Chapter 30 – Amber’s Fake Death: Alpha Julian’s Regret

“This is a black tie event,” Anna said. “You are going to need a gown…’

“Yeah…”

“Well, we have to go shopping, then,” Anna said.

“I don’t know. I’m sure I can just throw something together.”

Both Anna and Noah gave me a blank, disapproving look. Anna spoke first.

“You need a new dress, Amber. Something that will really wow Julian -er, everyone.” Anna cleared her throat.

“I don’t need to impress anyone,” I said. “I have nothing to prove.”

“Sure, of course,” Anna said. “But wouldn’t it be fun to do it anyway?”

Noah nodded eagerly, showing his approval. I looked between them both, not wanting to admit my true feelings.

Yeah. It would be kind of fun.

Olivia’s POV

As she waited on hold to speak to Head Healer Eric – well, just Healer Eric now, Olivia was so frustrated she wanted to break something.

How could her perfectly laid plans consistently end in disaster? Maybe her problem was she kept relying on undependable people.

She should have known for sure that Healer Eric was unreliable after his first failure.

After this second one? He was just dead weight now.

Still, in her magnanimousness, Olivia was willing to give him one last chance. He would truly have to prove his loyalty this time though. There was no longer any room for half-hearted attempts.

And this… making her wait on hold…

Unbearable. Unforgiveable.

When he finally picked up, Olivia was fit to kill, she was so mad.

“It’s about time you picked up.”

“Luna,” Healer Eric said. What was with the cold tones? Like he hadn’t been itching to help her before. “You have failed me, but I have one last plan.

Healer Amanda begin Amber made things more complicated in a lot of ways, but at the same time, they also made things simpler. Instead of two targets for Olivia to take care of, they combined into one.

The only problem was Healer Amanda’s celebrity. Any action against her would catch the attention of the media and the guard.

She’d have to be careful not to let herself be implicated.

But that was where Healer Eric came in. Her fall guy.

He just didn’t know it yet.

“I will allow you to serve your Luna once more,” Olivia said.

“No,” Healer Eric said simply.

Olivia nearly dropped the phone. “No?!”

“Healer Amanda reminded me of what it means to be a Healer,” Healer Eric said. “This was something I had forgotten. It is only through her forgiveness and gratitude that I was able to stay with the pack. I will not turn from her again.”

“Have you forgotten all that she has stolen for you?” Olivia pressed. She couldn’t believe he had turned on her. “Healer Amanda took the fame that should be rightfully yours!”

“Being a Healer isn’t about the fame. It’s about helping people. I won’t make this mistake again.”

Then, he hung up.

He didn’t even say goodbye.

“Hello? Healer Eric?”

The line was dead.

“Bastard!” Olivia shouted as she slammed the phone down. Who the hell did he think he was, talking to her like that?

One slam didn’t feel like enough, so she lifted the phone up and slammed it down several more times.

Once she was satisfied, she shoved the phone entirely off the desk.

Good help was so hard to find.

But she wouldn’t let this setback get in her way. Olivia had worked for too long, she’d done too much to win Julian. She wasn’t going to lose him now just because some low-born harlot came back from the dead.

She was going to keep Julian, no matter what she had to do.

No matter who she had to get out of the way.

I stood in bedroom of the house I was renting, staring in the full length mirror near the foot of the bed. Anna was sitting on it, while Alice ran around, excitedly pointing out spots of the gown I was wearing.

“There’s so much glitter, Mom! You sparkle!”

“Too much, maybe?” I asked, still uncertain about all of this.

Noah and Anna had almost worked as a tag team to keep committed to this event, but as it drew closer and closer, I became more and more unsure.

This kind of thing… an event as fancy as this…

It wasn’t my usual kind of scene. In fact, I typically avoided things like this.

“It’s not too much,” Anna said. “Everyone is going to be dressed extravagantly. You are going to fit right in.”

Looking in the mirror, I swished the large skirt of my dress back and forth, almost like I was ringing a bell.

“I don’t feel like myself,” I said.

“You look like a princess,” Alice said.

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