Chapter 5

• ETHAN
• “I dug up some more info on your chef,” Landon said as soon as I reached the pack house. “Turns out she’s got an older brother.”
• A brother? I frowned. “What else?”
• “Well, it seems her mother wasn’t her biological mother. After her real mother died, her father, a were-tiger, gave his children up for adoption and ended up adopting her himself right after he married a human. She was adopted when she was two years old.”
• That means she doesn't know she has a brother.
• “Alpha, there’s something you should know,” Landon said after clearing his throat. His tone was serious, and it caught my attention. He began, “There was another break-in, this time at The Silver Fang Museum. It was all ransacked, but nothing was taken.”
• “God, what are they looking for!” I exclaimed, “Call a pack meeting in two hours.”
• ELIZA
• A day off in a mansion-like suite with unlimited choice of food. I was living my dream. And I was feeling better as well, as if nothing really happened.
• A room keeper entered the room after knocking followed by Margeret. He carried a beautiful violet dress along with silvery heels. I was stunned at the sight of the dress and wished to at least touch it once.
• “Get ready, princess,” Margaret said as she offered me the dress. “The hairdresser and the makeup artist will be here soon.”
• Was she talking to me? Her tone was weirdly sweet. I’d never seen her act like this before. And the dress! Is it really for me?
• I froze at my place, trying to absorb what was happening. Fairy tales were real after all.
• “Eliza…” She held my hand, “Get ready, okay. This is an important day for you.”
• “What’s today?” I managed to ask.
• “This new information might be hard for you to digest, but…” she said, “You’ll come to know and understand everything.”
• I couldn’t wrap my head around anything she was saying. But she was being nice, and I was going to wear a dress I could only dream of. I didn’t have many questions. I let fate take my hand and lead the way.
• I got into the violet dress. The dress had a shoulder neckline, highlighting my collarbones and shoulders. A soft layer of netting covered my shoulders and arms. The silk shimmered faintly in the light, and the hem swept softly on the floor.
• It was perfect.
• Soon the hairdresser and the makeup artist arrived to get me ready for I had no idea what occasion. But who cares about the occasion if you're on top of the world.
• “Beautiful…” Margaret expressed as she stepped into the suite. She was also dolled up, but I looked like the main character.
• “Can I know where we’re going?” I asked.
• She only smiled at me as she puffed me with a beautiful fragrance. And then Ethan entered the room. A part of me was dying for him to see me in the dress.
• “I like the choice of dress, Ethan,” Margaret said, stepping a few steps away from me.
• Ethan remained quiet and stepped close to me, scanning me from head to toe.
• “Margaret,” he said in his deep, heavy voice while locking his eyes with mine, “Tell Thomas I want him on time for the meeting. You know how important this is for me and how important you both are for me since you two are the only family I have.”
• Margret nodded and left the room, leaving me alone with him. Is he going to tell me I look beautiful? My impatient self waited so badly to hear those words from his mouth.
• “I’ll wait for you downstairs,” he said before turning away.
• This was all he had to say. Not even a ‘You look beautiful’ came out of that mouth. What was wrong with this man?
• “I thought you were gonna tell me how beautiful I looked,” I sighed, “but it’s not like you got this dress for me to doll up for you.”
• He stopped in his steps, and I could feel him smirking, “Did you doll up for me?”
• I didn’t know what to say.
• Without saying another word, he went out of the room. I let out my breath and followed behind him.
• It was late afternoon. He led me to his…whoa…a Rolls-Royce!
• I couldn’t believe my eyes. He asked the driver to get out and gestured to me to sit on the passenger seat.
• Yes, he didn’t open the door for me.
• Well, he didn’t even wait for me to sit first. I didn’t like the attitude. It seemed like he killed people for pleasure.
• I glanced at him as he started the engine, “Can I atleast know where we’re going?”
• He remained quiet, focused on the road. I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh. And then a thought crossed my mind.
• “Are you going to propose to me?” I asked, shockingly.
• Of course, my question should’ve made him laugh, but I couldn’t even see a faint glimpse of a shift in expression on his face.
• The engine came to a halt. He looked at me, scanning me for a few seconds, then spoke.
• “Today, you’ll be introduced to a whole new world. You’re a shifter. And my mate,” he continued after letting out a soft breath, “I’ll introduce you to the pack today after the meeting, and arrangements for our wedding tomorrow have already been made.”
• The only word I heard was the ‘wedding’.
• Damn, this man is faster than a wolf chasing its prey.
• “Ethan, I know you’re so into me, but aren't we getting married too soon?” I continued, “I mean, I know I’m irresistible and you’re crossing your thirties but…”
• “Learn to respect your Alpha’s decisions.” He cut me off, “Your mate or not, I’m still the Alpha, and you must obey me.”
• “The Alpha?” I chuckled, “Are we in a fantasy book or what?”
• “I don’t have time for jokes,” he said before getting out of the car. “The pack’s meeting starts in ten minutes.”
• “Lead the way,” I sighed, “Mr. Alpha…”