Chapter 7: Encounter
With nothing to back her up, Elsie left the private room and returned to the gathering. I smirked, feeling satisfied for returning the favor of trying to shake things up in her life.
To not raise any suspicion, I followed after her.
The wolves nearby followed me with their gaze. I couldn’t help but get flustered. This wasn’t something anyone could have prepared me for.
I grew up in the streets. Crashing parties and stealing food was what kept me alive. Being officially included in one was something new to my lifestyle.
A server was coming my way. I called him over, grabbing a champagne flute to give me something to do. I wasn’t going to drink it, but I needed an excuse to move forward.
While finding a way out of the suffocating interior, I let my eyes wander around. In one corner, father was talking with people who looked his age. Beside him, Louvel stood dutifully. She laughed and smiled along with the wolves, but I doubt she even agreed with whatever was being discussed.
On the other hand, Elsie stretched her neck, searching for someone. I’m pretty sure she was desperate to reunite with Alpha Matteo.
I scoffed upon remembering him.
Would it be a sin to question her attraction to him? I was honest when I told her what I thought of her and him as a couple. Although Elsie seemed interested in Alpha Matteo, I don’t think it was a solid interest.
It felt more like she was all in it because he was hot. Any other guy compared to him didn’t make the cut. My opinion could be biased, but any woman would agree that Alpha Matteo was drop-dead gorgeous.
I shook my head, annoyed that I found myself thinking about him when I should be hating him.
I touched my abdomen and sighed.
‘Is this your doing?’ I thought, picturing a mini version of Alpha Matteo if it would be a boy. A girl version of him would be pretty too.
The thought made me look forward to that day. However, it was immediately cut off by the negativity at the back of my mind.
He didn’t believe me the first time. Would he believe me the second time?
I pursed my lips, sighing in relief upon finding a door promising a sense of escape. It couldn’t be truly an escape since the walls were made of glass.
Even when I stepped outside, people could still see me. However, I could no longer hear them, and I could finally breathe some fresh air.
The patio had some chairs available to rest, but I refused to take that privilege and instead pushed forward. I needed to be out of sight before embracing the cool night breeze.
It was funny. I used to hate the cold nights when I had no blankets or a proper house to give me warmth while I slept. But it was a welcome party right now.
I didn’t realize how much I wanted it until I did this. Beyond the patio, there was an array of trees and flowers.
I stopped in the middle of a path lined with bushes. Up ahead, an abandoned gazebo sat. Thick vines surrounded its structure. Still, it looked enticing.
Glancing at the festivity going on inside, I took a deep breath.
“That’s not my kind of party,” I murmured, gathering a fistful of the dress I was wearing and walking the rest of the path leading to the gazebo.
It didn’t only look magical from afar, but it also felt like taken out straight from a fairytale. I closed my eyes and twirled around, imagining I was a princess of some unknown kingdom.
Everything that happened to me in the last few days slowly returned, making me feel nostalgic. Who would have thought that the trip to the Red Light District would lead me here?
I reopened my eyes to the sound of footsteps and sensed a presence behind me. When I spun, I saw a familiar face.
“This pavilion was built for this special woman,” the man uttered as he approached, hands behind his back. “She loved to be in the presence of trees and flowers while she painted. Sadly, that woman died the following year after this place was built.”
I found myself standing approximately five steps away from him. Like everyone else, he wore formal attire with black pants, shoes, and a tux. He had a sophisticated look on point.
But he had a distinct feature too. His long hair was tied behind, and a small scar was evident on his left brow.
Then there was him and his aura. Maybe because he was always with an Alpha, his presence demanded attention too. Or perhaps, he had charms that could captivate an interested audience.
“Are you, perchance, the man who built her this gazebo?” I asked curiously as to how he knew the story behind the place.
The man chuckled. He had an empty champagne flute in his hand.
“We have met before, don’t you remember?” he answered, throwing a question my way. I frowned.
“I remember, but I believe I didn’t get to hear your name.”
The man extended his hand to me, smiling like his master wasn’t ill-tempered.
“I’m Oliver.”
I shook his hand, briefly glancing at the space behind him. He immediately caught up with what I was troubled about.
“I’m alone. He went back inside.”
I pursed my lips, eyeing Oliver up and down.
“Shouldn’t you be with him?”
Oliver grinned, shaking his head.
“I don’t follow him blindly around. Plus,” he raised the empty glass, “I decided to finish this drink in peace. What about you? Shouldn’t you be inside?”
I mimicked his gesture, raising the champagne flute I had no intention of drinking before offering it to him.
“The atmosphere was suffocating,” I admitted and felt my cheeks burning after saying it. “I haven’t touched this drink. Would you like to have it?”
Oliver looked at me oddly, then shifted his focus to the offered drink in my hand.
“You don’t like drinking?”
I pursed my lips, debating if it was wise to tell him a lie. I grimaced, my stomach getting upset all of a sudden.
Forcing the glass on Oliver’s hand, I covered my mouth with the other as I excused myself and turned away to puke.
When the sensation passed, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Oliver startled me by appearing beside me, his brows furrowed.
“You look pale,” he commented, his eyes searching my face. I covered my mouth, avoiding talking to him.
“I should go,” I muttered, wanting to hide six feet under.
However, Oliver had some other plans. He grabbed my arm. Upon contact, he gasped before letting me go.
I cradled my arm and narrowed my gaze at him.
“What was that for?” I accused, hissing at him. His eyes widened while staring at me.
“You’re pregnant.”
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone