Alisha's POV
"Miss, can I assist you?" he stepped out of the car, extending a black umbrella over my head. I flinched slightly as he approached, my uneasiness apparent. Sensing my discomfort, he promptly halted.
"Don't worry. I too am a werewolf from the Deep Moon pack. I can sense our shared nature. I won't hurt you. Please trust me." He locked his genuine blue eyes with mine.
As I beheld those eyes, familiarity struck me—I had encountered him before! After a heated argument with Archie, I had fled and inadvertently collided with this man. To my surprise, he held no grudges and even offered me a tissue to wipe away my tears!
A sigh of relief escaped me as I recollected the encounter. At least he wasn't a malevolent individual.
As my tension eased, I couldn't suppress a sneeze.
It was an embarrassingly awkward moment. Lowering his head, he asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
Before I could respond, another sneeze erupted, intensifying my embarrassment.
He furrowed his brow and gallantly removed his coat. "If you don't mind, you can wear this."
I cast him a grateful glance, feeling chilled from the rain-soaked clothes. However, as I reached for the coat, he discreetly turned his head away.
Curiosity piqued within me, and I soon realized that my drenched attire had become almost transparent due to the rain! Initially, I had crossed my arms over my chest for warmth, but now, as I reached out, my exposed bosom met the air...
Holy Crap! No wonder he averted his gaze. My face blushed crimson with embarrassment.
Swiftly, I donned his coat and murmured, my cheeks still aflame, "Thank you."
Clearing his throat, he spoke gently, "You can seek shelter in my car to escape the rain. If you need to go anywhere, I can offer you a ride. The weather is treacherous, particularly for a young lady like yourself walking alone."
Grasping his coat tightly, I nodded, revealing Nova's address.
He walked me to the passenger's seat, holding the umbrella, and then returned to the driver's side. Switching on the car's air conditioning, he retrieved a spare towel for me.
"I'll be waiting outside. Give me a call when you're ready." With those words, he stepped out into the pouring rain, holding the umbrella, his back turned toward the car.
Receiving aid from a stranger after enduring a dreadful day filled me with warmth. Swiftly composing myself, I called him to join me in the car.
He returned, starting the engine to drive me to Nova's place.
"Today, I'm truly grateful for your assistance. If you hadn't appeared, I wouldn't have known how to get home."
"You're most welcome. Perhaps I should also express my gratitude to Moon Goodness for arranging our reunion. I'm Louie. May I know your name?"
Before revealing my true identity, a sudden realization struck me—I was wary that, as a fellow werewolf, he might be acquainted with the Golden Crest's Luna. I had no desire for others to uncover my secret, especially considering my intention to leave Archie and relinquish my Luna status. Hence, I responded with an alternate name, "I'm Theresa. It's a pleasure to meet you, Louie."
"Wow, you won't believe this, but my favorite musician on Twitter also goes by the name Theresa! Which pack do you belong to?"
His surprising response left me stunned, and I feigned astonishment, replying, "Oh, really? What an extraordinary coincidence! However, I am merely an ordinary she-werewolf from the Black Furies."
"Indeed! It's a marvelous coincidence!" Louie beamed, his smile radiant. "You should follow her and listen to her incredible works. They are truly beautiful and awe-inspiring."
Feeling bashful, I responded, "You have such admiration for her music. I'm sure she would be thrilled to know of your appreciation." I never expected that I could meet my fan in reality.
"I hope to have the opportunity to see her perform live and hear her sing in person. Perhaps you'd like to accompany me?" Louie turned his head, his words expressing a genuine fondness for my songs.
My guilt weighed heavily, and I bit my lip as I answered, "Well, maybe." I was intrigued to see how Louie would react if he discovered I was the real "Theresa."
When he dropped me off at home, prior to exiting the car, we exchanged phone numbers. I assured him that I would return his coat after laundering it.
"You still need the coat for now, so take your time. Have a relaxing hot shower. If you feel unwell, take necessary medication or consult a doctor promptly. If you require any assistance, don't hesitate to reach out." Louie's voice carried a gentle concern.
Once again, I expressed my gratitude and hurriedly made my way into Nova's house, clutching his umbrella and coat.
The first thing I did upon arriving home was blacklisting Archie.
Go to hell, you despicable Archie!
Archie's POV
When I arrived home, Mireya approached me with a warm welcome. A frown etched itself on my face as I inquired, "Where is Alisha?" Whenever Alisha was home, no matter how late I returned, she would always greet me with a hug and prepare snacks for me. Had she already fallen asleep today?
"Luna? She hasn't returned," Mireya replied, her surprise evident.
"What?" Confusion washed over me. Shortly after Brad and Alisha had departed from the Black Furies, Alisha had chosen to leave the car in a fit of anger. Considering that the Black Furies was closer to our home than her friend's house, I had assumed she would obediently return. After all, it was unlikely she would walk all the way to her friend's house on her feet. I had only intended to teach her a lesson instead of tormenting her, but now I wondered where she could be.
"Alpha, will Luna come back today? It's raining now, and she might be crying as she did last time. She would appreciate it if you could pick her up so she doesn't have to be frightened," Mireya added with concern.
I furrowed my brow and asked, "When was the last time? And why was she crying?"
"On your wedding anniversary! Don't you remember? Luna had prepared a wonderful meal to celebrate, but while she was cooking, she accidentally cut her hand with a knife and it bled profusely. I wanted her to go to the hospital for treatment, but she insisted on waiting for you. She waited the whole night, but you never showed up. It was raining heavily that day, just like today, and I saw her in the dining room, crying alone. She said the thunder scared her," Mireya explained, piercing my heart.
A lump formed in my throat, rendering me speechless.
My heart wrenched as I finally comprehended the depth of Alisha's anger from that day.
I reached for my phone, hoping to say something to Alisha, but unfortunately, the call wouldn't go through.
I tried again, but it wasn't successful yet. Frowning, a realization dawned on me. I turned to Mireya and said, "Call Alisha now. Ask her where she is."
Mireya looked puzzled, but she complied. Not surprisingly, the call connected immediately. Alisha had blacklisted me! Damn!
"Luna, where are you now? Will you come back today?" Mireya asked,
Alisha's voice came through the phone. "I'm staying at Nova's place. Why are you asking?"
I was relieved to learn that at least Alisha was safe at her friend's home now. Then Mireya glanced at me and began to respond, "Alpha is worried about you, so he wants to..."
Before Mireya could finish her sentence, Alisha shouted angrily, "Tell that jerk I will never come back! Don't harbor any illusions!"
Outraged by Alisha's remark, I snatched Mireya's phone and snapped, "What the hell are you thinking? At the Black Furies, you promised to make my favorite food after getting home. Why haven't you returned?"
"How dare you mention that? Food? Eat my ass!" Alisha retorted, and then abruptly hung up before I could respond.
Even when I tried to call her again, Mireya's phone couldn't get through.
I returned the phone to Mireya and stormed off to my bedroom, consumed by anger.
Why was she so stubborn?
Though the room blazed with lights, I couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling of emptiness and coldness.
Once more, I retrieved my phone and dialed Brad's number. "Brad, I have a task for you. It requires your immediate attention."