The Devil Alpha Among Twins

Chapter 6-Rumors

Ben's POV:

My usual demeanor, characterized by detachment and mildness, suddenly transformed into that of an unsheathed dagger.

After a prolonged pause, I apologized, "I'm sorry, but this individual is beyond my reach."

Rainie's heart plummeted as if it had been tossed into an abyss with no bottom, sinking endlessly. She remained stunned for a moment before inquiring, "Ben, who exactly is he?"

Almost unconsciously, I curled my fingers and lightly tapped the tabletop. Slowly, I began to speak, "The Heffernan family's connections and influence run deep. It's not something we can afford to provoke."

Rainie's body wavered, and I quickly reached out to steady her, guiding her back into the chair.

She clutched the armrest firmly, her nails turning pale due to the pressure.

After a while, she questioned, "Are you even afraid of him...?"

A bitter smile formed on my lips, "I'm just an ordinary werewolf from the Red Moon Pack. There are always things that lie beyond my capabilities, Rainie. I'm sorry, but I can only do my best to shield you. Seeking revenge... that's a different matter altogether."

Rainie felt utterly lost, akin to a piece of meat laid out on the chopping block, waiting to be carved.

The man in question would destroy her, just as easily as squashing an ant underfoot!

He vowed to make her pay, without a shred of willingness to listen to any explanation.

Even Dylan, deep down, might believe she had harbored thoughts of corruption from the start.

But the truth was, she had wronged him. She remembered how tirelessly he had worked for her, only for her to repay him with an affair with his brother.

She buried her head in her knees, her shoulders trembling. I knelt down and gently patted her shoulder to offer comfort, "Although that person behaves imperiously, he never deliberately harasses women..."

Rainie choked up, "After hurting Dylan like that, Alexander won't spare me..."

My eyes shot forth a sharp glint of icy light as I muttered, "Dylan... the first time I laid eyes on his face, it caught me off guard – Turns out they are real brothers."

Rainie looked up, a tearful smile forming, resembling a delicate flower weathered by the wind, her voice barely audible, "It's alright. Dylan has returned to his roots. After enduring years of hardship, he's finally freed from life's burdens... It's fate, really. How could someone like me ever be deserving of him..."

I clenched my teeth, resolute in my words, "Rainie, don't carry the burden of sins that aren't yours to bear. Listen to me, about Dylan..."

She suddenly rose from her seat, determination shining in her eyes, "I'm the one who wronged him. Please, Ben, don't try to comfort me with words that don't ring true about him. I'll shoulder everything... I'll take it all on."

Turning away, she grabbed her bag and hastened outside.

I was taken aback, calling her name, but her pace quickened even more. I managed to seize her hand, breathless as I implored, "Rainie, listen to me, the truth..."

A frigid laughter emanated from beside us, its tone akin to a sound rising from the depths of hell.

Rainie's heart raced wildly, and I was momentarily paralyzed.

Shifting my gaze, I saw Alexander leaning suavely against a luxurious car door, exhaling a leisurely puff of smoke, "Years have passed, yet you remain unchanged."

I retorted with a frosty tone, "Our paths have never crossed, Alexander. What's your angle here?"

Alexander's mocking gaze shifted to the wrist I clutched, "Miss Spark, you certainly don't lack connections."

She swiftly withdrew her hand, stepping back and explaining, "It's not what you're thinking..."

He brushed her explanation aside, focusing his wrathful gaze on me.

He smirked slightly, "Even when cherishing a jewel, the person matters. I advise you to stop shielding her. Remember, though your rogue wolves may have been cleansed on the surface, I still have acquaintances who wouldn't hesitate to bring up old grudges. The matter of assimilating rogue wolves into the pack isn't something I'll shy away from."

"Alexander, what's the purpose of pushing a woman to her limits?"

Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly, a memory of Dylan's heartbroken expression flitting through his mind. He sneered at Rainie, "Limits? And you call this pushing her to the edge?"

My fury surged, yet my outward composure remained chillingly serene.

After a pause, I murmured, "I almost forgot to congratulate you. You've got a little brother who's quite the expert at playing innocent and acting cute. Shall I peel back his façade for you?"

Alexander straightened his posture and leisurely approached me.

He said in an alpha tone, "The reason I've tolerated you for this long, remember this well. Don't even think about tarnishing Dylan's reputation, and don't imagine you can shield that woman. Otherwise..."

The palpable animosity between us felt like being immersed in freezing water.

Alexander turned away, heading for his car, his voice detached as he left, "Ben, with all those rogues at your disposal, compared to her, who's the bigger concern?"

My fingers trembled slightly as I shot back a bitter smile, "Alexander, you sure know how to be ruthless."

"Compared to your deeds, my actions feel far from adequate."

He slammed the car door shut and sped away into the night.

I took a deep breath and turned my gaze to Rainie.

The bar's back door opened onto a quiet alley, sparsely populated at this late hour.

Each of her breaths was audibly distinct; I could hear the sound of droplets hitting the ground, a soft patter.

"Ben, I'm sorry. I... I can't burden you anymore, I can't sing here anymore..."

I reached out, but she instinctively recoiled, her arms pulled back.

The emotional distance she was putting between us squeezed at my heart like a vice.

Her eyes, cleansed by tears, shimmered with despair.

Every breath seemed so tangible in the night's air.

"Are you afraid of me, Rainie? You..."

She shook her head, her voice barely audible, "I'm not entirely sure about your past, but I know you're a good person. You must have had your reasons, ben. Thank you for looking out for me, but I can't drag you down any further..."

She turned and began to walk away, her skirt fluttering in the night breeze.

Her steps quickened until she vanished around a corner.

I closed my eyes, reliving the scene from three months ago when she stood before me, singing with a strained composure, her eyes betraying her fear.

After the song ended, it took me a while to regather my thoughts.

I asked, "Given your fear, why did you choose to sing at a nightclub?"

"My father was ill, I..."

"Stop there. You're hired. Rest assured, not everyone who frequents this place is a good person, but with me around, you won't be in danger."

I belonged to the shadows, yet I vigilantly guarded her light.

But then that night arrived, when I knew she'd be entirely claimed by another.

I collapsed in my room, heedless of the urgent knocks on my door. And then, her dignity was cruelly trampled upon by that man.

I gazed at the night sky, an overwhelming sense of helplessness washing over me. In the presence of that man, in front of Alexander from RED MOON PACK, I was powerless, unable even to shield the woman who had ignited a spark in my heart.

Rainie POV

Experiencing the profound sensation of utter isolation was nothing like I had anticipated.

With the camaraderie and laughter of yesteryears now vanished, my dorm mates, though not overtly confrontational, expertly managed to avoid any sort of interaction with me.

As I traversed the campus, the fusion of disdain and curiosity in the gazes directed my way wove into an oppressive tapestry, enveloping me and stifling every breath.

I endured days of agony, but I found myself lacking the strength to indulge in self-pity any further. Then came the call from my father, plunging me into a frigid abyss.

My father's recovery was still incomplete, yet due to inadequate funds, he was compelled to leave the hospital ahead of schedule. I attempted earnestly to convince him to wait a few more days, then hurried to my teacher's office.

"Excuse me, how long does it typically take for the scholarship funds to be credited to the designated account?" I inquired.

Teacher Joey lifted his gaze, his eyes laced with an icy scorn that sent shivers down my spine. It seemed the unfounded rumors had managed to circulate widely.

Without deigning to meet my eyes, Teacher Joey idly rifled through the papers on his desk as he responded in an aloof tone, "A meeting was convened among the school's leadership, and the decision was made that David is better suited for this honor than you."

A sense of frigidity seemed to seep into my fingertips.

My throat felt constricted, as though entangled by a walnut, incapable of swallowing or dispelling the tightness.

It was an ache that persisted, leaving me momentarily voiceless before I managed to rasp, "Wh-why?"

Teacher Joey's brow slightly furrowed, and he replied, "You ought to be acquainted with the reasons yourself, and this conclusion was collectively reached by the school's leadership. Now, I have other matters to attend to. You may depart."

My cheeks flushed, and I faltered, "But those unfounded rumors..."

" leave," he tersely directed.

Perched on a tree branch, a bird appeared to be startled by the forceful reprimand, flapping its wings vigorously as it took off in flight.

I stared at it in a daze, feeling as though even the hope within me had taken flight, disappearing without a trace.

I turned away from the office in a slow, deliberate manner.

The corridor seemed to stretch on endlessly, with teachers and fellow students passing by, their turned heads casting icy stares that cut into me like knives.

The early summer sunlight bathed me in warmth akin to hot water, yet I felt an unrelenting coldness, causing me to shiver involuntarily.

I walked forward with a distant gaze, my mind elsewhere, until I accidentally collided with someone.

As I was about to raise my head to apologize, the person gave a smile, his voice carrying a touch of nonchalance.

He placed his hand on my shoulder and lightly squeezed.

Taken aback, I instinctively pulled away, focusing on the person before me.

It was David, the one I had been competing against for the scholarship. Before I could utter a word, he began speaking, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Rainie, I must thank you. Were you intentionally causing a bit of trouble to take care of me?"

"Rainie, weren't you the one who rejected me so decisively before? I thought you were this pure, innocent soul, and yet here you are selling yourself. Does it really matter who you're selling to? How about spending a few days with me? I'll pay, what do you say?"

Before I could react, my hand met his cheek in a resounding slap.

He grew infuriated, using his arm to push me to the ground.

He looked down at me with narrowed eyes, sneering, "Still pretending to be a paragon of virtue, huh?"

He observed my ashen complexion with a twisted grin before turning on his heel and departing.

My legs felt uncontrollable, trembling beneath me.

Alexander's words echoed in my ears, his threat to make me endure suffering tenfold compared to Dylan's.

I stood there, clutching my arms, lost in my thoughts. When I finally regained my focus, my clothes were drenched in sweat.

I clenched my fists tightly, my nails piercing my palms, the pain serving to clear my mind somewhat.

I had always believed I wasn't deserving of seeking Dylan's help again, but now, who else could possibly offer assistance?

Would he harbor extreme resentment towards me?

And even if he was willing to beseech Alexander for leniency, would that callous man ever agree?