Chapter 16
My stomach gurgled as soon as we settled. ourselves in the backseat of a driving taxi.
“Here,” he offered me a burger.
I muttered a simple thanks beneath my panting breath.
True to what Lucien promised me, he guided me to the exit, not thinking twice to reach for my hand and hold it tightly as we slither through the crowd and into the midnight air outside, the open space already buzzing with cabs driving away and cabs arriving to pick up passengers.
“How long will you be staying here?” Lucien casually asked but I know he’s been monitoring my every move.
I took a quick bite of the burger as big as my face. “Two and a half years at most. Maybe three years.”
He fell silent after that. I just finished my
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burger meal and then the fries and then the coke float he brought for me.
“Are
you sure you’re not going to eat?” I asked as I sipped the drink.
“I bought them for you,” he eyed the trash that were the only things left from the fastfood takeout. “I knew you‘ d easily get hungry when you‘ re traveling.”
He still cares for me like we’re still-
I shook my head. We’re no longer a couple. “You don’t need to do that.”
“Says you after devouring a whole burger meal.”
We both chuckled. “Where will you be dropping off?”
“I’ll escort you to your apartment first.”
I might have pushed him away earlier when he waved down for a taxi and immediately found his place on the back seat. There’s no point in glaring at him to get out. He still won‘ t listen to me.
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“Why are you escorting me?” I gasped, “Did Francis send you to be my escort?”
Lucien met my gaze calmly. “You‘ re unfamiliar with this place. The Alpha is my grandfather so you’ll need my help anyway. Let me drop you in your apartment…as a friend.”
“You’ll leave me alone after that?” To be honest, I’m becoming awkward with his presence. It’s weird to be still hanging out with your ex–boyfriend when you‘ ve already broken up for months.
Looking at Lucien, I can’t help but grimace as he said, “I’ll leave you alone after I make sure you‘ re safe.”
I let him walk me to the front door of my apartment.
Lucien knew exactly how to play with my fears, how to heightened my emotions with the simple mention of frauds and thieves.
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Reluctantly–albeit a part of me relaxed at his presence, I let him come with me. My expression was void of casual emotions. throughout the taxi ride after our final conversation.
The apartment Francis chose for me was simple and cozy. A studio unit just the right size for someone living alone and spending most of her time on work.
Lucien narrowed his eyes as he scanned every corner like some sniffing dog.
“Done checking?” I barked.
Lucien plopped down the bed, wobbling it as if to check the mattress itself. “Ves, you really need to be careful around here.
You‘ re on your own now. Just call me if ever something feels wrong.”
“You won’t be back to the Brightheart Pack right away?”
He clicked his tongue as he checked under my bed. “My grandfather gave me a job here for the meantime. Something I can be
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busy with while I…” he waved a hand to himself, “while I heal.”
He’s the reason why I left. Now…
I massaged my forehead.
Now he followed me here.
I’ve already set aside my pride and hatred for more than an hour. I wouldn’t keep it at bay far longer. “Lucien, I’ve been living alone in my apartment for years even before I met you. Honestly, you‘ re the biggest danger and threat in this room
right now.” I stomped my foot, “So, please leave.”
Hurt flashed across his features. “Vesta.”
“Now.”
I gave thanks to the Moon Goddess when he finally leave my new apartment five seconds later.
****
The Foghounds Pack let me feel like I‘ m
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still at home.
They’re sweet, polite, thoughtful and
caring.
During my first month, I focused on adjusting to the workplace‘ s demands of being the Foghounds Pack’s Hospital‘ s assistant director at the same time learning advanced medicine and healing. Francis. had emphasized the importance of socializing for the betterment of my future. career so I made an extra effort to do so.
I made new friends and there was even some male Beta who kept throwing secret glances at me and placing a bouquet of flowers in my locker along with a sweet. letter. Sometimes there‘ s chocolates too.
He was the son of the pack hospital‘ s director. He’s cute and handsome.
Perhaps not too masculine or powerfully built like my Alpha ex–boyfriend. But he was friendly enough and I told him I’m content to being just a friend.
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On weekends, I occasionally party with friends in local clubs in the main city and even share the meals I’ve cooked with my colleagues. Seeing I made my friends and colleagues happy, there was a sense of pride flamed within me. Like I
accomplished something by just going out of my comfort zone.
But the feeling of being stalked every night I went home made me cautious. Anxious to the point I always held on to my pepper spray every time I walked from the road up to my apartment room.
Tonight made it so much worse. I can see shadows moving at the corner of my eyes, lurking in the far corner like some ghostly
cat.
My heart pounded in my chest as I held on to my bag tightly, my pepper spray hidden beneath my fingers. With a shaking hand, I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight. I turned my apartment‘ s doorknob with my keys when-
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Something leaped towards me. I screamed like hell, like my life depended on it.
“Shit!” I cursed under my breath, my
phone’s flashlight illuminating the–a squirrel?
Why the fuck would there be a squirrel here?
Oh, there were bushes just behind the building. Of course, there’s a squirrel and Moon Goddess knows what else had their lair in there.
I stepped back.
Another squirrel leaped on me, this time sending me out of balance. My room was next to the stairwell.
Just when I braced myself for a hard fall to the floor below, I felt a rush of dark wind that landed on soft paws atop the stairwell.
“Are you okay, Vesta?” My savior
managed to catch me on time, his cedar and pine scent tingling my nose.
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“You” I got out of the shelter of his arms and straightened myself. “You‘ ve been stalking me, Lucien?!”
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