Lola kept looking at the door for a while after Alexei left. She just stared at the door in silence. Her hands stayed still on her lap.
She took a deep breath, then, slowly, her eyes turned to the clothes that were folded neatly beside her on the bed.
She let the robe slip off her shoulders. It was from the hotel. Her old clothes had been torn the night before by Alexei, and she hadn't had anything else to wear.
A wave of cold air brushed across her skin, and she shivered. Goosebumps rose as her body tried to warm itself. She let out a slow breath, and it came out warm. Her cheeks flushed again, and not just from the fever.
"Are you sure the clothes will fit her?" Roman's voice asked from somewhere not far away.
"I asked for the biggest size available in the city," Alexei replied.
He looked up the stairs when he heard soft, careful steps.
Lola was walking down, one hand clutching the hem of the tight nightgown.
"Mr. Alexei," she said quietly.
Alexei's eyes flicked to her, then away again. Roman didn't bother hiding his observation. "It's tight on her."
Alexei ignored the comment. He had requested the biggest size because he knew she wasn't small. Yet it still didn't fit right. She looked uncomfortable, like she couldn't breathe properly.
"Have a seat," he said.
Lola walked slowly, not out of fear, but because the fabric clung tightly to her body. It made her chest feel heavy, and it was hard to take deep breaths. Even walking a short distance left her winded these days.
She sat down and noticed a warm mug in front of her. She looked at Alexei, wondering if it was for her. But he didn't meet her eyes. His face looked cold and serious. She could feel that he wasn't in the mood for small talk.
She knew he wanted to talk about something important. So she opened her mouth to speak first.
"I—"
"What do you want?" he interrupted.
"Huh?" She feigned innocence. "I don't understand..."
"Money? A favour? Are you a sex worker?"
The words stung. That seemed to annoy her. In her time, calling a woman a sex worker was a serious insult. Her fingers curled tightly around the fabric on her thighs.
"Mr Alexei," Lola said with a frown. "I'm grateful you saved me, but I'm not a sex worker."
"Hah. Then what are you?" He raised his brow with a mocking smirk.
Her lips tightened into a line. She had to make this bastard fall for her? How on earth was she supposed to do that?
"Were you high? Or looking for someone to hook up with?"
She stared at him.
'Hook up?' she wondered. 'Is he talking about attaching something to something else?'
She had never heard the phrase used that way before. Maybe he means to hook someone up with something? Like… a rope? Or a cart?
"The smell on your body... What is it?"
"What smell?"
"The smell on your body that day, what is it?"
Alexei was annoyed. He almost corrected her. He didn't like the word "smell." It sounded dirty. For wolves, it was called a "scent." Scent was natural and strong, something only certain kinds had. Smell was for garbage.
"It's cologne. What's the matter?"
"Cologne." She mumbled after him. She knew Alpha Kade had grandsons, but not what they were exactly.
If the goddess hadn't removed them herself, what were they?
Half-breeds?
His scent had changed. And she knew for certain that what she smelled wasn't 'cologne'.
Was this even really Alexei?
She studied his face, trying to see if anything looked different. But nothing stood out.
"You're not a Beta?"
Alexei scoffed. "Are you playing some childhood game of yours with me?" He was already on his feet, clearly annoyed.
He didn't want to show it, but her words made him uncomfortable. As long as he kept pretending, he thought, everything would be fine.
When his eyes turned back to her, her face was red like strawberries and she had the stench of alcohol again.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he snapped. "Why do you still smell like alcohol?"
Lola gasped, pressing her hand to her chest. "I… I think I'm in heat."
He pressed her against the couch. He had one leg between hers, his body close, and his eyes locked on hers.
"Are you high?" he asked quietly. "Or drunk?"
She shook her head, still huffing. "No. I'm just… I'm in heat," she said honestly.
"So?" he asked.
"... I want to do it." Lola's grip around the couch tightened. "Do you want to do it?"
He frowned as he shifted away.
"You're leaving?" Lola reached out and grabbed his wrist.
He looked down at her hand.
"Are you that desperate?"
She was. But she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Alexei pulled his arm free.
An Omega's heat cycle usually lasted about three to five days. If nothing was done, it would get worse. The heat would burn through the body, stronger and stronger, until it could barely be handled.
There were only two ways to stop it.
One: if an Alpha marked the Omega; even just for a short time.
Or two: if they became bonded forever.
Today was only the second day.
'It's the second day,' she thought. 'Maybe I only have one day left…'
Click.
That was the sound of Alexei's lighter. He lit a cigar and brought it to his lips.
He loosened his necktie and took a long breath, then blew the smoke out slowly.
Instinctively, his gaze turned to a figure by the door.
Lola stood at the door again, her skin was shiny with sweat, and her cheeks were flushed deep pink. She didn't know why she followed him, but she did.
"Come here," he said.
Her bare feet made soft sounds on the tile as she walked toward him.
She stopped in front of him, looking up.
He raised her chin with the hand holding the cigar. His eyes stayed on hers.
Why did she look so pitiful? So… sad? Like someone had been mean to her. What an annoying sight.
Ash from the cigar butt fell, landing lightly on her collarbone.
"Ouch," she flinched.
"Tsk." He crushed the cigar in the ashtray.
When he looked back, her eyes were glassy. She was about to cry.
"You're not hurt," he said. "So why are you crying?"
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "It's… just so hot."