Tess
A few days have passed since Freddy rescued Claudia. I’m happy my best friend is back, but now we are engulfed in a full-scale war with the Safir pack. I’m not allowed to go anywhere outside the mansion on my own after dark, and when I go to work at the Coffee Bean, Claudia, and Lucas always come along as my bodyguards.
A sigh leaves my lips. “You know, I’m not entirely defenseless. I am armed with a freaking pepper spray, and I know how to use it.”
Lucas and Claudia exchange a glance, shrug, and continue following me as I make my way to work. Hedwig, one of my co-workers, isn’t surprised to see my two bodyguards at all. She is a member of the Luan pack, too, and merely rolls her eyes when my friends take a seat by an empty table.
“They are following you every day now, huh?” she asks me in a hushed tone behind the desk.
I whip my head in Claudia’s and Lucas’ direction. Claudia is swiping on her phone while Lucas is looking directly at me with an intense glare.
An irritated blush works its way over my face. I can’t say I like being treated like a child, and I mutter. “Sadly...”
Hedwig laughs while I force a smile when the first customer enters through the door. This is bound to turn into another long and boring day...
As I take the customer’s order, I can’t help but feel like a trapped animal being watched by predators. Claudia and Lucas never leave my side, even when I’m behind the counter, and their presence is suffocating. I know they mean well, but I can’t help feeling like I’m being held captive.
The day continues, and at some point, Lucas and Claudia get bored and leave me alone. I breathe out a sigh of relief as I swipe the counter, humming to myself while the radio plays on low volume in the background.
I’m in my own world, completely in the zone, when I hear the little bell jingle over the door, and a werewolf I don’t recognize enters. He doesn’t look too happy, and I shiver. Call it instinct or whatever you want, I might just be a human, but I know trouble when I see it.
“Does someone named Tess work here?”
I freeze. The werewolf is definitely from the Safir pack, but how does he know my name? And why would he care about someone like me? I’m just a human!
Panic surges through me, and I do the only thing I can think of: I keep repeating Freddy’s name inside of my head. Again and again, but there is no answer. Damn it. Is there a range on his telepathy, or does he actively have to be watching me?!
There is no time to think about that. The werewolf man snaps his eyes to mine, and I shriek. I turn around to run, but before I can do anything, I feel a strong arm wrap around my waist, pulling me back into a muscular chest.
I smell the familiar scent of Lucas and feel his breath on my neck as he whispers, “Easy there, Tess.”
My heart rate steadies somewhat, and I feel his grip tighten around me as if he can sense I’m scared. I turn around to face him, grateful for his presence but also irritated by his constant need to protect me. “What the hell, Lucas? You scared the crap out of me!”
Lucas breathes a laugh, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” his attention travel to the other man, and he growls. “And what are you doing here? State your business!”
The giant of a man standing by the door doesn’t move. He looks like a lumberjack, hard and rigid like marble, as he sneers viciously. His hand clenches the door handle until his knuckles turn white, but not before he casts one final glance at me filled with such malicious intent that I can’t help feeling as if he is warning me that he will be back.
I shudder and cling to Lucas, only noticing what I’m doing when he gives me a curious look. I then withdraw from him, grimacing. “Sorry...just pure instincts. Don’t get any ideas. I’m still in love with Freddy.”
“I know,” he says. “But where is Freddy when you need him?”
I glare up at him, blushing because I rarely get angry, but at this moment, I’m pissed. “He left me with my pack out of respect! Freddy knows I’m confused, which is why he didn’t just kidnap me even though he could.”
He arches an eyebrow and steps away, arms crossed over his grey hoodie as he looks me up and down. “Are you saying that I kidnapped you? Because I’m pretty sure I just asked you to think twice about Freddy,” there is a sliver of a smile on his lips as if he is amused.
“No, that’s not... I’m just saying he isn’t as evil as the whole pack seems to think he is. It’s really frustrating, you know? I miss him, but I have no idea what he is doing or how I’m supposed to contact him.”
Lucas lifts his hand to the back of his neck. “Sort of sucks when your mate’s mind is stuck on someone else...”
“I’m sorry...”
“No, it’s okay,” he chuckles. “But you might want to reject me if you like Freddy, you know?”
I widen my eyes. “What? I thought you said you wanted me to give you a chance.”
“I know, but... it’s been days, and no matter what I say, I can’t make you like me. You’re stuck on Freddy, and I have no clue what to do.”
My heart aches for Lucas. It does. He looks so remorseful it isn’t even funny, and maybe picking him as my mate wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. I liked him once, but the problem is that I want Freddy to be happy. He is all that I ever think about. The guy is living rent-free inside my head. He is a disease. I’m infected by him, and there is no cure.
“Would you hate me if I rejected you?” I whisper.
Lucas shakes his head, smiling faintly before lifting my chin with his gaze kept on mine. “No, but the question is: would you be happy if you didn’t?”
Hot tears gather in my eyes. “I’m sorry, but no...I don’t think I would be happy if I accepted you because then Freddy would be sad.”
“And is his happiness more important than mine?”
I nod. “In my eyes, yes...”
“Then there is your answer: you love him.” Lucas takes a deep breath and steps back, his expression pained. “All that is left is for you to realize that too.”
He is right. I know he is, but I guess part of me is scared. Being with someone who isn’t your fated mate is scary, and I wet my lips, bracing myself for what I’m about to do. Here goes, one...two...three—
“Are you open?”
I blink in surprise at the customer, and Lucas snorts with an amused expression. “We can do this later,” he pats my back, showing me a glimpse of his teeth. No matter what, he really is handsome. “Come and see me later, kay?”
Lucas leaves me alone, and I plaster on a customer-friendly smile to keep working. “Welcome to The Coffee Bean. What would you like to order today?”
The day passes by quickly, and I’m exhausted when I come home. I’m too tired to shower and just flop down in my bed, face-first, with a groan.
Suddenly, I hear a loud thump from inside my bathroom. My breathing hitches, and I quickly scramble out of bed. Did someone enter through the window?
To test that theory, I call the name that comes to mind, “Freddy? Is that you?”
No answer.
The thumping sound gets louder. It sounds like someone is walking to the bathroom door, and I open my mouth to shout but fall silent once Freddy stumbles out of it. What is strange is that he doesn’t quite look like himself. He is drenched in a cold sweat, and I freeze when his eyes lift to mine. They are entirely black, while his teeth are elongated.
“Blood...” He mumbles, with black lines appearing on his face. It looks like lightning marks. “I think... I’m addicted to your...blood...”
I take a step back, unsure what to do. “Addicted?”
He gives me a jerky nod and grabs my desk to keep himself standing on his shaky legs. “Had it once...”
“Oh...” I smile and relax a bit. “Do you want more?” I tilt my neck to expose my neck. “I don’t mind.”
“No,” he covers his face with his palms and laughs. It’s an eerie sound. “You should....you should run away from me, Tess...I feel...weird.”
Strangely enough, I’m not scared of Freddy at all. He seems to be fighting his thirst, and I take a seat on my bed, tapping the empty seat beside me. “Come over here.”
“No, bad idea...” he hisses, and then he disappears into one of his portals through the floor. I wait for him to return, but all I hear is his voice inside my head.
‘Ashamed of myself...monster after all. Hybrids not to be trusted.’
I swallow thickly. ‘Is that why you’ve been keeping your distance?’
There is no answer, but this time, his silence says more than words.