Chapter 4 His orders

"Look at her." A group of women her age gathered and glanced at Grace with cynical, mocking looks.

They stared at her from head to toe, snorted, laughed at her, and began whispering to each other.

"She really looks sneaky."

"I can't stand the way she pretends to be innocent but is actually deceitful." The glances returned to her with intensity.

Grace realised they were talking about her, but she had no idea what they were accusing her of.

Grace's desire to sink into solitude and return home crumbled instantly when she saw a familiar figure in the distance-Lucas Xanders.

With his tall posture and dominant cold gaze, he stood firmly, commanding the atmosphere around him. Lucas always appeared untouchable; no one dared to approach him.

However, behind his cold exterior, there was a charisma that forced those around him to submit without saying much. Amidst the fading crowd, Lucas stood calmly but still exuded a deadly energy, his gaze straight ahead-directly at Grace.

What did he see?

That gaze made Grace uncomfortable.

For a moment, Grace felt something was off. Lucas had never made an effort to approach her, especially on campus, a public place filled with social hierarchies. Everyone around them seemed to notice the situation, as whispers and judgmental glances began to circulate within seconds.

Grace could hear soft voices that seemed to be whispering, but they were clearly mocking her. They were talking about how someone like her, an omega who was considered lowly, could attract the attention of an alpha like Lucas.

"Look, look over there! That omega is probably just trying to get attention." A woman with cat-like eyes followed her.

"She should know her place and not act like that, especially now that she's part of the Xanders family."

Grace felt an indirect warning.

Her face flushed, her heart pounding from a mix of shame, fear, and pressure. She wanted to run away and get far away, but for some reason, she remained standing there. The sharp stares piercing her from all sides made her feel cornered, as if she were in a dark, narrow corner with no way out.

Without realising it, Lucas had gotten closer.

His steps were slow but steady, pushing through the crowd until he stood directly in front of Grace. His gaze remained as cold as ice, his face expressionless, no smile on his lips. Behind his calm exterior, there was something that made Grace feel increasingly uncomfortable, a strong sense of intimidation.

"Grace," he said in a low but firm voice, calling her name without the slightest hint of emotion. "Get in." Lucas directed her to the Cadillac he was driving.

That invitation, which sounded more like an order than a request, took Grace by surprise. She never imagined Lucas would speak to her in public, let alone in that tone.

The whispers of the people around them grew louder, many of them shocked to witness this highly unusual interaction.

"What?" Grace asked hesitantly, her voice soft and confused. She quickly shook her head. "No, thank you. I can go home by myself."

Lucas stared at her for a moment, his eyes flashing with an expression that was difficult to interpret. However, without giving an answer or explanation, he firmly grabbed Grace's hand and pulled her away from the crowd. Instantly, Grace felt her heartbeat quicken, a feeling of confusion and anxiety enveloping her. However, she had no choice but to follow Lucas's firm and unquestionable steps.

"Have you forgotten that you're not supposed to answer my questions?" He pushed Grace into the car as soon as he opened the door for her.

Inside Lucas' car, which was parked near the campus exit, silence enveloped them. Grace felt increasingly trapped in a situation she couldn't understand. After Lucas started the car, the silence remained, filling Grace's mind with questions that spun around and around. After trying to calm herself, she finally gathered the courage to speak.

"But, Lucas," she called softly, searching for courage in her words.

"I clearly remember that you asked me to be careful with you, including not getting too close to you in public. Then why?" She stopped, unable to continue.

Her voice sounded hesitant and filled with confusion. All this time, Lucas had always treated her with indifference, even sometimes seeming to look down on her.

Lucas looked away from the road ahead, then stared at Grace with a faint smile that was difficult to interpret. However, his gaze remained cold, with a glint that made Grace feel uncomfortable.

"I made the rules, you just have to follow them without asking questions," he replied flatly, without any expression that indicated he cared.

Lucas's answer silenced Grace, her heart feeling increasingly uneasy. Silence enveloped them again, until Lucas finally added, "Get ready tonight. My friends are coming and you make sure they don't get out of control."

Lucas's words echoed in Grace's mind, making her heart beat faster. The request-no, the order-sounded like something she couldn't just refuse. As an omega, she knew that her position did not allow her to refuse a request from an alpha, especially from Lucas, who would one day replace her father as leader.

"Why do I have to do it?" she muttered, her voice trembling with doubt and fear. "They're your friends, you're the one who should take care of them."

Lucas stared at her intently, as if to say that the question didn't need an answer. His dominant, cold gaze was so strong that Grace felt like a leaf being tossed about in a storm. Although his lips were silent, his gaze was enough to tell her that she had no choice but to obey.

The car sped along, taking them to the Xanders' grand mansion, far from the campus atmosphere that had made Grace feel slightly safe earlier. Throughout the journey, Grace tried to calm herself, taking deep breaths to ease the fear in her chest. However, the questions continued to swirl in her mind-why did Lucas force her to come? Why did she have to serve his friends who were clearly of a different class and status?

When they arrived in front of a large house surrounded by a towering iron fence, Grace swallowed her anxiety. With her body feeling heavy, she stepped out of the car, following Lucas, who walked without saying a word. Lucas opened the door for her, staring at her coldly, his gaze seeming to say that she had no choice but to obey.

"You better not make any mistakes, Grace," Lucas said, staring at her coldly as he leaned against the car door frame and then slammed it shut.