23
Liv's POV
I caressed my lips with my fingers as I stared at the mirror, smiling at my reflection. I could still feel Ryder's touch on me.
My cheeks were still flushed as they were when he had touched me there.
There was a strange sensation in my stomach.
It was present when I kissed Ryder, and it was still there even after he had left.
My hands still shook in nervousness, while my heart still tugged from the excitement
I got up from where I sat and walked towards the window.
I convinced myself I was going to look at the view, but the ecstasy in my heart distracted me enough to bother about the moving cars, busy roads, or__
The maids running around the mansion, not only maids but some other people.
I narrowed my gaze on confusion, staring at the scene.
That was the only thing that distracted my mind from thinking about Ryder
There were suddenly a lot of guards positioned at every corner as though there was a gathering of top-ranking officials in the pack.
I looked at the view for a while and decided to head outside myself in curiosity.
The mansion had suddenly become very busy.
Half of the maids ran, half walked down the stairs and the corridors.
There was some form of light chatter in the air and I wondered what caused it.
The end-of-the-year event that had the same atmosphere was still a long way off, and the Alpha or Luna's birthday wasn't anytime soon.
"Excuse me, what is going—" I dared ask, knowing I would be snubbed, but the maids ignored me as if I wasn't there. Some even brushed against me as if I were invisible.
Well, that kind of treatment wasn't new to me.
I stepped aside and looked at them scurrying up and down the stairs tirelessly.
I felt some kind of relief.
If it wasn't for the triplets, I would have been in their shoes now.
"Liv?" An unfamiliar voice called my name from behind.
I turned in that direction and it took me a while to recognize the face.
Erisa walked elegantly to me. Of course, with the posh accent, I should have recognized our 'celebrity make-up artist', Erisa.
"Erisa?" I replied. I was more surprised that she had cared to notice me with the hall as busy as it was.
Her eyes widened on getting to me, staring at me from top to bottom.
"What are you doing here? You are supposed to be getting ready! We are behind time!" She panicked, bringing out her phone to look at the time.
Question marks hovered around my head as I tried to understand what she meant by, "You are supposed to be getting ready." Omega like me didn't get ready for parties unless we were serving.
"What's going on, why should I get ready"
And why the hell was she so bothered? I could vividly remember her refusing to get me ready when the triplets had ordered it.
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion "Liv, you need to be prepared for the party. You weren't told about it?"
I rolled my eyes as the only thing that brushed into my mind was the Triplets "And who invited me to this party?".
She shook her head "Darling, I'm not supposed to say anything concerning that. You'd find out soon enough," she looked behind me, "but first you have to come with me"
Without me giving her a response, she pulled my hands, leading me towards the direction of my room.
"Who?" I protested as she dragged me into the room.
My mind went to the triplets and my cheeks felt instantly warm.
I could still remember Ryder's touch and kiss. I was losing my shit because of him.
She looked around my room and then back at me "I will have to wash you up dear,"
"Erh no! I already had my bath a while ago," I protested, my eyes glued to her, not trusting her to peel my gaze for a second.
Erisa nodded slowly at me and then cupped my chin. "Have you eaten then? You surely will need your strength, Liv"
My strength for what exactly? And why had she been so weirdly nice to me? Had the triplets issued another threat on her again like Callum did previously
"No I'm f—fine," I refused to fall for her kindness because I knew at the end of it, it was all just an act.
"And I can get ready myself," I said firmly. I noticed the look of irritation that clouded her countenance, but it was for a few seconds. She immediately forced a smile at me. It only showed something was up. If her niceness had been faked, what evil could be up her sleeves?
*******
Although I had protested not to be helped, she still insisted that her life depended on it.
My makeup was done by her.
My hair, nails, and even my dress were surprisingly ready, without me having to choose it.
It was a black evening dress, that showed off curves I never even perceived I had.
"Who ordered you to do this?" I asked again for the umpteenth time as I stared at the mirror.
My hair has been tied into a ponytail with only a coil dangling towards the left side of my temple.
I looked gorgeous.
"And like I said__"
"You are not allowed to say anything" I helped her finish the sentence since that was what she had been singing for the past few hours.
"Follow me," Erisa finally said when everything was done.
She went out of her way to open the door which I resisted the urge to close and open again with my own hands
"Thank you," I muttered under my breath, both nervous and skeptical.
We headed towards the entrance and exited the mansion.
I looked back at the busy Mansion and I wondered.
"Isn't the party supposed to be back in the mansion?" I asked staring back at the mansion.
"It is, but you were summoned and you have to see the person before the party," she said to me.
It sounded very strange. Since it was only one person, it couldn't be the Triplet. Probably it was Ryder. Callum alone? Or even Max?
I suddenly stopped and Erisa looked back at me. "What is it?" She demanded, this time she didn't have a creepy smile on her face. She sounded more firmer.
"If you won't tell me who it is, at least give me a hint," I demanded.
Her eyes darted around until they slowly settled, peering into my eyes.
"It's someone you know very well. And it's not something you should be scared about Liv" Her dark pupils gleamed.
Then maybe it was Ryder after all, but I didn't inviting me to a secret location doused in makeup was his style.
"Okay," I agreed even though I had a lot of doubt.
"Now that's the spirit"
She stopped in front of an abandoned building, further inside the residence.
The lights inside were dim and my heart skipped at the guard present there.
The uneasy feeling in my gut was slowly winning and I thought to bolt, but I had gotten this far to chicken out
"Erisa, I think—" I looked back and Erisa wasn't there anymore. I looked around for her with my eyes wide open. My heart started beating fast because I was beginning to realize it was a setup.
My hands trembled at the side and my lips quivered. I felt my blood freeze and a cold shiver run down my spine
Suddenly there was a loud piercing laughter and I immediately recognized the voice.
My knees felt very weak as I slowly turned to face the direction the laughter came from
Luna Rebecca clapped her hands slowly and walked towards me with a menacing smile on her face
"Did you think I would ever have let you fit in, with my sons?" She demanded in a fury, her nose flared in anger and eyebrow furrowed in contempt
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead with a heavy stream of perspiration flowing down my back.
I felt paralyzed with fear, I couldn't move.
"Cat got your tongue? Or should I say Wolf got your tongue!" She snarled at me.
I tried finding words to speak, but my brain felt blank. I could already smell my own death from miles away and it was slowly getting closer.
"I—" My words barely left my throat when an arm, thick as a tree trunk wrapped itself around my neck in a chokehold. Struggling was futile, j could taste death in my mouth. I had barely begun to struggle when I felt something blunt hit me at the side of my head and I started losing consciousness.
I struggled with the pain and my shortness of breath. It didn't take long before my vision became blurry and everything went blank.
****
I struggled to push my heavy lids up. I looked around where I was as my hands touched the hard, cold floor on which I lay. I tried to scream for water, but the only thing that eluded my parched mouth was a whisper.
The darkness of the place enveloped me and so did fear. I feared I had lost my vision, but I realized after a while that every form of light was taken out of the room after I was left there to die.
I sat up, groaning from the excruciating pain I felt in my head.
I felt something wet flow down my head and I touched it with my hand.
I smelled it and I winced at the sharp smell of fresh blood.
I was bleeding.
Struggling to stand, I wobbled for a while.
Whatever had hit me by the side of my head did enough damage.
As I struggled to walk, I realized there was a small crack that had light passing through it, aiding my vision. I left the hall where I had been kept and on getting outside I glimpsed some guards standing right outside.
My only saving grace was they were a few distance away from the door.
Carefully, I opened the door a little, closing my eyes, trying to give myself a mental boost.
All my life, I had been running from the triplets.
I had confidence in my speed, I wasn't that fast, but I knew my skills of getting away from danger might likely help me.
I breathed in and out as my legs trembled. 'I wasn't going to die today' I assured myself inwardly.
I would rather die fighting than die in the hands of that witch
I ran out of the door as quickly as I could.
My head was on fire and I was losing balance.
It took sheer will to run straight ahead.
"Chase her down, she's leaving !" A guard sounded the alarm.
I felt my heart sink to my stomach, my legs trembled against the ground as I ran and my head spun whilst I gritted my teeth from the excruciating pain. I missed my step falling to the ground, but stood back up, running like nothing had happened.
"Get her!" I heard it directly behind me.
If I ran straight, they were going to catch me. I wasn't fast enough. I knew I had to be smart if I wanted to Liv
Running wasn't working. I had to hide. But then, I didn't stop.
I ran full speed ahead for several meters before I came to a stop panting.
My lungs were burning, my feet were bruised due to how long I had been running barefoot.
I put my hands against a tree trunk as I vomited the contents in my stomach.
I was getting sick.
This was a whole new hide-and-seek.
It wasn't nothing compared to the triplets. At least then, I knew I could get off with a wound or a bruise.
But here, I knew I was going to die.
I wiped my mouth and slowly sank to the floor. Tears welled in my eyes as I bit on my trembling lips
I wanted to scream, but I didn't want my pursuers to get me.
I suddenly heard voices in the wood and I held my mouth.
I stuffed a sob and opened my eyes wide.
It was just ahead of me, the pair of voices, very distinct from the guards
"It's very easy Erika, you can't fail," the voice continued.
I crawled to where the voices were and peered over a broken branch.
I was glad it was night because it concealed my presence.
"What is this? Your grace?" Erisa demanded in confusion
They stood about ten meters away from where I was.
I recognized that place.
It was where I had met Luna the night she threatened me
Luna Rebecca looked around and on failing to notice me, she looked back at Erisa
"This is what I told you about weeks ago Erisa, how little is that brain of yours"
Erisa lifted the substance into the air and I gasped from where I peeked. It was a white powder in a white sachet.
"I don't think killing the Alpha will go as planned"
Luna Rebecca scoffed. "And you think my plans ever fail?"
Erisa shook her head. "__ I don't"
"Listen to me" she demanded, causing Erisa to look at her
"Do it for me" A frown took over her countenance. "You know what happens if you defile me" she gritted out
Erisa nodded immediately like a puppet with fear visible in her eyes
"You will serve it to the Alpha, and it will kill him, are we cleared?" Rebecca asked firmly.
Erisa forced a smile at her "Y_ yes your grace," she bowed at her.