Word Count: 1748

~Meara

Upon some miracle, I've managed to convince Sire to let me go to work.

He claimed he wanted to spend the day with me, but when I insisted I needed to make money and to have a healthy break from him, he conceded.

It's a good thing, because I'm behind on my rent payments for this month.

"You've been gone for a while," Emma states, leaning against the counter.

Emma and I clicked the moment I started working here. It's a small café in the centre of the Pack, and is usually very busy. Today, there hasn't even been a lunch rush.

Just strange, eerie quiet.

"So much has come up recently..." I mutter, running a cloth over the countertop. I've noticed her watching me since I came in, noticing something has been on my mind for my entire shift.

"Oh yeah? About what?"

I tense. It's not like I can tell her the entire truth...not that she would believe me. It sounds so otherworldly she would assume I'm telling a ridiculous story to evade her from the truth.

My only choice is to tell her a more palatable excuse.

"I broke up with my boyfriend," I blurt out.

"Oh no. You okay?" She pulls me into a tight hug, not bothered about the single customer eating in the corner of the room.

"I'm fine, I just want everything to go back to normal," I tell her, pulling away.

Normal would be good. These past few days have turned my life upside down, and to stay afloat, I'm scrambling to live as normally as possible. Which includes going back to work, which for the first time in my life, I've been enjoying.

"Did you hear about what has been going on in this Pack?" Emma asks, nodding to a newspaper on the counter

I spread it open, frowning at the headline plastered across the front page.

Strange and Unusual Deaths Plague the Pack; What can be Done?

"No?"

"There's some kind of sickness going around. It's killing a lot of people," she tells me, pointing at the fine print.

I read a couple sentences, realising she is telling the truth. From what I can tell, officials don't know what is causing all these deaths, they just know it is some kind of sickness or poison that is affecting unprecedented numbers of people.

"What? So they don't know what kind of sickness it is?" I clarify, looking to see what Emma knows about this.

She wraps her arms around herself, glancing at the person eating in the corner of the room. Clearly this issue is more serious than I thought, which must be contributing to our lack of customers today.

"No. That's what's terrifying," she mumbles lowly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she turns her back on the customer.

"Shit..." I grit out.

This isn't because of the curse, is it? There's no confirmation it's real, but what if it is linked? The Pack seemed perfectly fine before Sire was unleashed from his tomb...

"Enjoy making money while you can, they will likely close this place down soon," Emma muses solemnly.

"Great..."

Emma suddenly perks up, pointing at the door. "Woah, look over there."

Turning, I watch as Sire walks in through the café door, scanning the area. The moment he see's me, he smirks a little before approaching.

"Fuck," I curse, stepping back a bit.

Seeing him in my place of work is an entirely different level of surreal. He's like a ghost, gliding into the room, drawing all attention to him. It's clear he doesn't fit in with anyone around him, and just the sight of him has rendered the single customer speechless.

"He's hot. Look at those tattoo's..." Emma says excitedly as I drag her back a bit.

"Stay away from him. Don't even look at him," I mumble lowly, watching him approach. The last thing I need is for my real life to start mixing with the one that still doesn't quite feel real.

She pouts. "Why not?"

"He's not someone you want to know."

He sits down on the bench, raising his brows at me expectantly. What is he doing here? If Carran knows, more problems will arise, and I'm already struggling with the ones I have as it is.

"Are you kidding? If you want him all to yourself, just say it," she teases, biting down on her lower lip.

I pull her further away, hopefully out of his earshot. "It's not that, alright...He just looks dangerous."

Even Emma can't deny that. It's not just his appearance, but the look in his eyes that he carries everywhere. Each time I look at him I reminded of the hidden power that scared enough people to get him buried.

"Exactly. That's hot," she whispers.

"I was wondering if I could get some service," he calls out, waving a gloved hand at us. I fight not to roll my eyes, trying not to make it obvious there's already an established connection between him and I.

I really don't need Emma asking anymore questions.

She pulls herself from my grip, painting on the most flawless smile as she sweeps over to him, leaning against the countertop.

How she manages to get as close to attractive customers as possible without making it creepy or inappropriate is a talent I wish I shared with her.

"Absolutely. What would you like sir?"

"Whatever you recommend," he responds, dragging his gaze from her to me. I keep back a few steps, glaring at him with my arms folded over my chest.

He agreed I would come to work today...I figured it was implied that I wouldn't be seeing.

"Tell me, what does a guy like you do for fun?" She asks, her voice having dropped to a deep, seductive tone.

Even though this is strange to see, I don't blame her for flirting with him. He is attractive, and he has come in here, obviously hasn't come in here to order anything.

"I seduce beautiful women," he murmurs in response, wearing a sly, suggestive smile.

He's looking at me as he talks, although Emma doesn't seem to notice, too enamoured but the tattoos that are just visible around his neckline. I bet she is wondering how much further down they go.

"I bet you're good at it."

"Well, I thought I was, but there is someone I want who doesn't want me back. Do you have any advice?" Sire asks her, cocking his head to the side, gazing at her while he enjoys his own personal joke.

Emma blinks, taken aback.

"Oh...ah, you could try being honest with her."

"That isn't a problem. She just doesn't want to be with me," he exasperates, leaning back in his seat. I grit my teeth. I wish we were busy in here, so I could ignore him, but our single customer is finishing up and it doesn't seem like anyone else will be coming in here.

"Why not?"

"Because I scare her. Because I'm capable of hurting her and everyone around her."

I watch his expression, trying to see whether he feels any kind of guilt. There's something flickering in his eyes, although I can't make sense of it. At least he finally understands a lot of my fear.

"And she doesn't like risk," he adds, sweeping his gaze to me.

"Risk is fine," I blurt out, stepping forward.

Emma looks at me with raised brows. She still hasn't figured out that Sire and I know each other, although I doubt it will last long.

I rub the back of my neck. "I mean, I'm sure she doesn't mind risk, but maybe you just don't fit into her life."

His lips tilt up ever so slightly.

"Oh I'd fit into her just fine."

My anger flares. "Si-"

"Oh, I get it," Emma laughs, cutting me off before I can reveal anything. "You know, if this woman doesn't want you, maybe you can try move on."

Sire's sobers from his humour, frowning at my co-worker.

"No."

"No?" I think she a little taken aback by his sudden, serious tone.

"That isn't an option," he tells her coolly. "If she truly despised me, and wanted me gone, I would leave. I would honour her decision. But that isn't what she wants."

I frown a little. What does he mean I don't want him to leave? I've made it very clear I want him to leave me alone, so it's unknown to me what part of that doesn't make sense to him.

"How do you know?" I ask softly.

"She is letting foolish excuses get in the way of how she truly feels. She knows deep down who she is meant to be with," he says sternly.

I draw in a breath.

I don't want to admit it, but he's right. As much as Sire has shifted my life immensely, I don't think I want him gone forever. He is my mate, which means destiny seeks to draw us together, and at some point, I don't think I'm going to want to resist him.

"That's a shame, because I wouldn't say no to you," Emma says, reaching her fingertips out toward Sire's hand.

He pulls it back, looking at me.

"What about you, Meara," he asks. "Would you say no?"

My jaw tightens. I'm tired of this. This is my workplace, where I should be able to come without worrying about Sire coming in to torment me.

"Leave," I snap.

"Wow, Meara, you can't just tell a customer to leave," Emma hisses lowly, still confused about the nature of this conversation.

"Get out, before I force you out," I growl at him, pointing toward the door. How I would actually get him out isn't something I want to think about too deeply, considering his size.

"I would love to see that, Meara." He grins.

"Fine. I'll leave," I mutter, tossing my apron off.

Emma protests as I found the the counter, heading toward the door. There's not many places I can go to get away from him, but I can't be here now, with Emma witnessing this.

Plus, I have bigger things to worry about right now, like people in my Pack mysteriously dying...

Because if that's the case, by freeing Sire, I may have unleashed a deadly curse.

💜••💜

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~Midika 💜🐼