CHAPTER FOUR

ALPHA ARLO

I squinted my eyes when I saw Odessa walking back into the room. She fell on her knees in front of me and burst into tears. She tried to hold my legs, but I kicked her off.

I was disgusted!

Once again, I ordered for her to be dragged out of the room. I watched her being pulled out of the place by my guards while she struggled with them in tears.

I turned back to face Cala. She was smiling so beautifully. She lifted her hands and wrapped them around my neck.

I suddenly felt cold shivers run down my spine. I felt like I was holding Odessa. Everything about her suddenly felt like Odessa.

They were two different people. Cala was a blonde girl with very pure white skin. She had dark brown eyes. Odessa was slightly taller than Cala. She had piercing pearl and big eyes. Her unique grey hair fell long behind her back. Her skin was crystal clear, just like freshly made gold.

"What are you thinking about?" Cala asked me.

That was the third time she had asked me that question.

"I mean, are you always like this?" She continued. "Lost in thought, like there's something bothering you."

I inhaled deeply.

I could not stop thinking about Odessa, no matter how hard I tried.

"What you said about Odessa," I asked Cala, staring at her keenly. "Was it all true?"

She inhaled in frustration and shook her head, gently pulling her hands away from my neck. I grabbed her hands and placed them back.

"Odessa is a liar!"

She paused and pressed her lips.

"She lied to you about being a real Sage when, in fact, she is not related to us in any way. She was brought in as a housekeeper at a very tender age, but my dad said she was too young for that. He decided to keep her and cater for her needs."

Cala paused for a while.

"She knew that our family had been chosen by the moon goddess. This is where your mate would come from... then she manipulated everyone and used a fake portion to seduce you into thinking that you are her mate."

She had mentioned all of these earlier. She had repeated the same thing more than three times. I inhaled deeply and tried to digest all she had said.

I don't like deceit and lies. I also hated women who were desperate. She was so desperate to become my Luna that she went that far.

"You don't have to keep thinking about her, my Arlo."

I shook my head.

I was trying to enjoy the moment, to take my mind off Odessa and focus on my real mate.

"I love you so much, Arlo," she confessed.

I leaned closer to her and kissed her. Even when my lips were locked up with hers, I was still thinking about Odessa. I felt like Odessa was the one in my arms.

We began to hear some voices outside. I pulled away from her immediately. Cala and I exchanged glances.

The voices continued, forcing me to run out of the room. Cala immediately followed behind her.

"What is going on here?" I scolded.

Everyone was startled. They immediately went quiet as they turned around to face me.

There was a poorly dressed man held by two of my guards. He seemed to be struggling with them before we stepped in.

"He was trying to rush into the party, even when we asked him that old men are not allowed in."

I immediately took in his entire frame. His white shirt was stained with blood, and his grey hair was unkempt. He was sweating profusely, and his hands were wet.

"Oh," Cala stepped forward. "Marcus, what do you want?"

She let out a nervous laugh.

I narrowed my eyes as I turned to her. She was the daughter of the biggest and most respected beta. What was she doing with such a man?

"He's the housekeeper and also my father's assistant," Cala explained as she turned to me briefly.

I inhaled in relief.

"Snap it out!" Cala shouted at him impatiently.

"I was in my sleep when your father's call came in. He had asked me to search for Odessa since she was not at home. He wanted her to clean up his room. She didn't do it earlier..."

"So what happened?" Cala quickly cut in. "Just go straight to the point."

Cala was obviously furious already.

I wanted her to spit it out as soon as possible.

"I searched for Odessa everywhere. The gatekeeper said he saw her walk into the house. Then I went to her room, and she was buried in her bath. Drowned!"

I walked towards him and grabbed his hands.

"So what?" I inquired in a whisper.

I held my breath to stop my voice from cracking.

"She's, she's... she's dead!"

I felt my whole system in jeopardy. It seemed like my organs were fighting against each other.

"Odessa is dead!" He cried.

My wolf immediately took over me. It growled in pain as it began running towards the Sages' mansion. Everyone around wailed as they cowered away, afraid that I would tear them apart.

My big furry grey wolf ran steadily. As soon as I got to the Sage's mansion, Odessa's scent led me to her room. I broke into her room and immediately changed into my human form when I saw her.

"Odessa, please don't die. I still love you. I'm very sure you have an explanation as to what happened. I'm ready to listen to everything. Death is too much."

I carried her in my arms as I burst into tears. I heard the car honk outside, and after a while, the old man came in with Cala and Ama.

They both fell on the floor beside Odessa and began to cry.

The old man immediately gave me a towel to cover myself. I lifted her wrist and stared at the deep cut where she had intentionally split herself.

"She's dead!" Marcus announced.

"Yes, genius!" I replied in a sarcastic tone. "She is, and that is why she's not breathing or moving."

"Odessa, please, don't do this to us," Cala and Ama cried.

"I'll listen to you from now on, I wouldn't do anything..." Cala was saying but paused.

I lifted her left hand, and I noticed a mark on her hand. It was not there before.

"The mark of the chosen!" I whispered as I stood up to my feet in shock