Layne Ember is the next epitome of an empowered woman. Meet the woman of beauty and intelligence, heir of the Moon Lyre Corp, and trainer of the wolves.
Trainor of wolves? Those were the words that caught Jayden's attention. He placed down his tablet. He was reading a news article about Ember.
'She's really not the Layne Ember I know. Yeah, she's not that Omega I'm searching for. She's too far from her. Yeah, she's not her!' Jayden thought to himself.
It's been years since he stopped attending the selection night. Jayden vowed to himself he'd never join that again since that day when Ember was lost. The rumor he heard was Ember and Livy had a fight that day. Some said that Ember ran away, went home to the farm, and decided to leave the pack for good. But what puzzles him is the drops of blood that he saw at the place where Livy and Ember fought. Yeah, until now that bothers him.
Jayden remembers how crazy he has been searching for Ember, but then the more frustrated he was when he got to the farm and found out that even Mater Cora was no longer there. From then on he believed that perhaps the rumors were true, that Ember had left the pack for good.
'But damn...of all the people, why does she have the same exact name as the Omega Layne Ember? She's bothering me a lot because of that. It's like her name itself was haunting me!" Jayden sighed as he thought of it.
Then, he picked up his phone and called his beta, 'I want to know Ms. Ember's home address, office, daily schedule, everything,' he instructed.
The beta laughed on the other line, 'What is it, are you now turning into a stalker, Alpha?'
'Just shut up!' Jayden chuckled.
---
Meanwhile, with its sweeping staircase, lofty ceilings, and elaborate decorations, the mansion's great entryway exuded grandeur and elegance befitting royalty. Ember walked down on it with her button-down short satin sexy sleepwear.
'I'll have breakfast in the garden' she told the maid, and she went straight to her favorite spot of the mansion, which is the garden.
Ember sat on the patio set, raised her head, and closed her eyes allowing the sun to kiss her skin. She always does this before she starts her day. Later on, her maid came, placing a tea set on the table. Ember opened her eyes to thank her maid, but then there was something odd she felt around.
'Is the gate locked?' Ember asked the maid.
The maid confirmed it was since she had just gone to the guard house to bring a coffee.
'Maybe it's nothing' Ember whispered, and ignored the feeling that she was being watched.
Meanwhile, in the distance was Jayden on a telescope. His beta was well in researching, he had given her Ember's resident address. Ember was known to be a very private person. She only shares selective information with the media, but here he is, he was able to know even her detailed schedule, even this daily routine of hers. Jayden couldn't help but smile while he watched at Ember.
There she was enjoying the morning sunlight as if she were its goddess. She was a perfect beauty in the middle of that flowery meadow. Her fair skin radiates to the kisses of the sun and that makes him wonder how those feel under his touch.
Jayden shook his head, 'I shouldn't be thinking of this! I'm here to know if this Ember had something to do with the Omega Ember I'm searching for,' he scolded himself.
Then, Jayden turned again to watch Ember through a telescope but he was a bit disappointed to see that he was no longer there in the garden chair.
'enjoying the view?'
Jayden almost shouted in shock when he heard Ember's voice from behind.
'Damn! She's that close to that...skimpy sleepwear! Jayden thought to himself when he turned to face Ember. His eyes trailed on every corner of her body. A while ago, he was just watching her from afar, and here she is now, so near, and so...tempting. Jayden reminded his wolf to behave so he could focus.
'Why are you here in my property, Mr...Luca?' Ember asked.
'Mr. Luca? Why sound so formal?' Jayden thinks. Somehow deep inside of him, he's longing for her to call him in his first name -- Jayden. He remembers how his name sounds so sweet whenever Ember says it. He likes the sound of his name being uttered by her lips.
'Stop it, Jayden! She's not Ember! She's just in the same name as hers!' he reminded himself.
'Mr.Luca?' Ember again called his attention.
'Uh,' Jayden smiled, a warm friendly smile, 'I was actually curious about you,' he said.
Ember's eyebrows raised, 'About me?'
Jayden began to stuttered, 'Ah, no...yes! yes...I heard you are training shifting wolves so I got curious about your ability to do so,' Jayden, this time, wanted to congratulate himself for quickly weaving an alibi, but he quickly regretted his words when he saw the expression on Ember's face.
'So, are you doubting my ability?' Ember asked. Her tone was ready for an argument.
Jayden chuckled, 'not that, I was just hesitant because I can see that you're not a wolf,' he replied.
Hearing that, the more that Ember flared up, ' So, you're underestimating me?' she growled.
Damn! Jayden can't you have nice words to say? He whispered to himself. Here he was wanting to win friendship with this woman, but then all he was saying was putting him in conflict with her!
'Wait! Look, I'm here to offer you actually a training session with my pack! Okay?' Jayden said.
Hearing that, Ember lowered her fist which was ready to strike a sorcery against Jayden. She really decided to show him what she could do. Well, training Jayden's pack is a good opportunity to annoy Livy, besides when she does it, she'll have access to information about his pack. The easier for her to execute her revenge plan.
'Okay,' Ember lowered her fist.
'When and where,' she asked.
---
The next day
The Crystal Blood Pack, is a pack in close alliance to the Nightshade pack, Ember's previous pack. Stepping into the Crystal Blood Pack's territory brought her so many memories. Ember remembers how this pack was the VIP during selection night, that's why Jayden was always there during that event. Their close alliance allows Jayden to go in and out of the Nightshade pack territory. While the Nightshade pack is led by Livy's dad, Alpha Browel. Ember wondered if until now, the lives of Omegas in Nightshade pack are still the same.
'Well, what will you expect for a passive alpha and his brat daughter!' She thinks.
'This way, Miss,' one of Jayden's beta led her way.
'Uh, wait, isn't I supposed to be in the training camp?' Ember asked when she noticed that she was being guided in a different way.
'Uh, sorry Miss but Alpha Jayden said he'll meet you first before the training session,' the beta replied.
Before Ember could protest, she already found herself at the garden pool, and there she saw Jayden emerging from the water dripping wet and half naked. His toned abs were screaming. He's looking sexy and fresh while wiping himself with that white towel.
'Sorry, I had to see you here. My schedule is tight today. Have you eaten yet?' Jayden asked him.
Eaten? Uh! Ember's eyes were slightly glued to his body.
Sh***! Why do I have something different in mind with that question of his? She thinks.
'Uh, Yeah, of course! I have! No need! Let's start the training I'm busy too,' Ember said, quickly putting up her defenses.
She saw Jayden's eyes pale, he's a bit disappointed maybe.
'Anyway, I asked my beta for you to meet me first because I want to personally accompany you to our training area,' Jayden said.
Ember nodded, 'Oh, I see, thanks!' she replied, still maintaining the civil, formal walls in between them.
'Would you mind to wait a little longer? I'll eat first, or you can eat with me,' Jayden invited her when an Omega came to the pool area handing Jayden's breakfast.
Eat with you? Ember hung for a second, then she smiled, 'No, thanks, I'm okay, here,' she said, sitting in a chair that was a bit away from Jayden.
'Okay,' Jayden nodded, and he started eating.
Skillet and salad? Is he eating that? Ember thinks when she glimpses at what's on Jayden's table. Jayden saw her looking curious.
'You want to taste?' he invited her, again.
Ember shook her head, but deep inside she really wanted to. That's her favorite and she didn't know that Jayden was eating that too, the last time she remembered was he didn't like that food, but since its ingredients were only available on the farm, that's why they're always having salad and skillets for breakfast, and Jayden was in no choice but to eat those whenever he visits the farm.
'So you love that recipe?' Ember asked.
Jayden nodded, chewing, 'Yeah, this is Ember's favorite! I came to love this!' he replied.
Ember's favorite! She felt like she was frozen in her seat hearing Jayden say that. How come he still remembers that?
Jayden noticed the look on her face.
'Uh, not you...It's just that, the special person who used to love this has the same name as yours, Layne Ember,' Jayden said, smiling.
'Then, why are you eating that when it's someone else favorite?' Ember asked.
Jayden smiled bitterly. He placed down his utensils looked straight into Ember's eyes and said, 'Because, in this present, this is the only moment I can be with her,' he said.
The expression on Ember's face softened. It was like she was drawn by the sadness in Jayden's eyes. It was like her heart was pinched, and deep inside she wanted to believe that somehow he was true to his words, but she had been hurt before. She had been betrayed before and she was too doubtful that she could no longer trust.
It was like this before, Ember! His eyes were so real, but then his heart was lying! Ember reminded herself.
'Well,' the corners of her mouth quirked up, smirking, responding at Jayden without empathy, ' that's so pitiful of you,' she muttered.