Freya's POV
The next morning, I received a call from Bardier, who informed me of an urgent business collaboration that required me to rush to the office.
Upon my arrival at the office, Bardier was already waiting for me in the conference room. He greeted me with a smile and said, "Freya, you're just in time. I have an important client to introduce to you. They want to work with us on a significant project."
I was curious, wondering who this client might be.
Following Bardier into the conference room, I was stunned to see a familiar figure.
Kingsley?
I stopped in my tracks in surprise and couldn't believe my eyes.
Kingsley also saw me and appeared composed. He stood up, extended his hand to Bardier, and said, "Hello, Mr. Bardier." He then turned to me and said, "Hello, Ms. Alice. It's been a long time."
I forced a smile and replied, "Hello, Alpha Kingsley."
He called me Alice instead of Freya, and a pang of bitterness ran through me. Since our conversation that day, we were both determined to forget the past and start anew. To him, I was just Alice now.
I composed myself with that thought.
Bardier seemed a bit puzzled and asked, "Do you know each other?"
Kingsley smiled and said, "We've met before."
Bardier nodded, then turned to me and continued, "I see. That's even better. Kingsley's grandmother and I are old acquaintances, and his company wanted to secure an international project. However, the person in charge of the project is a perfume collector who is exceptionally selective about fragrances. So Kingsley approached me for help, and I immediately thought of you, Alice. You are one of the best perfume designers in our company, with profound knowledge and a unique creative touch in perfumery. I am confident that you will be able to create an outstanding perfume for this project."
I was both touched and nervous upon hearing these words. I felt grateful for Bardier's trust and praise, but I also worried about my ability to succeed in this endeavor. Moreover, working with Kingsley presented a significant challenge and torment for me.
I hesitated and then said, "Mr. Bardier, I'm honored to be a part of this project, but..."
"But what?" Bardier inquired.
"But I'm not sure I can collaborate with Alpha Kingsley," I replied.
"Why?" Bardier asked.
"Because..." I hesitated, trying to find an excuse to decline the partnership.
"Because you're afraid of me?" Kingsley interjected suddenly.
I was irritated by his cold words. Was he looking down on me?
I raised my head and stared at him coldly. "To be precise, it's not that I'm afraid of you; it's that I prefer not to work with you."
"Oh, really?" Kingsley said mockingly.
"So, what's your point?" Kingsley continued, "Are you still holding a grudge about what happened back then? Are you still resenting me?"
His words washed over me like a wave of sadness. I recalled what we had been, how much he had betrayed me, how much he had hurt me, how coldly he had treated me, and how much I had sacrificed for him, only to be left scarred in return. I remembered how hard I had worked, changed, and searched for a new life to move on from him.
I shook my head and said, "No, I don't resent you. I now have nothing to do with you."
"Really?" Kingsley said in disbelief. "Then why are you hesitant to work with me? Don't you want to prove to me that you are no longer the cowardly, weak, and incompetent Freya?"
His words ignited my anger. They made me feel as though I were a coward, and I couldn't allow him to look down on me any longer.
I decided that I needed to shed the person I once was and demonstrate my strength and charisma. So I declared, "Okay, I accept your challenge. I will work with you and create a perfume that will demonstrate that I am not the Freya I used to be."
"Very good," Kingsley said. "Let's begin."
As I embarked on the journey to create the perfume, I soon realized that a crucial ingredient was missing: the moonflower. This elusive bloom only unfurled its petals on the night of the full moon, emanating a fresh and enigmatic fragrance that enhanced the allure and longevity of the perfume. However, the moonflower was notoriously difficult to find, thriving solely on high mountains.
Determined to locate moonflowers, I made the decision to venture into the mountains. Surprisingly, Kingsley got wind of my plan and insisted on accompanying me.
"Listen, you're my partner now, and I'm responsible for your safety," he justified.
Having no other option, I found myself seated in Kingsley's car, winding our way up the mountain road.
Moonflowers could only be found at the highest peaks, and they only bloomed at midnight.
Finally, as the moon ascended, we reached the base of the tallest summit. When I gazed upwards, I spotted a sacred moonflower perched high on the cliff, emitting an intoxicating fragrance under the moonlight.
Stunned, I soon realized that the location of the moonflower was exceedingly steep and perilous, making the ascent extremely dangerous.
While I hesitated, Kingsley swiftly donned his climbing gear and was already on the move.
"Wait for me here, Freya," Kingsley said, turning his face towards me.
"Please, it's too hazardous up there. Maybe we can explore elsewhere first, there might be other moonflowers," I implored anxiously.
"There's no time for that. The moonflower will only be in bloom for an hour, and after that, it will wither away."
"But..." I hesitated, still attempting to voice my concerns.
"It's alright, don't worry. As an Alpha, if I can't conquer a moonflower, then I'm not competent enough."
With that, Kingsley finished speaking and bestowed a confident smile upon me before agilely leaping into action.
From the base of the mountain, I observed his nimble figure gracefully navigating the cliffs, bathed in moonlight. My heart tightened as he grew smaller in the distance.
Soon, he reached the pinnacle of the cliff, and Kingsley reached out to pluck the moonflower. Just as I let out a sigh of relief, a sudden gust of wind brushed past, causing him to lose his balance and plummet.
I let out a horrified scream at the sight. In my concern, I hurried towards the spot where he fell, attempting to catch him.
"Kingsley!" I cried out.
In an instant, I transformed into a wolf and darted towards him.
A voice replied, "I'm okay."
Then, I saw Kingsley sitting on the ground, a bit disheveled but holding the moonflower intact in his hand. He had a few scratches on his face, and his clothes were torn from the fall.
I breathed a sigh of relief and an impulse led me to approach Kingsley and embrace him. "Thanks god! You're safe," I said.
For a moment, I thought he would...
As I hugged him, Kingsley briefly stiffened before gently caressing my head. "Don't worry," he reassured me. He then playfully pointed at his torn shirt and quipped, "Looks like I'll need you to replace my wardrobe."
I chuckled and replied, "Let's go, then."