DAYS LATER
The office that had briefly belonged to Sebastian stood unnaturally quiet. Sebastian stared at the empty cardboard box beside a bunch of yellow tulips that only just arrived on his desk. He haven't even started his legacy yet, but today, he have decided to step down as the CEO of the family's company. It was a hard decision to make. A decision that was not made overnight. Actually, from the time that he was promoted as the CEO, he had doubts if he deserves it at all, and if he's ready for it.
With a whole heart, Sebastian liked the long nights in the office.
The hostile negotiations and boardroom wars. Sitting at the head of the meeting table with all ears turned up for him. It felt like he was born to do it. Nevertheless, no matter how much he thirst for the crown and the power that it holds in the company, he humbly stepped down. Their father wouldn't be much disappointed anyway. For the short time that he represented the company, Stanley had nothing to say other than how differently Scott would handle things, how Scott's charms the investors, how gifted Scott's strategies were, how Scott had known what to do when things are difficult.
Always Scott.
The perfect son. The heir Stanley truly wanted. As soon as Sebastian handed his resignation, Stanley immediately called Scott just as how he expected. The son who had finally given up Diana, and found a new Luna. He hadn't even asked Sebastian why he's resigning. Soon, Scott returned to the company, along with the 70%, no... 67% of his shares. The stocks immediately boosted. Investors crawled back. New offers came in. It was something Sebastian wanted for himself one day too. But then, he packs his stuff in a box, ending a regime that hasn't begun.
A lot of things aligned in a day.
With open arms, Stanley, even on a wheelchair, welcomed his highly favored son at the lobby. He prepared the grandest welcome there is. The moment Scott entered the office, the life in everyone's eyes returned. The tension in the employees' faces melted away. He was truly the king reclaiming his throne.
Sebastian walked out of the office room and met Scott in the hallway. Their eyes met, but no words escaped their tight lips. Perhaps, there was nothing left to say. They walked past each other, eyes narrowing. Sebastian then proceeded to the elevator. Just in time, the elevator chimes and a man stands in there, meeting him. "Brooke", Sebastian called, freezing Scott in the hallway.
"What's taking you so long, Devlin?", Roman's nagged in his low husky voice.
"I told you we'll just meet at Diana's. Let's go", Sebastian said, entering the lift. They both stood inside, watching Scott's back, standing in the hallway, not moving an inch until the door closes.
Who was in that elevator didn't mattered to Scott as he set off.
The CEO wasted no time after that. The boardroom erupted with activities. After the presentation, Scott, who sits at the head of the table, began to make orders. Bold moves that shook and impressed the executives. Settled international deals Sebastian had second thoughts with. Approved on the massive productions on all tested weapons. Backed up the researches for unique innovations. He man handled a weeks work in a day. But then, in between those busy meetings, client calls, and signing papers, the thought of Sebastian leaving with Roman paces him out.
Meanwhile, Stanley who sits in the corner of the boardroom, smiles. This was what he was expecting of Sebastian. Radical. Decisive. Alpha. In the silent spot where he sees Scott clearly, pride swells inside him, until a tremor disturbed his calm hands followed by a twitch in one of his legs. The sickness that he knew would return clawed through his body harder than before. He held his arm with his other hand, trying to conceal it until the meeting ended.
The room slowly emptied.
The folders were collected, and the glasses of water were gathered. With only Reina, Damon and Scott left in the room, Stanley thought it was time for him to be heard. "Now that everything is starting to go back to how they are used to be, I want to be clear with my plans ahead", his voice lowered, his children staring at him. Reina already knew where this is going. Damon swivels his chair left to right, itching to leave before the old man even started talking. And Scott? He who is not interested to listen, decides to walk out the door. "When Diana returns, we will proceed with the rejection ceremony. And you will marry that girl that you've been fooling around with", those words stilled Scott. He turned around and meet Stanley's cold eyes. "I will keep her alive", a smile stretched across his face. "...for my medication. So I can have more time with my wife and my children".
Scott nodded once.
There were no frowns of neither anger nor rejection. He was too calm. Damon and Reina couldn't believe it either. A part of them expected and waited for something in Scott to flip out. "Sounds like a plan", he said briefly that have surprised everyone in that room. Stanley leaned back. His face was flooded with intense signs of relief. "Arrange a dinner tonight, Reina. I want the entire Devlin household present.".
Reina flinched. "What for?", she asks.
"I want you all to meet my new Luna", Scott calmly says, before stepping out of the room.
LATER THAT DAY
Scott washes his face with cold water in the lavatory. The quiet restroom was all to himself as he stares at his own reflection in the mirror, trying to recognize himself. He gripped the marble sink, letting the cold water run from the faucet. The chill would have helped and the sound of the running water should've empty his head. But it didn't. Droplets of water slid down his jaw as he slowly lifted his head. The man starting back at him looked familiar, but not entirely.
He is heir that everyone expects him to be. Then, he became the brother who reclaimed the throne. All of a sudden, he turned into the Alpha who is bound to reject his Luna over a new one. Next, he's the son of a sick father who spoke freely of Diana as if she was some object. Scott wondered when exactly he had become that man. The one who endures. Every thought pressed against his skull, throbbing behind his eyes that no analgesia can kill. It was exactly how he expected things to be but, standing in the middle of it all... its weight is unexpectedly heavy to bear.
"You look terrible", Ofir's voice drifted beside his ear. His reflection suddenly appeared, perched casually over his shoulder as always. Scott ignored him, pulling paper towels to wipe his hands and face. "Do you still know where you're going?", he continued, but silence answered back. "I'm worried you might be getting too fast, and worse, you might get too carried away. I like happy people here in this stone jungle, but, nothing is more fun in the torture its causing you", Scott still didn't gave him in an answer. "Remember to leave your footprints, so you'll know your way back", he says, as Scott turns off the tap.
Scott returns from the restroom, pressing the bridge of his nose. It's past six in the evening, and most employees had already gone home. Every desks there is have started emptying out. The usual buzz of phones and clacks of keyboards have died. Monitors darken one after the other. And what's only left was the distant hum of the airconditioning.
The floor was quiet, and the city beyond the windows glowed with evening lights. Drawing near his office, Scott saw his assistant waiting outside his door, with a tablet clutched against his chest. Scott frowned at the nervous assistant. Jim turned to him with a sigh of relief. "Sir Scott, there's someone here who wants to see you", Jim uttered with a serious tone.
Scott glanced at the clock, not expecting for anymore exhausting meetings. "For christ's sake, Jim.", he grunted. "Can't it wait til tomorrow?".
Jim swallowed, hard. "You might not want to skip this", he opened the door wide, revealing the visitor.
A gust of wind swept through the room as the temperature drop. There, right in the middle of the black leather couch Alva sitting casually as if she owns the place. "Do I need an appointment?", she wears a white poplin button-down and black straight-leg cut trousers and, crosses her legs revealing her pointed toe pumps, shiny in red.
Scott enters the room with deepened irritation. "Leave us", Scott's eyes never left the woman who carried wilderness with her. Jim left wisely without another word, as he pull the door shut. "Look who's alive".
"Hmm..", Tamara looked around unamused. "Looks like you still have that elf sticking around", she rolled up her sleeves showing the burn on her hands up to her arms.
A shadow unfolded from Scott's shoulder. The lythari elf emerged with its dark button eyes narrowing. "You're lucky that's all you got", Ofir answered. He lifts one finger up and flicks a pulse of magic towards the Nagual.
Alva's eyes narrowed on the tiny creature. Instead of an inflicted pain Ofir had sent, the Nagual didn't move. The lythari magic struck something unseen, then it ricochetted back to him. Ofir's eyes widened. Before he could dodge his own attack, it caught him making his scream rip through the office. He collapsed on Scott's shoulder, clutching on his chest. All Scott can do was glance over his shoulder, with his finger brushing Ofir's cheek. "You okay? What happened?", he asked.
"She.. she cheated!", Ofir just said, groaning.
A realization came in Scott quickly. He remained still, watching Alva with an annoying detached amusement. There's no scent, no heartbeat. Not even an aura. His gaze sharpened seeing through her skin. She was projecting herself inside the office. "I never took you for a coward", he sits right across Alva. "Waltzing around in someone else's skin.. then hiding behind magic? Come on Tamara. You're better than that".
Alva laughed that it echoed strangely around the room. "Careful, Scott. You're beginning to hurt my feelings", she grinned. "Hold your reins. The time will come for our reunite... You just seem too occupied with a new Luna. Diana wouldn't like that, would she?", Alva noticed how Scott's jaw twitched. "The full moon is just around the corner, I'm just here for an important reminder", Alva smirked, her pupils shimmered as it briefly shifted from round to elliptical shape. "Diana may hide all she wants. But when the moon is full, the bond strengthens. Every instinct sharpens. Every trail becomes easier to follow... and your lycan would lead me all the way to my daughter.", her lips curved up. Scott's eyes darkened. As long as his imprint on Diana isn't broken, he is tied to his curse chasing his Luna. She will be never be safe both from the lycan in him, and the Nagual who used her. Alva stands and looks at the lythari elf still recovering on Scott's shoulder. "Oh, and bring your elf along. I'll save it a seat. I'll make sure I will return all the pain you ever gave me, and when I'm finished... you'll beg me to kill you", then she was gone. The cold air vanished with her as the office lights flickered a beat.