CHAPTER 29: A MERE ESCAPE

"Swapping faces? A new concept to me. A dangerous one, perhaps.

"How does it work?"

She moved closer, her face eager, her smile brightening. "The woman lives in the North. We can travel there whenever you’re ready and get it done. It takes just a few seconds for the effect to kick in after the ritual."

"So, you want me to wear your face?"

She nodded, hope in her eyes.

"Can I think about it?"

Her face fell, a frown clouding it instantly. "Why?" she finally echoed.

"Well, allowing someone else to wear my face while I wear theirs is a hard decision," I responded matter-of-factly.

Her frown deepened. "Don’t you want this? Don’t you want me to be happy? You said you feel sorry for stealing my place as the Alpha’s breeder. Was that a lie?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "I do. I honestly feel horrible for stealing your dreams."

"Then act like it!" she snapped. However, realization dawned on her instantly. "I’m sorry for snapping," she said in a calmer tone.

"It’s fine."

"I saw you with the Alpha last night," she continued.

"You did? Where?"

"At the party."

I frowned. "You were at the party? How?"

"I pulled some strings and got a ticket. I got in just in time to see the Alpha giving his speech while his hand was placed around your waist."

She sounded bitter. My throat tightened with remorse.

"I was going to approach you, but then I saw you with the Luna. I couldn’t. While the Luna pulled you away, I was watching him." She swallowed before proceeding. "He was staring at you with so much affection—"

"It is not what you think," I quickly cut in. "The Alpha feels nothing for me." A lie, but I had to say it.

"I don’t believe that," she bit out. "If he doesn’t feel anything for you, you wouldn’t have a problem letting him go. But look at you—hesitant about leaving him."

"I’m not. I just don’t like the method. You can’t expect me to accept swapping faces just like that. It’s ridiculous," I protested, frustration building in my chest.

"Do you know what I find ridiculous? The fact that you say you feel bad about stealing my dreams but you’re not even showing it."

"That’s not what this is about. I’ll accept another option. This one is just too dangerous."

She sighed. "I don’t have any other option. This is the best and only option."

"I don’t think I can do it. I’m sorry."

Sable scoffed, her red hair falling off her shoulder. "You speak so often about giving sacrifices in friendships, but you don’t practice what you preach. That day you brought me to your room and you had a visitor? I heard everything you discussed with the Alpha."

My heart skipped.

"Something about blindfolded sex—and then you stand here and lie through your teeth about your feelings for him. I hate you."

"Sable—"

"You throw away years of friendship for a man. Isn’t that shameful?"

She started leaving, leaving me utterly speechless. Before she left the room, she turned around, her gaze scornful. "That was a test, by the way. I tested you to confirm what I’ve always doubted."

Then, she left, jamming the door. I collapsed onto the bed, thinking hard about our just-concluded conversation.

The Alpha’s proposal. The Luna’s mission. And Sable’s request. Everything at once wasn’t what I pictured or expected. All I wanted was a life outside this Pack. Now, I’d gotten myself into this. A tear rolled down my face. Then another followed. Slowly, it became a silent sob.

A few minutes later, I dried my tears and got to my feet, arriving at a conclusion.

All of this started with a lie, and it should end with telling the truth. Without thinking twice, I stepped out into the hallway and got on the elevator that took me to the Alpha’s bedroom.

I still had the spare key he’d given me, so the moment I arrived at his door, I took a deep breath and inserted the key into the lock to open it.

It was empty—although it smelled like him. So heavenly. A spicy scent mixed with musk. Subconsciously, I inhaled deeply, eyes closed. Then I caught myself, opening my eyes immediately and stepping into the room. I shut the door behind me.

He wasn’t around, so I got the chance to tour his room. From the simplicity of the wooden work to the shiny black tiles, the warm glow of the lamp, and the neatly carved table and chair—everything screamed refinement.

I moved to his closet in the corner. I checked out his jackets, coats, and shirts, running my fingers through them. Then I went to where he kept all his fragrances—body sprays, colognes, oils. I selected the green bottle with the gold cap. Opening it, I inhaled deeply, eyes closed. It smelled like that night at his cabin, when we dry-jumped. It smelled like the night I lost my virginity to him. It smelled of intimacy.

When I opened my eyes and caught a figure through the reflection before me—watching me with amusement—I jumped, quickly putting the perfume away.

He was behind me, watching through the reflection. I turned around, clearing my throat.

When had he walked in?

"Have you lost your way?"

He was still in his outfit from the just-concluded event, but his coat was off, leaving only his turtleneck top and pants.

I knew it was a shameless move, but I let myself size him up and down, taking in his muscular build and the perfect features of his face.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, snapping me out of my trance.

"I’m here to tell you something."

I almost forgot I was here to unveil my real identity.

He dangled his coat in one hand, watching me.

"Is it about the Luna?"

"No."

He nodded.

"You’re not going to ask if I’m okay? I saw you smirking as I got dragged away. Was that your plan all along?"

"Odessa did not see me," he pointed out dryly.

My eyebrow arched. "I don’t understand."

"She didn’t see me," he repeated, as though that would make it clearer.

"I’ll explain later. What were you going to say?" he asked, hands in his pockets.

"At this point, do I even have to bother? Who knows if you don’t already know? Why do you have so many abilities? How can you even make yourself invisible?"

"That is none of your business. Odessa didn’t know we came in together, and that saved you from getting clawed by her."

I scoffed. "Are you even being serious? You caused all this madness, and you’re acting like it’s all my fault."

He said nothing—just kept watching me.

"Ever since you came into my life, I’ve not had peace. Can you just let me be?" I choked out, tears sliding down my face. "Why are you making this so hard for me?"

He still said nothing, watching me intensely.

I moved closer to him and began slapping his chest. "Say something, you bastard!"

He caught my hand. "Run away."

I frowned. "What?"

"I’m giving you a chance to run away. The only one I’ll probably give."

Realization dawned on me, slow and heavy, forming over my chest. He was letting me go? After everything, this was it? My heart skipped painfully, torn between relief and something I couldn’t name. Freedom was what I wanted, wasn’t it? Then why did the thought of leaving him sting like betrayal?

"I give you two hours to leave this building and never look back. I’ll find an excuse for the committee members. I’ll cook up a story for those who ask."

"Really?" I breathed. "You’d release me, finally?"

"Yes," he said. "You have two hours. Your time starts now."

Without wasting another breath, I brushed past him and burst out of his room, making it to the elevator.

I wasn’t going to take any outfit along with me. I headed straight for the ground floor.

Immediately, as I burst outside, the chilly wind assaulted my face—and I bumped into someone. My eyes widened slightly when I saw who it was. Jasper.

Alpha Dawn’s brother.

He also recognized me immediately. "Bambi?"

He was in an evening outfit, probably for the Annual Prestige Gathering.

"Are you okay? I saw you with the Alpha, and I wanted to say hi later, but I didn’t get to see you again."

I nodded urgently.

"Where’s the Alpha?" he asked, looking around. "He said he was going to meet you."

"What? You were with him?" I asked, out of breath.

"Yes. I caught him staring at you as you were slipping out of the party," he said amusingly.

I nodded again.

"He asked me for advice as well."

I frowned.

"He asked for the appropriate way to ask a girl out, and he also asked if it was too early in a relationship to use the ’L’ word."

"Who do you think he was talking about?"

"You, obviously. You didn’t hear this from me, but he told me he was planning to tell you he loves you."