Chapter 6

CONNOR SHELBY.

“You are not fine yet, Alpha,”

Marcus, my personal assistant announced for the umpteenth time to my irritation as I stood before the full length mirror in my dressing room getting ready for work.

“The doctor said you need more rest.” he continued, following me around with a sad face.

However, he knew me too well to expect me to listen to him. It's been over a week already and I had stayed back inside even though I was now completely fine. I was trying to investigate why I was attacked and the people behind the attack. I couldn’t involve the police so I had to crack it myself with the help of my competent personal assistant who was now standing behind me like a stubborn tick.

And somewhere at the back of my mind for the whole week while receiving intensive health care from my personal doctor and Marcus, I was apprehensively waiting for any news regarding the accident of the CEO of Shelby Realtors and Alpha of Lumia pack and his driver.

The core reason I adamantly refused to go to the hospital even though I was in so much pains. It was as though I saw the assault coming and I didn’t want the world to know about it.

But none of it came. I kept my fingers crossed, checking the headlines first thing every morning but saw absolutely nothing about what happened.

And that simply meant the Blurry Faced Woman wasn’t a bad person, no matter how many times I convinced myself she had something up her sleeve for helping a total stranger like me.

“Any news yet?” I asked Marcus, buttoning my crisply ironed white shirt.

I wondered what exact news I was expecting from him.

“Nothing yet, Alpha,” he answered with zero enthusiasm in an attempt to properly pass his message of disapproval to me.

“What news do you think I’m asking about, Marcus?” I tried to sound serious but failed even though my scowl was visible from the mirror.

“There's been no news about your accident in any of the dailies or magazines for a whole week now, I think we can breathe a little. Besides, I believe we should be more concerned about the rogue wolves who attacked you. They're not getting away with it.”

“How is Rivera?" I asked, beating him to his own game. "Has he regained consciousness?”

“Not yet, Alpha but his condition is stable, according to the doctor. Another reason we should prioritize getting back a pound of flesh.”

He clenched his fist and hardened his face vindictively. I couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

He frowned and moved closer to me, “That is what is most important right now, your grace, those monsters that did that to you should be taught a lesson.”

“I told you I would take care of that in my own way, Marcus, I think meeting that woman and showing her appreciation for what she did is far more important.” I said retrieving a blue jacket before walking out of my dressing room with Marcus in my trail.

“But Alpha…” Marcus tried to argue,

“We can’t be too relaxed or breathe a little like you said... I have no idea what those women did while I was unconscious. So we either show her appreciation or bribe her into shutting up."

“Yes Alpha,” he bowed his head in reverence.

He was the closest person I could call a friend but knew when to accord me the respect I deserve as the Alpha and his boss. He was years younger than I was, few inches shorter with an American accent as he studied there.

His (What ladies would call a dashing) face creased in a deep frown.

“Breakfast is served, Alpha,” he announced with a voice he used whenever he was passing across a message I cannot argue with.

“I’ll skip breakfast,” I replied and strode out briskly from my room towards the main exit of Shelby mansion. “I'll have it with the Blurry Faced Woman. You've gotten her number right?"

"Yes."

"Call her," I instructed as I stood in front of the entrance waiting for the driver.

“With your business number or personal number?” he asked breathlessly behind me.

He always complained of my long strides, saying he had to practically leap sometimes to catch up with me who was merely walking.

I thought about his question for some seconds before deciding that my personal number would make her feel more at ease.

“Personal number, Marcus.” I said.

He nodded and moved away.

The new driver drove out the newest customized Mercedes I recently acquired to where I stood and rushed out to open the door for me.

I missed Rivera. Although we never had any special relationship nor were we close in anyway, but I was extremely comfortable around him. He was an omega wolf who was neither calm nor haughty. He was quiet, efficient, competent and reliable.

“Alpha?” the new driver motioned me with one hand while the other was holding on to the car's door. He bowed excessively, smiling in a fawning manner at me. It made me feel a certain discomfort I couldn’t name.

I was going to ask Marcus about him later, I thought, sliding into the car. Marcus rushed in from the other side, sitting by my side as usual.

“How much information do you have about The Blurry Faced woman?” I asked Marcus as he was busy typing away on the tablet he always carried around, especially whenever he was with me.

“Pretty much the basic,” he answered, turning to face me but not looking into my eyes, as our traditions demanded.

“Give me a briefing before we get to… where did she agree to meet?” I asked.

We were still in the compound. The driver was waiting for instructions before moving and Marcus wouldn’t have realized he was meant to mention what he spoke with the Blurry Faced woman till I asked.

“Sorry Alpha, it escaped my mind.” he apologized, with a funny regretful expression. “She says she would meet at a café close to her place in an hour.”

“And where’s that?”

“Dior’s Diner.” he announced as though he expected me to know the place, turning his head to the tablet on his laps and then back to me. “She said we should search on Google map for directions.”

Marcus clicked on a tiny tab showing on his tablet screen. Suddenly the car's dashboard computer blipped twice and came alive. "I have connected the Google map so the car would direct us to the place. It'll take less than thirty minutes to get there," said Marcus.

“Then I’ll have to wait for thirty minutes for her.” I complained, saying my thoughts out loud, clearing my throat loudly in a way that sounded like a growl, causing Marcus to cower a little.

“She must have… never mind Alpha.” he said with a mischievous grin.

I knew what he wanted to say but decided to let him be, instructing the driver to move on.

The car's ambience was silent for some minutes before I spoke up again. “Who did you tell her wanted to meet her?” I asked, hoping Marcus hadn’t blown my cover.

Not that I had anything to hide but I didn’t want her to know who I was just yet. Maybe she knew already.

Why do I care anyway?

“I told her it’s the person she saved a week ago.” he replied, easing my nerves. “I knew it was the only way she would agree to meet.”

“Oh” came my response of hidden relief. Marcus was sensible, the right guy anyone would want to hire as a P.A.