Chapter 33: Why Is It Him?

Hayley’s POV:

The tennis open tournament arrived before I could arrange a meeting with Paul. On the day of my first match, everyone had other important commitments, so it was Henry who drove me to the venue. He was in a rush, too. As soon as he dropped me off, he was ready to head back. Before leaving, he couldn’t resist throwing in some snark. “Hayley, if you’re struggling to keep up with your opponent, it’s okay to forfeit early. Don’t let those strong Beta-level players hurt you. After all, you’re just a weak Omega. Your physical abilities can’t compare to theirs.”

I raised an eyebrow, smirking as I asked, “Are you that certain I’m going to lose?”

Henry’s expression was a picture of disbelief, as if to say, “Do you really think you have a chance?” I didn’t bother arguing further and left him with one final remark: “Remember, a bet’s a bet.” With that, I walked into the court without looking back.

My opponent was a professional tennis player, a mid-level Beta ranked in the top 200 globally. After two hours, I easily defeated her 6-2, 6-1, moving on to the next round without breaking much of a sweat. When we shook hands after the match, she stared at me in disbelief and muttered, “Are you really just some unknown Omega?” To that, I could only apologize silently. I’m not an Omega at all; I’m a full-blooded Alpha. On the court, my numerous aces nearly drove her to the point of collapse. Despite masking my true identity, my natural Alpha reflexes and physical strength were far superior.

As I exited the court, a car horn caught my attention. A sleek Audi A8 had pulled up right in front of me. The window rolled down, and there was Thomas, grinning as usual, eager to please. “Alpha, hop in.”

I hadn’t expected Thomas to pick me up, but I opened the door and got in without hesitation. The car sped off. “Alpha, I watched the videos online. You were incredible on the court! If I hadn’t been tied up with business for the Shadow Pack, like you asked, I’d have been there cheering you on in person.”

“How was today’s match?” he asked.

“Pretty easy,” I answered casually. Thomas burst out laughing. “Alpha, you could at least pretend to be humble.”

“Oh, so what’s the real reason you came to find me?” I asked.

Thomas chuckled. “Alpha, let me treat you to a meal first, and then I’ll explain.”

I knew Thomas too well—he wouldn’t have come looking for me unless something important was going on. “Got it. The meal is on you.” With that, he floored the gas pedal, and the car shot down the highway like a rocket.

Thomas took me to an exclusive, members-only restaurant. We selected a private, discreet room. As soon as we sat down, I cut to the chase. “Well, let’s hear it. What’s going on?”

Grinning, Thomas poured me a glass of wine and handed it over. “Hehe, Alpha, you know me too well. You can always tell when I’ve got something on my mind.”

“Enough with the small talk. Spill it!”

“Well, it’s nothing too serious. Remember that last deal? The other side has upped their offer to 50 million dollars, and from the looks of it, we haven’t even hit the ceiling yet.”

I paused mid-sip, frowning slightly. “Do we know who’s behind the offer?”

Thomas nodded and then uttered a name. “It’s Benjamin.”

Suddenly, the wine in my mouth tasted like water. I set my glass down. “Why is it him?”

“Alpha, it seems like Benjamin’s really interested in you. Why not meet with him? Besides, we can’t exactly turn down that kind of money, can we?”

I was about to reject the idea outright, but then I remembered the tennis match. The information Benjamin had provided on my opponent had made the win significantly easier. And I had a school renovation project in Kenona that was going to need a lot of funding. With 50 million dollars, I could make a big difference.

“Fine, I’ll meet him, but on one condition.”

Thomas lit up, excited that I’d agreed. “Alpha, whatever you say. What’s the condition?”

I narrowed my eyes and spoke firmly. “I’ll race him, but it’s one-on-one. No third parties, no spectators.”

Thomas immediately understood and dropped his playful grin, nodding with respect. “Understood, Alpha. I’ll relay the terms to them. If they agree, great; if not, we’ll walk away!”

I nodded, signaling my approval.

After we finished eating and were about to leave, I felt Hera stir restlessly inside me. There was no need to look—I already knew who was nearby. Only one person could provoke such a reaction from her. I quickly told Thomas to get out of there fast. He shifted into his wolf form and darted off like lightning.

After only a few steps, I looked up and locked eyes with Benjamin. His powerful Alpha presence radiated off him, suffocating without even needing words. All the passing werewolves lowered their heads, too afraid to meet his gaze. They bowed respectfully before hurrying away.

But I felt no fear, no reverence, but only a sense of awkwardness. Trying to keep things casual, I forced a greeting. “What a coincidence! You’re here for dinner too?”