Chapter 5
Susan's POV
When I got back, I realized another man was sitting next to him. Eddy looked at me from the counter. It looked like he was about to go and serve them when I disappeared. I took a deep breath and tried not to show any reaction. I walked over to the table where they had been sitting and stopped by it with a pen and paper in my hand.
"Right, gentlemen?"
I looked at the brunette I had seen earlier and then at the man sitting opposite him. And unlike the brunette, he looked more casual. He was wearing a navy blue polo shirt and dark jeans. His leather jacket was hanging over the other chair. His hair was dark blond and his eyes were brown. His smell also gave him away, he was a wolf just like the other one, and they seemed to be about the same age.
I took a deep breath and stood there. Their aura was considerable. Any wolf who approached them at first could sense it. They certainly had a high level of dominance compared to the others and even to my former Alpha. It was the same sensation I felt around him. However, this was a bigger territory, the pack was much stronger than Chris's, or so I knew. I couldn't even imagine the Alpha's level of power here if even their ordinary wolves were strong. I took a deep breath and clenched my pen as I remembered Chris. Hate and happiness were a duality inside me. But I should have focused now.
And these idiots here... Why would they go around showing this unnecessary dominance? I was dominant too. I knew very well that dominance could be exposed if anger and stress were stimulated enough. Surely these guys were stressed about something. And knowing that, I had to control myself too.
"Good morning. We'd like two portions of this dish here." The brunette pointed to the menu. I could see he had very dark blue eyes.
"Right... Anything else?" I looked at them both and saw them staring back at me. My body automatically froze and my breathing stopped.
"Two medium cappuccinos please."
"Right." I forced my voice not to fail and wrote it down. "Your order will be ready soon."
Anna's perfume had saved me. Completely. Although my scent had mixed with the fragrance, they would never be able to identify it. I could see it in their eyes. It was certainly confusion. Either because I smelled so unbearable or because I was such a confusing odor.
I turned around and headed for the counter. I handed Eddy his orders and felt my legs go a little wobbly. Not because of their dominance, far from it. I'd dealt with wolves of this level before. I feared that I would be discovered by the pack the next day after my escape and suffer the severe penalties they had for crimes like this. I'd seen Chris deal with loners who were found in his territory thousands of times. It wasn't nice at all.
If I wanted to live here normally, I'd have to introduce myself to the Alpha of this territory. And being a newly single female, they would force me to join the pack. However, after my escape, the last thing I wanted was to be part of another one. So I decided to run away and live by my own rules. It was enough that I had to give them the satisfaction of my whole life, I wasn't prepared for that again.
From the bar, I could hear the two of them talking. They were talking quietly, so I had to strain my hearing to hear properly.
"Connor got a call from our neighbor. We don't know what it's about, but he's already warned us."
"It sounds important."
"It is."
What do you mean by the neighbor? Would that be... Chris? I widened my eyes and stared at the floor. If he tells Alpha from here, he'll know about me and he'll hunt me down. I can't stay here for long if that happens... Shit, shit, shit, shit.
"Susan! The order's ready." Eddy nudged me and I woke up.
I grabbed the tray from the counter and walked over to the table where they were sitting.
"Excuse me, here you go." I left the orders, turned around, and walked past the tables collecting the empty plates and glasses. Act normal, Susan. Act normal. Don't think the worst. You're not going back to that place.
"Do you feel that?" I heard one of them whisper and I squeezed the cloth.
"Yes."
No. No. No.
They're certainly looking around. I have to get away from them, otherwise, they'll feel it. I'm too nervous to be able to control my dominance. They'll notice.
I picked up the tray and hurried back to the kitchen. I put the dishes in the sink and took a deep breath.
"Eddy, can you change places with me? I'm not feeling very well."
"What's wrong?" Eddy and Anna asked.
"Nothing. I just have a nasty migraine."
"Of course, I can swap with you."
"Thanks."
I wouldn't need to serve anyone else.
I'm sorry I lied, Eddy, but I couldn't risk it. I left the kitchen and took advantage of the fact that the coffee shop was quieter to go to the bathroom.
I turned on the tap and splashed water on my face. I felt my eyes flutter as if the circulation in the area was heating my skin even more. I looked in the mirror, already knowing that the she-wolf's eyes would be staring back at me. Their yellow reflection stared back at me as if I were a different being, but one I was used to living with.
I squeezed my eyes shut and controlled the strong urge to turn and run away again. To go somewhere far away from here. Without any contact with Chris's pack. I took a deep breath, dried my face, and left the bathroom. When I came back, I saw that the two of them were unfortunately still sitting there eating. I went to the counter and continued working in Eddy's place. Who was now serving the customers. From time to time, I paid attention to the two men's conversation. But after that piece of information, they didn't say anything more about their pack.
After a few minutes, they both left and I felt a huge weight lift off my back. I never wanted to see them in front of me again.
When my workday was over, I changed and said goodbye to everyone. Charlie paid me and I finally left.
The paper the hotel receptionist had given me was in my hand. I was determined to go to the outskirts of the city to sort this out. I walked down a few streets and stopped at the first bus stop I saw. A gentleman was sitting on the bench next to me.
"Hello, good evening. Do you know which bus goes to the outskirts?" I asked. He looked at me and then at his old watch.
"I think the next bus goes there."
"Thanks."