Oreus

Unexpected Nefariousness - Chapter 3

Translations at the end of the chapter

Dallas broke their silent running.

"What happened? Why are we running?"

No one answered, all too focused on getting away rather than the details. His brow twitched in annoyance, not liking that he was ignored. He grabbed Eden's arm, yanking her to a halt. She let out a small cry, biting her lip to smother the pain. She swung back to him with stinging eyes, trying to wrench her arm out of his tight grasp.

A poisonous grin tainted his features as he was finally noticed, "Eden... who was that man? Don't tell me we're running away from your-"

Olivia appeared behind her, fist flying to his face. He instantly let go of her as she punched him, sending him tumbling to the ground.

"Touch her again, and next time I'll break something." she spat callously. "Is your need for attention so disgusting that you have to hurt someone to get it? Do you not see how serious this is?"

"What the hell, Olivia? Why did you punch him like that?" Hayden shouted, crouching next to Dallas. He groaned in pain, pressing a hand to the side of his face.

Olivia rolled her eyes, no longer feeling as welcoming as she did before. "Oh please. Just because you have a little crush on him doesn't mean you can ignore what he just did to Eden."

Her face burned a bright red. "I-I do not!" she denied, her voice shrill.

The scoff that escaped her was unforgiving as she looked over Eden. "You may think everyone is oblivious, but the only one foolish enough to believe that is the dumbass himself. Why would you even ask Dallas if they were together when you watched her introduce herself today."

Everyone was silent side for Eden's small sniffles.

"Any of you touch her again and what happens won't be pretty. Now, let's go," she fumed, wrapping her arm around Eden's shoulder and leading her away, not bothering to wait for them to follow.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

"You don't have to thank me, I've wanted to do that since he first started bothering you."

"But don't you think you went a bit too far with Hayden?" She worried she had caused her to lose a friend. It would have been better if she hadn't come, that way none of this would have happened she thought to herself.

"Not at all," Olivia assured, shaking her head. "Listen, Eden. You don't have to accept the things you're not ok with. I know you're kind-hearted and don't want to be mean to anyone, but there's a difference between bullying and standing up for yourself. If someone is bothering you or treating you in a way that they shouldn't, you have every right to stand up for yourself. It doesn't matter if they're a friend, relative, or even a stranger. You haven't done a single thing to harm someone, so why should harm be brought unto you?"

Eden lowered her head and stayed silent to mull over her words. She knew Olivia was right, but after all the years of being told not to, and that she had done something to harm someone, it was hard to genuinely take in her words.

Olivia let her think for a while, knowing how quiet she gets when she thinks.

"Where did Samuel say he was?"

"He's where we parked the car," Eden answered, remembering the last text he sent.

"Ok then," she turned around to the others, "Not so sorry to cut our trip short, but we're leaving now. Being in this city has proven to be dangerous for Eden, and I'd rather not have her be snatched up along the way home so walk fast or I won't hesitate to leave you behind."

Addison and Dylan nodded, knowing her concern was not in vain. Hayden and Dallas on the other hand, glared at Olivia. The anger they felt didn't bother her though, she had no problem with them not following.

The moment they saw Samuel, Eden let go of Olivia's hand and ran to him, "What did Alfa say?"

"We are to return immediately and you will explain everything to him when you get there. Your mother has no knowledge of this yet, but she wants to know if you're alright. She says you haven't been answering your phone."

"What? But, my phone hasn't been getting any notifications?" Confused, she took her phone out of her pocket, Her finger mashed the power button, but the screen didn't turn on. "But... that's impossible! I had it fully charged before we left, I haven't even used it!"

Samuel rose an eyebrow at her, "Are you sure? Seems to me like it's dead."

"I know I did, I'm sure of it!" She sighed, putting it away again. "I'm- I'm fine, uh, tell her I said we'll be back soon."

He gave a nod and replied back to both. As he typed, Olivia walked over. Eden looked behind her to the others in the car, guessing she told them to sit there so they wouldn't hear their conversation.

"Is everything alright? We need to be leaving don't we?" she asked, tossing her arm over Eden's shoulder.

"For now," Samuel replied, stashing his phone away. He looked between the both of them after a moment, "Before we go, tell me a little about what happened."

"Eden should explain," Olivia suggested, giving her an encouraging squeeze.

"Well..um, we went to the museum as we had planned, but then I heard someone whispering away from everyone."

Samuel interrupted her, "So you decided it would be a good idea to go to them."

"No! Of course not! I wasn't planning on going but I... I don't know, it was like I was being pulled. I couldn't stay away," she stress, desperate to make sense.

"I see, and what were the whispers saying?" he said, raising an eyebrow. He didn't believe a word she said, and she knew it. Olivia, on the other hand, hung onto every detail, analyzing the story.

"Uh, things sort of like come here and read it. But that was only when I was closer to the book."

"Book?" He asked, confused.

"Yes, a book. I didn't want to, but the whispers kept pulling me to go-"

"Alone."

She smiled sadly at Olivia, "No, it didn't tell me to actually. I went alone because I didn't have any other choice, and whatever it was... I didn't want it to harm you."

"It's alright, I know how you are Eden. I just wish I could've been there to stop it." Olivia consoled as she hugged her friend.

Eden shook her head, "There was nothing you could do, either way, I would have ended up going there. I'm actually glad that I read it, I don't know why I would ever need that information but I have it now. It was about a king being cursed from a god."

"Why would you need to know that? Who was he?" Samuel questioned.

"I don't know why. His name was King Lykaon, he was supposed to be the first werewolf."

His pierced his lips at the mention of the king, and Olivia noticed, "What is it, Samuel?"

"Nothing, carry on," he dismissed, shaking his head.

Eden eyed him warily before continuing. "While I was reading, this man came up. I don't know who he is or what he wants, but he's dangerous. He asked if I was interested in the origins of werewolves, and I told him no but... he said it was fine that I want to know where I come from.'"

Olivia's eyes bulged as she reeled in shock, "What? How could he have known?"

"I don't know! That's why he's dangerous. You know as well as I do that he shouldn't have been able to tell what we are. I tried getting away from him, but he was really insistent. He told me things about how there's a new king who killed the last one and stuff like that."

Samuel kept his lips pierced, but his brow was furrowed.

"Samuel, I swear to God, what do you know?" Olivia demanded, finding his silence strange.

"Eden, continue your story," he said, ignoring her.

She started to protest, "But-"

"Now!"

Her eyes widened at the slight tremble in his voice, but did as he commanded.

"He said the new king started killing his brothers and was going to go on, but he never got to because Olivia came and I used her to get away."

"And the restaurant?" he asked.

"While we were ordering I noticed he had followed and was watching from a table away from ours. When we talked about leaving he began to approach, but he stopped when someone walked in and he disappeared. I mean, he was standing there and this group walked in front of him, and he was gone. He did the same thing at the museum too."

"Who walked in?"

"I don't know, I didn't pay attention to that. I was more focused on getting out," she muttered, regretting her actions.

"Did he ever tell you his name?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"No," she frowned. Why?"

He sighed and shook his head, suggesting they start going back.

"Actually, " she hesitated, he probably wouldn't listen to her.

He turned around from going to his car, "Yes?"

"I don't think we should go back, I mean what if-"

"What if by not going back we risk the entire group being endangered because they have no idea about what's happening here?" he broke in.

"Hey! She was only making a suggestion don't get mad at her!" Olivia objected.

"I- I wasn't saying that! I just-"

"You what, proposed the pack's demise?"

"No! Look, all I'm saying is that we shouldn't go home right now. Going back now would put us in more danger than it would be for us not to. The man doesn't know where we live, at least I hope not. So long as he doesn't know, we can keep the pack safe, for now." she said trying to reason with him.

He looked her up and down in disgust, scoffing, "Since you want to protect everyone so much, why don't you stay? It'd do us a huge favor since it's your fault this is happening in the first place."

"What do you mean it's my fault?" she argued, incredulous to his words. "I have nothing to do with this!"

"Don't pretend to be ignorant, you know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"The only one who supposedly knows what you're talking about is you! You know something, and you're not telling what," Olivia accused.

He shook his head in disbelief, "You're just like your father, deceiving everyone into thinking you're innocent."

"Don't you dare bring my papá into this! I don't see what you're getting at," Eden seethed.

He marched up to her face and glared into her eyes, "You honestly think you can fool me? I never should have interfered, if I'd known it was- If only he'd taken you at the museum, maybe then we'd be rid of your treacherous family."

Olivia's mouth dropped at his statement. "How can you say that? What has she ever done to-"

"What are you guys talking about?"

The rest had all stepped out of the car, Dallas being the one to interfere with Hayden close behind him.

Samuel smirked menacingly, "Eden, here was just suggesting she stay behind."

Eden was about to interject, her mouth opening.

"Do not stay, return home."

She whipped around, trying to identify the speaker. The others continued with their conversation, distracting her from her search.

"Really? Why?" Hayden asked.

"Because this is all her fault of course."

"No, it's not!" Olivia and Eden countered contemptuously.

"What has gotten into you Samuel, why are you being so cruel to her?" Olivia heatedly demanded.

He didn't reply, and only quietly glared at Eden, brooding for reasons unknown to her.

Dallas regained his malicious and cocky grin, "Is that so? Well, I can't say I'm surprised, she really is troublesome after all."

Olivia took a threatening step toward him, "One more word and I'll shove my fist down your throat, this isn't any of your business."

"You caught me off guard the first time, you won't be able to touch me again." he scoffed. "Your so-called sweet and innocent Eden needs to take responsibility for all the trouble she's caused." A sparkle twinkled in his eyes as he thought about it more, "As a matter of fact I think I should stay with her, to make sure she sees it out of course."

Eden grimaced in disgust, she'd rather stay by herself than with him.

"Do not give in to him, Eden, you need to leave."

"Who said that?" she asked, not able to identify who it came from.

Everyone paused and looked at her.

"Who said what?"

"That I shouldn't stay just now, I don't recognize their voice."

Olivia frowned, "Eden... no one said anything except for Dallas."

"What? No, I'm sure I heard someone, a woman, she said I needed to leave." Eden stated, sure of herself.

Samuel rose an eyebrow, "Have you lost your mind? You're hearing things."

"No, I'm not... I-" she thought back to the museum, remembering how no one could hear the whispers but her.

Olivia placed a hand on her shoulder, concern lacing her features, "Hey, are you alright?"

"No...no not again," she murmured.

"I am not here to hurt you."

Eden froze.

Her lip quivered as her throat closed and her mouth dried. It felt like all the blood had drained out of her body, leaving her trembling at the ice-cold fear coursing through her.

"What's wrong with her? What's happening?" Samuel demanded.

"Olivia," she whispered.

Dread crept onto her features at Eden's paling skin "Yes?"

"I only wish to help."

"Please tell me you hear her too."

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Alfa - Alpha

The sight of what happened next triggered her gag reflex, but she couldn't look away.