Chapter 19: ¹⁹: false hope

"Alpha, this is the file containing Miss Athena Moonvel’s details," Ryan said as he placed the file on my desk—the very same desk where I had pinned the files subject against only hours ago.

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the important matter at hand and rhat was knowing why was Athena Moonvel doing all this? More importantly, who was she working with?

There had to be a reason she was willing to accept the ridiculous conditions I had laid out.

What could possibly be so important that she was prepared to sign an agreement that would ultimately cost her life coz it mandates her death at the end?

"Elaborate," I ordered.

Taking the file in my hand, I walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the entire Starlight Pack.

Ryan stepped behind me, keeping his head respectfully lowered.

"Alpha, she is the daughter of a hardworking couple from Moondusk Pack. Her parents owned a small garage before they died in a house fire when she was five years old."

He paused before continuing. "She has been an exceptionally diligent student throughout her life. And... from everything we’ve uncovered... she has always been, well..." He hesitated awkwardly. "...very vocal about liking you, Alpha."

"What did you just say?" I asked shocked, the moment he said the last words.

Ryan cleared his throat. "Alpha, her parents died around the same time you disappeared from the pack. You remember we found you near the outskirts of Moondusk Pack."

I remained silent.

"It seems that during that time you had saved her life. Since then, she has believed you were her prince in shining armor. According to the people we questioned, she has always insisted that she would be with you one day, no matter the cost."

Though those memories had faded with time, I still remembered those days. The days I had disappeared. Or rather... Run away from home.

Many things had happened during that time. Some rather horrifying. Some... unexpectedly pleasant.

I vaguely remembered saving a little girl, though how and where isn’t clear but what followed is pretty much embedded deep in my memories.

That girl had clung to me like glue, refusing to let go while demanding that I promise to become her mate once we both grew up.

A faint smile found its way onto my face.

"I still remember those stubborn brown eyes."

Now I was sure that they were the same eyes that had stared directly into mine just hours ago without the slightest hint of fear.

"So," I asked after a moment, "you found no connection between Athena Moonvel and anyone in our pack? No evidence that someone is using her to get close to me?"

"No, Alpha." Ryan answered without hesitation. "I assigned our best investigators to the case. We checked every possible connection throughout the Starlight Empire."

"There is no link between Athena Moonvel and anyone within our territory."

A faint smile appeared on his face as he continued his voice filled with amusement.

"Perhaps... she’s simply a crazy girl hopelessly in love with the Alpha who once saved her and had become her prince in shining armour."

I remained silent.

"You may leave."

Ryan straightened immediately.

"And make sure every preparation for Louis’s birthday ball is handled only by your most trusted people. I don’t want anything ruining that day for him."

"Yes, Alpha." Ryan bowed before leaving the office.

Once the door closed, silence settled over the room again. I looked down at the file still resting in my hand.

"Prince in shining armor..." I let out a quiet chuckle. "I don’t believe that, Athena Moonvel. If you truly aren’t connected to anyone in my pack... then what exactly are you trying to gain? Who sent you? Or... is this entirely your own game?"

Opening the file with her details, my eyes landed on the photograph clipped to the very first page. She looked completely different from the person she had presented herself as yesterday.

A bright T-shirt. Loose-fitting jeans.

Her hair tied into a high ponytail, with a few stray strands framing her face.

She held a tiny kitten in her arms while smiling brightly at the camera.

For someone who had looked so composed yesterday... She looked surprisingly innocent here. And yet...

Even that simple photograph stirred something inside me.

"What exactly are you, Miss Moonvel?"

"Why does every instinct tell me to stay away from you... while every other part of me wants to step straight into the trap you’re setting?"

"You claim you’ve liked me since you were a child."

"So much that you’d do anything just to stay by my side."

"Is that really true?"

"Will you still say the same after the way I had you thrown out of my office yesterday?"

...

"Oh my God, Olivia! I’m so excited for the ball!" Maria squealed as she walked into one of the city’s most luxurious designer boutiques. "I’ll be attending as Louis’s plus-one! How cool is that! Just imagine everyone’s faces when they see me dancing with him. They’ll be so jealous! Oh I can’t tell you how excited I am!"

"Welcome, ma’am," the sales associate greeted politely as she saw the two rich ladies enter. "My name is Regina, and I’ll be helping you today. Is there anything specific you’re looking for?"

"You should wear something that matches Louis," Olivia suggested excitedly before maria could answer the sales woman. "Call him and ask what color suit he’s wearing."

Maria’s smile faltered for the briefest moment. She knew Louis had never cared about things like matching outfits.

In fact... She knew he wasn’t really her boyfriend like she claimed him to be.

She was simply someone he tolerated, just a person whom he had allowed to do whatever she wanted as long as she never crossed his limits and did anything that would piss him off.

But she could never admit that. Not to Olivia. Not to anyone.

"You’re right," Maria forced a smile. "Let me call him." She pulled out her phone from her bag and dialed his number.

He answered only after the third attempt.

"Louis! How are you?" Maria said smiling widely, she barely finished speaking before she heard a feminie moan followed by louis’s voice.

"What is it, Maria?" Louis asked impatiently. " I am in the middle of something. Make it quick." The moans continued in the background while maria felt her insides were being pulled out.

"Louis, I was out shopping for your birthday ball," she replied, forcing her voice to remain cheerful and ignoring the anger she was feeling inside he. She knew what Louis was doing and she sure as hell knew that if she objected, the little thing she has that allows her to be besides Louis will be completly gone.

"Do you know what color you’ll be wearing? I thought I could match—"

"What kind of question is that?"

His tone turned colder. "Wear whatever color you want. I don’t even know what I’m wearing yet. I have to go. Don’t call unless it’s important." The line went dead leaving Maria seething in anger but unable to do anything.

Maria lowered the phone slowly. Her grip tightened around it until her knuckles turned white. She forced another smile before looking at Olivia.

"He’s busy right now, he had told me he would be discussing something with Alpha Kael," she lied smoothly. "I completely forgot and called him regardless, how can he anwer these things infront of Alpha?"

Olivia nodded without noticing the crack in Maria’s smile.

"Come on," Maria said. "Let’s look at the dresses."

A few minutes later, Maria stopped in front of a sleek, floor-length satin evening gown with a fitted silhouette and elegant off-the-shoulder neckline.

"I like this one," she said. "It’s classy, elegant, and expensive."

"I’ll take it."

Regina smiled politely before voicing her suggestion. "It’s beautiful, ma’am, but I honestly think another color would complement your complexion better. We also have this design in emerald green and burgundy, along with a few newer designer collections. I’d be happy to show them to you."

The last thread of Maria’s patience snapped. She slowly turned toward Regina looking at her with anger filled eyes.

"Listen, Regina—or whatever your name is. I make my own decisions. I don’t need fashion advice from a cheap little sales associate like you. So do your job of serving me... and keep your opinions to yourself."

The boutique fell silent. Maria turned toward Olivia who was looking at Maria with tensed eyes not knowing what had happend to her suddenly.

Maria shoved her bank card into her hand.

"Go pay for that stupid dress. Then throw it in the trash for all I care. I’m leaving."

"But Maria—where are you going?"

Olivia hurried after her, but Maria ignored her completely and dashed out of the place, straight towards her car.

She stormed out of the boutique, climbed into her car, and slammed the door shut.

The moment the engine started, she gripped the steering wheel so tightly her fingers trembled.

"I will kill the girl who was moaning under you louis!" she screamed pushing the accelerator without looking at anything on the road.

"You’re just mine, Louis," she whispered through clenched teeth. "No one else has the right to stand beside you."

She pressed harder on the accelerator. The car shot forward through traffic. Tears blurred her vision. Anger drowned out reason. Then— Headlights.

A car appeared directly in front of her.

Maria jerked the steering wheel instinctively but it was already too late.

A deafening crash echoed through the street.

Metal twisted violently as her vehicle spun off the road, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop.

When the dust settled...

The luxury sedan was nothing more than a mangled heap of steel. The only thing visible through the shattered driver’s window...

Was a bloodied, motionless hand hanging limply outside.