Alisha's POV
I dashed through the dense forest, my heart pounding in my chest. The weight of fear hung heavily on my shoulders as I listened to the menacing barks drawing closer. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to run faster, to escape the clutches of the relentless beasts chasing me. I could feel the exhaustion seeping into my bones, my body aching from the wounds that adorned my face. But I knew I couldn't stop. To halt would mean certain doom, torn apart by the ferocious wolves that pursued me.
Gasping for breath, I pushed my legs to their limits, my ragged breaths mingling with the frigid air. The moon, its cold and pale glow, served as my only witness in this treacherous forest. Suddenly, the trees around me erupted in a fiery inferno, flames licking the sky. The once dark forest now became a terrifying blaze, engulfing everything in its path. Thick black smoke billowed into the night, obscuring the moon's distant gaze.
Trapped within the inferno, I felt the scorching heat closing in, threatening to consume me. The crackling sound of trees toppling echoed through the air, intensifying my desperation. Just as a nearby tree crashed to the ground, I jolted awake, drenched in a cold sweat. It was only a nightmare, a haunting illusion that gripped me in its clutches. Despite my racing heart and pounding headache, an insatiable thirst pulled at my throat.
Closing my eyes, I attempted to calm myself, to quell the lingering terror that gripped my soul. But as I opened my eyes once more, reality came crashing down upon me—I was in my bedroom, or, more precisely, my bedroom with Archie. Confusion enveloped me as I glanced down, realizing I was dressed in a delicate lace camisole pajama set. How had I ended up in my own bed, wearing these familiar pajamas?
Clutching my throbbing head, I desperately tried to piece together the events of the previous night. Memories flooded my mind—I had been at a pub, celebrating the news of a new job opportunity. But then, everything turned hazy, my consciousness slipping away after a peculiar drink. It was only afterward that I realized the drink contained a potent herb known for inducing hallucinations in werewolves. But by then, it was too late. Thankfully, Nova seemed to have been there to take care of me once I lost consciousness.
But where was Nova now? Was she safe? Just as the worries consumed me, my phone rang, and a wave of relief washed over me as I heard Nova's voice on the other end.
"Alisha, are you okay?" Nova's voice was filled with concern, mirroring my own fears.
"I'm fine. And you? Where are you now?" I asked anxiously, needing reassurance about her well-being.
"I'm in the hospital, but don't worry, I'll be discharged soon," Nova replied, her voice a mixture of exhaustion and relief.
"What happened last night? Why are you in the hospital? Tell me the address, and I'll come pick you up!" I insisted, a surge of protectiveness flowing through me.
"No need to come here. Brad stayed with me all night. He helped me a lot," Nova explained, her gratitude evident in her words.
"Brad? Why is he with you?" I couldn't help but feel surprised by Brad's presence in the hospital.
"A bastard, well, according to Brad, he is a rogue, molested you. I tried to stop him but failed. Luckily, Archie arrived just in time and saved us," Nova revealed, her voice tinged with anger.
"Archie?" I repeated, my mind reeling at the unexpected turn of events.
"Yes! He asked Brad to send me to the hospital and he has taken you away. Brad said you needed special treatment at the Golden Crest. How are you feeling now?"
It all started to make sense. Archie had rescued us, ensuring our safety. No wonder I woke up in my bedroom. He had taken me home. But what had transpired during the treatment Nova mentioned? The fragmented memories flickered in my mind—a man carrying me, a bathroom... My face flushed with embarrassment as the reality hit me.
Without a second thought, I threw off the covers and hurriedly made my way to the bathroom. As soon as my eyes fell upon the bathtub, the memories flooded back, causing a fiery blush to creep up my cheeks. I couldn't help but wince as I gingerly touched my swollen, still-sensitive lips. "Ouch," I muttered, the pain serving as a bitter reminder of the intense kiss shared with Archie. It felt deliberate, almost as if he sought revenge. Such a mean guy!
Nova's voice broke through my thoughts, concern lacing her words. "Alisha, what happened? Did you get hurt?"
"No, it's nothing," I replied dismissively, too embarrassed to divulge the details of the unfortunate kiss.
"Hey, I forgot to tell you the good news! The manager of the jewelry shop called me this morning. Someone has bought your wedding ring for a whopping 50 million dollars!" Nova's excitement filled the air.
"What? 50 million dollars?" I gasped, unable to believe what I was hearing.
"Isn't it amazing? I thought I was dreaming! You're going to be a millionaire!"
"And you'll be the millionaire's bestie!" I exclaimed, joyous for the newfound fortune.
"My honor! I must tell you that Brad has asked me which store do you are selling your wedding ring, but I didn't tell him. I wondered how he knew this thing and why he wanted to know the store."
I frowned as heard Nova's words, "I thought it must be Archie's order. Maybe this mean man wants to occupy the money!"
"Oh, that makes sense! But don't worry, the manager has promised that the money would be transferred to you after deducting the service charge. Archie has no chance to take this money away."
"That would be great!"
"So, after receiving the money, are you planning to stay at the Golden Crest? You won't have to worry about finances anymore. But I have to say, this time, thanks to Archie. I thought he must care about you a lot; otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed to save us the moment I called him. He practically beat that rogue to a pulp. Maybe you should consider..." Nova's voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken suggestion hanging in the air.
My heart raced at Nova's words, a mix of hope and uncertainty swirling within me. I stood frozen, lost in my thoughts, unsure of how to respond. Should I come back? I had made up my mind to leave and start afresh, but if Archie truly cared, if he had fought for my safety, then perhaps... But what if returning only invited mockery and further pain? I stared at my swollen lips in the mirror, my reflection mirroring the indecision that plagued me.
"Luna, how are you feeling?" Mireya's voice gently brought me back to reality, breaking the cycle of my thoughts.
"I'm fine," I managed to reply, my mind still reeling from the revelations.
"That's great to hear. I heard the sound, so I thought you had woken up. Are you hungry?"
The mention of food triggered a pang of hunger in my stomach, a reminder that life continued despite the chaos of emotions. Rubbing my growling belly, I nodded in response. I bid farewell to Nova and made my way downstairs with Mireya, feeling a strange mix of relief and anxiety. I felt relieved when I saw nobody in the dining room. I didn't know how to face Archie now.
My meal remained untouched as I absentmindedly scrolled through my phone, searching for a distraction. Twitter caught my attention, a trending topic demanding my tension—Erma's wedding ring.
A sense of foreboding washed over me as I clicked on the news articles.
The reports revealed that Erma's secret lover had bought her a valuable ring adorned with a pink diamond, presumably as an engagement ring. Speculation of an impending wedding surrounded her. A knot tightened in my stomach, and I gripped my phone tightly. Panic set in as I turned to Mireya, my voice trembling.
"Where... where is Archie?"
"Alpha has left. He entrusted me with looking after you," Mireya answered, her voice tinged with concern.
My heart sank at Mireya's words. I felt I was abandoned by Archie once again. It must have been him who purchased the ring for Erma.
The absurdity of the situation struck me like a bolt of lightning. My husband had left me to accompany another woman to buy my own wedding ring. How could he care for me if he had deserted me so easily? Even Brad had stayed by Nova's side throughout the night.
A wave of anger and disappointment washed over me, tears threatening to spill. But this time, I refused to shed them for Archie. Taking a deep breath, I fought to steady my voice as I called Nova once more.
"Nova, I'm leaving. Archie cares more about his position and authority than he does about me. His anger only stemmed from his own wounded pride when his Luna was threatened. He's planning to marry Erma."
"You saw the trending topic? He's despicable, Alisha..." Nova's voice trailed off, offering words of comfort that I had grown accustomed to. But this time, I interrupted her.
"Nova, I'm afraid I'll have to live in your home a little longer."
"You're my best friend, Alisha. Come to my place whenever you need to. I'm so excited to live with you!"
"Thank you," I replied, grateful for Nova's unwavering support. Before ending the call, another thought struck me. I had an appointment with Louie to return his clothes.
Glancing at the time, I hurriedly asked Nova, "Which dry cleaning shop did you take Louie's clothes to? I need to meet him today."
"Mr. Brown's shop. Hurry and pick them up. Don't keep Louie waiting. You know, I'm starting to like him more than Archie. Go for it, Alisha!"
"Don't be ridiculous," I scoffed playfully before hanging up the phone. Without a moment's hesitation, I left the Golden Crest, leaving behind a chapter of my life I could no longer bear. As for that ill-fated kiss, I chose to brush it off as nothing more than a dog bite, a stupid, mean and wretched dog!