Five Alphas and A Choice

07 Forever Glory

General frowned slightly, clearly not getting used to someone throwing her body on him. So he stood up from the couch abruptly. Beatrice’s body lurched forward in an awkward way, but she soon steadied herself, giving me another threatening eye.

I couldn’t care less.

Threat or abuse, I’d gone through all those shits. None of them could hold me back this time.

General sauntered toward me, his heavy boots thudding the floor. When he stopped before my face, I had to strain my neck to look him in the eyes. He was too tall.

Lycan’s natural menace was real.

The scent wafting from his strong body made my knees weak. I had to brace myself so I wouldn’t fall. But I still couldn’t bring myself to tear my eyes off his face.

He was so beautiful.

“General, you really don’t have to waste your time on a little punk—” Mr. Dawson sounded desperate at this point.

Slowly, not breaking the eye contact, General opened his mouth, but the words coming out from his mouth were for Mr. Dawson, “I know what you mean, Mr. Dawson. But I still want to hear what she has to say. As for what to make of her words, I think I can decide on my own.”

His voice was polite, but the authority in his tone was irresistible. Being the highest leader of the army for so many years, this man just naturally could make anyone shut their mouths and do as he said…

Mr. Dawson clamped his mouth shut. I cast my eyes beyond General’s shoulder, seeing Mrs. Kim fished out her phone from her pocket.

She met my eyes silently, pointing at the phone as she let out a nasty smile…

My heart clenched at the sight. What she said earlier started to ring in my head…

“DON’T have any idea, girl. Or your precious little friend will die.”

No… Was she gonna call someone to kill Jasper right now if I told General the truth?

Nonono… I couldn’t let her do that to my only family…

But… Did I really have to sit back and watch when my last chance slipped away?

A nasty little voice started to sound in my head.

What would change even if you told General the truth?

Are you that sure this man would believe you instead of the director of this orphanage? He only left you a necklace years ago. He barely knows you…

Do you really believe that he would choose to trust a teen offender over the law system?

You don’t even have the necklace now, Lola.

You don’t have a single piece of evidence in your pocket to prove words coming out of your mouth.

You would make yourself look like a lunatic.

And you would get Jasper killed…

If Jasper dies because of this, it will be your fault…

Those horrible thoughts kept nagging at me. I looked up at the man standing before me. He was so majestic and…unreal.

I couldn’t count how many times in the past 10 years I had dreamed about this very moment. About him suddenly coming across and taking me far far away from this horrible place.

Life in this orphanage was torment. Even though I constantly denied it, General had still been the only vague hope I held on to in my darkest days…

I could never forget the day when I first met him.

He had smiled at me and promised me that he would come back for me. That he would love me and protect me for the rest of my life…

I had never wanted to rely on anyone. But those gentle words of his had planted the seed of hope in my childish mind, giving me the strength to keep pushing forward…

But now, with Jasper under those vicious people’s claws and the whole scam plotted out, the hope had been shattered completely.

However, I couldn’t bring myself to resent this man. He had never been any part of their filthy plan. And he had already done the best he could.

When facing General, the only things I could feel were warmth and gratitude

In my whole life, people tended to treat me like trash.

I knew General couldn’t save me from this, but at least, he had once provided me hope.

For that, I was in his debt.

And… I couldn’t afford to lose Jasper…

Maybe this was the time to face my destiny.

I looked into his eyes again and forced out a smile, my voice calmer than I expected, “General, I heard so much about you before. Thanks for serving the Republic and protecting its people. It’s an honor to see you. I wish you good health and forever glory. And I wish… if this is the last time we met, you could remember my face.”

Mr. Dawson’s shoulders slumped visibly. Two almost identically nasty smiles showed up on Mrs. Kim’s and Beatrice’s faces. They knew their foul plan just worked.

General, however, after listening to what I had to said, arched one eyebrow as if he was confused. His cold blue eyes transfixed on my face as he said with a gentle voice, “Is this all what you want to say? Wishing me good health and glory?”

I nodded, suppressing the cutting sadness inside me.

“You want me to remember your face?” He asked, his deep voice teasing my ears, “What about your name?”

“My name…” My mouth dried as I sensed the warning look Mrs. Kim just shot in my direction, “…is insignificant, Sir. I just want to take this chance and wish you well…”

The way he fixed his beautiful eyes on me was intense, as if I was some strange little creature he couldn’t wait to figure out.

Mr. Dawson cut in at the moment. He walked forth and nudged me out of the General’s way, smiling apologetically, “Sorry, Sir, the kid must be shipped to the prison right now. The car is waiting outside…”

The coldness of metal tingled my skin as the prosecutor clicked a pair of cuffs around my wrists.

I dragged my feet as the prosecutor walked me toward the door. Fear was the only thing I could feel. I didn’t even know what was waiting for me in that prison…

This was the end.

There was no point struggling if I wanted to keep Jasper alive…

“Lola, you’re just as stubborn as your brother.” General sighed behind my back.

I stopped in my tracks and looked over my shoulder in astonishment.

Did General just call me… Lola?

Did he just… recognize me?