I saw in his face was too much for me to bear.

“Leave us, Holly.”

Alec was still glaring at me from his shoulders. His eyes were sharp daggers darting at me. Head bowed low, I obeyed and stepped out of Dad’s office while gripping tightly on the broom. But just like what I always did, I didn’t really leave.

I stayed outside, eavesdropping. I know it was dangerous once Dad found out that I had been spying on every conversation they were having. I was dead anyway once I got married to that ruthless Alpha of the Blackwood pack so what’s the point of doing this? I didn’t really know. Maybe I was scared. Scared of what will happen next.

I needed to know why Dad wanted to talk with Alec so urgently. These past few weeks, he has been relying too much on Alec’s suggestions about his decisions.

“Alpha Alec,” Dad uttered in an austere tone, and I could imagine that worried look on his face as he leaned his back on his chair, “I need to hear your thoughts on whether I should invite the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack on my birthday, this coming weekend. Irina wanted us to have a party.”

“That sounds amazing, Alpha Randalf,” from the small opening of the door, I saw Alec slumped on the couch, his ankle crossed on his knee. His side of his chin propped against the knuckle of his hand, and his finger brushed his chin.

He was so confident and so comfortable in front of my Dad but that’s expected since he would be the next man to inherit the pack after he and Irina got married and Dad was too old to rule his people anymore.

The edges of the hole in my heart burned. The thought of Irina and Alec getting married still hurts like hell.

“After all, Edgerton and your pack will be about to be part of a strong alliance.” Alec said in a lethargic tone then sneered, “I always think she’s a perfect match with Evander. Although sometimes, she has a sharp tongue and is a little stubborn,” he sighed heavily and continued. ”I just hope she will behave well and make that man unhappy.”

He uttered the last four words into a mumble and Dad frowned, “What is it, Alec?”

“Nothing,” his eyebrows raised and changed the topic, “I just said inviting Evander here will be a good step towards a strong relationship with our packs.”

Dad leaned over the table and squinted at Alec, “I am a little surprised to hear those words from you, Alec Aoki. Isn’t Holly your mate? How could you let her marry someone else? Are you not bothered about it?”

“Bothered? What do you mean, Alpha Randalf?” Alec laughed, “Holly isn’t even your real daughter! And you know that I am the perfect match for your lovely Irina. I am going to reject Holly for her, Randalf. I love your daughter.”

My eyes widened. My world shattered and the sky fell on my shoulders, and I wished the earth just swallowed me whole. I trembled and covered my mouth with my shaking hands as tears trickled down my face.

“And how about Holly?” Dad asked, his eyes studying Alec and I saw how Alec’s expression turned a little tense.

“I cannot marry a wolfless girl, Randalf,” the smile on Alec’s face disappeared as he sat straight in his seat. He knew that Dad was testing his loyalty to his favorite daughter, “You know that Holly isn’t fit to be the Luna of my pack.”

Dad nodded his head several times, considering Alec’s words. He looked embarrassed. Embarrassed of me? I felt like an invisible hand was choking me.

“Alpha Evander and Holly’s engagement will be a controversial one once the whole region finds out she’s wolfless. Worst, an Omega.” Dad sighed, “I am afraid he won’t accept her.”

“We should prepare her for the event, then,” Alec suggested. The tension left his body as he leaned against the couch, “We don’t really have to tell the Alpha of the Backwood Pack about her. Let him find it out on his own!”

“I doubt that. The whole pack already knows the truth about Holly and I have a feeling that it already reached his Beta. I know that guy. He’s a clever one. We shouldn’t underestimate Evander and his Beta, Kian, knowing that Blackwood Pack is the first in the rank as the most powerful here, Alec. This isn’t a game we should play.”

Alec shook his head, “Yeah, I’m sorry. But there is no way I would let that man have Irina. She will only suffer in his hands, Randalf. Believe me.”

“Don’t worry. I will never let her fall in the hands of a murderer, Alec. I know Holly will make a huge sacrifice for the benefit of the family but this is a choice I have to make.”

Barely breathing, I walked silently away from Dad’s office and went straight to the garden, inside the maze where Irina and I used to play hide and seek when we were little.