Chapter 4: The Announcement
The music, the lights, his scent.
I could remember those three things so distinctly, it was suffocating. The images flashed in my mind’s eye like it all happened yesterday.
The air was electrically charged, my entire body was buzzing with rage and something else.
Father patted my hand briefly, letting me go, telling me to be patient as he raised his glass high in the air, tinkling it with a fork. He had called forth the attention of the cheering wolves around us.
After getting their undivided attention, he reached for my hand again. Time seemed to stop while we walked toward the front, my gaze finding Alpha Matteo.
I couldn’t deny the powerful force that pulled me to him. Images of his mouth touching my skin, causing fire to burn course through my system, flashed in my mind.
I haven’t told father about the baby. And after tonight, I don’t think he would warm up to the idea of me having my sister’s fiance’s baby.
Still, the events that followed sparked my anger. I was excited to meet my sister. However, looking at her now and recalling how she treated me like trash, it would take a while before I could get over that.
Curious gazes and whispered conversations erupted around as father Alpha and I reached the happy couple who made me want to puke. Another lady, older than me and my step-sister combined, joined us, slinging an arm on father’s other side.
She gave me a once-over, her eyes subtly scrutinizing, identifying who I might be and what I was doing with the senior Alpha beside me.
Before she could ask, father gently tapped the woman’s hand and leaned in to whisper in her ears. I didn’t hear what he told her, but the shock and fear written on her face caused my brows to furrow.
Meanwhile, Elsie and Alpha Matteo greeted father and the lady with huge smiles and exchanged hugs and cheek kisses.
I watched and waited for father to finish his introductions. For some reason, I found it satisfying to rub it in my step-sister’s face that I was no longer the same rogue she met and trampled over a few days ago.
That goes the same for Alpha Matteo.
Still, the cold-hearted Alpha had my heart pounding and my skin tingling, yearning for him and his kisses.
“I had never been happier for this union.” Father glanced at Alpha Matteo. “But tonight, I have another announcement to make.”
Father turned to me, his eyes glistening with tears.
“Several years ago, my daughter, Leila, had gone missing. I searched for her everywhere, never losing hope that one day I’d be able to find her.”
I offered a small smile, hoping it would comfort him at least.
“I became desperate. But as years passed with no sign of my daughter, I almost gave up hope. However, one fateful night,” father turned to me, pulling me closer, “I met this young lady who reminded me so much of my late wife, Monique.”
The whispered conversations rippled among the wolves. I tuned them out, afraid of what I would hear.
“After ensuring that I wasn’t mistaken, the long search is over.” A single tear rolled down the senior Alpha’s cheek. I wiped it away, garnering a tender smile as father continued his speech. “I’m happy to formally introduce my long lost daughter who had been found, Leila.”
The announcement was met with a profound silence at first. A single clap echoed from the audience, which gradually turned into applause.
I had no words to describe how I felt. It was exhilarating to be recognized. But at the same time, I was afraid of what this might entail.
I had been used to the life of a rogue. I had no permanent living space, and most people avoided me at all costs.
After all these years, I never thought my father would even find me. So now, this new life that awaited me didn’t look too promising.
It had a rocky start, and only one person was to blame for all this mishap.
The humiliation of that night left me scarred.
Suddenly, I felt like everyone was scrutinizing me for who I had been and was underneath the fancy dress I adorned tonight.
It made my chest feel tight, making it hard for me to breathe.
I placed my hand over it, forcing my lips to smile. Father noticed my discomfort and pulled me to the side.
“What’s wrong, Leila?”
“I can’t breathe,” I admitted.
The lady from earlier approached. She carefully extracted my hands from father’s hold, gathering them to her.
“I’ll take care of her. And also, we need to have a talk about this later.” She looked displeased and didn’t even try to hide it.
Father nodded, his lips pressed together. He caught my gaze, giving me a reassuring smile while the woman carefully assisted me as we moved away from the podium.
Alpha Matteo’s scent infiltrated my senses. I closed my eyes and savored it, knowing we were about to walk past him and my step-sister.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
My heart pounded so hard I thought my chest would burst.
He was so close. My skin pricked as I imagined his expert hands roving all over my body just as he had that night.
The inappropriate thoughts fueled my desire to get closer to him. However, I had to restrain myself.
‘He’s a bad guy, Leila. He will never accept you. He has already rejected and humiliated you. What more do you want?’
I internally screamed. I wanted him.
It was weird, but I kept wanting him despite having a taste of his arrogance. There was something so irresistible about him.
I wanted to address this unfathomable pull, but it was not within my grasp to explain my strong attraction to him.
At least for now, I couldn’t find any proper term to call my seemingly inevitable attraction to Alpha Matteo.
In my opinion, I should do everything in my willpower to forget him.
When the woman successfully brought me to a private room, she sharply turned to me, disbelief and annoyance in her expression.
“You’re an imposter!” she accused, seizing my arm rather roughly.
I looked into the woman’s eyes. She was definitely furious but also fearful.
I could understand her confusion and anger. However, I could not make sense of why she seemed scared every time she stared at me.
“I dare you to tell that in front of father,” I answered, keeping my tone polite. “Let’s see if your claim is more believable than the solid proof that I am who he said I am.”
Pursing my lips, I raised an apprehensive brow.
“Or is that something you feared the most? But why? I wonder.”
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone