Chapter 20

Laura POV

"Laura, these are the heavens' stewards on Earth," my subconscious mind thought, making me burst out laughing like a fool. Meanwhile, Valerie was still lost in her own imagination, which I thought was utterly insane. "Val," I called out gently as we strolled down the long, picturesque street lined with lush flowers and trees.

"Val," I called again, but she seemed completely absorbed in her own thoughts, her eyes gazing off into the distance with a dreamy expression. I chuckled to myself, wondering what was going through her mind, and gently took her hand to guide her along, snapping her back to reality.

"Can you imagine that my wolf accepted this mansion as ours?" Valerie asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. But her words left me frozen in confusion. I gazed around the grand foyer, my eyes scanning every corner, trying to understand who she was referring to. "What wolf?" I asked, my voice low and gentle, thinking she must be joking.

But Valerie's expression suddenly changed, and she slapped her hands over her face, her eyes widening in embarrassment. "Oh dear, did I say wolf out loud?" she muttered, her voice muffled by her hands.

I shook my head in disbelief, my eyes wide with amusement. "No, you're not making any sense, Val. You're acting like a mental patient!" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

As we walked down the path, an elderly man with a rugged beard and a kind face called out to us in a loud, booming voice, "Hey there! Good day, young ones!" My eyes blinked rapidly as I adjusted to the sudden interruption.

Valerie and I exchanged a brief glance before responding in unison, "Good day, sir." The elderly man continued to tend to the flowers, his hands moving deftly as he trimmed the petals. "Is there an invitation letter for your entry?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of warning. "Alpha Frank has been acting strangely lately, and I wouldn't want him to...ah...mistreat you both."

Valerie nodded. "Yes, we have an invitation." But I chimed in, "No, we don't." Valerie's eyes narrowed, and she shot me a cautionary glance, her fist tightening at her side. "What's wrong with you, Laura?" she whispered, her voice low and urgent. The elderly man's eyes flickered between us, his concentration seemingly elsewhere, but his words had piqued our interest.

The elderly man's eyes sparkled with a knowing glint, and he nodded wisely. "Ah, I see. Well, in that case, you'll need to be careful. Alpha Frank's moods can be unpredictable."

Valerie's grip on my arm tightened, and her eyes fixed intently on the man. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice low and urgent.

The man's expression turned serious, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I mean that Alpha Frank's been acting strangely lately. He's become paranoid, suspicious of everyone and everything. He's even started to question the loyalty of his own pack members."

Ooh, about that, we have nothing to do with that, Valerie said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man's expression turned grave, and his eyes filled with serious intensity. "Okay, girls," he began, his gaze locking onto mine. "You, in the green gown," he pointed at me, and I stepped forward, my heart pounding slightly. "You're a nice person," he said, his voice softening as he offered me a gentle smile.

"Thank you, sir," I replied, feeling a warmth spread through my chest at his kind words. Valerie's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on the man with a hint of skepticism. "What do you want to tell us?" she asked, her voice firm but polite.

"Nothing," the man replied, his expression enigmatic. Valerie nodded curtly and pulled me behind her, following the narrow entrance that resembled a museum foyer. We were immediately flanked by two imposing guards, their eyes scanning us with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. While Valerie seemed to take charge, confidently striding forward, I stood frozen in apprehension, clutching my bag closer as if ready to make a swift exit at a moment's notice.

The guards' eyes lingered on me, their hands resting on the hilts of their weapons, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. "Let's go," Valerie whispered, tugging me forward, her eyes gleaming with a sense of adventure and trepidation.

"We're here to see Alpha Frank," Valerie said confidently, handing over a folded envelope to the guard. My eyes widened in shock, and my mind raced with calculations and doubts. I dragged her to the side, my voice barely above a whisper. "Where the hell did you get that from?" I asked, my eyes fixed on the envelope as if it were a ticking time bomb.

But Valerie just stared at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and pecked me on the nose before turning to follow the guard. "Come along," the guard instructed, his voice firm but polite. I hesitated for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest.

The opulent living room was adorned with stunning gold decorations that perfectly complemented the space. I settled into a plush armchair, crossing my legs, when a lady in a cook's uniform approached us. Valerie's enthusiastic voice drew my attention as she flopped onto a nearby sofa, which seemed to bounce and sag under her weight.


"Wow!" she exclaimed, bouncing on the couch with abandon. "Val," I called out softly, apologizing to the lady, whose eyes were fixed on Valerie with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Sorry, ma'am," I said, turning to the lady with a polite smile. "Please, don't mind her. She can get a bit...exuberant.”

She nodded, her hands crossed at her front. "What will I offer you, ma'am?" she asked. I momentarily kept mute. "Whiskey," Valerie ordered, and I declined immediately. "Just juices," I concluded with a gentle turn. A voice sounded, and my heart sank.

The gold digger won't need anything. Clara's voice echoed with hatred as she walked in our direction. My breath caught in my throat as I stared in fear. "Get them something to drink; they're my guests." Frank's voice boomed from upstairs.