Chapter 13
Lucas steps up to the counter, preparing to place his order. He makes direct eye contact and gives a wave. “Hello, Charlotte!”
Elsa notices and asks, “Oh, you’re acquainted with her? She can just take care of your order then.”
Letting out a sigh, I walk over to the register. So much for subtlety. “Good morning, Lucas. What would you like today?”
He hums thoughtfully, scanning the menu. “I’m torn. What’s your go-to drink here?”
“My coffee choices are pretty basic. Most of the time, I stick with an iced coffee with cream. The Nutella frappuccino is also a big hit with customers.” I offer him a smile, masking the unease beneath
“That sounds delicious! I’ll have a large Nutella frappuccino, please. Do you serve any food?” Lucas’s energy fills the room, even though he hasn’t had coffee yet. Morning clearly suits him.
“We’ve got bagels, croissants, and muffins. There’s a case just to your left with some other options as well.” I indicate the glass display containing our assortment of baked goods.
Lucas glances at the selection, appearing deep in thought as he considers his options. “Let’s do a buttered croissant and a chocolate chip muffin.”
“One moment! We’ll call your name when your order is ready.” I enter his choices into the register and
let him know the amount due.
D
He takes a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet and hands it to me. “You can keep the change,” he says
with a wink before heading to a table to wait.
“I think he’s got a thing for you,” Helen murmurs from right behind me.
I chuckle at the suggestion. “No chance. He’s just being nice.”
Helen grins and teases, “I’m not convinced. I noticed the wink.”
Elsa snaps, “Why are you so fixated on her today?”
E
Helen spins around, meeting Elsa’s glare. “Why are you in such a foul mood?”
Trying to ease the tension, I interject, “We still have a line of customers. Let’s keep things moving.” Elsa and Helen are acting out of character.
Normally, they’re united-usually against me. I can’t remember the last time they argued like this. Their behavior makes me wonder if something else is going on with them. Pushing the thought aside, I shift my attention back to the job. I already have enough on my plate without worrying about teenage drama.
Once Lucas receives his order, he sets up his laptop at a corner table. He spends most of his time quietly typing, keeping to himself. After our earlier conversation, his silence surprises me, but then I remind myself that his greeting wasn’t out of line. There’s no need to pretend we aren’t familiar with each other just because he’s here to watch out for me.
The hours slip by, but I can’t keep my mind on my tasks. My thoughts keep circling back to everything
< Chapter 13
that’s happened over the past several days. I’ve been so caught up in not being a full werewolf and in Elijah’s supposed role as my mate that I haven’t truly processed that someone actually tried to end my
life.
Lucas’s presence never lets me forget that fact. I find myself wondering how anyone managed to slip wolfsbane to me in the first place.
There’s a chance that someone might have entered my apartment just to administer the dose. However, I quickly dismiss that idea. If someone had managed to get in without me noticing or leaving behind any scent, they probably would have chosen a more certain way to end my life.
My eyes wander around the coffee shop, realizing this is the other main place where I spend my time. It’s possible that someone tampered with my water or something like that. I glance over at Helen and Elsa, feeling a wave of discomfort.
I know they aren’t fond of me, but the thought of them actually wanting me dead seems far-fetched. B esides, they both seem far too young to be capable of such things.
I can’t picture Sophia doing anything suspicious either. If she intended to harm me, she wouldn’t have just offered me a manager position. That would be pointless.
Maybe a customer managed to sneak into the staff room at some point? Standing here in the coffee shop, I start to feel a growing paranoia. The space feels far too vulnerable and exposed.
“I need to take a break,” I announce before hurrying towards the restroom. I splash some cold water onto my face and focus on my breathing to calm myself down. There’s only a short time left before my shift ends, and I can’t allow myself to spiral.
Elijah promised he would look out for me, and I trust that’s what he means to do, yet I can’t help but worry that he might not be able to prevent something if he doesn’t know what it is.
After a few minutes by myself, I start to regain some composure, reassuring myself that no one would attempt anything in a public spot like this. I decide to watch my belongings more carefully and avoid being alone. I’ll be alright. I wash my hands and step out of the restroom.
Lucas is waiting for me just outside the bathroom door. “Are you alright?”
I give a nod. “I just needed to step away for a second.”
Lucas nods as if he understands. “I’ll be right over there if you need anything.”
“You don’t have to hang around the shop if you don’t want to,” I tell him, concerned he might get res tless waiting for my shift to end.
Lucas grins. “Don’t worry about it. I brought my laptop, so I can work from here today. It’s a nice change. I actually like the vibe here-mostly.”
The last part of his comment makes me tilt my head, curious. He glances away, making it clear he doesn’t want to discuss it further, at least not in public. “Alright, well, my shift is almost over anyway. After that, I need to head home for a bit and get ready.”
Lucas arches a brow. “Get ready for what?”
Suddenly feeling bashful, I avert my eyes. “Elijah mentioned he wants to take me out tonight.”
“Oh, a date!” Lucas exclaims, teasingly. “That’s exciting news! It’ll be a blast helping you get ready!”
15.10
Lucas’s enthusiasm makes me smile. He’s so cheerful. “You want to help me get ready?”
He laughs. “Honey, of course I do! We’ve got to make sure you look amazing for Alpha.” He gives me a playful wink, which brings a blush to my cheeks.
< The Mysterious Werewolf
