Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose. Chapter 24: Iceberg

Leilani.

I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to be wining and dining with the sa people who had broken ti and ti again and had hurt in ways unimaginable.

But Jay said that I needed it.

Jay had told that I ought to rise from the shadows. That I needed to make a mark for myself.

And it was due to this reason that I walked into the bustling hall tonight despite knowing that it would house all of my enemies put together.

When I stepped in, all eyes turned to but contrary to the girl I used to be, I didn’t falter. Instead, I raised my head a little higher and cat-walked further into the room just the way my fitness instructor, Maya, had taught .

My breath caught in my throat when my eyes snagged on a familiar pair of blue eyes in the corner but I quickly glanced away, smiling when Jarek ca into view.

"You ca!" He said excitedly, earning him stunned looks from the people close by. But ignoring their stares, he pulled into a warm hug and kissed my forehead. "I missed you so much! Look how much you’ve grown!"

"You look so grown up yourself..." I cooed sweetly, "...and everything like the abominable Alpha everyone keeps yapping about."

His deep rich laughter engulfed like a caress. And then dropping his voice, he drawled; "are you jealous?"

"That you have such a large fan base?" I asked then scrunched up my nose. "Eww, no. However, people get jealous of when I say I have you wrapped around my pinky finger."

Again he chuckled, and I didn’t miss the way so eyes turned to us in amazent.

While Jarek was a cutie patootie around , it was not a news that he was the most sought after aloof monster to everyone else. So I could understand why they were all so stunned to see him laugh.

—And that is because he never laughs.

Especially not in public.

He clutched my hands in his as he led to so other business moguls hanging around his corner, and while a few of them looked very familiar, the others were n I’d genuinely never seen before; most of which I was so happy to see right now.

"Hello folks, et Ms Sinclair, the leading Engineer at Frostclaw. Inc and the brain behind our three recent groundbreaking innovations."

As soon as he said that, the n around us turned to acknowledge . So bowed, so pulled out their hands for a handshake— I took them firmly— while the rest simply lingered around with polite smiles and brief nods.

"Thank you for having , I am sure you fine gentlen are having a splendid evening?" I greeted softly, smiling when they replied warmly, a few even making a point to co stand beside .

"She’s so young."

"It’s surprising to know that one so young can be so talented."

"She’s stunning too."

More praises were thrown at from every angle and I could only smile through it, whilst ignoring the sharp stares from the ladies who probably do not like my guts. Or who hated that their n were complinting so effortlessly.

If looks could kill, I would be a dead at by now.

But it couldn’t. So I lived. Suddenly, Jarek grabbed my arm tenderly and leaned close to my ear. He whispered; "I see you’re growing uncomfortable. Co, let’s find sowhere quiet to sit."

I gave him a grateful smile and let him lead the way. However, we had just taken a few steps when three pairs of familiar grey eyes ca into view. I froze. My heart also began to pound against my chest.

"Leilani..." Jarek whispered softly from beside . I turned to him. "They aren’t worth shit. Try to not be affected by their presence."

I flashed him a grateful smile then turned to the n— my mates— who for so reason had grown up to be fine n themselves. I drawled; "Kael, Zevran... Caelum. I don’t think it’s a pleasure to see you again."

I saw them freeze, and noticed the confusion on their faces. It took a mont for to realize that they couldn’t recognize . Hell, had I changed that much?

But the confusion didn’t last long on Kael’s as he soon narrowed his eyes at .

"Leilani...?" He said slowly, as if testing the words on his lips, and for so reason, hearing him call my na so softly... so carefully enraged even further.

I snapped; "Ahh, I see you still have a functioning brain, Alpha Kael. How are you?"

A deafening silence settled between us as soon as I said those words and I couldn’t help but notice the mont recognition dawned on Caelum’s and Zevran’s faces.

"Leilani?" It was Zevran who spoke up this ti, "...how’s this possible?"

Despite everything, I couldn’t help but notice how deaning his words sounded. How he couldn’t seem to believe that I could be this person— this person who looked elegant, who was capable of making a na for herself— I ignored them and turned to Jarek.

"Let’s go, Jay."

Again, they were stunned. They froze when they heard the endearing term I’d used in referring to the ’Almighty’ Alpha Frostclaw.

A smile tugged at my face when Jarek draped his arm around and led away, all the while chatting animatedly about everything I’d missed out on since the last phone call we had.

This was the first ti we were seeing each other in four years and the first ti I was returning to this accursed country after I fled for Europe after that accident with Chalice.

Under Jarek’s protection, I had been admitted into Oxford University where I furthered my studies in Biodical and software engineering, and on the side, I worked remotely for Frostclaw. Inc where I’d managed to pull off not one but three technological breakthroughs in two years.

"You did so well," Jarek’s voice snapped out of my trance. "I never knew you could take care of yourself so well. For a minute there, I even felt you didn’t need , you were good on your own."

I understood what he ant and smiled in response. I also thanked him when he pulled out a chair for and I slowly sat, watching as he engaged in a conversation with a middle aged man whom I vaguely rembered.

I busied myself with my phone until I soon beca thirsty and due to the thirst, I walked over to the drink station and helped myself to a glass.

I was however just about to turn away when I bumped into soone, and—

*Crash*

My wine glass ca tumbling out of my hands and onto the floor.

I flinched from the shock and scurried backward only to fall straight into... a warm chest. And as soon as I felt that familiar warmth behind , my body instantly went solid still.

"I’m so sorry!" The guy who first bumped into apologized quickly. "I didn’t see you coming, I was a little distracted by my phone."

I slowly moved away from the male behind who I was sure was one of the triplets and nodded to the guy. "It’s fine... it really is. I may have been distracted as well."

"I hope I didn’t ruin your dress?" He muttered softly, and then... he raised his eyes to look at .

I froze.

The discomfort I felt earlier tripled when I was t with those familiar icy cold eyes.

I frowned. "No."

"Hey, let help you!" He offered sweetly and I couldn’t help but notice that just like the triplets, he hadn’t recognized at first glance.

Sothing in my heart clenched tightly. Tears of rage burned at the corners of my eyes. I balled my hands into fists and completely forgetting about grace, swatted away the hand he stretched out to and growled;

"No, Mr Blackthorne. I do not need your help."

Gavin was stunned. He frowned at and then slowly... very slowly, recognition flickered across his features. His eyes widened in surprise then thinned when he noticed the cold look in my eyes, he glowered;

"Leilani."

"It’s Ms Sinclair to you now, Blackthorne. Now, if you wouldn’t mind, excuse ."

Gavin’s nostrils flared. His lips curled backwards into a sneer as he growled; "You fucking wenc—" but he hadn’t been able to complete his statent when Jarek walked over, his face as stony as a rock.

"Sweetcakes?" he drawled, eyeing both Gavin and I. I turned to him with a smile. "Do you know this madman?"

I almost chuckled. Only the heavens knew how hard it was for to keep a straight face, especially since Gavin looked dumbfounded.

I shook my head. "I’ve never seen him in my life. He just bumped into and then tried to curse afterwards..."

"Co, I’ll take care of him."

And with that, I leaned into Jarek’s arms, letting him whisk away while my mates and brother stared behind us in shock, their mouths hanging open as they glared openly.

And for , that was perfect.

— and the very sharp tip of the iceberg.