Jarek.
As I made my way home under the pouring rain, there remained a constant voice at the back of my head.
A voice that whispered to me about how much of a jerk I was— okay, maybe it wasn't whispering but screaming; But it constantly reminded me of the mess I'd just created.
Of the line I'd just crossed with Leilani.
From the moment I stepped foot into her home, I immediately knew that I was done for. I knew that this was about to be one of the most difficult evenings of my life when her sweet blueberry smell enveloped me like a cloak.
For most of the evening, I had kept to myself, blocking out my feral wolf— and that was no exaggeration.
My wolf was almost feral and if I do not find a cure very soon, I may go rogue before the autumn of next year.
Now, back to what I was saying, I tried to keep as much distance between us while we cooked our dinner, even though the only thing I really wanted for dinner was her.
Throughout the evening, one thing was a steady constant— Her free laughter. She laughed at everything and anything, closing her eyes and tipping her head back whenever I said a joke.
And while she did all this, my nerves coiled tight. I found her addictive and alluring… plus a sprinkle of everything else you could think of.
That kiss… that kiss was a mistake. A rare moment where I'd crossed a line I never intended to. A moment I wished I could take back, not because I regretted it— no, but because I feared for the way she would look at me now.
I feared she would think I was just like everyone else she's ever known whose aims have only been to use her, especially since she's only ever considered me as a 'brother' or a 'saviour'.
My breath came in short gasps as I jogged into the closest shelter I could find in this deserted area— a high end diner with low hanging chandeliers, dim golden lights and shutters that blocked out everything else from the outside world.
My eyes snagged on the petite worker with the name 'Annie' written boldly on her name plaque. She frowned when she saw my dishevelled appearance but when her eyes caught the Patek Philippe on my wrist, the frown smoothened into a very warm smile.
She beamed; "How may I help you, today, Mister? And could you please give me your coat to dry out for you while you use our services?"
I looked down at my coat, then up at her. Begrudgingly, I shrugged off the cloth and handed it to her whilst surveying the place for the most secluded spot I could find.
I needed space.
Space to think. Space to decide what my next move with Leilani would be. Space to think about how I'd compose the apology letter I should send to her tomorrow.
"I need a warm spot please. Somewhere that's not so crowded." I mumbled to the girl who instantly smiled back, and when I turned back to look at her, I suddenly realised that two of her top buttons were now open.
And they had been fastened only seconds ago.
"Oh yeah, this way Sir!" She said, leading the way through the half empty diner to a more quiet area. I shook my head as I walked behind her, not missing the way she swerved her hips a little too forcefully and the way she'd turn to look at me ever so often.
She had just shown me a seat and had just taken my order when a sudden mane of auburn hair bounced in front of me.
And oh, Heavens!
My already sour mood instantly plummeted even more.
"Alpha Frostclaw!" Chalice, Leilani's twin shrieked in amazement when she saw me, and as soon as she screamed that out loud, a few people around turned to look at me. Even the waitress/server, Annie's mouth dropped like she'd just hit a jackpot.
I didn't smile. I didn't bother to feign excitement or familiarity when I turned to Chalice and drawled; "Ms Blackthorne."
She plopped into the chair in front of me, and I hadn't even given her the permission to.
"It's so good to see you here."
'Well I cannot say the same.' I thought to myself but nodded instead. For a very split second, I couldn't help but notice that despite her very shitty attitude and different hair colour, she bore a striking resemblance to the woman that plagued my dreams.
The woman who was the reason I was here in the first place.
Or maybe it was because I was thinking about Leilani at the moment because this woman right here could never look like her.
I sighed. "Well, same here. Is there something you want me to do for you?"
My straightforward question made Chalice blanch. She batted her long eyelashes at me whilst looking up at me with puppy dog eyes, and Jesus, if that is what she uses to seduce those triplet Alphas, then they were probably even way dumber than I usually thought.
There was nothing seductive about that look and she certainly looked like a rogue werefox with it.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes when she slapped her chest so hard and gasped. "What? No… why would you think that?"
"Think what?"
I was in no mood for this nonsense. I just needed to close my eyes and breathe… and try not to think of a certain someone with silver hair and purple eyes.
"Why will you think I only came over to say hi because I have something to ask of you? Do you think I'm always trying to curry favors from you?"
Now, I couldn't help it, I rolled my eyes. "No. But I came here to have a quiet time. So since you're not here to talk about anything, I'd say it's better this conversation comes to and en—"
"I applied for a position at your company recently. The position of a software developer." She rushed out breathlessly, catching me by surprise.
Of course.
I watched her lean over the table whilst twirling her hair within her fingers; Her eyes bore into mine, but like this, I couldn't help but notice how deceptively low her blouse's neckline was… and how she was ensuring that I had a clear view of her bosom.
I frowned. "I didn't know about that."
"Wait, you mean that bit— I mean, Leilani never told you?" She spat.
At her near slip, I coughed exaggeratedly. My wolf was getting extremely agitated and my frown was deepening so bad with each passing second, I was sure creases would soon form on my face.
I shrugged. "That position isn't open. It hasn't been open for two years now, so I wonder who put that out."
Chalice froze. "Y-you mean?"
"That the position you applied for isn't even open." I drawled, appearing to be deep in thought. "Must've been a mistake."
In a split second, tears pooled in her eyes. But before I could even bring myself to console her or send her off, she wiped it off with a tissue—I think she has those on standby— and lifted her gaze once more to meet mine.
"Can we… Can we go someplace else? Somewhere quieter or something?"
I immediately understood what that meant. She wanted to be in my sheets, sharing bodily fluids with me.
Eww, no.
However, I was just about to respond when another voice cut in. It sounded deeper, rougher. It exclaimed;
"Candy?"
Chalice froze.
"Candy, is that you?"
My surprise soon turned into mild curiosity when she flashed me a smile and whispered; "We'll have this discussion some other time."
And with that, she rushed out of the diner while a middle aged man with a rotund belly followed closely after her.