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Fifty-Four
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Set me Free, Alpha Fifty-Five
VALERIAI listened carefully. I heard the sound of a car engine. It couldn't be Dimitri. He had been away for two days now and I wasn't expecting him back today. I turned off the volume of the television, whose channels I had been idly flicking through and hurried to the door. The tall, lean fair haired man standing on the other side of the door was unfamiliar. In one hand, he held a parcel done up in brown paper. There was a moment of silence where we looked each other over, and though I was sure that I didn't know him, there was something in his eyes that made me feel like he knew who I was."Er- hi?" I made the greeting sound like a question.He quickly recovered. He smiled. "Hi. You must be Valeria."I blinked in surprise that he knew me but found myself shaking his proffered hand. "I am Valeria, but you seem to have me at a disadvantage. I don't know who you are.""Ah. Sorry. Forgive me. I sort of forgot myself for a moment there. I'm Silas-""Dimitri's friend," I cut in.His smi
Set me Free, Alpha Fifty-Six
VALERIAI went downstairs to the living room so I would know the moment Dimitri came into the house. I had long decided to confront him about his decision to keep me at home, doing nothing.I did not have long to wait. Dimitri came in about twenty minutes later, swinging a briefcase, his tie loose. He had the air of a man who had a particularly tasking day at work. I felt a surge of jealousy as I glared at him. I would have given anything to be in his shoes, tired but satisfied with a hard day's work."Hey-" he began, changing direction and coming towards me as soon as he spotted me.I quickly got to my feet, closed the distance between us. "Dimitri, I need to start leaving the house," I said in a tone that brooked no argument."I thought we talked about this-""No. We didn't talk. You just ended up ordering me around. Look, I'll go crazy if I keep holing up in here. I swear I already know the number of stairs in your house, the exact pattern of the ceiling in my room and-" I pursed
Set me Free, Alpha Fifty-Seven
DIMITRII leaned forward in my chair until Silas had finished telling me every detail of what Valeria had overhead. When he had finished, I exhaled in a rush."I knew she overheard our conversation," I said. "It's just that I was so engrossed in the conversation I was having you, that I didn't notice when she started listening in. Then I caught her scent and ended the call. It would sure have made the whole thing more suspicious if I had started questioning her on how long she had been standing there."Silas nodded, understanding my line of reasoning."You could have knocked me over with a feather when she started talking about it. I had to do some pretty quick thinking to deflect her questions. I told her I was a comic book writer, that I had been bouncing my ideas off you, and that you always gave me valuable suggestions on how to proceed whenever I had a case of writer's block."Though annoyed with myself, I couldn't resist chuckling. "That was some pretty quick thinking on your p
Set me Free, Alpha Fifty-Eight
VALERIAThere was no break between sleeping and waking. One moment I was deeply asleep, the next my eyes were wide open, staring at the pattern my beside lamp made on the ceiling. I had a vague memory of a dream with Dimitri in it, but what he was saying and what he had been doing in my dreams, I couldn't remember. I reached behind me to fluff the pillows under my head. I shifted in bed, trying to get into a more comfortable position. From the small clock on the table, I saw that it was 2 a.m in the morning. There was still a lot of time before I had to wake up. I closed my eyes, but after twenty minutes, I gave up trying to get some sleep.Since it was a chilly night, at the last moment, I grabbed a robe from the back of a chair before heading out the door. My footsteps echoed on the tiles as I made my way to the balcony. The house was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. A chilly, but pleasant breeze played around my skin, lifted strands of my hair. I lifted my face up to the
Set me Free, Alpha Fifty-Nine
VALERIA"You didn't," were the first outraged words out of my mouth."I did and there's an end to it," Dimitri said firmly.What the hell was he talking about? Getting me a bodyguard was the height of it. What on earth had possessed him to do this? I stole a glance at the man who still stood by the door, staring straight ahead, as still as a statute.I sidled closer to Dimitri, pitched my voice low to reduce the chances of Vance hearing me."You can't do this," I hissed at him. "This is- is madness. You didn't even consult me before going ahead with this. There is no way in hell that I'm having a bodyguard.""The issue is not up for discussion. Besides, I have already hired him.""Dismiss him then," I said more loudly than I had intended. I saw Vance shift a little uneasily. A blush suffused my cheeks as I thought about how mean I must sound, to him at least. I half turned to face Vance and stammered out an apology. "I-I'm sorry. It's nothing personal. I have nothing against you as a
Set me Free, Alpha Sixty
VALERIAI felt, rather than saw that there was someone watching me. I raised my head. Noah was there, grinning at the surprise on my face. He placed a finger across his lips. He took a chair and straddled it."Surprise," he said."Well I am surprised!" I exclaimed. His boyish smile was infectious and I found myself smiling back. "I wasn't expecting you. Aren't you supposed to be at work?""That's one of the perks of being a boss, remember? While you're here slaving away in an office, I can afford to pay unannounced, surprise visits to my friends," he said with a chuckle and then his expression became serious. "The last time I was here, I was told that you were not at work. As soon as I heard you had resumed, I just had to see you." He studied my face carefully. "I suppose you were ill.""I was but I'm much better now.""Good. I've been sort of worried. You know, we haven't really spent much time together. The double dinner date with Dimitri was-""A flop." I sighed. "I know."Noah's
Set me Free, Alpha Sixty-One
VALERIAI slid into an empty chair at the café. I did not have long to wait. Two minutes later, I spotted Noah opening the door. He saw me, waved and came over. An hour ago, we had arranged to meet at this café during my lunch break which was taking place now. I asked the usual questions about his day while we waited for our order."I bet Dimitri wasn't too pleased that you hung out with me," said Noah, unknowingly echoing what had dominated my thoughts throughout yesterday.I could not stop the sour look that spread across my face even if I tried."Yes," I admitted. "He was pissed, alright, but not just because I was hanging out with you."Noah's brow arched in surprise. "Really? I would have thought that just the fact that we spent time together was enough to drive him off the edge.""Well... there's that," I allowed. "But then I also had to ditch my bodyguard so I could go off with you.""Bodyguard? Oh." His eyes lighted up in understanding. "That's why you were acting all weird ye
Set me Free, Alpha Sixty-Two
DIMITRINoah couldn't have timed his arrival with Valeria more perfectly. As he pulled up in front of the entrance, Valeria reached for the door, but Noah was faster. He said something to her as he hurriedly left the car and came over to her side. With a flourish, he opened her door, took her hand and handed her out of the vehicle. The sight left a sour taste in my mouth. You would think he was her escort for a movie premiere or a red carpet event.A laughing Valeria waved to him as she went into the building without even looking in my direction. Noah gave me a look of such smugness that I wanted so badly to knock his teeth out."Have a nice day, Val," he called out even though she was out of earshot now.And then he was driving away and I realized I had been standing at the same spot for the last couple of minutes, watching them. I growled a reply to the doorman's greeting and I marched to my office. I had one clear purpose. I would make sure Valeria stopped whatever was going on bet
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Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Six
VALERIAWith my hands on my hips, I took a step back to look at the decorations. After a few seconds or so, I had to admit that the decorators had done a pretty good job. I had as well. Jayden had his superhero theme decorations all in blue, his favourite colour. Jane had her favourite Princess whatsername theme also in bright yellow.I grinned, reflecting on how very different children's birthday parties were from those of adults. The entire living room area was a clash of yellow and blue, and then there were the balloons also, covering large sections of the floor."And what are you grinning about?"I felt myself relaxing at the sound of Dimitri's voice, leaning back against him until his arms went around me. He repeated his question."I was just thinking that the whole place looks like a rainbow exploded in it," I murmured."Mmm. I think I rather like the look of the place. It's an improvement if you ask me."I snorted. "Having kids have made you soft. There was a time when you woul
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Five
VALERIAIt was bone-chilling to see Amelia's expression when she realized the game was over. It was like she had been wearing a mask which had suddenly come off. Now I could clearly see what lay beneath the facade she presented to the world. The sight made me shiver and I unconsciously shifted close to Dimitri who gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Amelia, teeth bared, kept looking around like a trapped animal searching for a means of escape."There's no way out now," Dimitri said, leaving the sofa to stand in front of her. "You can't escape so bury that thought.""Why?" I said, the question drawn from my lips before I even thought of it. Everyone turned to look at me but I had eyes only for Amelia, the woman who was my mother but had done things to hurt me more than anyone in this world. "Why do you hate me so much? Why... all this? How could you-""You know nothing!" she declared vehemently. "So don't you think you can sit there and judge me when you don't know half of what happ
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Four
DIMITRII let my suggestions about Amelia's and Alexis' eventual capture sink in. When I was sure it did, and that Valeria was in agreement with all I had said, I stood up to leave. Valeria's hand on my arm prevented me from doing so."Wait," she said. "There is something more."I slowly sat back down. "Tell me.""I want to be part of the capture."My response was instant. "Oh no. You can't.""Why not?"Funny she would ask. Even the thought of putting Valeria, especially in her condition, through any form of danger was so abhorrent to me it made me shudder inwardly."Valeria," I said in the most reasonable tone of voice I could muster. "There may be danger when they are caught. I have no way of knowing, true. But I can't take the risk of you getting hurt. Silas, Vance and I with all the others I will bring in to help can handle them. Trust me. It will be best if you stay completely out of it."Then I groaned inwardly when I still saw that stubborn look on her face, the look I knew so
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Three
VALERIAOne of Ivy's nurse friends from the hospital clapped her hand over her lips to keep in a giggle."Ssh!" said a friend of Vance who just had to be a bodyguard. His tall, muscled figure could be made for nothing else.The man was smiling himself."Sorry," the giggler apologized as she smiled up at him.I felt much like giggling myself, especially at the look I was already picturing on Ivy's face when she eventually realized Vance had brought a lot of his friends and her friends on their date."They are here," Dimitri whispered in my ear.Dimitri's words were whispered back and forth between everyone."Remember everyone. Don't make a sound when they come in," someone said.I looked straight ahead and saw Vance, lead Ivy by the hand into the private booth of the restaurant where we were all hiding."It's beautiful in here," Ivy said, looking around. "But it's rather dark, don't you think? Maybe a little more light will-"She made a move to touch the light switch. I stiffened, drew
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Two
DIMITRISilas, who was to all appearances lounging on the verandah outside while making some calls, met my eyes. For the last few days, I had kept him in and around the house, ostensibly running a few errands for me, being extra security for Valeria, but really he was around to keep an eye on Amelia.We had all come to the conclusion that since she felt herself entirely free of suspicion, she would make a move to contact Alexis or to put her plans into action soon. I felt that she was about to do either or both of these things now.Just this morning, Amelia had been acting strangely. Although she had tried to hide it, Silas and I had noticed her acting ill at ease, although Valeria had of course remained oblivious. Amelia had started acting this way after Silas, as he told me, had overheard her yelling at someone over the phone.A few minutes later, with her handbag slung over her shoulder, she had said very casually, "I'm making a quick trip to the store to pick up some things we nee
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-One
VALERIAAlthough it had seemed impossible at first, the endless hours after Grandma Reese passed became days. Days became weeks. The weeks eventually added up to a month, and then several months. Though I missed her terribly with each passing day, life went on. My pregnancy became advanced. The doctors told Dimitri and I to expect our child soon.That was the only happy thought that kept me going all through those months. That, and the fact that I had Dimitri at my side.The rest of the time, I was consumed by fear, fear that at least one archenemy was still out there. Dimitri had gently broken the news of Grace's death to me, but had confessed that he still had not found a trace of Alexis. I was terrified that he would one day make an appearance and attempt to harm my child and I. Whenever I voiced out my concerns, Dimitri was quick to assure me that he was still on the lookout for Alexis.And though I took a little comfort in his assurances, I never once forgot that Dimitri was not
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty
AMELIAThey were fools. The lot of them. Stupid, trusting fools, but their stupidity suited me just fine. It was how I had stayed hidden all this time, after all.It was a shame about Grace, but it had to be done. She had been becoming a wild card, a disappointment to me. This early in the plot, she had shown that her emotions overruled her thoughts, and anyone who thought with the heart rather than the head was a liability, was expendable. This was why I had taken Dimitri and Silas to the spot where she was to meet with me. Grace was dead now and a lot of the future complications I knew she would bring had died with her.I glanced at the locked door of my room and continued pacing.I had to get word across to Alexis. Just calling him on the phone wouldn't do. I had to see him face to face in order to assure him that our plan was still on, and that Grace's death changed nothing.The only problem now was Dimitri wouldn't want to let me, a supposedly grieving mother, out of his sight. T
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Thirty-Nine
DIMITRIThe place where Grace had chosen to meet with Amelia was very like the place where she had kept Valeria captive. It was on the grounds of a building, a deserted one by the looks of it. The building was in a scarcely frequented part of the city.Silas, Amelia and I got there a full hour before Amelia's appointment with Grace. We chose good hiding spots where we could see and not be seen. Then we settled down to wait for Grace to show up.Thirty minutes before the time of the appointment, we all clearly heard approaching footsteps. A woman came into view. She was wearing a scarf that obscured most of her face and huge sunglasses, but I knew it was Grace. My hands ached with the effort of keeping them still and not going for her right there and then. Grace gave a sweeping look around the area."Get down," I whispered to the persons with me.Though I was sure we couldn't be seen by her, we all went down and peered at her from between the thick foliage of overgrown shrubs we were h
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Thirty-Eight
DIMITRI"I can't remember."Amelia had said this more times than I could count in so many different ways, but it still boiled down to the same thing. She still clearly could not remember anything about what Valeria's grandmother had said about her and her past."Why can't I remember?" she said again, with tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes.She glanced over at Valeria. Whenever Amelia had declared that she didn't remember, Valeria, with her head resting on the sofa, nodded mechanically and simply kept staring at the blank wall before her.Seeing that Valeria was more or less unresponsive, Amelia turned to me. "What is wrong with me? Why can't I remember any of what happened?"I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring look, patted her hand. "It's okay. Don't worry. I promise you that I will do everything to find out how your memory was tampered with and if possible, you will get your memories back."Amelia nodded and then just sat there, crying and wringing her hands. I sat by
