Seducing the Wrong Alpha

Chapter 8: Shadows of secrets

The late afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across my office as I hurried to finish up. I needed to meet Mrs. Vera soon, and the thought of keeping her waiting made me move even faster. I gathered the files, glancing at the clock before heading to Mr. Belcher’s office.

Time seemed to be slipping through my fingers, and the weight of the day’s unsettling events weighed heavily on my mind.

Walking into Mr. Belcher’s office felt strange, even though I had been here countless times before. The sculptures and artwork hanging on the walls suddenly seemed unfamiliar, almost eerie. It was as if I was stepping into a different world, one filled with secrets that had been hidden in plain sight all along.

Only Bella and I were allowed in this space, yet today it felt off. I couldn’t shake the growing sense of unease creeping up my spine. As I placed the files on his desk, something else caught my eye. A photograph hanging nearby, one I had glanced at earlier, seemed to demand my attention. I moved closer, squinting. It was the same picture I had seen this morning, but now it was clearer, and it made more sense. The men in the photograph looked just like Mr. Belcher. But there was another man beside him, someone who looked exactly like him, a mirror image. Could it be? Mr. Belcher have a twin.

The resemblance was undeniable. Why would he keep something like that from me? I shook my head, trying to focus, but the nagging feeling wouldn’t leave. Then, I heard it, a faint sound, almost like a whisper. My heart leaped as I turned towards the noise coming from behind a door in the corner of the office. I stepped closer, my curiosity overtaking me.

The door was locked, of course. A wave of frustration hit me. What was behind that door? A part of me wanted to push further, to figure it out, but I didn’t have the time.

Mrs. Vera was waiting, and I couldn’t afford to be late. As I walked back to my office, the unsettling feeling refused to go away. There was something wrong, something lurking just beneath the surface of everything. When I stepped into my office, the sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. My chair was spinning, slowly turning as if someone had just stood up from it. But I had been gone for only a few minutes, and no one else was supposed to be here. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest, the air in the room suddenly feeling too thick to breathe. Before I could react, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I spun around, half expecting to face some unseen threat. Instead, it was just Mrs. Janet, smiling at me like nothing was out of the ordinary.

“Rhian, are you alright?” she asked gently, her voice calm.

I glanced back at my chair, it was perfectly still now. Had I imagined it? “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thought I saw something strange.” Mrs. Janet gave me a curious look, her brow furrowing slightly, but she didn’t push it.

“Alright then, take care.” she said before walking away. I forced a smile, but inside, I was anything but calm. Something wasn’t right. I could feel it in my bones, like a storm brewing on the horizon, threatening to engulf everything in its path. As I made my way to the parking lot, the distant sounds of commotion reached my ears. People were running, shouting, panic spreading like wildfire through the streets.

Whatever was happening, it was getting closer, but I didn’t have time to stop and figure it out. I turned back towards the building, intending to check on Mrs. Janet, but the sight that met me when I glanced into my office stopped me cold. The window was shattered, shards of glass scattered across the floor like glittering shards of ice. But it was the blood, dark, thick blood splattered across the walls that made my stomach churn.

What in the world had happened in the few minutes I’d been gone? My mind raced, trying to make sense of the scene in front of me, but nothing added up. I didn’t wait to find out. Panic surged through me, and I bolted for my car, fumbling with the keys, my hands shaking. My phone rang, the sound jarring me back to the present. It was Mrs. Vera.

“Rhian, are you alright?” she asked, her voice tight with concern, a tone I’d never heard from her before.

“I’m on my way to the clubhouse.” I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady. My hands were still trembling as I gripped the steering wheel.

“No, don’t!” Mrs. Vera’s voice was sharp, almost frantic.

“It’s not safe. Five people have already been killed there. Get to my office immediately.

”Killed? My heart skipped a beat, the weight of her words crashing down on me.

“I’ll be there soon.” I managed to say before hanging up. I slammed on the gas, weaving through the traffic and the growing chaos in the streets. Whatever was happening, it was bigger than anything I had imagined. When I finally arrived at Mrs. Vera’s office, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Tristan, reminding me of the meeting at his house. The meeting, how could he be so calm, so detached from everything that was happening in the community? Suspicion crept into my mind, winding its way through the confusion. Could he be involved in all of this? The thought seemed ridiculous, but nothing made sense today.

“Rhian, over here!” Mrs. Vera waved me over as I parked the car. Her face was a mix of relief and worry, emotions I hadn’t expected from her.

“Good evening, Mrs. Vera.” I greeted her, trying to catch my breath, though my chest felt tight with the fear I was trying to suppress.

“How bad is it out there?” she asked, handing me a cup of coffee.

Her hands were steady, but her eyes told a different story.

“It’s a nightmare.” I said, the words tumbling out.

“People are panicking, and meanwhile, the ones responsible are hiding away, pulling the strings, watching us like puppets.” Mrs. Vera placed a calming hand on my shoulder, her touch grounding me in the midst of the chaos.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this. But right now, you need to stay focused.”

“Tristan still expects me to come to his house tonight.” I spat, the frustration bubbling over.

“He doesn’t care what’s happening, does he?” Mrs. Vera leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“We’ll make him and his brother pay. I promise you, Rhian. I’ve got a plan.” I blinked, surprised by the intensity of her words.

“What kind of plan?” I asked, curiosity mixing with dread.

Before she could answer, David burst into the room, his face pale, eyes wide with fear.

“Ma’am, we need you. It’s Peterson. He’s been badly injured.” Mrs. Vera jumped to her feet, her expression shifting to one of grim determination.

“What happened?” she asked.“I think it was a wolf, just like before. He has the same marks as the others.” David said, his voice shaking.

I felt my blood run cold. The pieces were falling into place, but none of it made sense. Wolves? Attacks? And now Peterson... How could this be real?

“I need to go.” I whispered, the weight of everything crashing down on me all at once.

“Be careful, Rhian.” Mrs. Vera called after me, but I was already heading for the door, my mind racing.

Tristan and his brother had to be behind this. There was no other explanation. As I drove through the chaotic streets, dodging people and debris, one thought kept running through my mind: this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.