“That’s because you tip big, which leaves me wondering… Clearly, you have money, so why are you slumming it on this side of the city?”
He doesn’t answer, so for a brief moment, I hope this interaction is over. However, of course, given my luck, it’s far from over because Orion has questions. Of course, he does.
“Did you really mean what you said that people just disappoint you?”
“Look at the city, the world; everything has gone to shit,” I mutter under my breath.
Honestly, at this point, it looks like he has landed on the wrong planet. Might as well say so because he clearly doesn’t fit in this bullshit world, I call my home. Orion fails to see everything wrong with this place, wrong with the people that surround us.
“That wasn’t what I asked, though,” he argues.
“Then yes, I do believe that.” I groan. Maybe now that he has his answer, he will leave me be.
“Why do you believe that?”
“That’s none of your business, and you really shouldn’t listen in on people’s conversations,” I snap at him. Can’t he just back off? I really hate it when people think they have a place in my business.
“You have an attitude, you know that?” he says, stepping closer, making me look up at him.
“And you are in my personal space again,” I tell him, standing up and flicking my smoke in the ashtray.
I am about to walk around him when his hand on my arm stops me, as he pulls me back in front of him. His face is close as he leans in; so close I feel his breath fan my lips, and I suddenly forget how to breathe. I am stunned by his manly good looks.
“Does my closeness bother you, little one?” he asks in his husky voice.
And just like that, I suddenly lose all focus as his lips move closer to mine and I see him smile, while I struggle with getting my brain to function instead of going foggy and blank. He pulls me closer, his hand sending tingles shooting up my arm, making me gasp as his other hand wraps around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest. His breath brushes my face, and I lean in, inhaling his scent. He smells so good it makes my mouth water. I hear him chuckle and feel the sound rumble through his chest.
Suddenly, I hear Lisa’s voice singing out for me, snapping me out of my daze. I step back, confused at my reaction to him, while he stands there with a sly smile. I swear I just saw his eyes darken.
Evelyn
“Excuse me,” I say, as I step around him and run back inside.
What the fuck just came over me? Lisa is frantically trying to take orders, as I quickly step in and rush past her to the kitchen where I see a heap of orders.
When Lisa is finished, she comes back and helps me cook while we keep an eye on the door. Orion just sits in the corner, watching. Always watching. His presence doesn’t bother me as it did the first few days he was here. But these days, he has pretty much become a piece of furniture.
After serving everyone, I grab my tray to clean the tables. I just finish stacking the tray and am about to head out the back when I hear the doorbell chime. Lifting the tray, I turn to see who enters.
Two men enter the cafe, looking around before their eyes fall on me. A loud gasp leaves me, as panic surges through my entire being. My heart rate speeds up until I can hear it pulsating in my ears, and my hands start to tremble. I feel clammy as adrenaline pulses through me, paralyzing me, until I hear Lisa scream and realize I have dropped the tray of plates I was holding as they smash around my feet. The noise makes me flinch as my gaze drops. Lisa rushes out with a towel, and I drop down, scooping the glass up with shaking hands.
“Shit, Evelyn, you, okay?” she asks, but I feel nothing but fear, too scared to answer. “Evelyn, stop. You’re cutting your hands,” she says, making me look at my hands, which are bleeding from the glass cutting my fingers and palm.
I don’t even feel it, but I can hear my breathing coming quickly as I start to hyperventilate. The room and everyone in it are watching with worried eyes as the cafe trembles around me. I realize I am having a panic attack as everything slows down, except for the erratic pumping of my heart.
It is them, the men that killed him in the alleyway. I feel Orion move near me; he takes the tray from my hands. Lisa rushes out the back, but I am frozen in place, paralyzed by fear. I feel Lisa grip my arms, pulling me to my feet and taking me out the back. Orion follows us into the kitchen.
Lisa rummages through my bag as I try to find my grounding place and remember what I need to do to ground myself, yet my mind goes blank. Lisa opens my bloody hand and drops two pills on my palm as she hands me a glass of water. I quickly swallow the pills.
“What are they?” I hear Orion ask her.
“Valium. She has panic attacks sometimes,” Lisa explains.
After a few minutes, my heart rate returns to normal, and my body relaxes. Lisa quickly rushes around the kitchen while I gather my bearings and look down at my hand, which has a tea towel wrapped tightly around it. I peel it off as I approach the sink and force my hand under the stream of water. As soon as the water splashes over the cut, I wince at the sting, but ignore it to the best of my ability. Then, I reach for the first aid kit and wrap my hand.
When I go back out, Orion follows, and my eyes fall on the two men, watching me. I close my eyes, willing myself to hold it together. However, my shock only grows when I open my eyes again and see Orion sitting down at the table with them. I also notice that everyone else is gone.
Lisa comes out behind me. “Where did everyone go?” she asks, placing her hand on my shoulder. I shrug, not able to take my eyes off the three people sitting in the booth. Lisa follows my gaze and then looks back at me. “You okay, Evelyn?” I nod but say nothing. “How about you go home? I can call Miranda and ask if she would come. I know she is looking for work again; the last place she was at shut down. So, go, I will be fine on my own.”
I look at her and I can tell it worries her. I haven’t had a panic attack in ages, so it is a little out of character for me.
“Go. I will be fine,” she says, handing my bag to me.
I nod wordlessly and take off out the door. As I walk home, my mind is stuck in some weird overdrive. I can’t help but wonder if they recognized me, wonder how Orion knows them.
When I get home, I flop on my bed and close my eyes. After a few deep breaths, I open them, just in time to hear a knock on the door. I hesitantly peek out the window and find Orion at the door. I groan as I walk over and unlock the door.
“How do you know where I live?”
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply