all I’ve found is more confusion

Lily's thoughts spiraled, the lines between what she wanted and what she needed blurring. She knew she should be fighting this, resisting the overwhelming power Emily seemed to hold over her. But the more she tried to focus, the more the jasmine scent wrapped around her mind, softening the edges of her resolve.

Emily's presence was overwhelming, an irresistible force that made Lily feel small and exposed, like a leaf caught in a storm. Every word Emily spoke resonated with an authority that left no room for doubt or hesitation. The jasmine in the air made Lily's heart flutter uncontrollably, clouding her mind with each breath she took.

But Lily wasn't the type to give in easily, especially not when her instincts screamed at her to run, to escape before she lost herself entirely to this strange, unfamiliar power Emily held over her.

Lily cleared her throat, forcing herself to meet Emily's gaze, though it took every ounce of her willpower not to falter. "Emily, I—I don't know what you think I can tell you, but I don't have the answers you're looking for."

Emily's eyes narrowed slightly, her grip on Lily's wrist tightening just a fraction—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind Lily that escape was impossible. "Don't play coy with me, Lily," Emily's voice was low, almost a whisper, but it cut through the haze in Lily's mind like a blade. "Something happened that day, something that changed both of us. I need to know what it was."

Lily's heart pounded in her chest, the memory of that day flashing through her mind—the panic, the desperation, the way everything had spiraled out of control so quickly. She had acted on impulse, driven by an overwhelming need to change her fate, to avoid the tragic end she knew was coming. But now, faced with Emily's cold, relentless gaze, she realized she had no idea what to say.

"I—I don't know, Emily," Lily stammered, trying to keep her voice steady. "I don't understand it either. One moment everything was normal, and then… everything changed. But I don't know why."

Emily's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—suspicion, maybe, or frustration. "You were the only one there, Lily," she said, her voice even colder now. "You and I were the only ones affected. That can't be a coincidence."

Lily swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising panic. Emily was too close to the truth, but Lily couldn't afford to let her find out what really happened. She had to keep the secret, for both their sakes.

"I swear, Emily," Lily said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to stay calm, "I don't know why it happened. I've been trying to figure it out myself, but I don't have any answers."

For a moment, Emily said nothing, her gaze still fixed on Lily, unreadable and intense. Then, slowly, she released Lily's wrist, stepping back just enough to give her some space, though the air between them still crackled with tension.

"Do you really expect me to believe that?" Emily asked, her voice sharp. "That you, of all people, have no idea why you suddenly became an Alpha? Or why I, a Beta, suddenly turned into an Omega?"

Lily bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. She had hoped, desperately, that Emily wouldn't push this far, that she could somehow keep the truth hidden. But Emily was too sharp, too determined. She was relentless, and Lily was running out of ways to deflect her questions.

"I—I don't know what else to say," Lily whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm just as lost as you are."

Emily's gaze softened, the hard edges of her expression melting away as she looked at Lily, really looked at her, for the first time since they'd met. There was a long, heavy silence between them, the air thick with unspoken words and unacknowledged emotions.

Finally, Emily sighed, running a hand through her hair, her shoulders slumping as the tension drained out of her. "I don't know what to do with you, Lily," she admitted, her voice raw with exhaustion. "I came here looking for answers, but all I've found is more confusion."

Lily looked up at Emily, seeing for the first time the depth of pain in her eyes, the struggle she had been hiding behind her cold, composed exterior. It was like looking into a mirror, seeing her own fears and desperation reflected back at her.

Just as Lily opened her mouth to say something, the door to the room creaked open, and Daniel, her agent, stepped inside. His timing was impeccable, as usual, though today it felt more like a lifeline than an intrusion. He was a Beta, a steady presence who always knew when to intervene, especially when Lily seemed overwhelmed.

"Lily," Daniel said, his voice calm and reassuring, "we should get going. You've had a long day, and I can tell you're getting tired." He gave her a concerned look, noticing the tension in her posture and the stress evident in her eyes. "It's time to head home."

Lily felt a wave of relief wash over her. The intensity of her conversation with Emily had left her on edge, and the thought of escaping to the safety of her home was exactly what she needed. She nodded gratefully at Daniel, his presence easing the anxiety that had been building up inside her.

Emily, however, didn't move. Her eyes remained fixed on Lily, as if searching for something unspoken. "I'm not done here," she said quietly, her tone almost pleading beneath its usual coolness.

Lily hesitated, caught between the need to answer Emily's unspoken questions and the overwhelming urge to leave. She opened her mouth to respond, but Daniel gently placed a hand on her shoulder, a silent but firm reminder that she needed to take care of herself.

Sensing that their conversation was at an impasse, Emily took a step back, her expression unreadable. But before Lily could turn to leave, Emily spoke again, her voice softer this time. "Give me your number, Lily. We need to continue this conversation later, in private."

Lily blinked in surprise, not expecting such a direct request. She glanced at Daniel, who was watching Emily with a careful, neutral expression. His presence grounded her, helping her focus on what she really needed right now—space, time to process everything that had happened.

Still, she couldn't ignore Emily's request. There was something in Emily's eyes, a mix of urgency and vulnerability, that made it impossible for Lily to refuse. Slowly, she pulled out her phone and handed it to Emily. "Alright," she said, her voice steadying as she typed in her number. "We'll talk later."

Emily took the phone, saving the number without saying a word. When she handed it back, their fingers brushed for a brief moment, sending a shiver down Lily's spine. Emily's gaze held hers, intense and unreadable, before she stepped back, letting Lily go.

"Thank you," Emily murmured, the tension in her voice finally breaking as she retreated into her usual composed self.

Lily nodded, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Take care, Emily," she said softly, then turned to Daniel, who was already holding the door open for her, a small but supportive smile on his face.

"Let's get you home," Daniel said gently, leading her out of the room and into the quiet hallway beyond. The moment they stepped outside, Lily felt the weight of the day start to lift off her shoulders. The familiar comfort of Daniel's presence and the promise of returning to her safe space was exactly what she needed to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

As they walked toward the exit, Lily glanced back at the door, where Emily remained inside. There were still so many questions, so much left unresolved, but for now, Lily was content to leave it behind. She knew that she'd have to face Emily again soon, but at least she'd have time to prepare herself, to think about what she wanted to say, and what answers she could—or couldn't—give.

For now, all she needed was the comfort of home, a place where she could finally breathe.