The Alpha Behind The Mask-Chapter 55: Hiding Behind A Mask

Alpha Oliver’s POV

​I was about to storm over there when I noticed him. Oscar. My brother.

What the hell was he doing here? 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

And more importantly... why had he taken off his mask in front of her?

​The blonde on my lap was still talking, her fingers trailing along my chest, but I shoved her gently aside without looking at her. My entire focus locked on the scene across the room. As if sensing my stare, Oscar slowly turned his head in my direction. Our eyes met. Recognition flashed instantly.

​Without hesitation, I spoke to him through telepathy.

"Do not cause a scene."

​His eyebrow lifted slightly, amused. Across the room, Aurora turned her head—following Oscar’s line of sight. For a split second, her eyes met mine.

​Damn it.

​Oscar leaned down and said something to her. I couldn’t hear it over the music, but I saw the way her body stiffened. Then he stepped away from her and started walking toward me. The crowd instinctively parted for him. With his mask off, everyone knew who he was: Alpha of the Full Moon Pack and brother to the Alpha King.

​I stood up slowly. The room seemed to grow heavier with every step he took. When he reached my couch, he didn’t say a word; he just looked down at me with that infuriating half-smirk.

​"Brother," he said casually.

"Oscar," I replied coldly. "Follow me."

​I didn’t wait for a response. I turned and walked toward the private corridor that led to the VIP rooms. I could feel him behind me. The music dulled as we entered the soundproof hallway. The moment the door shut behind us, the atmosphere shifted.

​No witnesses. No masks needed.

​I turned to face him. "What are you doing here?" I demanded.

Oscar leaned casually against the wall like we were discussing the weather. "I could ask you the same thing."

"This is my territory," I said flatly. "You don’t show up unannounced."

​His green eyes gleamed. "I wasn’t aware I needed permission."

My jaw tightened. "You revealed yourself to her," I said, lowering my voice. "Why?"

He tilted his head slightly. "She looked confused," he said mockingly. "Called me your name."

​My heart skipped once. "What did you tell her?"

"Nothing she can use," he replied smoothly. "Relax."

I stepped closer. "This is not a game, Oscar."

​His expression hardened slightly. "Really?" he asked, raising a brow. "Then may I know why my brother—the Alpha King—is in disguise in a BDSM club? Having a different hair color, colored contacts, and hiding behind a mask... in a club where his assistant works?"

​My fists tightened at my sides. "Lower your voice," I said coldly.

Oscar gave a soft laugh. "There’s no one here but us."

I stepped closer until we were nearly chest to chest. "You will not speak to her ever again," I warned quietly.

​His smile widened. "Ah," he murmured. "So it’s her."

I said nothing. That was answer enough.

Oscar circled me slowly, studying me the way a predator studies weakness.

​"I always wondered what would finally crack you," he continued. "Power? No. Politics? No. But a woman?" He chuckled under his breath. "That I did not expect."

"This does not concern you," I said sharply.

"Oh, but it does," he replied smoothly. "You are my brother whether you accept it or not."

​I felt my control slipping, and I hated it. "Oscar... you came here for a reason," I said. "Say it."

Oscar simply shrugged. "I heard of the popular club here and decided to check it out, but I didn’t expect my brother to be here, disguising himself as someone else..."

​Oscar’s gaze dragged over me slowly, deliberately. Then he stepped closer. Unexpectedly, he reached up and brushed his fingers through my hair. "How did you dye it so smoothly?" he asked casually. "It looks almost natural."

I jerked my head away. "Don’t touch me," I said coldly.

​His eyes flicked to mine, amused. "And the contacts," he added, studying my eyes. "You chose my exact shade of green. I’m honored."

I ignored his tease "Oscar, you need to leave."

​He smiled lazily. "Sorry, brother... I’m not leaving." His gaze drifted toward the door that led back to the club. "In fact, I think I rather like this place. I might become a regular."

My jaw tightened. He was doing this on purpose.

​I stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar, slamming him lightly against the wall. Not enough to injure; just enough to make the message clear. "Stay away from Aurora," I warned seriously. "I am serious."

Oscar looked down at my hand gripping his shirt. Then he chuckled. "Are you afraid she’ll fall for the more charming brother?" he asked lightly.

​Under different circumstances, I would have dismissed it as one of his usual jokes. But right now? I didn’t know if he was joking. And I didn’t care.

My grip tightened. "This is not a competition," I said through clenched teeth.

Oscar scoffed. "Oh, I know," he murmured. "That’s why it’s interesting."

​I glared at him, wanting to take that annoying smirk off his face, but I simply let go of his collar.

"Brother," Oscar said slowly, his eyes narrowing as they studied me. "Have you taken a liking to your assistant?"

His tone was light, almost teasing—but his gaze was sharp. Calculating.

I didn’t answer.

Because the truth was, I didn’t know how to.

Even I couldn’t name what I felt when I looked at her. It wasn’t simple desire. It wasn’t just possession. And that uncertainty irritated me more than his question ever could.

Oscar watched my silence carefully. Then he gave a quiet, knowing scoff.

"That’s what I thought."

​He walked toward the door but paused before opening it. "Relax, brother," he said casually. "I won’t touch your little secretary." He glanced back at me. "Unless she asks."

My eyes darkened instantly. "Oscar."

He raised both hands mockingly. "Kidding."

​But I didn’t know if he was. He opened the door, and the heavy bass from the club flooded back in. Before stepping out, he added softly, "I hope you are able to keep up with this game of yours."

Then he left the room.

​I checked my reflection in the polished black marble of the wall. The dark hair, the green contacts that matched his own natural eyes... it was a perfect mask. I adjusted my mask, ensuring it sat perfectly against my face, and stepped back out into the club.

​The heat and the noise hit me instantly, but my eyes went straight to the bar. Aurora was still there, but she looked like she had seen a ghost. Her face was pale, and her hands were shaking as she wiped down a surface that was already clean.

​I felt a pang of something sharp in my chest. Guilt? No, Alphas don’t feel guilt. It was possessiveness. I had ignored her all night just to control my emotions... I thought ignoring her was the best. But now I realize I was wrong.

​I watched her for a moment, my wolf pacing restlessly under my skin. I had tried to be the "Cold Alpha" at the office to keep my distance, and then I had tried to be the "Indifferent Dom" tonight to keep my secret. Both were failing. Seeing her hands tremble as she cleaned the same spot over and over made me want to burn the whole club down just for upsetting her.

​I walked toward the bar, my eyes fixed on her. As I approached, she looked up, and I saw the anger in her eyes. It wasn’t just fear anymore—it was a glare so cold it could have frozen the sweat on my skin.

"A glass of whisky," I rasped, my voice still masked by the Raymond persona.

​She didn’t say a word. She grabbed a bottle and a glass, her movements jerky and sharp. She slammed the drink down in front of me with a thud that made the liquid splash over the rim. She turned to walk away, but I wasn’t finished.

​I reached out, my gloved hand snatching her wrist before she could retreat. "What’s wrong, little bird?"

She spun around, her eyes flashing with a rage that took me by surprise. She tried to yank her arm back, but I held firm.

​"What’s wrong?" she spat, her voice low with annoyance. "You didn’t call. Not once. All day, I waited. No text, no call, nothing to check if I was doing okay after what happened."

​I tightened my grip, the weight of my secret pressing against my chest. I couldn’t tell her I was close to her all through the day as her boss. I couldn’t tell her that I had been watching her every second from behind my office glass.

​"And then I come here," she continued, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "I see you, and you won’t even look at me. You’re too busy with some blonde submissive on your lap, acting like I’m a stranger. Like last night didn’t happen."

​I looked at her, watching the way her chest heaved with every breath. The jealousy was radiating off her in waves, thick and intoxicating. It was a delicious, intoxicating scent.

I never expected to see this jealous fire in her, and I hated how much I enjoyed it.

​I leaned over the bar, pulling her wrist closer until she was forced to lean toward me. I raised a brow behind my mask, my voice dropping to a low, mocking hum.

"Are you jealous, Aurora?"

​She stiffened, her face turning a deep shade of red. "I am not jealous! I am angry! There’s a difference."

"Is there?" I countered. I let my thumb stroke the soft skin of her inner wrist, right over her racing pulse. "Because you’re looking at me like you want to kill me or kiss me. And I’m starting to think it’s both."

​