Chapter 5

Antonio’s pov

Her scent hit me before I saw her- a familiar mix of lavender and wild berries I hadn’t encountered in years. Jennita. My heart raced, every pain coursing through my body evaporating like mere gas as I pulled her into my arms upon instinct.

It was her. I resisted the urge to let out a pained chuckle. Who would have thought we would meet in such a situation after three years? Her eyes, intense and green were sharp, no more the soft-hearted kind I had grown accustomed to. Her hair, still raven black, was longer now, short curls framing a face that had lost its youthful roughness from then, but now gained a fierce beauty.

“Jennita,” I breathed, unable to hide my surprise.

“Beta Jennita.” My face scowled and my wolf flew on high alert when I smelt company. Rogues.

Jennita shot me a calm, cold glance before pulling away, although I couldn’t fathom what I saw in her eyes just before she disappeared.

I groaned as I leaned back into the seat, feeling the familiar pain jolt up my shoulder. I had opted to come for the General Alphas’ meeting alone, although I never would have had any idea I would be subjected to such a situation. I had used this same car yesterday for work. I wondered why it went out of control some minutes ago.

The door to my side jerked open, and my eyes flashed red when the scent of the Rogues grew stronger. A man stepped into view, with full dark brown hair and grim grey eyes that held my gaze passively before he asked gruffly. “Alpha Antonio, are you okay?”

I stepped out of the vehicle, ignoring his outstretched hand to help me up. The car in a matter of seconds got licked up by flames entirely, and it was at this moment I realized I had been too consumed by pain to notice I would have been roasted beef if I hadn’t gotten out.

“Fuck…” I cursed under my breath, and my gaze involuntarily went in search of Jennita. Was I hallucinating about her again back then in the vehicle?

“Alpha Antonio.” She approached me, and it was then I recognized the grey-eyed man by her side as Gamma Louis. “Are you okay?” Her question seemed concerning, but there was no trace of warmth in them.

Her gaze was blank and she had a cold aura emanating from her. It was like I was talking to a different person altogether.

“Jennita…” I called out again, holding onto my shoulder with a slight wince. Some shards of glass had pierced into my body, especially my shoulder. It was only a matter of time before I healed but the pain was almost too unbearable.

“Beta Jennita? Do you know him?” Gamma Louis asked with a disbelieving expression and my blood ran cold hearing the title he had just called her by. I knew I had heard his voice call her out back in the vehicle. But I paid no attention to it then, still in shock from having seen my mate after three years.

“Beta Jennita?” My eyes moved from Jennita to the man, and then to the guards who stood behind them, a look of perseverance and caution in their demeanor. “What is…?”

“Louis. Let’s go. I’ll meet you in the vehicle.” Jennita suddenly cut in. She looked calm, but I could see her clenched fists, her gaze turning even more cold and furious as it met mine discreetly.

Louis looked like he wanted to press on the matter further than his previous question, but he just bowed, and I watched as they all occupied all four vehicles- vehicles sleek and black that screamed their luxury.

I knew it had been years, but was I missing something here?

“You go missing for three years and all of a sudden, I finally encounter you out of the blue, and the Rogues are calling you their Beta? Jennita tell me this is some kind of a hoke.” I scoffed, taking a drag at her body, noticing the firmness in her riding posture, like she was taking the stance of a warrior about to go into battle.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to find your way to the Council meeting. That’s where you were headed right, Alpha Antonio?”

“Stop the bullshit,” I growled, getting infuriated with how she was acting so strangely. We were faced square off and even under my intense aura, she didn’t look like she’d cower she held her stance fearlessly, even with a hint of mockery in her eyes. “Why are you doing this… acting like this? Like we’re strangers. And what is it with you and the Rogues? Why are they calling you their beta?”

Her eyes hinted at words she badly wanted to say, I could see her fighting against the restraint until she met my gaze coolly. “I would appreciate it if you don’t call me so familiarly in public. Three years is enough time for you to forget about me. It’s only unfortunate we have to attend the same meeting and I had to encounter you, but that doesn’t give you the right to disrespect me.”

“Disrespect you?” I chuckled, mirth in my eyes as I gifted her a mocking glare, now amused at her unshakable audacity. “Oh come on, Jennita. You disappear for three years and somehow you manage to earn the title of a shitty Beta of Shitty Rogues. So what? You expect me to bow to the ground before you now? Give you some sort of standing ovation for joining forces with the enemies.”

She gritted her teeth and for a brief moment, a crimson glow was ignited in her eyes before it faded, leaving her green orbs brimming with fury. Although a foot and several inches shorter than me, she jutted her chin upwards. “Your arrogant ass sure doesn’t know how to act when it feels threatened.”

Her words seemed to act as a sharp knife, cutting sharply to my amusement, and immediately, the roles seemed to switch as a dark brooding frown formed on my face while a daunting, but humorless smirk met her lips.

“I’ve found you now. You think you can just continue living life like I didn’t exist in it?” My voice toned down, dark and imminent with anger and frustration.

“I can’t subject myself to bantering any further with you. If I had even gotten a single cue that it was you in that fire, I would have left you to burn. Good day, Alpha Antonio.” With that, she brushed past me, heading towards the convoy of vehicles.

I didn’t even turn to watch her retreating, afraid I might not be able to control myself from not drawing her back angrily, pinning her underneath me, and commanding her to repeat herself.

I just stood there, only hearing the ignition of the engine before the cars sped off, the ghost of her scent still lingering.

My jaw clenched as I bunched my hands into fists, wondering at just who I had encountered. Jennita? No. This woman seemed to like playing with fire, forgetting just how bad it burned, and how dangerous it was to be involved in something you knew was only going to ruin you. Jennita was not that kind of woman. So who the hell did I just encounter?