Chapter 3 The Shocking Soul Mark

Deja's POV:

The rest of the day went smoothly and peacefully. I was assigned my first job. And it was just to arrange some important files for the upcoming conference meeting. Martha told me because it's my first day, that I could leave early. So as soon as I was done, I packed my things and left.

The day literally went from a hundred to a quick zero. My dreams were shattered without mercy.

Focusing was a hard task knowing two people already hate me at my new job, and one of them happens to be the Alpha man I've loved all my life. The man I saw as my savior from depression. The man I look up to because he's an orphan who still made it in life. The whiplash I got after meeting the real life version of Fay Darrow not only broke my heart but made me sad.

It was totally unexpected to get such a reaction from him. I considered him a sweet soul and he just made the image I've attached to him all these years to crack and crumble in a matter of a few minutes. He wasn't the sweet Alpha everyone knew him to be. He was not a friendly celebrity. His life on camera was totally fake.

He was feeding the world bull-sheet.

It's like he's always wearing a mask to hide his true self. And I'm guessing the people in his team and record label know the real him.

Was that all the celebrity lifestyle is about? Feeding fans lies?

The elevator ride up to our apartment floor felt so long that I couldn't count how many times I've sighed. I couldn't wait to see Paula and Lily. But by this time, Lily would still be at work. Paula works remotely as a copywriter, so she's mostly home. Both my friends are big shots but they refused to move out when they could get their own apartment.

But I know their reason. They wanted me to get on my feet and be stable. Plus we're three peas in a pod. Since our first year in college, we've become inseparable.

Getting to the door, I input the passcode and stepped into our apartment.

"Lily, is that you?" I hear Paula shout from the kitchen. "You're early, why?" She added before I could reply.

"No, it's me." I answered. Pulling off my sneakers by the door and arranging it in the shoe rack in our small foyer. Our kitchen is an open plan which makes the living area look larger.

"Oh Deja baby, you're early." Paula replied and my nose led me to where her voice was sounding from. The aroma of the Chinese fried rice she was cooking wafted into my nostril making my stomach grumble in want and delight.

"Yes. First day benefits." I answered and spotted her behind the stove the moment I entered the living room. "That smells so good." I said to her, walking towards the kitchen, to join her and help her with anything I could.

"I decided to cook one of your favorites to celebrate your first day. I finished my work early, so I got bored and the idea suddenly struck me." She tells me, stirring the rice in the pot continuously so it doesn't burn.

"You're the best, best, best." I said to her and pecked her cheeks, while also reeling in her comforting vanilla cream scent.

"Are you hungry?" She giggled from the attention. "Very, especially when you're cooking one of my favorites." I replied. "Can I help with anything?" I asked her as I moved away from her face to look at the deliciousness she was cooking up.

"No, just relax and tell me about your first day at work. I want to know every fawking detail." As Paula spoke those words, my mood immediately turned sour. Recalling my first ever encounter with Fay Darrow made me want to cry again.

"Oh my, you smell like burnt berries, was it a bad first day? Who made my sweet berry baby sad?" She purred and came to rub my back, making my omega feel safe and calm. Paula had always been like a second mother to me. She always cares for Lily and I, the way a mother would. She was attentive and insightful. I'm so glad I have a fantastic friend like her in my corner.

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you." My voice came out soft because of the effect Paula's scent has on me.

"The manager?" She questioned. I knew she wouldn't be able to think it's Fay. Even I, still find it unbelievable. It's the widely beloved Fay Darrow. Not the version I met today.

Maybe he's bipolar and nobody in the public knows.

"No, not her." I shook my head slowly, "She was really sweet and patient."

"Then who the heck would ruin my Deja's first day at work?" She asked, and I could feel the anger underlying her tone. Paula was hard as she is soft when she needs to be. People never dared to disrespect me in school those days. They knew what Paula was capable of but I'm afraid that this time, there's nothing anyone can do. Not even my Paula, because she'll just be as perplexed as I am with the new discovery.

"It's Fay Darrow." I told her and her hand rubbing my back ceased its motion.

"What?" She asked. "Our Fay Darrow?"

"Yes, Paula. Our Fay Darrow. Our favorite Alpha werewolf singer. Our beloved Fay. Our big daddy. He's the one who ruined my day." I answered her, her face looked shocked as it seemed she was still processing my reply.

"It's a lie." Paula stated, disbelief coating her words.

"It's not a lie, Paula." I said to her,

"Wait, how can he ruin your day?" She queried me. "Does he have a mate? You know like, he is married or seriously dating someone that the public doesn't know about?" She questioned, then quickly checked the rice so it wouldn't burn.

"No. None of that." I answered.

"Then how? I'm confused, Deja." Paula said to me, still attending to the rice.

"The Fay Darrow we know is totally different from the real life version I met today. We have been living a lie, Paula. Everything we know that Fay is, is actually fake. It's all bull-sheet. And I'm heartbroken." I told her and sniffled. Fighting the tears that have wanted to flow out of my eyes since that encounter. When I thought I would be in a contagious happy state after I meet my favorite celebrity, it's the opposite state I'm in.

"No way. Fay Darrow has been fake?" Paula asked, astonished by my words and the sincerity that laced them. She knows I don't tell lies and if I had done that, her wolf nose would sniff out my lies. She has that ability to discern.

"Yes." I nodded and told her in perfect detail what transpired between me and Fay Darrow earlier today. And as I kept talking, her scent changed and took an expired vanilla cream note than her mild and sweet regular one.

She must be really disappointed and mad as I am.

"He called me a fawking omega in a very disgusting tone like I irritated him, he didn't believe me at all, Paula. The whole interaction was sour and his usual whiskey scent also changed and that's when I knew that he was really displeased with me and obviously disliked me." I finished. I got so emotional while narrating and my tears kept flowing out nonstop. It's unusual of me to cry so much but it's probably because it's about Fat Darrow.

"That's just wild and unbelievable. If this wasn't coming from you, I wouldn't believe it even if the person was telling the absolute truth. Just wow." Paula heaved.

"I know right. It's really strange how he can be the complete opposite of what we know him to be. He was just too rude and arrogant." I commented and Paula nodded.

"Such a whiplash. I can't even fathom how it must have felt to experience such physically. I'll just tell him to finish my broken heart." I chuckled at that, "Lily would be crushed too."Paula added.

"She would." I nodded in agreement.

"You know what, let's just eat. Food is a good comforter. No more Fay Darrow talk. It's breaking my poor heart." She suggested. "Do you wanna shower before or after?" She questioned.

"Food please." I groaned, exhausted from the emotional whiplash I experienced today. Moving back to the living area so I can sit down, I unbuttoned my denim jacket and pulled it off, throwing it somewhere on the sofas. My top half body was left in a tiny strappy white cami tank top I wore beneath the jacket.

"Ah!" I breathed, "Today was terrible." I stretched my arms over my head with a loud groan emitting from me.

A clatter sound coming from the kitchen made me quickly turn around to face Paula, she gasped with widened eyes looking at me.

"Paula, what's wrong?" I queried, rushing to where she was standing, almost frozen on her spot.

"Deja," She said in an almost whispery tone that got me worried, wondering would could have gone wrong in a matter of seconds.

"Yes, Paula. Talk to me." I beseeched, getting more worried at her silence and shock expression. I watch her eyes dart to my chest and her index finger pointing at my chest as well. It was then she stuttered, "Your chest, Deja."

I looked down at my chest and screamed out, a wave of shock washed through me.

"Holy fawking sheet. What is this?" I exclaimed, looking at the flower tattoo that was on the top of my left breast up to my shoulders and still seemed like it went down my back.

"Your soul mark, Deja." Paula answered. Solving the mystery immediately.