Chapter 33: #THIRTY-THREE

Nicholas’s POV

My heart was pounding so hard in my chest as my body moved instantly. I immediately hid behind the large desk in the room, squeezing myself in so that no part of me would be easily seen.

The door opened softly and then closed, making me hold my breath as footsteps echoed around the room. I managed to peek out a bit to see that the figure was all clad in black but I couldn’t glance up due to my position behind the desk.

He walked around for a while and then stood in front of the portrait, the spot I had stood at minutes ago. If I had hung around for a few more seconds, who knew what would have happened?

How did he get in through the guards? Was he some sort of assassin? A thief?

Should I try to attack? What if he killed me and buried my body where no one would find me? I was only an omega after all.

I remained frozen as I listened closely, my ears catching the sound of the portrait moving and then the combination lock dinging through the room, making me frown. When I heard the safe click open, I stiffened in shock.

Whoever this was obviously knew the safe’s combination. But when I glanced at the figure from his chest down, he didn’t look like Mr Blackthorne at all. I could feel that it wasn’t any of the brothers either and that made me wary because how could anyone just show up and open something that was supposed to be hidden?

The safe opened and the figure’s hand fell to his side with a file in his grip. My blood started to boil just by staring at that file and I felt so compelled to move forward and grab it from him.

It took a lot of self-control not to do that; however, as the figure turned to leave, I heaved out a sigh of relief. Just as his hand touched the doorknob, he suddenly stopped and turned towards the desk.

My heart flew to my throat when his footsteps drew closer and I dearly wished I could just insert myself into this desk instead. What if he tried to kill me for witnessing his theft? Who would hear my cry for help?

How would I even explain the reason I broke into the room?

I was trying to find my stalker but I came to find my mom and then I decided to search the room because I had an intuition that something was there? Who would believe me?

The steps drew closer and my eyes closed tightly in panic as I held my breath.

Shit.

I could literally see his shoes right beside the desk when I opened my eyes and I just knew that I was done. This was my end.

Suddenly, the person turned around and rushed out of the room like he was being chased as the door clicked open and then closed, the key turning till it was tightly shut.

I waited for a few seconds until there was absolute silence before finally crawling out, my breath shaking as I looked around in panic. The portrait was exactly how it was before he left but the safe was now empty.

Worse, no one knew about this except me and whoever that stranger was.

The room smelled of this stranger, and I couldn’t help but notice that the scent was a little too familiar, but I couldn’t place my hands on it.

"Damn being an omega... I don’t even have a great sense of anything. Not memory, not smell, not even sight!" I huffed in annoyance as I glanced around once again before slowly sneaking out of the room.

I looked left and right to be sure the hallways were empty before stepping out and locking the door, keeping the key right where I saw it minutes ago.

I had to inform someone.

But who?

I tried to follow the scent and it but the moment I got to the stairs, it vanished. Like it never existed.

My breathing was harsh as I ran towards the left and then the opposite direction, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. No matter how fast I tried to be, however, there was no sign of a stranger or a break-in.

Surely, he didn’t disappear into thin air... right?

I returned to my room, a million questions in my head. Why was the stranger in the room at the same time I was in there? Why was no one panicking when a total stranger clad in black walked into the mansion?

How did the guards not notice him?

Even as I glanced outside my window at the gate, the guards were totally chill like there was no break-in.

Which brought me to the same conclusion no matter the direction I tried to take it to.

This person probably wasn’t a stranger. He seemed to be from this mansion, except I wasn’t familiar with him. He could be a trusted guard. Or a familiar alpha who frequented the house. I couldn’t narrow it down, though; there were over fifty guards in this mansion.

I picked up the new phone I was supposed to enjoy, staring at the blank screen for a while. Should I call my mom and risk getting more texts from that asshole?

Which totally reminded me that I had to leave this room immediately.

I suddenly froze right in the middle of shoving my clothes into my suitcase. What if this stranger and my stalker were connected? What if it was the same person? What if... that file was something important about me?

Did I just get involved in something bigger than I could handle?

My stomach growled right at that moment and I let out a sigh, snapping my suitcase shut. First, I’ll eat. Then I’ll move places. Then I’ll think about these men.

My gaze fell upon the hoodie Jayden had given me earlier, shoved into my laundry basket— probably by Adrian. I was just about to grab it when my stomach growled again. I left it behind right after and rushed downstairs, needing to eat something or I might freaking pass out.

As soon as I touched the railing at the bottom of the stairs, a soft fabric grazed my palm and I paused, turning to see what it was. My eyes widened when I noticed that it was the exact black clothing that "stranger" had worn earlier.

In his rush, he probably grazed the railing and it ripped this part out of him. This was enough evidence!

I didn’t know why, but I brought it up to my nose and took a huge sniff. My pupil suddenly shrank in horror when something in my head clicked.

There was a reason why he smelled so familiar. Because I had smelled this scent right before I went crazy with Roman and Adrian.

To confirm the little theory that was forming in my stomach, and after ignoring my growling stomach, I rushed back upstairs, almost stumbling into my room as I headed first for the laundry basket.

Just as I thought... The scents were the same!

Jayden’s brother was that stranger from earlier!

"Oh lord..." I muttered in disbelief as I stared at the fabrics in front of me. Despite myself, it was slowly beginning to make sense. The theory that had started to form in my head all seemed to finally piece itself together like a puzzle and it baffled me.

I didn’t even want to believe it because how would I tell Jayden? How would I tell my mom when I was finding it so hard to accept as well?

It was all so messy now...

The brothers. I had to at least tell one of them first because... I was in danger. My enemy was closer than I actually expected.

I held the piece of clothing tightly in my hand as I walked out of my room once again, making my way to the closest room to mine. Adrian.

My heart squeezed in my chest when I noticed he wasn’t home so I continued along, checking every single one of their rooms but I was met with no responses from any of them. They were nowhere to be found. So much for them being my alphas.

God, I needed a job. I felt like a desperate hoe who had nothing else to do but depend on other alphas.

On my way downstairs, I spotted a few maids walking around so I swallowed my introverted self and forced myself to reach out to them.

"Hi..."

The looks both of them gave me made me want to bury myself deep in the ground. Maybe I should have stayed silent. Stupid Nicholas!

"Did you perhaps see any man dressed in black earlier? Did anyone perhaps sneak in or out...?"

"Who are you to ask us dumb questions, fucking whore?" One of them spat while the other held her back and I stiffened in place. "What a slut. Acting like you’re important. They’ll abandon you soon."

What the fuck?