Leilani.
I laid down on my bed draped in nothing but one of Chalice's hand me down pyjama shorts and a tank top. My nose still felt sore from being struck by my father earlier, but now, most of the pain had dulled.
I was back to being numb. To feeling stone cold.
My hands shook as I dialed the number I had once sworn never to call, the reason being that I never wanted to leave my grandmother behind— the same grandmother who now laid cold six feet under.
I brought the phone to my ear and on the second ring, the person on the other end picked and a deep masculine voice called out; "Leilani?"
He sounded shocked, relieved even to hear from me. He was my online friend, Jarek, whose father was a well known computer analyst and medical professional in the state and the Alpha to my mates' rival pack.
His family was responsible for the invention and development of some of the major AI software used for healthcare systems and research around town and after some years ago, when I had 'playfully' created an AI health buddy known as 'DocBud' due to boredom, because I had been too lonely and love-deprived and needed to prove myself to my family, they'd wanted me to be a part of their team.
They offered me a scholarship, intense training… and had even offered to take me out of my abusive home, but I had refused thinking that one day, my family or my mates would love me. That one day, they'll realize that I wasn't so bad and would care for me as much as they cared for Chalice.
But now, I knew better.
And with this murder allegation hanging over my head, they never would.
"Hey Jay…" I drawled, my voice hoarse due to my sore throat. "How are you?"
Jarek, who instantly noticed the difference in my voice, gasped. I heard ruffling on the other end of the call signifying movements, and then an exhale. He seethed; "Leilani, I swear if your goddamn family's done anything to hurt you, I will—"
"Can you please ask your father if that position is still open for me? I'd like to work for him now." I said quickly, interrupting his rants.
Jarek took in a deep breath as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing, and after a few moments of silence, he finally drawled; "My father is dead."
I gasped, tears leaking out of my eyes as I shook my head vehemently. "No. I… I didn't— I am so sorry!"
"He died from a cardiac infection about seven months ago." His deep baritone seeped through my phone. "But it's okay, we're moving past it.
My body shook, and even though Jarek tried to convince me that it was fine, I just couldn't stop crying. Alpha Frostclaw, even though our relationship had purely been online, had always been nothing but kind to me. He'd treated me a thousand times better than my real father, and now he was dead?
Oh no.
Even my chance to work with him was—
"Leilani, what were you saying about the job position?" Jarek asked suddenly, causing my breath to hitch in my chest.
I let out a draggy sigh, tilting my head upward to stop myself from crying as I looked up at the small fancy light hanging over my bed. "I wanted to take it… but now he's dead and I don't know what to do."
"But what about your grandmother? She's the reason you didn't want to work with us then. What happened?" He asked worriedly and I had first begun to shake my head before realizing that he couldn't see me.
I answered coldly. "She's dead."
"Oh." I didn't need to say anything more. He understood. "I'm so sorry about that."
"It's fine. I'm sorry about yours too."
I was about to bid him farewell, seeing as my opportunity to work with his father had now been thrown into the wind when his voice suddenly came through the phone's speaker again. He said; "You're hired."
"What?"
"I never got to tell you because you stopped picking my calls, but after my father died, I inherited everything… including his Alpha position."
I gasped, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. "Oh..! Congratulations!"
"Yeah, thank you. Since you're certain you want to work for us, then you should. I'd like for you to resume with us by Monday, so I'll send someone to come pick you up by Saturday. Is that fine with you?"
I nodded enthusiastically, my smile so wide it could light up a room. "Yes, yes!" I squealed, "thank you so so much. I'll start packing from today and I'll be there by Saturday!"
"Good then, have a nice day, Leilani!" Jarek replied, and with that, hung up the phone before I could say something else.
I let out a sigh of relief, my body shaking with so much joy I could barely hold my phone.
However, my happiness soon waned when my door was suddenly pushed open and I sat up quickly, my eyes widening when I looked up to find…
"Zevran?" I gasped in shock.
None of the Alpha triplets have ever come into my room before. Hell, they never ever speak to me so coming here was a far stretch. I stood up. "What are you doing here?"
Zevran looked at me as though conflicted, his eyes lingering on my lips for a second too long and too hot. Then he glanced away. "You're leaving?"
It wasn't a question, it was an accusation. I gulped. Hell, this man has never spoken to me before… ever since that night.
When I still wouldn't respond, he stalked closer until we were standing chest to chest, and until his warmth was seeping through my thin tank top and sending jolts of electricity coursing through my spine.
I gulped and made to take a step back, but as soon as I moved, his hands closed around my wrists and another wild surge of sparks jolted through my body as he pulled me flush against his toned chest.
"You're leaving, Leilani?" He growled, his mouth bearing down on mine with a speed that had me so shocked, I felt rooted in place.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to answer that."
At my response, something changed about his countenance. He looked like he was in pain, his face contorted into a look I had never seen on him before.
"I overheard your conversation with whoever it was on the phone… you're leaving." He drawled, his breath fanning against the curve of my face, but just as his lips brushed against mine…
"Who's leaving?" Another voice snarled from my open door and my breath caught in my throat when two other figures slipped their large frames into the room, their faces just as cold and stony as Zevran's.
"Caelum? Kael?" I gasped, my heart racing.
What the Hell is happening?