Fate's Dark Side Chapter 892

"I'm sure Tamia, Avery, and Linda will relish the thrill," Uncle Marcel chimed in, and they all shared a laugh. It seemed like this had become a favourite pastime for them.

After finishing our meal and discussing various topics, the time came for us to prepare and depart. We spent more time with our cousins and friends, but eventually, it was time to go.

Miles assured us not to worry and promised that they would find a way to join us before the four months were up. I had a hunch that our parents wanted us to settle in first before allowing the others to follow. The sooner we got everything in order, the smoother the journey ahead.

As we boarded the van, Josephine willingly sat beside me, bubbling with excitement.

"I can't believe it's finally happening!" she exclaimed, and I nodded in agreement. My mind, however, couldn't help but dwell on Oliver's warning. Josephine was now joining us on this adventure to save Sophia, the very girl I had professed my love for. I hoped that as we spent more time together, a genuine connection would form between us, and any sparks that may fly would do so naturally. The last thing I wanted was to hurt Josephine in any way.

Upon our arrival at Grizlo, the Delta and Gamma warmly received us, showing great respect towards Justin, despite their seniority. They extended the same courtesy to the rest of us. I was certain they already knew we were there to take over their positions. Instead of heading straight to our grandparent's house, we were led to the packhouse, which would serve as our accommodation. Alpha Thompson and Beta Mike, being mated, lived elsewhere while we, still single, would find the packhouse suitable.

We each settled into our assigned rooms, but I attempted to persuade Charlotte and Josephine to stay on the beta's floor. Secretly, I wanted Josephine to be on my floor, but I didn't want to raise any suspicions, so I included Charlotte in the request as well.

"I don't know, Li," Charlotte responded uncertainly, and my attention turned to Josephine.

"How about you? Do you mind?" I inquired, hoping she would choose to stay on my floor.

"I was actually planning to stay on Noah's floor," Josephine replied, and my heart sank. I had hoped she would want to stay closer to me. I knew it was unwise, but I longed for more time with her without the watchful eyes of others.

As we continued chatting, Oliver approached us, confessing that he couldn't help but overhear our conversation. He proposed a solution, stating, "You can't have all the smart ones on your floor, Li. Josephine can stay on your floor while Charlotte can bunk with me." His suggestion brought me immense relief, knowing that Oliver was indeed coming to my aid and managing to manoeuvre the situation in my favour.

"Sebastien and Noah are paired up, Marvin is a loner, leaving Liam and me as the odd ones out. Well, at least until Elaine joins us," Oliver added playfully, winking at Josephine.

"Then Josephine should stay on your floor instead," Charlotte quickly interjected, and in that moment, Oliver realised he had unintentionally undermined his own effort. Saying no to Charlotte might offend Josephine and send the wrong message that he didn't want her on his floor. The situation suddenly became more delicate than he had anticipated.

"Well, we barely speak, and Josephine has been good friends with Li. She will be more comfortable on Li's floor," Oliver quickly asserted. I looked at Josephine, hoping she would consider his suggestion. She gazed back at me, seemingly waiting for an invitation.

"I'd love to have you in the beta's wing, Joe. I'm sure we'll have a blast," I said, trying to sound as inviting as possible, but Charlotte couldn't resist making teasing noises, insinuating all sorts of things.

"Stop it, Charlotte. Must you read into everything?" Oliver scolded her, but my focus was on Josephine, and I couldn't care less about the argument brewing between them.

"I think I'll stay on Li's wing," Josephine finally decided, and suddenly, I could feel Alex howling in my head. I knew my wolf had momentarily flashed, and the way Josephine furrowed her brow suggested she had noticed it too. I needed to find a way to gain control over Alex quickly; otherwise, we might get exposed soon.

"It looks like that settles it, but I'm not hanging out with you, Oliver. I'm staying in the Alpha's wing with my favourite cousin," Charlotte declared, clearly upset with Oliver. I wasn't sure what had transpired between them, but he must have said something that deeply offended her.

I picked up Josephine's bag and chose a room next to mine for her. As I helped her settle in, I felt a reluctance to leave her side, but eventually, I had to step out of the room.

This marked a new phase in our lives. No schools, tutors, or parents; it was just us now. I hoped we could make our parents proud with what we were about to undertake.

Hurriedly, I went to my own room to freshen up and settle in. As I glanced at my phone, a habit I had developed since the last time I spoke to Sophia through Charlotte's phone, I noticed there were no missed calls or texts from her. The worry inside me was genuine, but now that we were actively investigating the situation, I held onto hope that we would make progress and find both her and her mother safe and sound.