Alethea
He takes his time before finally answering.
“Just an old friend. We don’t talk much anymore, though.” He shrugs, then offers a reassuring smile. “Anyway, feel at home. I’ll come around later this evening to show you around. Trust me, you’ll love it here.”
“Thanks,” I say, giving him a polite nod before making my way inside.
This is the fresh start I need.
I gently set Declan down on the couch, letting him rest while we settle into the house. It’s exhausting work, unpacking and arranging everything, but once it’s done, I sink onto the couch with a deep sigh. I grab the remote and flip through the channels, but nothing interests me.
Feeling restless, I step out onto the balcony.
The town stretches out before me, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. I watch people moving about, going through their daily routines, and for a fleeting moment, I wish my life could be this simple.
But it never has been.
My father’s mistake cost me years of bullying and neglect. My entire life has been built on lies, and now, according to Selena, my very existence is in danger.
I wonder about Maya and Asher. What’s become of them? But the thought of Asher makes something tighten in my chest, so I shake my head and push it away. Lately, I’ve been doing better-keeping him out of my thoughts-and I’m grateful for that.
I make a mental note to check for job openings tomorrow. On our way here, I saw a sign for a restaurant hiring, and I hope it works out.
Just as I started to relax, a strange feeling washed over me.
Someone is watching me.
My body stiffens, and my eyes dart around the street below. But I don’t see anything out of place.
Still, the unease lingers.
Who could be watching me? And why?
It’s too soon for me to be dealing with this. I wanted a fresh start, not some creep lurking in the shadows.
Shaking off the feeling, I hurry back inside, locking the door behind me. It’s late, and I decide to take a quick shower.
Thankfully, exhaustion takes over, and I finally drift off to sleep.
The next morning, Selena is busy as usual, moving around the house with purpose.
“What’s the plan for Declan?” I ask, knowing she always takes care of him so well that I barely have to worry.
“Don’t worry, Ally. I’ve got him covered,” she reassures me. “You can go job hunting like you said, but you know I don’t approve of it.”
“Oh, please, Mom, don’t start this,” I sigh, rolling my eyes. “I can’t just sit back and let you do everything.”
She lets out a soft chuckle and raises her hands in surrender. “Alright, Ally. Anything to make you happy.”
“Thanks,” I say, flashing her a grateful smile before heading to my room to get ready.
I slip into a pair of fitted pants and a white polka-dot blouse with small puffed sleeves. Twirling in front of the mirror, I give myself an approving nod. The outfit is simple yet classy.
Grabbing my bag, I step out of the house, pausing at the gate to take a deep breath. The town is still new to me, and I take a moment to figure out where to begin.
Selena had offered me the car, but I prefer walking. Besides, I memorized the way to the restaurant yesterday.
The small restaurant comes into view, and I step inside, hoping this will be enough to get me by until something better comes along.
Just then, the door opens, and someone walks in.
He’s tall, well-built, with muscles in all the right places. His piercing gaze locks onto me for a moment, and I feel the intensity of his stare. Something is captivating about him-an effortless confidence that could leave any woman spellbound.
I quickly shake off the thought when I notice the smirk tugging at his lips.
Damn, my sharp senses. Even without a wolf, I can smell him.
A werewolf.
His brows furrow slightly like he’s trying to piece something together. Then, his expression shifts, and a dashing smile spreads across his face as he steps forward.
“Hi, I’m Harvey. And you must be Alethea,” he says smoothly, stretching out his hand for a firm handshake.
I force a polite smile, my instincts immediately telling me that Harvey is the kind of guy who spells trouble-not in a dangerous way, but in a way that could easily leave a woman tangled up in boy trouble.
“Yes, I’m Alethea,” I replied, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you, Harvey.”
“So, let’s get started,” Harvey says as he gestures for me to follow him.
He takes me on a quick tour of the restaurant, showing me every section of the kitchen, storage, and dining area explaining my duties along the way.
He’s my supervisor, meaning I have to report to him, not that I mind. As long as I have a way to earn a decent living, I’ll deal with it.
When we finish the tour, he suddenly tosses an apron toward me. Without thinking, I catch it effortlessly. A smirk tugs at his lips.
“Nice reflexes,” he comments.
I shrug. “Guess I’m just quick.”
His eyes linger on me for a second before he moves on. “You’ll be handling tables five, seven, and nine. Juliet will cover the rest.” He tilts his head toward a young woman standing nearby.
She waves at me with a small smile, and I instantly get the feeling that we’ll get along. She seems friendly.
Before officially starting, I signed some employment documents. There’s no need to come back the next day to start-apparently, they need extra hands immediately.
I get to work, minding my business, and surprisingly, I enjoy it more than I expected. The best part? The tips. I hadn’t expected to earn so much in a small town, especially without prior experience in a restaurant.
As I’m finishing up my last table, a sudden, firm grip on my wrist makes me gasp in shock.
My heart pounds against my ribs as fear grips me. Instinctively, I try to yank my hand away, but the hold remains firm.
“For fuck’s sake,” I snap, looking up at him. “Why are you grabbing me?”
“Shh,” he says, with a low calm voice. “I just want to ask you a few questions.”
I swallow hard, my breath uneven. Something about his tone unsettles me.
I nod stiffly, signaling for him to go on.