Chapter 4 #2
Viola sighed, her gaze still fixed on the unfolding drama. “That’s the thing about Alphas and Omegas. They don’t always play by the same rules, do they? Some Omegas think they can win an Alpha over with enough persistence.”
I couldn't understand it. I had chosen solitude for a reason. I had spent years cultivating my peace, crafting a life that thrived on the quiet and the familiar. These dramatic displays felt foreign, like some bizarre performance art I had no interest in.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” I whispered, more to myself than to Viola. “Couldn’t she just find someone else, someone who actually wants to be with her? Why chase after someone who’s clearly not interested?”
“Because it’s not always that simple,” she replied, her voice softening. “Some people are willing to fight for what they want, regardless of the odds.”
I shook my head, not wanting to get wrapped up in her perspective. “But at what cost? I’d rather be alone than begging someone to want me.”
Before she could respond, Trinity let out a small, strained laugh. “Come on, Oliver! We had a thing. It’s not like you just forget about that!”
My stomach twisted again, and I caught myself rolling my eyes. I glanced sideways at Viola, who looked equally bemused. I could see the way her lips quirked up, fighting against the tide of seriousness washing over us.
“Think anyone will break them up if he really doesn’t want her?” I asked, trying to divert my thoughts.
“Not likely,” she replied. “This is a small-town drama and people like watching.” I shook my head at her, but people did like watching drama as long as they didn’t have to be in it.
“I told you I am not interested. Besides, our pack is currently courting someone.” Oliver spoke, his voice a lower timer.
His blue eyes flashed over to mine as he said this, and even someone hidden behind the fountain I felt something like dread settle in my stomach.
I felt a rush of heat in my cheeks as Oliver’s gaze found mine, and for a brief moment, time hung suspended in the air.
My heart raced, caught between curiosity and the urge to retreat.
The weight of his attention was unexpected, sending a shiver down my spine, and I quickly ducked my head, pretending to fumble with the strap of my bag.
Viola nudged me again, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Looks like you’ve caught someone’s interest, Daphne," she teased in a whisper, but I couldn't muster a response.
Instead, I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, feeling a tension knot in my stomach.
This was not how I wanted to be drawn into town dynamics, especially not amidst such intimate drama.
Trinity stepped closer to Oliver, her voice laced with desperation.
"But we had something special, don’t you remember?
We could make it work!" Her persistence was both painful and fascinating, a cringeworthy display that made me want to look away. I could feel the crowd’s energy shift—some people leaned in closer, eager to witness the unfolding conflict while others exchanged glances filled with awkward sympathy.
I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for her; the way she clung to those memories was a reflection of something I didn’t want to confront in myself.
How easy it would be to long for connection, to chase after someone who might never see me the way I hoped.
I bit my lip, trying to shake the thought away, but it lingered like the remnants of a bad dream.
"Maybe you should let him go, Trinity," I found myself saying before I could think better of it. The words slipped out, propelled by both empathy and frustration. "There are other people out there."
The moment I spoke, I felt the collective gaze of the nearby crowd shift toward me. I hadn’t intended to get involved, but the momentum of the situation swept me up.
Trinity turned her head sharply, surprise written across her face. "And who are you to tell me that?" she shot back, her tone defensive yet shaky. "You don’t know anything about what we had!"
That wasn’t entirely true; I knew enough to recognize desperation. I was just as desperate in my own way, though I didn’t chase after anyone. “I just think,” I started, trying to ground my voice in reason rather than emotion, “that you deserve someone who truly wants to be with you. If he doesn’t—”
A deep, rumbling laugh interrupted me, catching me off guard.
Oliver chuckled softly, shaking his head as he stepped slightly toward me.
"You’re right," he said, his voice low and steady. "Trinity, I appreciate your feelings, but it’s clear this isn’t going anywhere.
You need to find someone who reciprocates that energy. "
I felt the warmth spread through me at his support, but I also felt a pang of guilt. Was I really being helpful, or was I just meddling? I didn’t want to be another voice in this chaos, yet here I was, drawn in against my will.
Trinity’s face fell, hurt flashing in her eyes. "You don’t mean…” Her eyes narrowed for a second then glanced at me then to Oliver “Is this the bitch you and your pack is courting?”
I blinked, the heat of embarrassment rushing up my neck as Trinity's words hung in the air.
My pulse quickened, and I felt the weight of the crowd's gaze, like a thousand eyes boring into me.
I wanted to retreat into the safety of my solitude, but I was trapped in this moment, my heart racing with the intensity of it all.
"What?" I managed to stammer, my voice catching in my throat. I had no idea what she was talking about. I didn’t want to be part of any courting, especially not with someone like Oliver, who seemed to carry the weight of a pack on his shoulders.
His gaze had felt heavy just moments ago, but now it was sharp, assessing me in a way that made me feel exposed.
Trinity took a step closer, her expression a mix of fury and incredulity. "You think you can come here and just steal him away?" She gestured between Oliver and me, her voice rising in pitch. "You think he wants you when he could have me?"
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing. "I’m not—,” I started, desperate to clarify, but no words came out. How had I gotten pulled into this? I wasn’t trying to steal anything from anyone; I was just trying to live my life, quiet and uncomplicated.
Oliver took a step forward, his presence commanding as he looked between us.
"So what if she is. It isn’t your business who we court.
You need to stop this." His voice was firm, authoritative. I wanted to shrink into the background, to disappear like a shadow in the midday sun. The confrontation felt surreal, the kind of scene I’d always observed from a distance, not participated in.
Oliver’s stance was firm, yet I could see the flicker of discomfort dancing in his eyes as he stood up for me, for my presence here in this small town drama.
Trinity’s expression morphed from anger to disbelief, and I could feel the scrutiny of the crowd pressing down harder than before. The murmurs around us felt like a rising tide, threatening to sweep me away. I stood rooted to the spot, heart racing, unsure if I wanted to fight back or run.
“Oliver,” Trinity said, her voice a mix of desperation and disbelief. “You can’t be serious. She is a nobody!”
“Have I ever cared about family names…,” he replied, his tone sharp but not unkind. “You need to respect my choices and that of my pack.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and charged.
My breath felt shallow, as if the very atmosphere had shifted, making it difficult to draw in enough air.
I wanted to say something, to defend myself, but the words eluded me.
My mind swirled in confusion, grappling with the implication that I had somehow become involved in this mess—a mess I never wanted any part of.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Garett was making his way over, a frown on his face as he stopped close to us, “Oliver….” He paused, glancing at me, “Daphne…is there a problem here?”
I felt my heart drop into my stomach at Garrett’s words, the way he stepped into the chaos as if he had some claim to me. My pulse quickened, a mix of confusion and irritation coursing through me. Had I inadvertently been pulled into this weird, tangled web of Alphas and their dramas?
I glanced between Garrett and Oliver, trying to decipher the subtleties of their exchange.
There was an unspoken understanding between them, a camaraderie that made my stomach twist uncomfortably.
What role did Garrett think I played in this?
Did he see me as someone who would be swept along with whatever was happening?
Trinity’s eyes were wide, her mouth agape as she attempted to process Garrett’s arrival.
“You know her?” she echoed, incredulity lacing her tone.
The way she turned toward him, desperation clawing at her features, made something twist deep inside me.
It was uncomfortable, witnessing this raw emotion on full display—over something that didn’t even involve me.
“Yeah,” Garrett said simply, his gaze locked onto mine, as if trying to gauge my reaction.
The connection tugged at me, pulling me into the intensity of the moment, but I resisted the urge to lean into it.
I didn’t want to be part of this spectacle.
I just wanted to vanish back into my solitude, where I felt safest.
Trinity straightened, gaining a little of her composure back. “So what? You’re really courting this bitch?” Her voice was sharp, an edge of accusation that made my skin prickle. Why was she directing all of this at me? I was just a bystander. I didn’t want any part of this mess.
“It isn’t any of your business if we are.
” Garrett narrowed his eyes, shifting closer to me, “Now go about your own business.” He turned toward me, and found myself being led away.
Yet in my dazed state I could still process the screams and curses from Trinity.
This wasn’t how today was supposed to go.