Chapter ２０

"I'm scared. I don't know the people there and besides, I'm not Anika Denise, I'm her impostor!" I explained my sides to her but Denise smiled and shook her head.

"No, Ariana, you're still Anika, remember, you are here in the past!" Denise tried to boost my self-esteem.

"I wonder how real Sangria is doing in the past?" Denise added but I can tell that she misses her boss.

I wanted to tell her that she's doing okay in the meantime and we see each other during our sleep with a magical genie giving us our task but I don't know if I can trust Denise. My time is almost up for our tasks. After tonight, I'll start searching for Anika's past lover and finish my first task.

I saw a favorable rosy tube gown laying in my bed. I'll wear this dress tonight for the sake of Anika.

"I'll go! Tell Sebastian to wait for me outside, please!" I'll mumble softly at her.

"Just be yourself and don't let anyone caught you, okay?" She winked at me.

"Challenge accepted!" I told her and she shut the door after that.

I took a quick bath and wear the red gown as my dress for the party tonight. After fitting it into my body, I turned around to check if I look like Anika. I'm glad to know that with the help of a makeover, my hair turned straight with an ebony shade, and her secretary Denise gave me a green contact lens to duplicate Anika's face and grace.

Seeing myself in the mirror-like a princess, I feel contented about myself somehow in this modern world. I don't know what I feel but I wish it would change because this is not normal. I am Ariana Ferrer and I have a husband Arem. I am a married woman in my time and now, I think I started to feel special when Argus lay his eyes on me. The way his lips tease mine, it's like heaven.

"Stop this! Stop Ariana, this is insane! I need to focus on the party tonight! Right, the party!" I said to myself.

As I walked downstairs, I saw Sebastian near the main door. He was waiting for me and the way he stares at me, I feel like he was stunned to see me like this. I blushed.

"Wow, you look fantastic, madam!" It's his first words as he saw me ambling to the main door.

I smiled at him with a little uneasiness to myself. In my whole life, people treated me like a tramp. My family sold me to the King and they didn't even care to visit me. No one ever tried to love me except Arem. I was lost in the wilderness while I was running from my attackers until I feel and found myself in this present time. Now, that I am here, I don't know but I enjoyed her a lot.

I guess I need to stay here longer. I need to slow down the mission. I won't be sleeping tonight.

I smirk as I hop inside the car.

Past Era

Marco supported Anika while she went down from the trap.

"Thank you" she mumbled coldly and let go of her hands from his arms.

Marco just holds his head and sets a wide smile on his face.

"It's okay. So, may I know your name?" He asked her hoping to have a nice answer.

Anika glance at him like she didn't hear him asking her name.

"Oh, my name? I'm Anika Perez and I'm more powerful from the present!" She mumbled carelessly while raising her eyebrows at him.

He furrowed his forehead after he heard the word "present". He doesn't even know what she meant by it.

" I'm Marco and I lived there" he pointed out his mini cave house to where Anika spent her night hiding from her traitor friend Karl.

He had no intention to tell her about his kind. If she learned that she was talking to a beast, she will run away again and that made him scared.

They finally reached his place and he offered him water and bread.

"You're face is not familiar here? Did you run away?" He asked Anika while she was not having any extra noise.

Her icy gaze made him feel uncomfortable. She looks like she was not comfortable in her dress and the way she stares, talks, and moves, she was like royalty.

Anika twitched and made this sudden frown. To be honest, she wanted to tell him what happened why she came here in the first place but after what happened to Karl, she loses her trust in anyone here. This is not her place to play as a Luna because even her werewolf form didn't come out when she called her.

"No, I didn't. It's a long story. Ahm, do you know where to find the King?" She asked him.

It's her way to have a place to stay. She needed connections to find Ariana's husband Arem. She had to risk anything she had to survive in this cruel world.

Marco took a glance at her. She's looking for the King. King Darius is not an ordinary King you needed to meet. He's dangerous and cold-hearted. He kills everyone in his way without mercy. He's worried about his packs who were captured by him. He's praying that they're still alive.

"What is Anika's connection to the King?" He asked himself.

Maybe she's one of his concubines.

"Why? Do you know King Darius? Do you live inside the palace?" His lips quivered while asking her unnecessary questions. He's hoping that she feels okay about it.

He saw her blank facial expression like she was in deep thought. She blinks twice and at last replies at him.

"I want to apply as the lady in waiting" she uttered without even blinking her eyes. Marco could tell that she was consistent with her decision.

He was shocked to know what she was planning. She didn't even answer his questions about where she came from.

"Okay, I'll help you in there but you will help me too!" He made her decide.

Anika wrinkled her forehead like she was confused about what was it.

"Help, what?" She mumbled after taking a bite of bread in her mouth. She's hungry for not eating for three days. She almost forgot how to talk like a CEO. Her mouth is full while she's talking and she didn't mind about it at all.

Marco took a deep breath to explain to her his answer.

"Okay, maybe it's time for you to know my secret. I'm not just a human but I am a shapeshifter! Do you know about werewolves? I'm their Alpha!" He admits his real identity to her.

Anika knows everything that he meant but she sticks to her plan not to tell him that she's also one of their kind.

Her eyes widened like she's not aware of him. She quietly hides from herself that she's happy to know that there's also a werewolf striving at this time. Maybe, he was one of their ancestors if she was in the modern world.

"Really? Wait, you don't eat people, right? What if you're going to eat me tonight?" She asked him and almost terrified.

Marco shook his hands and head.

"No, I'm not a bad wolf! I just need your help to get inside the palace's entrance." He informed her like he already knew the plan.

Anika nods her head and accepts his favor in returning her favor too to help her meet the King.

~~~~~~~~~

Argus POV

Wearing my white tuxedo as my outfit to the party, I feel like I am the genre of attention. It's okay, besides even I wore a simple t-shirt and jeans, they still adore every piece I'm putting in my body.

I'm almost prepared when my phone beep.

"Yes, hello?" I said to the other line. I smile to find his voice so familiar.

"Hey, virgin, where are you now?" August is calling me. He's bragging to me even tonight.

I closed my eyes and grunt.

" I'm now on my way, happy?" I asked him with chuckles.

"Good, because I saw a gorgeous lady here and she kinda looks familiar! Come and hurry to meet her, maybe this is your lucky night!" He teased me again with girls.

I wonder who's that girl he was talking about. I hope she's not as cold as Anika Perez. Why on earth does she keep appearing in my head? She's very hard to befriend and so arrogant.