Xander POV
“What are you doing here, Methis?” I asked, watching her saunter over to my chair and sit down crossing her legs.
"Just wanted to see how my favorite drug dealer is doing."
I rolled my eyes, walking over to her, "It was just a cigarette Methis, and you didn't finish it."
She shrugged, and smiled. “I just wanted to see you, and have a little chat. Is that a crime?”
“Yes, it is,” I said, reaching over. “You’re not welcome here. You’re not welcome anywhere near me, or my mate. You’re a nuisance and a troublemaker. You need to leave, and stay away.”
She pouted, and shook her head. “Oh, come on, Xander. Don’t be so rude. I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m here to help you.”
“Help me?” I repeated, skeptically. “Help me with what?”
She leaned forward, and lowered her voice. “With your little problem, of course. The one that involves your mate’s stepmother.”
I felt a surge of anger, and fear. How did she know about that? How did she find out? Who told her?
“What are you talking about?” I asked, pretending to be clueless. “I don’t have any problem. And I don’t know anything about my mate’s stepmother.”
She rolled her eyes, and sighed. “Don’t play dumb, Xander. I know everything. I know that you were there last night,
“How do you know all that?” I asked, smiling at her. It was cute when she tried to play detective. “Who told you?”
She smiled, and winked. “That’s my little secret. Let’s just say that I have my sources, and my ways. I’m very resourceful, you know.”
I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. I wanted to punch her, and make her shut up. I wanted to make her pay, for meddling in my business. I wanted to make her regret, for ever crossing me.
But I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t risk exposing myself, or endangering my mate. I had to play along, and see what she wanted. I had to be careful, and smart.
“What do you want, Methis?” I asked, calmly. “Why are you telling me this? What’s your angle?”
She shrugged, and smiled. “I don’t want anything, Xander. I’m just curious, that’s all."
I chuckled, "Bullshit, you didn't walk all the way from school to bombard me with all these questions just because you are 'curious' Methis." I said, making air quotes.
She let out a dramatic gasp, placing a hand on her chest, her mouth dropping open, "You mean you don't trust me? That's rude!"
She paused, and tilted her head. “But most of all, I’m curious about my stepmother. Where is she, Xander? What happened to her? Is she okay?”
I felt a pang of guilt, and sadness. I hadn’t seen or heard from my mate’s stepmother since last night. I didn’t know where she was, or how she was. I didn’t know if she was safe, or in danger. I didn’t know if she remembered anything, or if she was traumatized.
I hoped that she was okay, and that she was getting help. I hoped that she would recover, and move on. I hoped that she would forget, and forgive.
But I didn’t know. I didn’t know anything.
And I couldn’t tell Methis. I couldn’t tell her the truth. I couldn’t tell her that her stepmother was a victim of a werewolf attack, and that I was the one who saved her. I couldn’t tell her that her stepmother was a witness, and that I was the one who lied to the police. I couldn’t tell her that her stepmother was a threat, and that I was the one who had to deal with her.
I couldn’t tell her anything.
“It’s none of your business, Methis,” I said, firmly. “It’s nothing important. It’s nothing to do with you. You don’t need to know.”
She frowned, and shook her head. “That’s not true, Xander. It is my business. It is important. It is to do with me. I do need to know.”
She looked at me, and pleaded. “Please, Xander. Please tell me. Please tell me where she is, and what happened to her. Please tell me the truth. Please.”
She sounded sincere, and genuine. She sounded concerned, and worried. She sounded like she cared, and loved.
"What's your problem, Xander?" Methis raised an eyebrow, her lips pursed.
"My problem? My problem is that you're dating Jamal," I blurted out.
She sighed, closing her book with a thud. "Not this again, Xander."
I leaned in, my frustration bubbling over. "Methis, you're too good for him. You deserve someone who respects you, not some player who's just out for—"
"He's not like that," she interrupted, her eyes flashing.
I scoffed. "You're blinded, Methis. You're not seeing him for who he really is."
She crossed her arms. "And you're not seeing that it's none of your business. I can make my own choices."
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. "Methis, we've been friends forever. I can't stand by and watch you get hurt."
Her gaze hardened. "I appreciate your concern, Xander, but you're overstepping."
"I just want you to be happy," I pleaded.
"It's not that simple," she said, her voice softening.
"Then make it simple. Tell me what's really going on," I urged.
She hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "It's complicated, Xander. You wouldn't understand."
"Try me," I insisted.
Methis looked away, her fingers nervously tapping on the table. "There are things I can't tell you. Things I can't explain."
I leaned back, frustration turning into suspicion. "What aren't you telling me, Methis?"
She stood up abruptly. "I can't, Xander. I just can't."
"Methis, we've always shared everything. Don't shut me out now," I pleaded.
She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't, Xander. I just need some time."
"Methis, please," I reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
"I'm sorry, Xander," she whispered, rushing out of the coffee shop, leaving me sitting there, grappling with the mystery she refused to unravel.