Fated is overrated

Lola POV

Walking through the door are the identical knuckleheads I haven't seen in 2 years, as I have done everything in my power to vanish from the face of the earth. Or so I thought. The smell of evergreen and cedarwood hits me hard, and I am left astounded as to why they still smell like that to me. I rejected them! But I have no time to dwell on that now.

I wonder if they specifically came here for me, or if this is just a stupid coincidence. I am leaning towards the first, as we are a relatively small firm. And really, what are the odds?

But I have a new identity. How could they have found me? I am on high alert, assessing the situation, as I notice numerous guards are standing outside the doors and about a dozen of them also step into the room.

As if I couldn't already be any more shocked to the core, the twatwaffles are followed in by Damon and his father - the dragon King. Even Liberty and Justice are on edge with this display of power.

These are 4 of the most powerful men in existence. And they didn't come all this way to drink a cup of tea. The only upside is that whatever happens, none of us can shift, as humans are not allowed to know of our existence.

The guards remain by the foursome's side, and it gives me some relief they aren't circling me. I am glancing around subtly for an exit strategy, but considering the number of guards outside the door, the plan I had in mind goes to sh*t just like that. I guess the only way is to ride this out.

My boss and Ricardo are here, so they can't touch me. Not with humans nearby at least.

As my boss welcomes them and had everybody introducing themselves on both sides, he begins to dive into his office presentation and his 'why to choose our firm' pitch.

The piercing gazes from the 4 men are almost drilling a hole into my head. They aren't exactly being subtle, and I can see the confusion etched on my boss and Ricardo's face when they subtly glance my way occasionally. I finally find the courage to face them head on, and my eyes are glowering at Zeke and Zane first, before shifting them towards the dragons.

Confusingly, Damon's father - Drake apparently - carries a pitiful expression. Are their plans with me so sinister even the dragon King grew a conscience or something? Why would he? I attacked his son. In his eyes at least, as I presume neither of the men relayed what they had done to me to warrant the attack.

And that, in fact, I showed him the mercy he wasn't going to show me. If there weren't any humans present, I would definitely have bared my fangs and snarled at them all.

I left, just like the dipsh*ts wanted me to, so leave me be! But of course it's an ego thing now. 3 princes getting their *ss kicked by a "filthy rogue", so now they have to avenge themselves.

When my boss and Ricardo both aren't looking, I take a quick second to bare my fangs at them anyway. I won't go down without a fight, if I'm going down, they are coming down with me. I'll do whatever it takes, I don't care how dirty I have to fight. Except hurting the innocent humans, of course.

I was wondering who would be the first of the men to speak up, and I don't have to wait long for an answer when Drake asks " Keanu, would it be alright to speak to you and your team members separately? To get a feel of each person's individual knowledge and experience?".

He phrased it as a question, but he might as well not have, as it is clear my boss would almost donate a kidney to reel them in. "Of course! I suggest.." my boss responds, but gets cut off mid-sentence."

Perfect! We would like to begin with the most junior team member" and from the presentation of course, they already know that's me. I am anxious about being alone in the same room as them.

Although they can't exactly abduct me in the human world without consequences, I am still wary of any weird tricks they might have up their sleeves.

Their expressions are inscrutable, which I am sure is just a facade until the humans are gone.

My boss and Ricardo leave the room and I feel my palms getting sweaty, my heart rate picking up, and I am waiting for the shoe to drop. Drake - again - speaks up "you don't have to be afraid of us Lola, we are just here to talk to you".

I tilt my head to the side, giving him a confident glare even though that is not how I'm feeling. Never let the enemy see your weakness. "Afraid? Of whom exactly? Last time I checked, it should be the other way around" I state cockily. I hope they don't see through the bravado.

Drake smiles, but before he can speak up, I continue "I am in no mood to entertain, so state your business. What do you want?". His smile never falters as he replies "goddess, you remind me so much of your mother". Excuse me? Out of all the things I thought he was going to say, this definitely wasn't it.

My mouth drops open in surprise and confusion is written all over my face. I am too confused to speak all of a sudden. "Sorry for dropping a bomb like that" he scratches his neck.

"I have had 2 long years to contemplate what to say to you, but obviously it wasn't enough time to not sound like an *ss". I finally find my voice, but my face is still scrunched up in confusion "how on earth did you know my mother? But regardless - I know you are full of it.

She wasn't my biological mother, and she was nothing like me". My mother was the kindest and most trusting soul alive, whereas I am definitely not.

"Not your adoptive mother honey, your birth mother". I don't know whether to be confused about what's going on, curious to ask questions or angry at what I think he is insinuating. Being my favorite emotion, I choose the latter. I stand up angrily "Look, dragon. I don't know what your game is here, but it's a pretty cruel thing to refer to my birth mother, since the dipsh*ts over there probably told you my parents abandoned me already.

Nobody, not even me, knows who she was. And frankly, I don't care to find out either, as she was just the first of many to ditch me like trash" I am seething mad. "And oh by the way, do not call me honey!!!".

I feel both Liberty and Justice pushing forward with me, pushing out our aura. I have learned in the past 2 years that whenever I am angered, my eyes glow like a raging fire.

I am sure there is fire in them now too. Drake looks taken aback by my reply, but replaces his initial shock with a sad expression. "Honey, that's not true.

You and your mother were abducted. When they found your mother's body they assumed you were dead as well, but that never stopped me from looking for you. I have searched all over the globe. Each dragon lair, each wolf pack we were allowed to go, I even visited the fae Kingdom.

Unfortunately, Red Dagger was not allied to us. Goddess, I could have found you so much sooner if I had known". I'm not really sure what to believe, and which version of events would wound my heart less.

It was one thing to think you have been abandoned, it's a whole other thing if someone actually loved you and died protecting you. I don't know if I would be ready for such heartbreak. I shake off my thoughts and reply "who the hell are you to tell me this now anyway? Why should I trust a word you say? After all, it was your son and his cronies who chased me off, saying they would make me his s*x slave".

I am sounding a lot less confident than I had hoped. There's even a slight crack in my voice I am unable to hide at the thought of my mother. I see all 3 pups visibly paling and Drake giving them all a seething glare.

I guess he didn't tell daddy dearest. Drake shifts his gaze back towards me and drops the next bomb. "Well... I am your father honey".