Chapter 3
639 Words
At two in the afternoon, I arrived at a villa in the suburbs.
It was their home.
After paying off the head of the household staff, I changed into a bulky gray uniform, put on a mask, and pushed a cleaning cart into the children's room on the second floor.
The carpet was custom-made. A pile of limited-edition robot models sat in the corner.
On the wall in the center hung a wolf-fang dagger inlaid with a silver moon totem.
It was a Silver Moon Pack heirloom.
6 years ago, I'd been bitten and scarred all over by the rogue wolves Selena hired.
After I got out of the hospital, I had nightmares every single night.
I cried and begged my father to lend me this dagger for protection—just to keep under my pillow.
My father refused in front of the whole family.
"It's the symbol of the Pack Leader. It represents authority. It's not a toy for little girls, Ella. Don't be unreasonable."
Now, however, that dagger hung above the head of Selena's son's bed.
It had become a bastard's plaything.
At 3:00 in the afternoon, the roar of an engine echoed from the courtyard. Karl was back.
I clutched a feather duster and retreated to the corner of the second-floor corridor, looking down at the living room.
Selena went to meet him at the entrance.
"Last night, Max kept crying, saying he didn't feel well and wanted his daddy. I couldn't calm him down no matter what I did."
She leaned into him, her eyes slightly red. "Can you stay with our son for the next couple of days? Karl, Max is 5 years old. How much longer are you going to keep him hidden?"
"Selena, behave yourself!" Karl's voice was harsh. "If it weren't for that drunken accident that night that gave us Max, I would never have helped you fake your death, let alone hurt Ella!"
He stepped forward, looking down at her.
"Ella is my lawful mate. And you? You were just an accident. You and Max need to stay put in this villa. Remember, neither of you will ever show up in front of Ella. If I find out you went looking for trouble with her, I won't go easy on you."
Selena's eyes reddened. She bit her lip.
"I'm just worried about Max. And about you. Ella can't have children. Do you want your bloodline to end?"
Karl looked at her. His tense shoulders slowly sagged. He stepped forward and pulled Selena into his arms.
"Stop it. Max is my eldest son. I'll take good care of him. The birthday party is all arranged. Tomorrow morning, I'll tell Ella that Mom, Dad, and I are going to the memorial park to pay respects to you."
Selena leaned against him. "What if she insists on going with you?"
"She won't." Karl smoothed her hair. "Tomorrow I'll have the private doctor prescribe some sleeping pills. I'll watch her drink them. Once she's out cold, I'll come over and stay with you."
"Then you have to promise me—stay with Max tomorrow until he cuts the cake."
"Fine. I promise."
Standing behind the pillar, I gripped the handle of the feather duster so hard my knuckles ached.
A moment later, I decided to slip away quietly. Just as I took a few steps, footsteps sounded on the main staircase.
Karl was coming up. His leather shoes came into view.
He was walking fast, but just as he was about to pass me, he slowed down.
He stopped one step away from me. The familiar Alpha scent closed in.
"You're new here?" he asked.
I kept my head down and nodded.
He took another half-step closer, his gaze landing on my masked face.
"Your scent... it's familiar."
Karl reached out.
"Lift your head."
- Writer
