Chapter 9

• AUTHOR'S POV
• Alpha Odette, one of the guests of the treaty negotiation, was in the lounge assigned to her, standing by the window. She held a binocular in her hand as she watched the figures in the building across from her.
• There were two men there, discussing. It was Tristan and his beta, Ethan. She watched them for a while, unable to hear what they were talking about, but it seemed rather serious, as his face soon turned solemn.
• But even so, she didn't seem discouraged and continued to stare at him, clearly intrigued. It wasn't hard to tell she was interested in him.
• But just then, her assistant entered. He bowed, clutching an arm to his chest in greeting, "Alpha."
• She looked up from the binoculars and glanced at him over her shoulder. "How is it?"
• "I found out some things, Alpha," he announced, approaching her.
• She paused in what she was doing upin hearing that and moved away from the window. She settled on the couch and crossed her legs, clearly interested.
• "What did you find?"
• Her assistant quickly began to speak, "Alpha Lucas already found his mate."
• Odette looked at him in surprise when she heard that. She had never heard of that and had always had the impression he hadn't found a mate.
• "I thought he hadn't found his mate?"
• He shook his head. "He just found his fated mate a week ago. But, he rejected her immediately."
• Her brows instantly knitted. "Why?"
• "She is an omega of the pack, and he likely thinks she is not worthy of him."
• "An omega?" Odette questioned, thoughtfully before adding, "Not surprising."
• Her assistant looked at her blankly, not undertsnaidng why she said so.
• But she soon added, "Someone like Lucas is always ambitious and wouldn't want an omega as a mate. But the moon goddess is so funny, isn't she? Why would she make an omega an alpha's mate? Is she hoping for some Cinderella story?"
• Her assistant was quiet and didn't comment on her reply but instead continued, "I still have more to report."
• "Okay, I'm all ears."
• He went on. "The omega is the servant you asked me to investigate. The one you said seemed acquainted to Alpha Tristan."
• Odette's eyes were quick to widened and her voice raised a few notches, "What?"
• "Yes, Alpha. In fact, there is something suspicious about them, and he seems very interested in her."
• Odette's eyes turned cold, and she seemed contemplative. Her assistant quickly added, "Also, it seems Nadia is after the luna position too and it's likely Alpha Lucas would choose her instead."
• Afterward, he didn't say anything else and waited for her to come to a decision.
• After some time, she ordered, "Find out more about what relationship that omega has with Tristan. I want to know everything about her, where they met, and what is between them. Also, find someone we can trust in the pack and spread the rumors that Lucas rejected his mate for Nadia."
• His eyes widened, and he looked surprised. "Alpha... it seems no one knows she is his mate. What if Alpha Lucas traces the rumors to us? He would likely be angry."
• Odette turned her nose up and sneered, "We will make sure he is unable to trace it to us. Anyway, since he wants to be an influential alpha, we will help him become popular for looking down on his mate."
• Her assistant seemed resigned, and he sighed, "Okay, Alpha. I'll go and do that."
• Then, he stood up and left to do as she ordered. After he was gone, she continued to sit there, contemplating and plotting what to do.
• ---
• RAVEN’S POV:
• Ever since I bumped into Tristan earlier, the whole day had me feeling off. I couldn't focus, and despite my internal pep talk to forget him like I threatened, it was of no use.
• His scent still lingered on me, and I could practically smell him all over my clothes. I had no idea what cologne he was using, but it smelled really nice, an intriguing mix of wood and musk. It served to remind me of him every single moment, and I found myself frequently lost in thoughts.
• Luckily, neither Nadia nor Chef Linda bothered me, so no one noticed my odd behavior.
• As I sat on one of the kitchen stools, gazing at the bubbles forming from the steamer on the counter, my thoughts were all over the place. I was troubled not only because I couldn't get the man that was only meant to be a one night stand out of my head, but also because I didn't expect ever meeting him again. Especially not in this situation.
• What would he think of me? What if he found out I was an omega? Would he regret being involved with me?
• I couldn't tell if he would look down on me for my status or if he genuinely meant his words about responsibility. After all, he was the Alpha King, and omegas like me rarely crossed paths with someone like him.
• My feelings were mixed. I was anxious, not knowing if he'd judge me for being an omega.
• While I was still lost in thought, the kitchen door swung open, revealing someone I'd rather avoid – Camille, a notorious bully in the pack. She was accompanied by three girls with unfriendly expressions on their faces.
• Their faces screamed the word 'trouble', which made me antsy.
• Camille was rather influential since her father was an elder, not to mention she was Nadia's minion. But unlike Nadia, who always strived to keep a good image even though she was far from such, Camille was rather the opposite. She didn't care to hide her nasty behavior.
• Seeing her appear in the kitchen with her minions, made my heart skip but I managed to keep a straight face. Although she was a nutcase, she hardly picked on me so I held hope, she didn't come for me.
• But that was false hope anyway because the moment she entered, she ordered the three girls behind her, "Restrain her for me!
• Before I could comprehend what was happening, two of them moved towards me. One forcefully grabbed my hair, while the other tightly held my hands behind my back.
• I growled deeply, but I was no match for the two she-wolves who were far stronger than me. All I could do was struggle and thrash, desperately attempting to free myself.
• "What do you want, Camille!?" I couldn't help but question angrily, my eyes clouding due to the pain of my hair being grabbed so harshly.
• "What do I want?" She laughed, covering the distance between us and grabbed my chin harshly. "Tell me, Raven, I'm curious about how you did it."
• I maintained a blank expression, unable to understand what she was talking about. I didn't bother resisting the girls grips anymore, because the more I struggled, the more it hurt.
• "I see you're lost. You either don't understand or you're pretending to be ignorant. Which is it?" she inquired, arms crossed.
• I looked at her squarely, refusing to back down. Although omegas aren't allowed to fight any of the pack members, I realized as long as I didn't feed the bullies, they won't be able to hurt me.
• "If you don't tell me exactly what I've done, then how would I know?" I scoffed at her.
• She laughed scornfully and voiced, "You seduced the Alpha King, didn't you? Did you sleep with him?"
• I halted, taken aback as I was not expecting that to be the issue at all. It was then I realized that word must have spread around that the Alpha King pulled me out of the meeting and that we knew each other.
• But, I didn't expect how fast it spread nor that Camille would be interested in that. Was she after Tristan too?
• Not surprising as he was rather an enticing option for most females. Not only was he handsome, he also had a good background. Camille must be after the status of being his Luna, so, I could have unintentionally vexed her.
• I gazed at her calmly, before uttering, "I didn't seduce him-"
• But, she barely let me speak before suddenly approaching me, hitting me sharply in the stomach. I winced from the stinging pain, biting my lips to avoid crying out.
• It hurt like hell and I wanted to cry out but I knew that someone like Camille fed on my pain. The more I showed weakness, the more she would try to torment me.
• She grabbed my hair tightly and made me look her in the eye. "I don't need any of your excuses. This is just a warning. The moment I find out you're reaching those dirty sickening claws of yours to my man, I'll make you pay for it."
• I froze. Her man?
• I knew she was only bluffing but for some reason, those words made me feel a bitter sensation rising from within me. I clenched my fists tightly but didn't argue with her.
• However, she didn't seem satisfied as she suddenly fisted her hand to punch me again and I instinctively braced for impact.
• But just then, the door opened, and through my blurred line of sight, I saw Nadia stroll in.
• "What are you all doing!?" She hollered.