Noel was fast asleep in the back seat. His head had tilted to the side in an uncomfortable way, but he didn't stir.
Alexei looked at him quietly, then leaned over and pulled the small boy gently into his arms. Noel's head rested against his chest, and Alexei held him there, making sure he didn't wake.
The first time Alexei had seen this child was the day he killed his father.
That man had done something so vile, even the humans called it unforgivable. He had been bitten by a vampire, a shameful thing to begin with, but worse. He had let the curse take over.
His wife had died by his hands. And that day, he would have killed his son too, if Alexei hadn't gotten there first.
When Alexei broke down the door, ready to kill him, he hadn't expected to find anyone else inside. But after it was over, and the room had fallen silent again, he heard soft and shaky breathing. He looked under the bed, and there he was.
A little boy, hiding and frozen in fear.
Alexei had seen fear in many people. Most times, he enjoyed it. It made him feel strong and in control.
But that boy… There was something different about his fear. It wasn't loud or messy, it was small and pure.
And Alexei couldn't walk away.
So, he took the child home, gave him his name, and raised him like his own.
His grandfather hated it. Hated that the boy was human. Said he was soft-hearted and weak.
Alexei didn't care.
When the car pulled into the driveway, he stepped out with Noel still sleeping in his arms. He carried him all the way inside and upstairs to his room.
He pushed the door open and walked in.
The room smelled like fresh linen and warm light.
Alexei laid Noel down gently on the bed and pulled the blanket over him. The boy didn't wake, just shifted slightly and curled deeper under the cover. Alexei stood there for a moment, watching his small chest rise and fall.
Then he turned and walked out. His phone buzzed just in time as he softly shut Noel's door behind him.
...
"Mr. Alexei," the driver said, surprised to see him in person. "What brings you here?"
"Where is he?" Alexei brushed past him.
"He's in the guest room on the second floor."
The caller earlier was the doctor Miss Park was taken to. He had said the test results showed she doesn't have major problems. But several of her hormone levels were above average. And it was all written in the result.
However, the exact cause of the hormonal abnormalities remained unclear.
He had asked if it was caused by drugs, but the doctor said there were no traces of drugs in the preliminary assessment. And specific analysis and testing are needed.
The doctor had even asked, "Are you sure she was drinking?"
When Alexei asked what the matter was, he had said the blood test report showed that his blood alcohol was 0.
Alexei pushed the door open.
The doctor said Miss Park probably didn't have anything to drink.
Lola was lying peacefully on the bed, but she perceived Alexei again. And she knew he was here.
"She still has a fever," the driver said from behind him, checking the thermometer. "She was on a drip before you came. The doctor wants her observed overnight."
"If her fever doesn't drop by morning, we'll need to take her to the hospital for a full examination."
Alexei didn't answer right away. His eyes were still on Lola's face.
Alexei hesitated before saying, "okay." His eyes were still locked on her face and flushed cheeks.
"You can go home now." He added, still without looking at him.
"Alright, Mr. Alexei." The door clicked shut behind him.
Lola didn't know what to do, she could feel his stare not leaving her face. 'Lets just keep pretending.' she told herself.
"Stop pretending."
His voice was calm.
Lola slowly opened her eyes to meet his never ending gaze on her. His eyes were directly on hers, expressionless, but something about them made her feel small.
She avoided his gaze as quickly and awkwardly as she could. She didn't know what to say.
Alexei's eyes dropped to the ID card on the table. He picked it up and read it again.
NAME: LOLA PARK.
GENDER: OMEGA.
AGE: KIT.
Alexei looked back at the woman in front of him.
This woman didn't look anything like the ID photo. The woman on the ID looked flawless. She had soft and pretty features; small lips, long eyelashes, silver-grey eyes, and she had shiny platinum blonde hair. And she looked like she was a minor.
But the woman lying in the bed looked different. Her cheeks were round and puffy. Her lips were full. Her hair was short and curly. Her body was thick and curvy. She had double chin and big, wide eyes.
Something was not matching.
Was this woman really Lola Park? Or was she pretending to be her?
"She must've found this ID somewhere," Roman murmured in his head. "Do wolves even make IDs anymore?"
Alexei looked at Lola. He still didn't know what to think. Was she a human with strange ideas? Was she sick in the head? Or was an actual omega?
"Definitely not an omega," Roman added firmly.
"Are you really the person on the ID?" Alexei asked with caution. He wasn't sure what he was dealing with; a mentally unstable person, or a drunk. But the doctor said she wasn't drunk.
Yet, she smelled awfully of alcohol.
"Something must be wrong with that doctor too." Roman sighed.
Lola blinked slowly. Then she smiled in a polite way.
"Why, yes. That's me," she said. "I know, I get prettier as the days goes by." She batted her eyelashes like she was in a romantic play.
In her previous life, this was how she used to charm men.
Roman sighed. "Who's going to tell her?"
Alexei watched her for a moment longer but chose not to argue.
"Get up if you're awake," he said.
Lola pushed the blanket off. She sat up and looked around. 'Where am I?' she wondered.
The last thing she remembered was being in the Adkins Underground Subway. Then she felt dizzy. Then everything went dark.
Suddenly, she remembered something else. It was a memory from the body she now lived in. A scary memory.
Someone had pushed her.
She didn't know who. The face was blurry. But it felt real.
'Whoever this body used to belong to had enemies,' she thought.
And now… if people found out she was still alive, what would happen?
She didn't even know who this girl fully was yet. Why was it taking so long for the memories to come back? She felt like the truth was hidden behind a curtain.
Her eyes went to Alexei again. 'Its seems he had rescued me again.'
"Thank you." she said politely.
Alexei looked at her. Her clothes were wrinkled and messy. Her hair was tangled. Her face looked tired and unwashed.
He felt annoyed. In his mind, a woman should always care about how she looked. It was important to him that a woman should look presentable at all times.
"Change your clothes," he said. "Then come out."