Freya's POV
I looked around, attempting to locate the enigmatic man who struck me as somewhat familiar, but his scent had dissipated from the air.
"What are you searching for?" Finley's voice emerged.
I turned my head to look at him. "Nothing. Have you taken care of your business?"
"It's been taken care of."
"Then let's head back now. I'm starting to feel a little uncomfortable." I cast my eyes downward, suppressing the inexplicable emotions inside me.
Soon, after reaching the vicinity of my neighborhood and parting ways with Finley, I walked home alone. Inexplicably, the image of that mysterious man reappeared in my mind once more.
Suddenly, my wolf emitted an alert whine as a scent approached from behind me.
I jerked my head back but found nothing.
I calmed down and resumed my journey.
When I turned a corner, I slipped behind a wall.
In the moonlight, I could discern a figure gradually emerging on the ground behind the wall.
Holding my breath, I seized the opportunity to reach for the other person's neck and attacked vigorously.
The other person adeptly evaded my attack. I continued to gather my strength, and without waiting for a response, I kicked him, squarely in the stomach.
The figure doubled over from my kick.
"You scoundrel! I'll teach you that you picked the wrong person to mess with today!"
I then proceeded to launch another attack at the other person.
"Wait, stop!"
Just as my fist was about to connect, the man suddenly raised his head, bellowing in anger.
Upon seeing the mask on his face, I realized that the man was none other than the one I had danced with at the party.
"Don't you want to know who I am?" the man said with a hoarse voice through the pain, looking inexplicably amusing.
"Sorry, I have no interest in discovering the identity of a creepy stalker who slinks out of a bar and only harasses women but lacks the courage to reveal his true self."
Having said that, I swung my fist, aiming it straight at his face.
Unexpectedly, my hand was caught in his vice-like grip mid-air.
"Freya!"
The man barked, staring intently at me. I noticed his eyes turning amber as a sudden gust of wind swept by, carrying a familiar scent.
How did this man know my name?
Who the hell was he?
My heart raced, and for a moment, I was at a loss for how to respond.
"Let her go!"
Finley's voice snapped me back to reality. I turned my head to see an angry Finley approaching.
"Damn, it's him! I need to get out of here now!" The man in front of me cursed, a flash of panic in his eyes.
In the next moment, my wrists went slack.
"We'll cross paths again, Freya."
The man finished the sentence, then somersaulted and leaped onto the roof of the building across the street, swiftly disappearing into the moonlight.
"Freya, are you okay?" Finley had reached my side by now and asked me with concern.
"I'm fine. Why did you suddenly come over?"
"I was concerned about you coming home alone so late on this dark and desolate road."
"Fortunately, you arrived just in time. Thank you, Finley."
"By the way, I almost forgot to tell you. Remember the buyer who purchased the perfume before? My assistant called to inform me that his flight got delayed due to the weather, so he'll be in town for another day tomorrow."
"So..."
I gazed at Finley with excitement.
"So..." Finley smiled at me and said, "You still have a chance to thank him in person. I've already scheduled a meeting for you tomorrow at three o'clock in the afternoon at Luna Plaza."
"Yay! That's amazing! Thank you, Finley!"
I couldn't help but cheer, feeling the cloud of gloom in my heart dissipate.
The following day, after finishing my work and approaching the appointed time, I packed my belongings and prepared to leave the office.
Suddenly, Bardier called out to me.
"Freya, are you heading out? Why not let me read your fortune for the day? My fortune-telling is quite accurate."
Bardier, for some inexplicable reason, has recently developed a keen interest in tarot cards. When he eagerly asked me to draw a card, I found it difficult to decline. "Okay," I reluctantly agreed.
"Please draw a card!" Bardier said in a friendly manner after meticulously arranging his deck.
I reached out and casually selected a card. As Bardier examined it, his serious expression piqued my curiosity about what my luck might hold for the day.
After scrutinizing the card, Bardier set it down; it turned out to be a demon card.
"It appears my luck isn't favoring me today," I teased nonchalantly.
To my surprise, Bardier shook his head. "No, on the contrary, the Devil card signifies the entanglement of the celestial threads, suggesting that you'll encounter an enigmatic and powerful force connecting you to your destined mate today."
At that moment, I froze.
A destined mate?
Kingsley's face suddenly flashed into my mind, and I quickly regained my composure, offering a faint smile to Bardier. "It seems you might need more practice, Mr. Bardier. I can't have a destined mate, as I rejected one long ago."
"How?" Bardier's eyes widened in astonishment. He scratched his head in bewilderment and lowered it, muttering, "The mysteries of Tarot are so elusive."
Observing Bardier's perplexed demeanor, I couldn't help but smile. "I must be on my way, Mr. Bardier."
As Bardier nonchalantly waved me off, I grabbed my bag and left.
Seated in the cab, my excitement was palpable, even my wolf yearned to meet the mysterious buyer. Unexpectedly, I encountered red traffic lights throughout the journey. Watching time slip away, I couldn't help but think about the tarot card I had drawn before leaving home.
"Please drive faster," I anxiously urged the driver. But soon after, I found myself stuck in another traffic jam, glancing at my watch; it was already 2:50 pm.
My heart grew increasingly agitated.