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Hundred and Six
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Bab terkait
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Seven
DIMITRII moved slowly around the house, thinking. Why couldn't I shake off the thought that there was something off about Alexis? That was the question I kept asking myself.Yes, I wasn't entirely comfortable with the way he kept hanging around Valeria like a faithful lapdog, but I didn't think that was all. There was something, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. It felt like there was something about him that I ought to have been able to pinpoint before now. Valeria had kept insisting that he was positively harmless, but if we had to face it, her instincts for spotting danger were not in any way to be relied upon.I decided that the only way to put my mind at rest was to do something about this... hunch I had. I went into my study, went through my contact list until I found the phone number of a private investigative agency I had had dealings with in the past. I went straight to the point as soon as the owner picked up my call. I gave him Alexis's details and told him that
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Eight
VALERIA"It was an absolute success," I said. "Of course it was," said Sasha, dropping into the chair next to Alexis. "There was absolutely no way the Rosy project launch could be have been anything less than a success, not with the work we have all been putting into it." She turned slightly to face Alexis. "You were not here in the early days of the project. We were all working like... machines. You won't believe how hard we worked.""I think have an idea of that. I worked my ass off the day before the launch," Alexis said, laughing. He armed imaginary sweat off his brow. "I take it the boss is pleased.""Oh yes. Of course he is." Sasha gave me a questioning look. "Isn't he?"Alexis looked at me expectantly too. I supposed it had become common knowledge that I would be the one in a better position to know of Dimitri's moods and thoughts."He is pleased," I assured them. "He couldn't fail to be, not with all the massive attention the project has been getting these past few days.""T
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Nine
VALERIAI was finally getting my wish. How many times had I lain awake with the thoughts of seeing firsthand what a werewolf pack looked like? The answer was- more times than I could count. Yet, I was nervous, so nervous. My fingers kept twisting nervously in my lap the closer we got to his pack.Dimitri turned to me. "In about ten minutes, we'll be there."I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Dimitri stared straight ahead but placed his hand on mine. I held on to it tightly like a lifeline. I couldn't help thinking that in less than ten minutes, I would be really part of Dimitri's world. I had a million questions and a million concerns. What if his pack wouldn't accept me? I didn't really know how packs worked, so though Dimitri was in a position of authority, I couldn't help wondering if it was in his pack's place to decide if I I was unsuitable for him."We're here," Dimitri announced exactly 9 minutes, 27 seconds later.I knew the exact time because I had been keeping my eyes
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Ten
DIMITRIBefore she said a curt 'Good evening', I knew from the slight squaring of her shoulders, the tilt of her head that she was angry with me about something. For the life of me, I could not imagine why. I thought back to the last twenty four hours, and then beyond. We hadn't had a row, not so much as a disagreement, since the incident at the parking lot, since I had taken her to the pack to meet my people.Or maybe I was wrong. She had been waiting up for me after all. Maybe she was a little upset that I was late. I smiled, leaned in for a hug. Her palm, raised in front of her face stopped me from going further. The smile on my lips froze in place, then died."There is something I have to show you," she said in the same curt tone she had used before."Valeria," I called after her as she stood up and began to march away. "What-""Come with me," she called back, without turning to see if I was following.Wondering what on earth was going on, and feeling certain I was not going to li
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Eleven
VALERIA"Good. You're ready," Dimitri called out loudly. He quickly dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a paper napkin, then promptly crumpled it in his fists. My only response to him was a scathing glance as I passed him. If he thought for a moment that I would somehow overlook his lie and the fact that he left me to go to heaven knows where during an argument, then he had another think coming. I thought I had done a good job of passing the message that I didn't want his company across, when I heard him walking behind me.I ground my teeth to keep from planting my feet, turning around and yelling at him to stay away from me. I kept going, quickening my steps the moment I was out of the house."Valeria-" Dimitri began."Vance," I called loudly enough to drown out Dimitri's voice. "Yes?" He poked his head through the window of Dimitri's car, surprised that I had practically shouted his name since we were just a few paces from each other."I'll be going to work alone in that one
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Twelve
VALERIAThe chances were that the baby and I were perfectly fine, I thought as the doctor began to examine me with a meticulous air, but there was just something about hospitals that made people tense whether or not they wanted to be that way. "Relax, Valeria," the doctor said, sensing my unease and pausing in his work to give me a reassuring smile."I'm relaxed," I said.I returned his smile and proceeded to try to suit the action to the word. After several endless hours- to me at least- he told me he was done."You are doing quite well," he said. "The baby is quite healthy too. You have nothing to worry about."The relief I felt at those words was exquisite. I thanked him. Since I was at the hospital, I went to pay a short visit to Grandma Reese. I found her awake and alert. But was it just me or was she looking rather wan?"Valeria dear," she said, grinning from ear to ear and patting the spot on the bed next to her. "This is a pleasant surprise. Did you just get here?""No. I've
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Thirteen
VALERIAI was scared, very scared but more than that, I was confused. Grace was supposed to be dead. She was four years in the grave. Just recently, Amelia had gone to mourn by her graveside. She certainly couldn't be another of Dimitri's look-alikes. Of that I was sure.I blinked, half expecting her to simply vanish or her features to morph into someone else's, but she remained there, bent over me, staring at me in surprise. A chill ran down my spine. Looking at her was like looking at my own reflection in the flesh."Grace." My voice was little more than a squeak. The sound of my voice brought her to herself. She got off me and shakily stood on her feet. "If you're not dead... where have you been all this time?"She gave a slight shake of her head and began to back away really slowly. She kept looking at me like I was a ghost. When the center table was finally between us, she moved around the house, touching objects, lifting them and putting them down again as though she wanted to b
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Fourteen
DIMITRII waited impatiently for the last person to leave the meeting room. I bowed him out and then I left, shutting the door behind me. On my way to my office, I stopped at Valeria's on the off chance that she had forgiven me and that we were all over the issue we were having. I was surprised to find that she wasn't there. Her desk was very well arranged, not the usual way it used to be before she got off work. It almost seemed as though she had clocked off for the day. I shut her door, called on the man crossing the corridor at that time."Sir?" he said, looking expectant."Valeria," I said. "Do you know where she is?""Oh. She isn't here at the company. She left a while ago and hasn't come back since. I think she left for the day," he volunteered.I called Vance and was surprised to hear he wasn't with Valeria."Why the hell not?" I exploded. "And where is she?""She's at home. I dropped her there on her request... that was after she visited her Grandma at the hospital. She told m
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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
