Yejide Moore's POV

"Xian, what do you need?" I ask, trying not to let annoyance leak into my tone.

"I'm here to see you" he says softly, leaning in.

I try not cringe in disgust as his stale breath kicks me straight in the nose.

"Xian, I'm not in the mood for this" I say, folding my arms across my chest and backing away.

I back straight into the brick wall behind me, cursing at myself mentally for not watching where I was going.

He steps forwards, trapping me.

A slow grin forms on his face, the harsh lights from above us, casting dark shadows on his already pale brown skin, twisting his features to make them look rather sinister.

"Yes, you are. You know you are" he says, planting firm hands at either side of me, his voice slurring out a little.

I gulp and put my hands on his chest in attempt to put some, more than needed, space in between us.

"Xian, you're drunk. Stop it" I tell him, trying to push him away, but it's like pushing a marble wall.

Impossible.

I look into his eyes pleadingly to see that they have changed.

They are a cool grey colour, that sends prickles of fear up my skin.

I suddenly can't breath well.

My chest feels tight and even though it's rather cold out, my heart is pounding and a sheen of sweat is dripping down the side of my face.

I open my mouth to scream, but my tongue is frozen.

I've read about this spell a thousand times.

Paralysis Capturing spell: An ancient hunting spell used by merfolk to momentarily slow down their prey, distract it so that they could attack, capture and devour it.

And now Xian.

Is using this same, dangerous, painful spell.

On me!

"Xian, stop!" I mutter our almost incoherently as he presses his body into me further, hand creeping under the hem of my shirt.

"Yej, I love you" he says, his voice hazy, raising a finger to stoke my face.

"N-No. Xian stop!" I choke.

"And you love me too" he insists, as if not hearing me, his hand creeping up further, making me want to punch him.

He leans forwards to kiss me and I want to shriek out in protest, but I can't.

Time moves in slow motion as he gets closer and closer to me.

I squeeze my eyes shut, ready to hold in my vomit, when a soft, unfamiliar voice calls out.

"Babe? Are ya there?" They ask.

It's a man's voice.

I must be dreaming!

"Yejide! Your boss told me, you'd be out, back, is your shift over?" The voice calls.

I strain to see over Xian's broad and heavy frame, but he completely obscures my view.

"The fuck are you?" Xian growls.

His vice like grip on my waist gets tighter, making me wince in pain.

"You seen my girlfriend?" The voice asks sounding closer to me.

A sudden voice in my head becomes loud and clear.

But it's not mine.

"My name is Sol. I heard your mind giving distress signals so I came to help you. I need you to play along" the voice says.

He must be a telepath!

I don't know how I manage to respond, but I do.

"Please" I say.

Xian looks down at me confused and steps away slightly.

The man responsible for stepping in comes into view.

^^ Sol Cortez

About 6'4, with a lean but muscular build, the man gives me a brilliantly white smile, brown eyes as inviting as a warm house in the winter.

He wears thick black rimmed glasses that nearly obscure his eyes, if not for them being so wide and curious.

His dark hair is short but curly

He puts a firm hand on Xian's shoulder, pulling him away from me, making him stumble a little.

He looks at me.

"Ready to go, babe?" He asks with a wide smile.

I nod.

This stranger is rather nice.

I wonder what he wants?

He holds out his hand and I take it and he starts to walk away.

"Wait." Xian says.

"I know you Yej. Who is this guy really" he says to me.

I look up at the attractive man, who now has a bored look on his face.

"Baby, you never mentioned this friend before. Do you even know him? Is he like Mali and Hai?" The man asked.

How far deep into mind did he go?!

I look at Xian, who looks surprised at the mention of my two closest friends.

"Back off, man, of course she knows m- -"

"Nah. I don't." I say, cutting him off.

Xian looks hurt.

I shrug.

Good.

"I thought I did, but I clearly don't" I say, taking the man's warm hand again.

"Who is this guy, Yej?" Xian asks.

"Sol" I say, moving closer to this complete stranger.

"And you're... you're dating?!" Xian asks incredulously.

Before I can even talk back, Sol tugs on my arm impatiently.

"Babe, we're gonna be late!" I interrupts.

I turn and nod at him.

Wow, he's a good actor.

I turn away from Xian, interlocking my fingers with Sol, who gives me an easy going grin.

"Let's go. See you 'round okay?" he says to Xian, who just stares at me intensely, a dark look on his face.

Sol whisks me off immediately and effectively, out of the back alleyway and into the open street.

I sigh with relief, finally able to breath.

We walk until we are far away enough and when we are, I drop his hand like it has suddenly caught on fire!

"Who the hell are you?" I ask.

Not even a simple 'thank you'?

"My name is Sol Cortez. I heard your mind going crazy, so I came to help" he say, placing his hands into his pockets as if it's the most normal thing in the world.

I just stand there staring at him and blinking for a couple of seconds, trying to catch an ulterior motive.

But he seems genuine.

But he's also proven to be an amazing actor.

"Are you a mage or something?" I ask and he chuckles deeply, shaking his head slightly, for 'no'.

"Then?" I ask.

"My mother is a telepath" he responds.

"Do you... do this often? Saving people like this, I mean" I ask.

He shakes his head.

"No, but I'm glad I did" he says, giving me a grin, showing a small dimple in his cheek.

I look away.

"Thank you" I say, looking away, my voice coming out a little whisper.

"Hey" he says softly.

I look at him.

"You seem a little shaken up, so you know how you can thank me?" He asks.

Here it comes.

"Grab a coffee with me. I didn't see what happened, but you look like you could use one." He says, holding out his arm.

I look at him in shock.

A coffee?!

That's it?!

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I ask, eyeing his arm.

"Well, as brutal as the stories make us, werewolves aren't as nasty as we are made out to be" he laughs, eyes twinkling with amusement.

"But I thought you said your mother is- -" I start, but he cuts me off.

"She is. But my dad took one look at her and knew" he says with a soft grin.

I nod, surprised at his openness with me.

I like it.

"So are you coming to get some coffee with me?" He asks, arm still out.

I take his arm.

"Sure" I say.

His face breaks into a huge grin that makes my heart skip.

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