Chapter 132: Masks and Truths

Chapter 132: Masks and Truths

Leo

When we finally reached the venue, the red carpet was a total circus. There were so many cosplays of monsters and gods, and the flashes from the paparazzi were blinding, creating a strobe effect against the dark sky.

I quickly pulled my white porcelain mask over my face, grateful for the shield it provided, especially since I wasn’t wearing my glasses but contacts.

As we stepped out, the noise was deafening—and it wasn’t for us but for some of the attendees. The world of F1, they say, is flashy, and it lived up to its name.

Miller and I walked side by side while Rhys and Kayden were behind us. I was so focused on making sure we didn’t get separated that I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking.

I collided with someone almost immediately.

The impact sent me stumbling back, my peacock mantle fluttering like a startled bird, and I got separated from the others I was worried about.

I raised my head and faced who I had hit. "I apologize, I wasn’t looking—" I started, but the words died in my throat.

The person I had run into was dressed as Aphrodite. The outfit was a masterpiece: a dress made of sea-foam silk and pearls. The cosplayer embodied the goddess perfectly.

But as I looked up at the face behind the delicate mask, I froze. The jawline, the height, the hazel eyes, the way they carried themselves—it was unmistakable. It wasn’t a woman, it was a man.

A man I knew

"Alaric?" I gasped, my finger pointing before I could stop myself.

The "Goddess of Beauty" stared back, his eyes widening behind his mask as he realized who I was through my feminine disguise.

"You..." Before I could say anything, he turned and hurriedly walked away.

"Hey, wait!" I shouted, rushing after him and forgetting that I was supposed to stay with the others.

I followed him through the dark hallways that seemed empty, the loud thumping of the party’s bass fading into the background. I was being nosy, but I needed to know.

There was no way Alaric de Viller would ever be at Nico’s party.

They were supposed to be bitter rivals—sworn enemies on the track—but here he was, and I was going to find out why.

I followed him up a narrow set of stairs that led toward the rooftop.

My heart was pounding loudly against my ribs, and it wasn’t just from the climb—it was from the anticipation of what I was about to find.

I pushed through the final door and was hit by the cool night air. I paused for a moment, panting, then turned—and under the moonlight, I saw them.

Nico and Alaric.

I recognized Nico because he had sent me his golden Zeus armor, and also, he wasn’t wearing his mask. He reached out for Alaric’s mask and removed it.

There was no hesitation, no rivalry, and certainly no hate. Before I could even process what I was seeing, Nico leaned in and kissed him.

My eyes widened, and a loud, sharp gasp escaped my lips before I could think to suppress it.

Nico pulled back instantly, his head snapping toward me. "Who’s there?"

Panicked, I spun around to flee, but in my rush, I hit my foot hard against the stone wall. "Agggh," I groaned, the pain shooting up my leg as I doubled over, clutching my foot.

I was still bent over, trying to massage the ache out of my toes when the air behind me suddenly shifted. It felt very heavy.

I heard synchronized footsteps. Then, someone cleared their throat.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, then slowly stood and turned around.

Nico and Alaric were standing right there, looking down at me. Alaric still had that feminine glow from the makeup, but his expression was unreadable. Nico, on the other hand, had a hand on his hip, looking more amused than angry.

"Hi, cous," I managed to squeak out, giving him a weak, guilty wave.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Nico demanded.

"What am I doing here?" I pointed to myself, then back at them. "Shouldn’t the question be directed to you both? You’re supposed to be rivals! How is this possible?"

Nico smiled and took Alaric’s hand, pulling him closer. "Sometimes the best romance happens from rivals, Leo. The heat on the track has to go somewhere when the engines turn off."

I stared at their joined hands, then looked up at Nico. My voice dropped to a whisper. "Does he know?"

Nico blinked, staring at me in total confusion. "Knows what?"

"That you are..." I trailed off, gesturing vaguely at him. I was thinking about the complexity of his identity and whether he knows.

Alaric stepped forward, his sea-foam silk shimmering under the moonlight. "An enigma?" he asked.

I nodded slowly. "Yes. That you are an enigma." I gasped when I finished, then pointed at Alaric. "You..."

"He knows," Nico said, looking at Alaric with an intensity that made me feel like I was intruding on something sacred. "He’s the only one who truly does."

"Wow," I breathed, genuinely surprised. "That’s... amazing—and not amazing because enigmas are supposed to stay hidden, not exist!"

"We found love, Leo," Nico said firmly. "And even though it’s hidden for now, we find a way to make it work. We hide in plain sight, and no, Alaric is not going to go to anyone about me."

I said nothing and just threw my hands up in defeat. "Well, I’m happy for you both," I told them, though there was a hint of sarcasm in my tone.

Nico chuckled and turned to Alaric, his gaze softening. "You should head back down to the party. I’ll join you soon."

Alaric shook his head, looking toward the edge of the roof. "No. I’ve had enough of masks for one night. I’ll just wait for you at your penthouse." He started toward the exit, but as he passed me, he stopped.

He leaned in, his hazel eyes scanning me through my feminine makeup and Hera crown. "By the way, Leo... that hockey player seems to like you a lot, and you should probably let him know before he commits murder each time a man is near you."

Before I could even respond, Alaric walked away. The door creaked shut behind him, leaving me alone on the rooftop with my cousin.

"So," I began, trying to start a conversation. "You..."

"Do you like him?" Nico cut me off.

I feigned ignorance, placing a hand on my chest. "Like who?"

"The hockey green-eyes guy. Don’t pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about, Leo."

I cleared my throat, scratching the back of my head without looking at him.

"Or are you afraid to tell him what you truly are, Leo?"

My eyes shot up to meet him, and I grabbed his shoulders—even though he was probably five inches taller than my 5’10.

"No way! We’re supposed to stay hidden, Nico. Just because Alaric accepted you as an enigma doesn’t mean Miller or anyone else will."

"How about your omega friend?"

My eyes widened because I already knew he was talking about Kayden. Nico had always been observant. "I... how do you even know?"

"I could smell a part of you in him. You gave him your blood so he could cosplay as an alpha freely?"

I lowered my head because Nico was right about everything.

The mixture I had given to Kayden when Rhys found out about his identity had my blood mixed in. "I did that because the suppressants were killing him and..."

"Does he know what you’ve done? Does he know you’re an enigma and not a beta? Do your so-called friends know?"

"You know why I can’t tell anyone, why we stay hidden for years, Nico! Enigmas aren’t supposed to exist. We are..." I paused, clenching my fists tightly.

Nico sighed and then grabbed my hands gently. "Leo, I know you are hiding just like every enigma, but letting your trusted friends know is not a crime. Tell them, especially Miller, if you plan on starting a relationship with him."

"He is an Alpha, Nico. Alphas don’t bend to rules. They never do, and enigmas are..."

Nico held a hand up, stopping me. "I heard him. He’s close by," he whispered, leaning in. "I can practically smell the adrenaline and his scent from here. You should tell him, Leo. Tell him how you feel before it’s too late. And more importantly... tell him what you truly are. Don’t spend your life hiding behind a mask like I have to."

"Nico, it’s not that simple. The variables—"

"Forget the variables for once," Nico interrupted. He reached out and tapped me on the shoulder, his expression uncharacteristically serious for a split second before returning to playful. "Enigmas deserve to be happy too. Don’t hold on too long to your mask." He turned to leave. "I better get back to the party."

I heard his footsteps down the stairway, followed by voices—one of which belonged to Miller.

The door opened and he stepped into the moonlight.

"What was that about?" he asked, looking back at the door. "You just left chasing after a goddess. Where is she?" He looked around and sniffed the air. "Sandalwood..." he frowned. " Was Viller here?"

I faced him and shook my head. "No, it was... a family matter. Nothing for you to concern yourself with, Miller."