CHAPTER 298: I AM MIRA~ .... MIRA BOLTON

(Author’s POV)

"Sir~ ... your~ .... your car keys," the valet parking guy extended his hand to give Fabian the keys, his hand shaking and his voice hesitant. This brought back Fabian’s composure as he took the keys from him and said, "Thank you. You may return back to your position."

The guy scurried away. Fabian then shifted his gaze back to Alaric. He bored his amber eyes into Alaric’s sapphire ones and enunciated each word with conviction, "Mr. Alaric, I don’t know what happened, but I am sure there is some misunderstanding on your side. She is my longtime best friend, Mira Bolton. Now that, if you will excuse us. I need to take my friend home." Saying this, he held Myra’s hand and showed it to Alaric, as if declaring their relationship in front of him.

Alaric wasn’t in the mood to listen to Fabian’s chattering. And it annoyed the hell out of him how Fabian was holding Myra’s hand. He was barely controlling himself as well as his wolf. "Fabian Stephens, step aside, now. I will get my answer, but from her."

"Alaric Everests, I said~ ...." Fabian started again, his tone edgy. But before he could say anything more, he was cut off by a thunderous roar from Alaric, "ENOUGH, YOU~ ...... Are you her puppet or something? If she has something to say, she will speak to me herself. Don’t dive your nose into ’our matter’. Now step out of my way."

His initial voice was so loud that the few passersby started staring at the three, waiting for the drama to unfold. Myra was shaken up to the core by this as well, her body quivering. But she composed herself and said to Fabian, "Fabian~ ...... it is okay. Give me a moment. I can answer him myself."

She then stepped forward and raised her chin to stare straight at Alaric’s sapphire orbs. She then stated, each word loud and clear, "Mister. I don’t know who you are. And I don’t know who this MYRA person is. My name is Mira~ ... Mira Bolton and I~ .... don’t know you at all. Whatever you were claiming and rambling about earlier, I don’t know a damn thing about it. This is the first time I am seeing you." She then paused and continued, "Now, I have answered your question, it would be better if you could please step aside now and let us pass. I have no interest in talking to a stranger."

Alaric was stumped not by her words but by something else.

The light was shining brightly on her face, making her look radiant from the glow. Her face resembled Myra’s completely but there was a catch. And that was her eye colour. The hair concealing her eyes was now unveiled. And~ ... they were not hazel like Myra’s but rather deep ocean blue. This perplexed him greatly as he stared into her eyes for a brief moment. A seed of doubt has been planted inside him.

Myra wanted to leave the place as soon as possible. She has had enough of the drama. Breaking eye contact with Alaric, she looked at Fabian and said, "Fabian, let’s go."

Fabian nodded in understanding. He, too, wanted all this to be over and was glad Myra was cooperating in his lie.

Then, like a true gentleman, he held Myra’s hand and walked her to the passenger seat, opened the door for her and waited for her to enter. Myra was about to settle inside the car, but stopped and once again looked at Alaric; her expression was that of a stranger, deadpan and inscrutable. She said, her words were a clear warning, "Mister, Fabian is someone really close to me. So, don’t disrespect my friend ever again." Saying this, she settled down inside the car, and Fabian closed the door for her.

Fabian then walked to the other side to take the driver’s seat. But before entering the vehicle, he verbalized in a low voice, which only Alaric could hear, "Mr. Alaric, I think you should return back inside. The meeting, for which you came to Esteria in the first place~ ... it is about to start soon. I don’t think you want to be late to that or miss it. That won’t be feasible for you, right?" After saying his piece, he then unlatched the door, ignited the engine and without giving a simple glance to him, zoomed off.

Alaric was left stranded. He remained rooted to his spot. Countless thoughts were barraging his mind as if they were starving prisoners in some cell.

But the most vocal one was his own wolf, Alex, ’How could this happen? Just how? No~ ... no, how is this even possible? No one can bear such a resemblance to our mate. Alaric, I am telling you, something doesn’t feel right. She looks just like Myra. I am sure something is wrong.’

’But her eyes are~ .... They aren’t hazel, nor does she have the fruity, citrus scent on her. I couldn’t sense anything from her, and I know you couldn’t too. Her face, it is no doubt, just like Myra, but apart from that~ ...... she~’ Alaric was in a state of full of dilemma. He also wanted to believe that this girl, who had just left with Fabian, like they were lovers, was Myra, but her unfamiliar behaviour and the way she looked at him, with a detached expression, made him question everything.

He kept looking in the direction where their car had disappeared. He wanted to chase after them, but Brave’s mind link brought him back to reality, ’Where are you, Al? Why can’t I find you anywhere in the venue hall? Anyways, Chris Shadow informed me that the meeting will take place in an hour’s time. So, hurry up.’

Something spiralled in Alaric’s mind as he replied, ’Rave, I need to go somewhere urgently. But don’t worry, I will be back before the meeting starts," saying this, he disconnected the mind link and blocked it.

Somewhere in his mind, he wanted answers~ ... answers to the questions that were left hanging. ’Yes, she claimed that she wasn’t Myra Miracle but some Mira Bolton, but it could be a lie, right? After all, she was the one who had been hiding from us for a whole year?’ Alex reasoned with Alaric.’ Or maybe these vampires have played some dirty trick on her, that’s why she is behaving like this? Maybe she has lost her memory or something? Alaric, we can’t leave this matter like this.’

Alaric was into his own deep thinking, but he surprised Alex by agreeing with him. He, too, felt that something was wrong. Even if this girl wasn’t Myra but Mira Bolton, she could have ties with Myra, as her biological family was still unknown.

With a determined look, he took out his phone and made a call, his voice eerily calm, yet the danger in it was evident: "Investigate the people around Fabian Stephens."

_______________________

There was a pin drop silence in the car as none of them spoke about anything for a few minutes. Fabian kept stealing glances at Myra every now and then, but he couldn’t decipher her expression; it remained unreadable.

Myra knew Fabian must have a lot to say to her, but she didn’t want to talk about anything at all. Alaric’s words, his intense, forceful yet desperate gaze, his questions kept popping inside her head, taking over her mind. ’What is the meaning of all this? Why did he look like that, as if he was hurt?’ She kept recalling the facial expression he had on when she told him off about Fabian. Something fluttered in her chest, but she shut that feeling down quickly.

’No~ .... Myra, no. Don’t fall for his bullshit again. This has happened before, hasn’t it? And~ ... you have suffered a lot because of that. Don’t forget what happened a year ago. Don’t forget~ ... why you left Damona in the first place? And~ ... don’t feel guilty about it anymore.’ Myra was feeling stuffy. Before meeting Alaric, she wanted to return home so badly, but right now, she wanted to get some fresh air to calm her nerves down. Her brain was all muddled up.

All of a sudden, she turned to Fabian and uttered, "Fabian, stop the car."

Fabian was puzzled by her demand as he looked at her with confusion, his brows knitted together, "Why? What happened? Are you~ ... are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?" his voice full of concern. He thought, maybe she was having a panic attack or something because of Alaric. Nevertheless, he pulled the brakes on, and the vehicle came to a halt.

Myra, without saying a word, got out of the car, which was enough to give Fabian a panic attack of his own. He was about to get out of the car, his hands on the lock, but Myra approached his side and knocked at the window. He lowered the glass as she remarked, "Fabian, I don’t want to go home right now." Her voice was filled with exhaustion.

To Be Continued . . . . . . . .