Chapter 4

~THALIA~

What I didn't expect was that Alpha Cassian would not be residing in the mansion with me.

When I discovered that, a wave of relief surged through me so abruptly it nearly made me feel lightheaded.

I didn't need to confront him daily. I didn't have to rise each morning beneath the same roof as a man whose mere presence would unsettle me.

Alpha Cassian uttered it quietly, as though it were a trivial matter.

He wasn't currently based in our city. In fact, he wasn't even anywhere in the country. He was overseas, overseeing the expansion of the Frostclaw family business after they had franchised it abroad.

He didn't mention when he would come back.

But he mentioned something that gave me another sense of partial relief.

'If he didn't return before the three years were over, I'd be free to leave.'

At first, I lived in constant fear, afraid that he might come back at any moment.

However, time moved fast and two years and seven months had passed, yet I never heard from him. The last time I saw him was in a magazine I saw with my coursemate when I was in year one at the University.

I was currently in year three. I paid for an apartment near the campus in year two so I would be able to work and save in order to pay Alpha Cassian. I only went to the mansion once or twice a month.

But it was fucking difficult to save 500,000 dollars. I only managed to save 100,000 dollars for more than two years that I had been working.

It was finally the long holiday before we moved to the second semester of year three and there were also only three months left for my contract with Alpha Cassian to end.

It was the weekend and I booked an Uber to take me home.

When I got home, my Aunty was already waiting for me at the gate. I had only called her to let her know I was on my way home, I never expected her to be waiting for me outside.

The instant I alighted from the car, she rushed to me and gave me a tight hug.

"My pretty Thalia, I miss you," she squealed

This time, I would be spending a whole two months with her at home. I guessed that was why she was so excited and waited outside.

"Aunty, you look beautiful today," I teased.

She held my hands as we walked inside.

Thank Goddess she was perfectly healed and could be her cheerful self again.

When I got to my room, I didn't bother to offload my clothes from the box since I had some in the wardrobe. I always got new allowance, clothes, groceries and other things in the house every month.

Just as I changed into comfortable pajamas, my phone started ringing. I panicked at first as I thought it was Alpha Cassian but when I finally picked my phone and checked, it was my high school mate, Julian.

Then I picked the call.

"Hi Thally, how are you doing?" he said, beaming.

"I'm good and you? It has been a long time," I replied.

"Yeah…it has."

"So…why do you call?"

"Thally, I called because you absolutely have to come to the class reunion tonight. I asked around and you haven't been in touch with anyone since graduation."

"No, I won't be able to come. I don't really have time." I said firmly.

"But the Universities are currently on holiday."

"Yeah. But that doesn't mean I have time to come."

"Thally, please, save my face. Today is also my birthday and I made a promise that I would make sure our goddess attends."

The word goddess made me giggle.

Why was I being called a goddess ?

That was because I was not only beautiful, but also the top student in my grade, always ranking first in exams.

"Alright." I sighed. "I will drop whatever I want to do today and come because it's your birthday and you've put me in a tight spot."

I gritted my teeth.

"Anyways,send the address."

"I will send it right now."

•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•

By evening around 7:30pm, I dressed in my short-sleeved wine-colored gown and slipped into my silver platforms. I liked wearing platforms often because they made me walk with confidence.

"Aunty, I need to attend my school reunion. It's impromptu."

"Alright. I trust you'll take care of yourself."

I waved her off as I walked out to wait for the Uber I booked.

A few minutes later, the Uber arrived and I hopped in.

At exactly thirty minutes, we finally arrived at the address. When I walked in, I didn't expect all my classmates to be present. If I hadn't gone, I would have been the only one who did not attend.

The reunion was so fun coupling with Julian, the class governor's birthday.

I didn't want to drink even though my alcohol tolerance was higher than most wolves my age, but Julian kept sliding glass after glass into my hand.

When I finally glanced at the wall clock, it was past 11pm. I knew I had to leave. I grabbed my bag and walked outside.

"Hey Thalia! Why are you leaving?"