Alpha Dean's Pack.
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Alpha Dean, Athena, and Max were gathered around a table, engrossed in an important discussion regarding Elena. Suddenly, a gentle voice interrupted them. It was Minerva, who had quietly entered the hall.
The group was taken aback by her presence, especially considering the significance of their meeting. In their pack, it was understood that gatherings involving the alpha and his close circle should not be disturbed. Any matters were to be addressed after the meeting concluded.
But as they were about to begin their meeting, Minerva's unexpected interruption caught them off guard.
"Um... sorry for disturbing you, my Alpha," she said, slightly bowing her head. Dean raised his eyebrows, waiting for her to explain the reason for her interruption.
As Minerva was about to speak, her eyes locked with Athena's intense gaze. Sensing there was more to the situation, Minerva brushed it off and proceeded with her purpose.
"I just wanted to check if you would like breakfast; it's ready for you," she said with a slightly awkward smile. Max looked displeased, shooting Dean a questioning look.
Dean, feeling a bit embarrassed, exchanged a glance with Max, who then directed his sharp gaze at Minerva.
"What do you mean by that? Are you the cook now? Is that your responsibility?" Max's voice rose, causing Minerva's smile to falter as she averted her eyes to the floor.
"I'm sorry, I..." she began.
"Shut up and leave!" Max interrupted sharply, causing her to bow her head in submission.
"Yes, beta Max," she replied, eager to exit the room. Max, however, stopped her once more.
"This must never happen again, or you will face the consequences!" he warned sternly. She nodded quickly before hurrying out of the room. Max exhaled in relief and turned his attention to the Alpha, ready for the meeting to continue.
Athena exchanged a significant glance with the Alpha, betraying a lack of concern.
"So, Athena, how are you progressing with the task I assigned you? Have you made any headway in bringing Elena back to me?" Dean inquired, his gaze fixed on a distant point.
Max shifted his focus to Athena, awaiting her response. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, her voice slightly trembling.
"Retrieving her won't be simple. you've alerted him to my involvement. He may suspect I may have informed you about Elena. If you already haven't revealed it to him yourself," Athena explained, prompting a silent exchange of looks between Dean and Max.
A brief pause followed before Max cleared his throat. "And...?" he prodded.
"Pretending to still support him to get Elena will only raise suspicions, he will know I'm playing a game. He'll sense deception," Athena suggested, receiving a nod of agreement from Dean.
"What do you propose, then? What is your plan moving forward?" Dean inquired, prompting Athena to draw closer and disclose her strategy.
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At The Kitchen.
Elisa, the hardworking omega, had finished cooking and was now helping Minerva wash the dirty plates and other kitchen equipment.
Although she was the one who used them, but it wasn't entirely her responsibility to wash them. According to their agreement, Minerva was supposed to handle the washing duties as the kitchen work was shared.
Ideally, Minerva should have been present to take the plates for washing but not inside the kitchen since Elisa was the only one who has free access to the kitchen being the cook. Nevertheless, anyone could stay if given permission, so Elisa could have allowed Minerva to help, but Minerva was nowhere to be found.
Despite this, Elisa continued to work diligently with a clear mind. As she focused on her tasks, Jared suddenly entered the kitchen. Elisa glanced at him but remained focused on her work.
Jared stood at the door, observing Elisa for a moment before entering the kitchen. He looked around, silently meeting Elisa's gaze as he contemplated how to express his apology for his past actions towards her.
It had been days since the incident, and Jared had finally mustered the courage to come and apologize to Elisa, feeling remorseful for betraying her trust.
Looking at Elisa, he swallowed nervously. "I thought Minerva was supposed to be washing the plates?" he asked, and Elisa nodded in response.
"Yeah, but I decided to do it. She's free to rest," she replied, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction as she avoided meeting his gaze.
He hesitated for a moment, sensing her mood.
"Athena, I know..." he began, but she cut him off.
"It's okay, Jared. We can only blame Athena for what happened. She pressured you too, right?" Elisa asked, as Jared looked at her before nodding.
"Exactly. That's what the others mentioned. I'm not surprised you're saying the same," she retorted, looking visibly annoyed.
Jared realized she was upset and angry because she never expected him to side against her. This was clearly what she was trying to convey with her words.
Taking a deep breath, Jared spoke softly, "I know you're upset with me. I just..."
"No, I'm not upset with you! You've taught me not to trust anyone, which can be a valuable lesson. Perhaps Athena pressured you, and you didn't know that.... You should have apologized since then," she said, her voice tinged with nervousness.
"You... alright, now you will have to leave my kitchen. I'm quite busy," she said, her expression annoyed and serious as she pointed towards the door.
"Elisa, I'm truly sorry..." Jared began to apologize, only to be repeatedly interrupted by Elisa's irritation.
"Of course you are. Please leave! You're distracting me. Just go, please!" she urged, her voice becoming slightly louder, leaving Jared with no choice but to walk away.
Reaching the door, he glanced back at her once more before finally exiting the kitchen. Elisa took a deep breath, a sigh of relief washing over her.
She knew she had been too harsh, but it wasn't entirely her fault. She felt deeply betrayed, and under the circumstances, most people would have reacted in a similar way if they were in her shoes.
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Somewhere Around The City.
The area was surrounded by lush woods, teeming with vegetation, and a standalone duplex stood on the land.
It felt quite isolated, with only the sounds of animals filling the air, accompanied by a gently flowing river nearby.
Shortly after, Adam Kindle arrived in his car and parked quietly, taking a moment to survey his surroundings.
His gaze shifted towards the house, scanning its exterior before realizing that someone must be inside, given the open windows and signs of activity.
Adam drew in a deep breath before making his way towards the house, where he knocked softly.
After a brief pause, a young woman opened the door and stepped outside, catching Adam off guard with her presence.
Expecting to see his old friend Carlos, Adam was surprised by the woman standing before him, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Hello, how can I assist you?" the lady inquired, causing Adam to stumble over his words momentarily.
"I... I'm Adam, and I'm looking for Carlos. I believe he used to reside here," Adam managed to say, to which the woman nodded understandingly.
"Yes, come in. He's my husband. He's currently out but will return soon. You can wait for him inside," she offered, holding the door open wider for Adam to enter eagerly.
As Adam stepped inside, reminiscing about the old days with Carlos, he realized that life had taken its course, leading his friend to marriage too. He looked forward to their reunion and the conversations they would share.