Ophelia's grip tightened on the steering wheel slightly.
"Innocent, you say."
Evans didn't look at her. "Yes. I agree that she's a character on her own, but she has nothing to do with this."
Ophelia scoffed. "Well… you really have hope in her."
Evans let out a dry laugh. "What hope? What image will the school give me when a ball crushes her head while she is standing in front of me? They covered up the basketball scene, you'd think they won't cover Edward up again?"
Ophelia gave a small nod. "You are right though, but all I'm saying is don't let your human decency get you exposed or even killed before you assume your position as an Alpha… Edward doesn't even care about her, his target is on you, and you have to defend yourself before defending another."
"Alright, ma'am." He replied as he sank into his seat.
The car moved smoothly on the quiet road with other moving cars. Headlights cut through the darkness while Evans studied every car that passed them.
He could hear every distant voice and the constant rhythm of Ophelia's breathing beside him.
"Once you go quiet like that, you are probably thinking," Ophelia let out, her voice breaking the silence.
Evans exhaled. "I am thinking about everything. This is the first time I'd lied to my mother… I know she's also hiding things from me, but I felt… guilty."
Ophelia glanced at him, then back at the road. "I hope you can sort things out with her soon. She must have her reasons."
Silence settled between them again, and shortly after, the car glided into corners and streets unfamiliar to Evans. The streetlights began to disappear gradually, and the road became emptier.
The cars moving around them went through different directions, while the route Ophelia took got darker.
"So… this is getting creepy. Where are we going?" Evans questioned.
"An unfinished building," she retorted. "I would have come on foot, but because you are still… somehow weak, we had to use this beautiful ride."
Evans frowned. "I hope the others aren't as blunt as you."
Ophelia chuckled. "Trust me, they are worse than me."
The car turned into a narrow and dusty path before coming to a stop.
Evans looked up at the tall uncompleted building. It was abandoned, no light, no movement, but he could smell and hear something else.
"They are here," Evans muttered.
Ophelia adjusted the sleeve of her dress as she turned the engine off. "Yes, they are."
Evans could feel them. Many heartbeats and whispers came from the building. He could feel a very powerful aura; some were calm, some were aggressive, some were watching, and this made Evans' palms sweaty.
A punch in the side of his stomach made him frown as he shifted to Ophelia.
"Thinking is better than panicking," she said as she crossed her arms.
"Why didn't I sense that? And… I'm not panicking."
Ophelia smirked lightly. "You might be the Alpha, but I've been in the game more than you, and your heartbeat says otherwise. They can sense you from inside, and if you keep letting fear take over you, they will underestimate you."
Evans let out a faint exhale. "Alright… alright. Let's do this."
"Good boy."
Ophelia stepped out of the car first, followed by Evans.
"Stay close and keep calm," she said under her breath as they approached the building. Evans gave no response; he only walked by her side, and each step they took clicked on the concrete floor.
Darkness swallowed them as they entered. Not for Evans, he could see. He could sense and smell the many presences surrounding them. Figures stood in the shadows, watching and waiting.
"So… he came," a man said, his presence heavy even from a distance.
"Yes. This is your Alpha," Ophelia replied confidently.
Murmurs spread.
Evans could feel it; judgment, doubt, and disbelief all around him.
Ophelia stopped walking, same as Evans.
"They are not here to acknowledge me. Step forward," Ophelia whispered.
Evans obeyed, and as he stepped into the open, he could see them. Young and old, mostly aged. Females and males, dressed differently. Their eyes were gleaming with doubt.
"This is him?"
"He looks like a weakling."
The murmur grew louder.
"Is this a fucking joke?" a young man said as he stepped forward, his eyes scanning Evans. He looked like he was in his late twenties, with a scar on his right cheek. "This weak boy here is our Alpha?"
"Watch your speech, Dante," Ophelia snapped as she stood face to face with him. "This is your Alpha, and you will bow your head before him."
Dante let out a dry laugh and then pointed at Evans. "Everyone, can you hear? This small boy will lead us. This small boy is the one we have been searching for all this time."
"Dante is right. I can't feel any… powerful presence," a woman clad in a brown tight dress declared.
Evans' jaw tightened slightly. He wanted to say something, but he stayed calm.
"The disrespect radiating from you all is foul!" Ophelia said rudely, then turned to Evans. "Introduce yourself."
Evans nodded, then took a few steps forward. "I… I am Evans. Evans Miller. I was told..
"Ohh, he was told. He is not the goddamn Alpha," Dante cut in, his tone laced with irritation.
"I did not ask for this, Dante," Evans said loudly, and the murmur stopped. "I was unaware that I'm one of you guys until Ophelia found me. I know it is hard to accept this truth, but it has been hard on me too. My normal life, which I knew was a lie… so please, don't make it harder."
Dante scoffed and then stepped closer to Evans, his expression menacing. "No one cares about your fucking….
"That is enough, Dante."
A trembling voice commanded, and Dante immediately kept quiet. From the far end of the building, a group of elders came forward.
They were five, but their steps were steady and controlled. They carried a strange gleam in them which intimidated Evans.
The air shifted as they approached him.
"The elders," Ophelia muttered behind Evans.